Body fat and racial genetic admixture are associated with aerobic fitness levels in a multiethnic pediatric population.
Aerobic fitness and adiposity are each independently associated with health outcomes among children, although the relationship between these two variables is unclear. Our objectives were to evaluate (i) the association of adiposity with aerobic fitness using objectively measured levels of percent body fat, compared to BMI as a percentile proxy for adiposity while controlling for genetic admixture, and (ii) the congruence of BMI categories with high and low body fat categories of objectively measured percent body fat. Participants were 232 African-American (AA), European-American (EA), and Hispanic-American (HA) children aged 7-12 years (Tanner stage <3). Aerobic fitness was measured via a submaximal indirect calorimetry treadmill test (VO(2-170)), and physical activity levels with accelerometry. Genetic admixture estimates were obtained using 140 genetic ancestry informative markers to estimate European, African, and Amerindian admixture. Fat mass was determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Children were classified into a low body fat group (<25% in males, <30% in females) or a high body fat group based on their percent body fat; children were also categorized according to BMI percentile. Children in the low body fat group had significantly higher aerobic fitness (P < 0.05) regardless of BMI percentile classification. Higher African genetic admixture was associated with lower aerobic fitness (P < 0.05), while physical activity was positively associated with fitness (P < 0.01). In conclusion, aerobic fitness levels differ by percent body fat and genetic admixture irrespective of BMI classification, and such differences should be taken into account when evaluating outcomes of health interventions.


Vaginal Ultrasonography and Diagnostic Hysteroscopy for Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding after Menopause
Three hundred twenty-five postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding had transvaginal ultrasound examinations. In 158 the endometrial thickness was greater than 5 mm, in 20 less than 5 mm but irregular, and in 147 less than 5 mm and regular. Diagnostic hysteroscopy was performed in the first two groups and showed mild endometrial abnormalities in 23 women, severe in 23, endometrial polyps in 55, myoma in 10, and normal endometrium (atrophic or proliferative) in 22, with synechiae in 5. Forty-six (32%) endometrial biopsies were performed and showed 20 adenocarcinomas, 3 atypical hyperplasias, 10 simple hyperplasias, 5 atrophies, and 8 proliferative. In 18 patients the examination was not possible because of cervical stenosis and was performed under general anesthesia; polyps were removed by operative hysteroscopy. In patients with endometrial thickness greater than 5 mm, hysteroscopy revealed only two cases of mild endometrial abnormalities (cystic atrophy), two polyps, and two myomas. The frequency of endometrial cancer was 7%, similar to that reported by others. Ultrasonography is sensitive in evaluating abnormal uterine bleeding with or without endometrial pathology. Hysteroscopy must be the second procedure because it can exclude pathology and allow a targeted biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.


Construction of a reporter vector for analysis of bidirectional transcriptional activity of retrovirus LTR.
To study the transcriptional activity of the HIV-1 LTR, we constructed a vector containing Renilla and Firefly luciferase genes under the control of the LTR (wild-type or mutated version) and oriented in a manner that allowed them to be transcribed in opposite directions. We found that the HIV-1 LTR acted as a bidirectional promoter, which activity was controlled by NF-κB- and Sp1-binding sites in both orientations. We next analyzed with this reporter vector the bidirectional promoter activity of the HTLV-1 LTR and showed that this LTR also possessed a bidirectional transcriptional activity. Interestingly, Sp1-binding elements were also involved in the control of HTLV-1 bidirectional transcription. Moreover, both retroviral trans-activators, Tat and Tax, could preferentially activate sense transcription with no or limited effect on the extent of antisense transcription. We also cloned into this plasmid the MLV LTR and found that the LTR of a simple retrovirus also possessed bidirectional transcriptional activity. This reporter vector represents a powerful tool to analyze the bidirectional transcriptional activity of retrovirus LTRs.


Age differences in Neural Activation to Face Trustworthiness: Voxel Pattern and Activation Level Assessments.
Judgment of trustworthiness is an important social ability. Many studies show neural activation differences to variations in face trustworthiness in brain reward regions. A previously published analysis of the present fMRI data showed that older adults' (OA) reward region activation responded significantly to trustworthiness in a set of older and younger faces, whereas younger adults' (YA) activation did not-a finding inconsistent with studies that used only younger faces. We hypothesized that voxel pattern analyses would be more sensitive to YA neural responses to trustworthiness in our set of faces, replicating YA neural discrimination in prior literature. Based on evidence for OA neural dedifferentiation, we also hypothesized that voxel pattern analyses would more accurately classify YA than OA neural responses to face trustworthiness. We reanalyzed the data with two pattern classification models and evaluated the models' performance with permutation testing. Voxel patterns discriminated face trustworthiness levels in both YA and OA reward regions, while allowing better classification of face trustworthiness for YA than OA, the reverse of previous results for neural activation levels. The moderation of age differences by analytic method shines a light on the possibility that voxel patterns uniquely index neural representations of the stimulus information content, consistent with findings of impaired representation with age.


Partial meniscectomy using the neodymium:YAG laser. An in vitro study.
We have evaluated, in an in-vitro study, the thermal effects of the neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) contact laser on meniscal tissue. There was no significant difference with regard to time taken to divide the meniscus or depth of necrosis between the two power settings used (25 and 30 W). A significantly greater (p less than 0.005) amount of energy, however, was expended at the higher power setting. The heat from the laser probe dissipated rapidly into the surrounding water without causing significant lateral thermal tissue damage. The Nd:YAG contact laser has features such as the ability to be transmitted through aqueous solutions, fiberoptic delivery, precise thermal tissue effects, and tactile feedback that would be beneficial in arthroscopic surgery. Although experimental, we suggest further clinical evaluation of its potential.


Micromanipulation of endothelial cells: ultrasound-microbubble-cell interaction.
Ultrasound (US) in combination with contrast microbubbles has been shown to alter the permeability of cell membranes without affecting cell viability. This permeabilisation feature is used to design new drug delivery systems using US and contrast agents. The underlying mechanisms are still unknown. One hypothesis is that oscillating microbubbles cause cell deformation resulting in enhanced cell membrane permeability. This technical note reveals the interaction between oscillating microbubbles and endothelial cells under a microscope recorded with a fast framing camera at 10 million frames per second. A microbubble expansion of 100% resulted a 2.3-mum displacement of the cell membrane. During the insonification, changes of approximately 15% in the cross-sectional distance of the endothelial cells were observed due to microbubble vibrations. In conclusion, the use of such a camera makes it possible to reveal the mechanisms of interactions between ultrasound, microbubbles and cells.


Metabolomics of fescue toxicosis in grazing beef steers.
Fescue toxicosis (FT) results from consumption of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) infected with an endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala) that produces ergot alkaloids (EA), which are considered key etiological agents of FT. Decreased weight gains, hormonal imbalance, circulating cholesterol disruption, and decreased volatile fatty acid absorption suggest toxic (E+) fescue-induced metabolic perturbations. Employing untargeted high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to analyze E+ grazing-induced plasma and urine metabolome changes, fescue-naïve Angus steers were placed on E+ or non-toxic (Max-Q) fescue pastures and plasma and urine were sampled before, 1, 2, 14, and 28 days after pasture assignment. Plasma and urine catecholamines and urinary EA concentrations were also measured. In E+ steers, urinary EA appeared early and peaked at 14 days. 13,090 urinary and 20,908 plasma HRM features were detected; the most significant effects were observed earlier (2 days) in the urine and later (≥14 days) in the plasma. Alongside EA metabolite detection, tryptophan and lipid metabolism disruption were among the main consequences of E+ consumption. The E+ grazing-associated metabolic pathways and signatures described herein may accelerate development of novel early FT detection and treatment strategies.


Super obese behave different from simple and morbid obese patients in the changes of body composition after tailored one anastomosis gastric bypass (BAGUA).
Super obese patients behave different from simple and morbid obese patients when they reach final changes of body composition (BC) after bariatric surgery. This has led us to tailor One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (BAGUA) to achieve better results in this group of patients. We studied 83 (37 diabetic and 46 nondiabetic BMI 30 and up) patients who completed all evaluation appointment (preoperative, 10 days, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months) after tailored BAGUA for diabesity. We used the Tanita body composition analyzer BC-420 MA by the method of single frequency impedance to analyze the evolution of BC in patients classified by BMI 30 - 34,9, 35 - 50, and >50. While preoperative excess weight presented dramatic decreases after tailored BAGUA in all the groups, super obese have different final BC. Diabetics retained more fat mass and visceral fat, where super obese have double (14 kg) that simple obese patients (6 kg), they lost more muscle mass, and have higher basal metabolism. The final BC is altered in all parameters if diabetes is added. The reduction of the preoperative excess weight is motivated largely by the tailored effect of BAGUA. Patients BMI 30-50 behaved homogeneous in BC after surgery while patients BMI >50 behave different. Super obese lose less weight, retained more fat mass, visceral fat, bone mass, and total water. This effect should be treated by more aggressive surgery by measuring the entire small intestine to make a proper exclusion (tailored) to achieve homogeneous effects.


Biomedical soft contact-lens sensor for in situ ocular biomonitoring of tear contents.
A soft contact-lens biosensor (SCL-biosensor) for novel non-invasive biomonitoring of tear fluids was fabricated and tested. Wearing a biosensor on eye enabled the in situ monitoring of tear contents. The biosensor has an enzyme immobilized electrode on the surface of a polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) contact lens. The SCL-biosensor was fabricated using microfabrication techniques for functional polymers (PDMS and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer). In investigation of in vitro characterization, the SCL-biosensor showed excellent relationship between the output current and glucose concentration from 0.03 to 5.0 mmol·L(-1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.994. The calibration range covered the reported tear glucose concentrations (0.14 mmol·L(-1)). Based on the result, ocular biomonitoring with the SCL-biosensor was carried out. The SCL-biosensor well worked both in the static state and the dynamic state. The tear glucose level of rabbit was estimated to 0.12 mmol·L(-1) at first and then the tear turnover was successfully calculated to be 29.6 ± 8.42% min(-1). The result indicated that SCL-biosensor is useful for advanced biomonitoring on eye.


Dietary 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran in rainbow trout: accumulation, disposition, and hepatic mixed-function oxidase enzyme induction.
Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to dietary 2,3,7,8-[3H]tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) (0.36 to 42.8 ng g-1) and accumulation, tissue distribution, biotransformation, and hepatic monooxygenase enzyme (MO) induction were studied. The assimilation efficiency of TCDF ranged from 49 to 62% in 30-day exposures and was independent of the TCDF level in the diet. Depuration half-lives (whole body) of TCDF following 30-day exposure ranged from 40 to 77 days and were significantly more rapid in fish exposed to 42.8 ng g-1. Liver somatic index (LSI) and rate of increase in liver weight were elevated in fish exposed to 42.8 ng g-1 TCDF compared to controls. Exposure to 9.2 ng g-1 TCDF in the diet for 140 days also resulted in higher LSI values, as well as increased mortality (16%), but had no significant effects on growth. [3H]TCDF was found mainly in the carcass (63-74%) and GI tract (18-31%), with lesser amounts in liver (0.6-2.3%) during the 140-day exposure, primarily (> 98%) in the form of the parent compound. Radioactivity in bile was found mainly as a single polar transformation product by reverse-phase HPLC. Glucuronidase hydrolysis yielded a product with the retention time expected of hydroxylated TCDF, suggesting the presence of a glucuronide conjugate. MO enzyme induction measured by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in liver (postmitochondrial supernatant) was 137.5 and 15 times higher than that in control fish after 30 days dietary exposure to 42.8 and 9.2 ng g-1, respectively. EROD activities were correlated with TCDF concentrations in liver (R2 = 0.59, N = 45).


Management of Oligometastasis and Oligoprogression in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation-Positive NSCLC in the Era of Third-Generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.
This review covers the importance of local consolidative therapy (LCT) in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive with oligometastatic and oligoprogressive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the advent of third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a more updated review is necessary. We review the efficacy of LCT, pathophysiological background, and treatment modalities other than radiotherapy. In addition, we also discussed when and how LCT should be applied to patients with oligometastatic and oligoprogressive NSCLC.


Late correction of orbital deformities.
Orbital fractures are some of the most challenging injuries the oral surgeon deals with on a daily basis. Delay of the treatment of orbital fractures impacts the final result. Late orbital reconstruction is sometimes necessary for inadequate primary reconstruction or for severe injuries with adequate primary reconstruction. Healing and wound contraction make secondary reconstruction more difficult to restore the orbital contents back to normal. There are different materials available for orbital reconstruction, and there is no consensus about which is best. Early surgical intervention may improve the ultimate outcome, but identifying patients at risk of late complications is difficult.


Denosumab for the treatment of adult multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
An etiological treatment is currently lacking for Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) appears to play a central role in the lesional immunological process inducing compensatory osteoprotegerin (OPG) activation. In a preliminary study we aimed to evaluate for the first time the use of denosumab, a RANKL inhibitor, as a targeted treatment strategy in LCH in order to support and enhance endogenous OPG action in order to control or alter the lesional immunological process. Two adult female patients with painful osteolytic bone lesions and concomitant pulmonary involvement received bimonthly denosumab 120mg in a total of 4 doses. Both patients reported an immediate pain relief within the first two weeks following the 1st dose of denosumab. One month following the last dose an almost full remission of the initial osteolytic and lung lesions was observed, although an apparent new bone lesion was detected in one patient that was treated with a single intralesional steroid injection. No adverse events were recorded throughout the treatment period. Both patients have no active disease 6months following the last denosumab dose. Denosumab could be considered an effective treatment option in adults with multisystem LCH also exerting a significant analgesic effect in bone lesions, warranting further investigation.


Faecal contamination on children's hands and environmental surfaces in primary schools in Leeds.
Gastro-intestinal diseases continue to be a major health problem in primary schools in the UK. This study, which took place in 20 primary schools in the Leeds area, investigated the presence of faecal indicator bacteria on children's hands and environmental surfaces. Faecal streptococci were used as an indicator of faecal contamination. A handwashing knowledge score was developed for each child. Those children with good hygiene knowledge had less faecal contamination on their hands (relative risk: 1.4, 95% CI = 1.09-1.81, P = 0.005). Those schools with higher hand counts were more likely to have had a reported outbreak of gastroenteritis in the past. Values of the Townsend Deprivation Index, an indicator of deprivation, were compared with the hand results and those schools in high deprivation areas had higher hand counts. Of the swabs taken from surfaces in the toilet areas and classrooms, the carpets in the classrooms were the most frequently contaminated surfaces.


Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for coronavirus disease 2019-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: Report of two cases and review of the literature.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, is a worldwide pandemic. Some COVID-19 patients develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and progress to respiratory failure. In such cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment is a necessary life-saving procedure. Two special COVID-19 cases-one full-term pregnant woman and one elderly (72-year-old) man-were treated by veno-venous (VV)-ECMO in the Second People's Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China. Both patients had developed refractory hypoxemia shortly after hospital admission, despite conventional support, and were therefore managed by VV-ECMO. Although both experienced multiple ECMO-related complications on top of the COVID-19 disease, their conditions improved gradually. Both patients were weaned successfully from the ECMO therapy. At the time of writing of this report, the woman has recovered completely and been discharged from hospital to home; the man remains on mechanical ventilation, due to respiratory muscle weakness and suspected lung fibrosis. As ECMO itself is associated with various complications, it is very important to understand and treat these complications to achieve optimal outcome. VV-ECMO can provide sufficient gas exchange for COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, it is crucial to understand and treat ECMO-related complications.


Carbohydrate composition of peripheral, cultured and leukaemic human lymphocyte plasma membranes.
Plasma membranes isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal donors, lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), a T cell and B cell line (MOLT-3 and RPMI-1788) were analysed and compared for total carbohydrate contents. T cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes contained the highest relative amounts of sialic acid and fucose, whereas chronic lymphatic leukaemic cells possessed the highest amounts of N-acetylgalactosamine and also more total cell surface carbohydrate. The Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF) was detected serologically on membrane fractions by the use of anti-TF containing sera and specific lectins from Arachis hypogaea, Agaricus bisporus and Vicia graminea. The disaccharide beta-D-galactosyl(1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine is the immunogdominant carbohydrate group of the FT antigen and was detected as its reduced form, by gas chromatography, in all cells, thus correlating serological and analytical evidence. The haemagglutinating activity of the lectins and sera used was only inhibited by plasma membranes after the removal of sialic acid showong that the native form of this antigen is normally masked by sialic acid in CLL cells as well as normal lymphocytes.


High ethanol sensitive glycine receptors regulate firing in D1 medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens.
Inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) are widely expressed in spinal cord and brain stem. They are also expressed in the nucleus Accumbens (nAc) where they have been implicated in the release of dopamine from the ventral tegmental area to the nAc in the presence of ethanol. One of the major types of neurons in the nAc are the Dopamine 1 receptor-expressing (D1+) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that are activated when addictive drugs, like ethanol, are administrated. Thus, D1(+) MSNs are a relevant target for the study of ethanol effects. Here, using electrophysiological recordings, we report that GlyRs in D1(+) MSNs are highly sensitive to ethanol, with potentiation starting at 5 mM (26 ± 5%). Single channel recordings in D1(+) MSNs showed that 10 mM ethanol increased the open probability of the channel (0.22 ± 0.05 versus 0.66 ± 0.16), but did not affect channel conductance (~40 pS). A glycinergic mediated tonic current in D1(+) MSNs was potentiated by 10 and 50 mM ethanol causing a reduction in the excitability of these cells. A 34 ± 7% reduction in action potential firing was observed in these neurons in the presence of 50 mM ethanol. Interestingly, no effects of ethanol were detected in the presence of strychnine or in D1(-) MSNs in the nAc. These results indicate that GlyRs present in D1(+) MSNs are sensitive to low concentrations of ethanol, and that potentiation of this inhibitory current regulates the activation of nAc, acting as a homeostatic signal that would prevent over-activation of the reward system when drugs like ethanol are consumed.


Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis Using Immobilized pH Gradients in the First Dimension.
The high-resolution capacity of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) based on the method of O'Farrell (1) makes it the method of choice for the analysis of complex protein mixtures (2-4). In the standard procedure, cylindrical tube isoelectric focusing (IEF) gels are used. Unfortunately this system suffers from severe cathodic drift resulting in pH gradients that do not extend above pH 8, resulting in concomitant loss of basic proteins from 2-D maps. Gradients can be extended to pH 10 by special treatment of the glass IEF tubes (5) or by using a horizontal flat-bed IEF (5-7). In spite of the improvement in resolution of basic proteins that can be achieved with these procedures, difficulties are still associated with the first-dimension IEF gels as a consequence of the characteristic properties of the synthetic carrier ampholytes used to generate the pH gradients. These include problems of batch reproducibility of ampholytes, irreproducibility of separations, difficulty in control of pH gradient stability and shape (i.e., "pH gradient engineering"), and the possibility of artifacts caused by protein-ampholyte interactions.


Comprehensive characterization of bioactive peptides from Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) colostrum and milk fat globule membrane proteins.
Milk fat is dispersed in milk as small spherical globules stabilized in the form of emulsion by its surrounding membrane, often referred to as fat globule membrane (FGM). Buffalo, a major milking mammal of Asia and second most milking mammal across the globe presents physicochemical features different from that of other ruminant species containing higher content of lipids and proteins. The present study describes characterization of FGM proteins isolated from both buffalo milk and colostrum. A detailed proteomic analysis of peptides generated by in vitro gastrointestinal simulation digestion of buffalo milk and colostrum FGM fractions was performed by nLC-ESI MS/MS. The peptide based clustering of FGM proteins unravelled association of membrane proteins in fat transport, enzymatic activity, general transport, defence, cell signalling, membrane/protein trafficking protein synthesis/binding/folding including unknown functions. Gene annotation, STRING and YLoc analyses provided putative insights into major secretory pathways in milk and colostrum FGM peptides, interactive protein networks including their sub cellular localization. The peptides of milk and colostrum FGM offered cellular protection as powerful antioxidants indicated their promising perspectives in commercial formulations and nutraceuticals.


Thymic hyperplasia with massive enlargement: report of two cases with review of diagnostic criteria.
Two cases of massive thymic hyperplasia (MTH) are reported in boys 11 and 14 years of age. Each was detected on routine chest roentgenogram as a large anterior mediastinal mass. Total thymectomy was successfully performed and the two patients were alive and well 9 and 17 years later. The thymectomy specimens weighed 324 and 490 gm, respectively, and had uniform histologic anatomy without lymphoid nodules. Morphometric study documented the massive increase in thymic parenchyma (i.e., true hyperplasia) with retention of a normal proportion of connective tissue expected for age. Since thymic size and structure normally become modified with age, it is essential to consult standard reference data when evaluating hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Gross and histologic features distinguishing MTH from childhood thymoma are discussed.


Reproductive Pattern of Parous Women and the Risk of Cancer in Later Life.
We assessed the risk of any and site-specific cancers in a case-control study of parous women living in northeast Scotland in relation to: total number of pregnancies, cumulative time pregnant, age at first delivery and interpregnancy interval. We analysed 6430 women with cancer and 6430 age-matched controls. After adjustment for confounders, women with increasing number of pregnancies had similar odds of cancer diagnosis as women with only one pregnancy. The adjusted odds of cancer diagnosis were no higher in women with cumulative pregnancy time 50-150 weeks compared to those pregnant ≤ 50 weeks. Compared with women who had their first delivery at or before 20 years of age, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) among those aged 21-25 years was 0.81, 95% CI 0.74, 0.88; 26-30 years AOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69, 0.86; >30 years AOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55, 0.73. After adjustment, the odds of having any cancer were higher in women who had an inter-pregnancy interval >3 years compared to those with no subsequent pregnancy (AOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05, 1.30). Older age at first pregnancy was associated with increased risk of breast and gastrointestinal cancer, and reduced risk of invasive cervical, carcinoma in situ of the cervix and respiratory cancer.


Behavioural and physical characteristics associated with vitamin D status in women.
For most people in Australia, the primary source of vitamin D is casual exposure to sunlight. Hypovitaminosis D has been reported for high-risk populations, but little has been documented for women of all ages living in the community. Using cross-sectional data, we aimed to describe physical and behavioural characteristics associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) for such women and to determine the association of serum 25OHD with hypertension and bone health. Serum 25OHD, parathyroid hormone (PTH), blood pressure, bone mineral density (BMD) and anthropometry were measured in a random sample of 861 women aged 20-92 years enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, set in a temperate region at latitude 38-39 degrees S. Lifestyle factors (including diet, smoking, medication use, socio-economic status, residence, education, occupation, and physical activity) were documented by questionnaire. In season-adjusted models for women aged 20-54 years, physical activity and living with a partner were independently and positively associated with serum 25OHD; associations with weight and waist-hip ratio were negative. Among older women, physical activity, vitamin D intake and urban dwelling were positively associated with serum 25OHD; age, weight and smoking were negative. Compared with the lowest tertile, those in the highest serum 25OHD tertile were less likely to have elevated serum PTH (adjusted OR=0.25, 95% CI 0.16-0.41) and high blood pressure (adjusted OR=0.40, 95% CI 0.22-0.72), and more likely to have normal hip and spine BMD (adjusted OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.08-2.52). In multivariable models adjusting for season, age, weight (and height), BMD was associated with serum 25OHD at the spine, hip and whole body; no associations were detected at the forearm and no other characteristics were identified as confounders. Factors associated with high vitamin D status generally reflected healthy body habitus and active lifestyles. In contrast, excessive weight and smoking were associated with poorer vitamin D status. Women with high vitamin D were less likely to have elevated PTH, hypertension or bone deficits than women with poor levels.


Optimisation of xylanases production by two Cellulomonas strains and their use for biomass deconstruction.
One of the main distinguishing features of bacteria belonging to the Cellulomonas genus is their ability to secrete multiple polysaccharide degrading enzymes. However, their application in biomass deconstruction still constitutes a challenge. We addressed the optimisation of the xylanolytic activities in extracellular enzymatic extracts of Cellulomonas sp. B6 and Cellulomonas fimi B-402 for their subsequent application in lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis by culture in several substrates. As demonstrated by secretomic profiling, wheat bran and waste paper resulted to be suitable inducers for the secretion of xylanases of Cellulomonas sp. B6 and C. fimi B-402, respectively. Both strains showed high xylanolytic activity in culture supernatant although Cellulomonas sp. B6 was the most efficient xylanolytic strain. Upscaling from flasks to fermentation in a bench scale bioreactor resulted in equivalent production of extracellular xylanolytic enzymatic extracts and freeze drying was a successful method for concentration and conservation of the extracellular enzymes, retaining 80% activity. Moreover, enzymatic cocktails composed of combined extra and intracellular extracts effectively hydrolysed the hemicellulose fraction of extruded barley straw into xylose and xylooligosaccharides. KEY POINTS: • Secreted xylanase activity of Cellulomonas sp. B6 and C. fimi was maximised. • Biomass-induced extracellular enzymes were identified by proteomic profiling. • Combinations of extra and intracellular extracts were used for barley straw hydrolysis.


Identification of zona binding proteins of rabbit, pig, human, and mouse spermatozoa on nitrocellulose blots.
Mammalian fertilization is a multi-step process with different requirements for specificity at each step. In the present report we have examined the binding of spermatozoa to homologous and heterologous zonae pellucidae. The homologous zona binding proteins (ZBP) of ejaculated rabbit, pig and human spermatozoa and epididymal mouse spermatozoa have been identified. The rabbit's ZBPs have relative molecular weights (MW) of 32K, 18K, 16K and 14K; the pig's major ZBP is 16K while human spermatozoa bind human zona protein at 17K and 18K. Mouse sperm ZBPs are 19K, 18K and 16K.


Enhanced the photoelectrochemical performance of Bi2XO6 (X = W, Mo) for detecting hexavalent chromium by modification of CuS.
In this work, Bi2XO6 (X = W, Mo) are synthesized at different temperatures. The results of tests find the optimal temperatures of Bi2WO6 and Bi2MoO6 are 180 and 160°C (BW-180, BM-160). Then, BW-180 and BM-160 are further compounded with different contents of CuS. The results of photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests show that CuS can improve the PEC performance of semiconductor materials, and it has better performance when CuS mass fraction is 5%. These maybe the photoelectron potentials generated by CuS/Bi2XO6 (X = Mo, W) heterojunction reduce the combination of photogenerated electrons and holes. When the PEC sensor based on 5%-CuS/BW-180 detects Cr(VI), it has a linear range of 1-80 μmol/L with detection limit of 0.95 μmol/L, while the PEC sensor based on 5%-CuS/BM-160 detects Cr(VI) has a linear range of 0.5-230 μmol/L and a detection limit of 0.12 μmol/L. Thus, 5%-CuS/Bi2XO6 has potential application in hexavalent chromium detection.


A polysomnographic study in parkinsonian patients treated with intestinal levodopa infusion.
Sleep disorders are very common in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) and have a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Questionnaire-based studies suggest that sleep quality might improve following levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of LCIG infusion and subsequent oral medication changes on polysomnography (PSG) and sleep symptoms in advanced PD patients. Eleven PD patients underwent PSG at baseline and after 3.8 ± 1.2 months of LCIG treatment. LCIG infusion therapy was halted during PSG. Patients were assessed with the Unified-PD-rating-Scale and completed the PD-Sleep-Scale-version-2 (PDSS-2), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the RBD single question. Subjective sleep quality improved in all patients. PSG showed a reduction of the number of awakenings in sleep, a trend towards a lower apnea-hypopnea index and no change in sleep latency, total sleep time and sleep efficiency. There was a positive correlation between the number of awakenings and PDSS-2 scores for "difficulty staying asleep", "muscle cramps of arms or legs" and "urge to move arms or legs". Motor complications and activities of daily living improved with LCIG. Subjective sleep quality improved significantly and the PSG study showed a less fragmented sleep pattern in advanced PD patients treated with LCIG infusion.


Analysis of the postharvest storage characteristics of the new red-fleshed apple cultivar 'meihong'.
This study examined the effects of postharvest storage conditions on the fruit quality of a new red-fleshed apple cultivar ('Meihong'). Mature 'Meihong' and 'Golden delicious' apples were exposed to room temperature, low temperature, and low temperature and 1-MCP, after which several fruit characteristics were evaluated (i.e., firmness, ethylene release rate, relative content of aroma components, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity, fruit softening-related enzyme activities, and related gene expression). Both 'Meihong' and 'Golden delicious' were ACS1-1/-2 heterozygotes, but the ethylene release rate in 'Meihong' fruits was lower than that in 'Golden delicious' fruits during storage. Therefore, 'Meihong' fruits are more conducive to storage. The low temperature storage with and without 1-MCP delayed fruit softening, decreased the ethylene release rate and ester aroma component content, and maintained total flavonoid and anthocyanin contents. Therefore, storage at low temperatures with 1-MCP or other preservatives may be useful for maintaining the 'Meihong' fruit quality.


Progressive kyphosis and neurologic compromise complicating spondylothoracic dysplasia in infancy (Jarcho-Levin syndrome).
This is a case report and review of the literature. To review the orthopedic literature regarding the spinal abnormalities found with spondylothoracic dysplasia, and to present the history and management of severe kyphosis with neurologic impairment in an infant with spondylothoracic dysplasia. Spondylothoracic dysplasia (Jarcho-Levin syndrome) is a rare form of short-limbed dwarfism characterized by extensive vertebral and chest-wall abnormalities. Although the spinal anomalies generally are radiographically severe, no patient previously reported in the English orthopedic literature has required surgical stabilization. The clinical findings, course, and surgical management of an infant with spondylothoracic dysplasia and severe congenital kyphosis are presented. This patient required anterior decompression and anterior/posterior spinal fusion to obtain stabilization. The follow-up from the index surgical procedure was 2 years. The patient underwent an initial anteroposterior fusion and decompression at 5 months of age. She underwent revision of both anteroposterior procedures 7 months later because of pseudarthroses and a progressive kyphosis. Her residual neurologic abnormality was minimal and she appeared to have a stable fusion at 24 months post-index procedure. The spinal abnormalities associated with spondylothoracic dysplasia may not be as benign as previously reported. Sagittal, as well as frontal, plane deformities may exist secondary to multiple hemivertebrae. Longer life span, possibly due to improved pulmonary care, may increase the incidence of deformities requiring intervention.


A longitudinal evaluation of changes in disability and quality of life in a sample of women with migraine.
Migraine's high prevalence, which rises up to 25% among women in the productive age, determines a strong reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased disability. Aim of this study is to longitudinally describe disability and HRQoL in a sample of adult women with migraine attending to a specialty centre. HRQoL was measured with the SF-36 and disability with the WHO-DAS II. One-sample t test was used to assess deterioration in disability and HRQoL scales compared to normative scores; effect size was calculated to describe magnitude of change after 3 months. Majority of scales were significantly deteriorated, and changes between baseline and follow-up were negligible to small for most of SF-36 scales, and small to moderate for WHO-DAS II scales. In conclusion, women with migraine showed pervasive deterioration in disability and HRQoL. Wider improvements were observed at follow-up for activities in which relational skills are relevant, while those with a physical component, or that are predominantly performed autonomously, remained almost unchanged.


Regulation of dopamine production in the brains during sexual maturation in male honey bees.
To explore the physiological mechanisms that underlie age-related dopamine increases during sexual maturation in the brains of male honey bees, we focused on the expression of genes encoding the enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (Amth) and DOPA decarboxylase (Amddc), which are involved in dopamine biosynthesis in the brain. We hypothesized that juvenile hormone in hemolymph and tyrosine intake from food known as factors enhancing brain dopamine levels might both control the expression of genes related to dopamine production, and we tested this hypothesis in experiments. The brain levels of tyrosine and DOPA, which are precursors of dopamine, decreased as males aged, whereas the dopamine levels increased, suggesting active metabolism of dopamine precursors. The relative expression levels of Amth and Amddc were significantly higher in the brains of 4-day-old males compared with 0-day-old males, and the higher level of Amddc was maintained after 8 days. Topical application of the juvenile hormone analog methoprene enhanced the expression levels of Amth and Amddc in the brains according to the methoprene concentration. Oral intake of tyrosine enhanced the tyrosine, DOPA and dopamine levels in the brain, and activated Amddc expression in the brain, suggesting that tyrosine intake can increase both substrates and enzyme for dopamine biosynthesis. These results support our hypothesis that juvenile hormone and tyrosine intake may enhance the expression levels of genes encoding enzymes involved in dopamine biosynthesis in male honey bee brains during sexual maturation.


Immunogenic nanomedicine based on GSH-responsive nanoscale covalent organic polymers for chemo-sonodynamic therapy.
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is emerging as a non-invasive strategy to eradicate tumors, but its therapeutic efficacy is still not ideal. To achieve more effective SDT, water insoluble sonosensitizer meso-5, 10, 15, 20-tetra(4-hydroxylphenyl)porphyrin (THPP) is here esterified with succinic acid conjugated oxaliplatin prodrug (Oxa(IV)SA2) and carboxyl group terminated PEG (PEG5k-COOH). The obtained covalent organic polymer (COP) of THPP-Oxa(IV)-PEG with good physiological stability, sonosensitization efficacy and glutathione (GSH) responsive oxalipatin responsive behaviors can induce effective immunogenic cancer cell death upon the ultrasound exposure. In addition, THPP-Oxa(IV)-PEG is shown to be a versatile carrier for both hydrophobic near infrared dye and radioisotope 99mTc, thereby enabling real-time tracking of its pharmacokinetics behavior under corresponding imaging facilities. Furthermore, treatment with THPP-Oxa(IV)-PEG injection and ultrasound exposure is shown to be most effectively in suppressing tumor growth, with 3 of 6 CT26 tumor bearing mice fully cured, ascribing to its high potency in eliciting profound antitumor immune responses. This work highlights a promising strategy in constructing multifunctional nanosonosensitizer as a potent immunogenic nanomedicine to enhance the treatment outcome of SDT.


Practices Involved in the Enteral Delivery of Drugs.
While the delivery of medications through enteral tubes is common in critically ill patients, there are complications and a lack of unified practices between institutions. The purpose of this review is to evaluate current practices and literature evidence regarding this administration route. The effect of this administration on the medication's efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics was examined, as well as other considerations to ensure that this route of delivery is both safe and effective for patients. Studies have found crushed oral tablets are the most frequent cause of obstructed feeding tubes. Complications such as this are primarily due to inadequate personnel training and failure to properly access medications before enteral administration. There are many factors that should be considered in order to effectively administer drugs via enteral tubes. Formal training and use of a multi-disciplinary approach that includes pharmacists and dieticians has been shown to reduce tube obstructions and administration errors.


Quality of life and depression among diabetic patients attending the lifestyle clinic of a teaching hospital, West Bengal.
The coexistence of diabetes and depression has resulted in poor quality of life. Reported literature suggested the need for research for assessing the correlates of both quality of life along with depression in diabetic persons. To assess the quality of life (QOL), the prevalence of depression and associated factors in diabetic patients attending the lifestyle clinic of a tertiary healthcare facility in Eastern India. This hospital-based descriptive, cross-sectional research recruited 219 patients with diabetes to assess the QOL and depression in the lifestyle clinic of a tertiary healthcare facility. The quality of life was assessed with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) QOL BREF instrument. Depression was determined by a standardized Patient Health Questionnaire - 9(PHQ-9). The sociodemographic and diabetes-related information were collected by a semistructured questionnaire. Clinical and anthropometric examinations were conducted. All the available data were initially coded and then analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 licensed software. The participants had a median age of 54 years. Illiteracy was significantly more among females. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity. Gender-wise difference in mean of weight, height, hip circumference, and QOL score in the psychosocial domain was significant. The mean QOL score was least in the social domain and highest in the environmental domain. Literate patients had a statistically significantly better QOL. Depression was observed significantly more in females, illiterates, and unemployed respondents. Diabetic women with lesser literacy have an increased risk of poor QOL. Women, illiterates, and the unemployed suffered more from depression. Therefore, a target-specific, routine, and well-planned clinic approach is needed to improve the QOL and mental health of respondents.


Corrigendum: Circulating cell-free DNA and IL-10 from cerebrospinal fluids aid primary vitreoretinal lymphoma diagnosis.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.955080.].


Poiseuille, periodicity, and perfusion: rhythmic oscillatory vasomotion in the skin.
Cutaneous vasomotion has not been actively investigated until recently. This is hardly surprising, as it has not been a reproducible phenomenon. During recent studies on various physiological and pharmacological vascular problems, we identified experimental conditions in which cutaneous vasomotion commonly occurred. We then characterized four methods that routinely provoke human cutaneous vasomotion in vivo, in order to further characterize this physiological phenomenon. Although several adaptive advantages may exist for vasomotion, the most compelling theory can be derived mathematically from Poiseuille's law. Because the flow of a liquid through a vessel is proportional to the fourth power of the radius, it can be demonstrated that the resistance of a vessel with a constant diameter is greater than that of a vessel of the same average diameter in which the diameter changes sinusoidally. Importantly, the rhythmicity originates within the vascular tissue, and there appears to be electromechanical coupling. The cation effluxes demonstrate oscillatory behavior that may be driven by the availability of adenosine triphosphate. Substrate and product concentrations can alter the activity of the allosteric enzyme, phosphofructokinase, which may control the oscillations in ATP concentration. Despite the qualitatively different provocative agents, the cutaneous rhythmic oscillatory vasomotion always first appears after a peak in erythrocyte flux, and it disappears before reaching resting flux levels. Thus, cutaneous rhythmic oscillatory vasomotion is a midrange phenomenon, most likely corresponding to the "oscillatory domain" of glycolysis. Finally, a common feature of tissue preparations for the study of vasomotion is that anesthesia was not used. We have shown that this inhibitory effect of anesthetic agents may persist well beyond "anesthesia," and this suppression may be of clinical importance in the patient with microcirculatory compromise undergoing surgery.


Neuropsychological intervention in kindergarten children with subtyped risks of reading retardation.
Kindergarten children at risk of developing language problems were administered the Florida Kindergarten Screening Battery. A principal components analysis revealed a verbal and a visual-spatial component and subsequent discriminant function analyses a high verbal/low visual-spatial group (LAL: Latent L) and a high visual-spatial/low verbal group (LAP: Latent P). LAL- and LAP-children were considered at risk for developing an L- or P-type of dyslexia, respectively. As is common practice with children suffering from manifest L- or P- dyslexia, the LAL- and LAP-kindergartners received right and left hemisphere stimulation, respectively. The outcomes were compared with those of bilateral hemispheric stimulation and no intervention. Reading tests were administered in primary school Grades 1 and 5/6; teachers' evaluation of reading took place in Grade 5/6. Overall, the LAL- and LAP- groups showed significant backwardness in word and text reading, both at early and late primary school. Types of intervention made a difference though: not significantly backward in early word, late word, and late text reading were the LAL-children who had received right hemisphere stimulation. Nonintervened LAP-children did not show significant backwardness in early word reading and late text reading, nor did LAP-children who had received left hemisphere or bilateral stimulation. Early text reading was not affected by any treatment. Teacher's evaluations were in support of these findings.


Testosterone Treatment As a Function-Promoting Therapy in Sarcopenia Associated with Aging and Chronic Disease.
Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle strength and physical ability because of aging and/or chronic disease. Supplemental testosterone and other androgenic-anabolic steroids have been investigated as countermeasures to ameliorate the negative consequences of sarcopenia; these trials show dose-related improvements in lean body mass, maximal voluntary strength, stair climbing power, aerobic capacity, hemoglobin, and self-reported function, but less consistent improvements in walking speed. Randomized clinical trials with large cohorts and patient-important outcome measures are needed to determine long-term efficacy and safety of testosterone treatment in improving physical function and reducing physical disability, falls, and fractures in older adults with sarcopenia.


Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: experience with 22 unselected patients with renal failure.
The present study describes our experience with CAPD in an unselected group of patients presenting with endstage renal failure. Twenty-three consecutive patients were offered CAPD, in-center, and home hemodialysis. Twenty-two patients selected CAPD, including 14 patients more than 60 years of age, four patients with diabetes, and one with multiple myeloma. CAPD training was performed in an out-of-hospital office facility. One patient returned to hemodialysis following the development of resistant Pseudomonas peritonitis, two patients died of a myocardial infarction, and one patient died with a GI bleed. The other 18 patients are doing well. Assessment of 17 patients maintained on therapy for four months or more revealed that the patients are less depressed, less organic, and have fewer physical symptoms than previously reported for a comparable group of patients maintained on hemodialysis for a similar period of time. In conclusion, CAPD can be successfully employed, at least for the initial months of therapy, to treat the vast majority of patients with endstage renal disease. CAPD training and follow-up care can be provided in an out-of-hospital office facility.


Epidemic West Nile virus encephalomyelitis: a temperature-dependent, spatial model of disease dynamics.
Since first being detected in New York in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has spread throughout the United States and more than 20,000 cases of equine WNV encephalomyelitis have been reported. A spatial model of disease occurrence was developed, using data from an outbreak of serologically confirmed disease in an unvaccinated population of horses at 108 locations in northern Indiana between 3 August and 17 October 2002. Daily maximum temperature data were recorded at meteorological stations surrounding the study area. The distribution of the total number of degree-days elapsing between July 4 and the date of diagnosis of each case was best described by a normal distribution (mean=5243 degrees F, S.D.=1047). The days on which the average risk was >25, >50 and >75% were predicted (versus observed) to occur on August 23 (August 9), August 31 (September 2) and September 9 (September 9). The epidemic was predicted to occur 3 days earlier, or 4 days later, than observed if temperatures in the study area were uniformly increased, or decreased, by 5 degrees F, respectively. Maps indicated that WNV encephalomyelitis risk always remained greater in the northwest quadrant of the study area. Since WNV might exist at a hypoendemic level of infection, and occasionally re-emerge as a cause of epidemics in equine populations, by identifying factors that contributed to this epidemic, the potential impact of future epidemics can be reduced. Such studies rely on a GIS framework, availability of meteorological and possibly remotely sensed data and information on host and landscape factors. An early-warning system for WNV transmission in equine populations could be developed.


Starvation reduces pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase activity in rat kidney.
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) from rat kidney or pig heart previously inactivated by phosphorylation (PDHP) was activated in vitro by PDHP phosphatase from kidneys of starved or fed rats. Starvation for 48 h of the rats from which the PDC was prepared led to a decrease in the rate of activation of PDC at early time periods (< 2 min), particularly at submaximal concentrations of Mg2+. Using intact permeable kidney mitochondria incubated for 15 sec, it was found that starvation of rats more than doubled the Mg2+ concentration at which the half maximal increment of PDC activity (PDCa) was observed. Reduction of PDHP phosphatase activity due to starvation was also apparent when phosphatase was separated from PDC and recombined with PDC from the same or different animals. Intraperitoneal injection of insulin and glucose 1 h before sacrifice of starved rats prevented the reduction of PDHP phosphatase activity whether or not protein synthesis was inhibited. The effect of insulin in restoration of PDHP phosphatase activity of starved rats was not mimicked by 5-methylpyrazole 3-carboxylic acid, an inhibitor of lipolysis. When renal PDHP phosphatase was incubated with pig heart PDC in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+ and 0.1 mM Ca2+ the increment in PDCa, in 1 min was 30% of fully activated PDC activity (PDCt) observed after 15 min. Removal of divalent cations did not affect the increment in 1 min but prevented further increments. Conversely okadaic acid diminished 1 min increment but did not disturb PDCt. It is suggested that the different behaviour of renal PDC from fed and starved animals may partly be due to different divalent cation independent PDHP phosphatase activity.


Results of surgical treatment of hepatic hydatidosis: current therapeutic modifications.
Hepatic hydatidosis is an endemic disease that affects vast segments of the populations of various countries in the Mediterranean region, South America, the Pacific, and temperate zone nations that possess large numbers of sheep. Four hundred and ten patients bearing 561 hydatid cysts were treated at 2 major hospitals in Madrid, Spain in the period 1974-1989. In order to establish the modifications in diagnostic and therapeutic management introduced as a result of modernization of our clinical facilities and improved technological standards, they were divided into 2 groups: group A corresponded to the period 1974-1984, and group B, corresponded to the period 1985-1989. Since no effective parasiticide agent is available, hepatic hydatidosis must be treated surgically. Today's better knowledge and advancements in liver surgery have made it possible to extirpate the cyst completely with little risk and improved results; hepatic resection should only be considered in exceptional cases; aspiration, drainage procedures, or partial resections of the cyst yield inferior results. We have had no relapse of the hydatid disease in the liver or in any other abdominal site.


Automated data integration and determination of posttranslational modifications with the protein inference engine.
This chapter describes using the Protein Inference Engine (PIE) to integrate various types of data--especially top down and bottom up mass spectrometer (MS) data--to describe a protein's posttranslational modifications (PTMs). PTMs include cleavage events such as the n-terminal loss of methionine and residue modifications like phosphorylation. Modifications are key elements in many biological processes, but are difficult to study as no single, general method adequately characterizes a protein's PTMs; manually integrating data from several MS experiments is usually required. The PIE is designed to automate this process using a guess and refine process similar to how an expert manually integrates data. The PIE repeatedly "imagines" a possible modification set, evaluates it using available data, and then tries to improve on it. After many rounds of refinement, the resulting modification set is proposed as a candidate answer. Multiple candidate answers are generated to obtain both best and near-best answers. Near-best answers are crucial in allowing for proteins with more than one supported modification pattern (isoforms) and obtaining robust results given incomplete and inconsistent data.The goal of this chapter is to walk the reader through installing and using the downloadable version of PIE, both in general and by means of a specific, detailed example. The example integrates several types of experimental and background (prior) data. It is not a "perfect-world" scenario, but has been designed to illustrate several real-world difficulties that may be encountered when trying to analyze imperfect data.


Evaluating the efficacy of an integrated motivational interviewing and multi-modal exercise intervention for youth with major depression: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind randomised controlled trial protocol.
Recent meta-analytic reviews suggest exercise can reduce depression severity among adults with major depressive disorder (MDD); however, efficacy studies with depressed youth are limited. Few studies have investigated the efficacy of multi-modal exercise interventions in this population, addressed treatment engagement, or explored the differential effects of exercise on depressive symptom profiles. This paper describes the study protocol and recruitment pattern for an assessor blinded, two-arm randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of an integrated motivational interviewing (MI) and multi-modal exercise intervention in youth diagnosed with MDD. Associations between depressive symptom profiles (cognitive, somatic and affective) and psychological, physiological (fitness), and biological (blood biomarker) outcomes will also be examined. Participants aged 15-25 years with current MDD were recruited. Eligible participants were randomised and stratified according to gender and depression severity to either an immediate or delayed (control) group. The immediate group received a brief MI intervention followed by a 12-week small group exercise intervention (3 times per week for 1 h), all delivered by personal trainers. The delayed control group received the same intervention 12-weeks later. Both groups were reassessed at mid-treatment or mid-control, post-treatment or post-control, and follow-up (12 weeks post-treatment). 68 participants were recruited and randomly allocated to an intervention group. This trial will increase our understanding of the efficacy of multi-modal exercise interventions for depression and the specific effects of exercise on depressive symptom profiles. It also offers a novel contribution by addressing treatment engagement in exercise efficacy trials in youth with MDD.


Mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy: technique, outcomes: a prospective study.
The last decades have been characterized by a rapid growth in minimally invasive techniques for acute and chronic cholecystitis. The aim of our study was to analyze 10 years of experience with the mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy. From 1994 to 2004, we performed 2295 mini-laparotomy cholecystectomies, including 1028 patients with acute and 1267 patients with chronic cholecystitis. There were 1780 women and 515 men. We utilized a special surgical tool kit with a system of circular and small hook-retractors incorporating an illuminator and long surgical instruments. Our surgical approach was carried out using a 3-5 cm longitudinal incision located immediately above the gallbladder with a muscle splitting technique. The mean time of operation was 64.5+/-24.5 min and the conversion rate was 3.7%. Intraoperative complications occurred in 25 cases (1.1%), including 4 cases (0.17%) of biliary tract injury. Cholecystectomy was combined with intervention on the choledochus and the papilla of Vater in 133 patients with choledocholithiasis. Postoperative complications developed in 4.1%. Five hundred and five patients (22%) required opioid analgesics on the first postoperative day. The mortality rate was 0.17%. The mortalities involved patients who had severe concomitant diseases and required urgent surgery for acute cholecystitis. Patients operated for acute cholecystitis had significantly higher rates of postoperative complications (5.8% vs. 2.8%), need for opioids (25.5% vs. 19.2%) and mortality (0.39% vs. 0%). Mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy is an alternative to laparoscopic approach in the surgical treatment of acute and chronic cholecystitis.


Anastomotic healing after resection of left-colon stenosis: effect on collagen metabolism and anastomotic strength. An experimental study in the rat.
Anastomotic breaking strength and collagen metabolism in the colonic wall were studied after resection of a standardized left-colon stenosis in the rat. An increased complication rate was found in the stenosis group compared with the control group (27 percent vs. 2 percent) and the complications arise soon after surgery. The collagen turnover in the anastomotic area, as well as the changes of breaking strength, were equal between the groups in the early healing course, implying that the stenosis group, as an entity, did not show impairment in the studied parameters predisposing for complications. Other factors such as mechanical strain by the increased fecal bulk and increased bacterial load may contribute to occurrence of the anastomotic complications.


From organic pollutants to bioplastics: insights into the bioremediation of aromatic compounds by Cupriavidus necator.
Organic pollution by aromatic compounds is of increasing concern to our environment. Therefore, the transformation of aromatic pollutants into valuable aliphatic and biodegradable bioplastics was studied. Since benzoic acid was found to be the key compound for such bioremediation processes, its transformation, and metabolic pathways of digestion, by Cupriavidus necator were specifically analysed. It was found that the degradation of aromatic compounds follows the 2,3-dioxygenase pathway in this strain and that the batch transformations of benzoic acid with either fresh or adapted cells were limited to an initial concentration of 2.5 g/L of pollutant. The repeated fed-batch with partial withdrawal process, however, showed a 17.5-fold improvement, thus allowing the transformation of a total of 43.7 g/L in 12 weeks.


Endocutter Staple Height Auto-Adjusts to Tissue Thickness.
Surgeon choice of the appropriate staple height has been cited as a factor in the mechanical integrity of a staple line. However, tissue measured at the industry standard 8 g/mm2 is usually thicker than the formed staple height of the staples that hold it together. This means that the pressure that the staples apply must be greater than 8g/mm2. Additionally, formed staple heights in tissue may be different than formed staple heights of the same cartridge type when fired without tissue. This means that there is likely a compressive limit to the individual staples deployed by the stapling system. The purpose of this study is to establish the degree to which staple heights of endocutter staples auto-adjust to tissue and the compressive limit to tissue that this infers. Excised gastric remnants from laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were measured for tissue thickness at different external pressures. An optimized experimental staple line was then created in parallel to the clinical staple line. The doubly-stapled gastric sliver then underwent computed tomography with solid modeling software to measure staple heights. Staple heights fired in gastric tissue were significantly different than industry labelled and control staple heights. Clinical staple heights were significantly shorter than measured tissue thickness at 8 g/mm2. Staple height more closely approximated tissue thickness under 15 g/mm2 of pressure, rather than the 8 g/mm2 loading pressure used by industry for tissue thickness range labelling. Staples deployed in human gastric tissue are taller than commercial labelling. The closed staple height corresponds to tissue thickness under 15g/mm2 of pressure, not the labelled staple height. These results demonstrate that staple heights from modern endocutter staplers adjust to tissue, approximating a maximum compressive force just above 15g/mm2.


Pharmacological properties of endothelins and big endothelins in ketamine/xylazine or urethane anesthetized rats.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent endogenous vasoconstrictor peptide formed through a specific conversion of its intermediate precursor, big ET-1, by an endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). The present study evaluates the capacity of the ECE to convert the three big endothelins (big ET-1, big ET-2, and big ET-3), by comparing the pressor responses to these peptides with those induced by their respective metabolites (ET-1, -2, and -3) in the rat in vivo, anesthetized either with a mixture of ketamine/xylazine or with urethane. The mean basal arterial pressure under urethane anesthesia was not significantly different from that of ketamine/xylazine-treated animals (90/15 mg/kg; intramuscularly), although the basal heart rate was significantly higher in the former animals (urethane: 407 +/- 10 beats/min, ketamine/xylazine: 276 +/- 4 beats/min, P < .01; n = 8 to 17). In ketamine/xylazine and hexamethonium-treated rats (5-min infusion, 10 mg/kg intravenously), intravenous injection of ET-1 (1 nmol/kg) and big ET-1 (1 nmol/kg) induced potent vasopressor effects which lasted for more than 20 min. ET-2 (1 nmol/kg) produced similar pressor responses while big ET-2 (1-37) and big ET-2 (1-38) were twofold less potent than ET-2 (P < .05; n = 3 to 4). Big ET-3 induced a pressor effect only at 4 nmol/kg and was found to be at least 10 times less potent than ET-3. In animals anesthetized with urethane (1.5 g/kg intraperitoneally), the pressor responses induced by the endothelins and their intermediate precursors, as well as the pressor responses to angiotensin II and norepinephrine, were reduced by more than 60% (P < .01) when compared to ketamine/xylazine-treated animals. Big ET-3 was found inactive under urethane anesthesia. Ganglion blockade by hexamethonium did not affect the response to ET-1, big ET-1, ET-3, or big ET-3 in rats anesthetized with either ketamine/xylazine or urethane. On the other hand, big ET-2 (1-38), in contrast to ET-2 or big ET-1, did not release prostacyclin from the rat perfused lung, thus indicating that big ET-2 (1-38) is poorly converted in the pulmonary vasculature, and that the phosphoramidon-sensitive ECE responsible for the pressor effects of big ET-2 is localized elsewhere in the systemic circulation. Our results also show that the choice of anesthetics is crucial for the proper monitoring of the pressor responses to endothelins as well as other pressor agents. Nonetheless, even in what we consider as optimal conditions of anesthesia (threshold dose for the pressor response to ET-1 in ketamine/xylazine-treated rats: 0.01 nmol/kg), big ET-3 remains far less active than big ET-1 as a pressor peptide in the rat, suggesting a preferential processing of the latter by the ECE.


Genetic interaction between Caenorhabditis elegans teneurin ten-1 and prolyl 4-hydroxylase phy-1 and their function in collagen IV-mediated basement membrane integrity during late elongation of the embryo.
Teneurins are a family of phylogenetically conserved proteins implicated in pattern formation and morphogenesis. The sole orthologue in Caenorhabditis elegans, ten-1, is important for hypodermal cell migration, neuronal migration, path finding and fasciculation, gonad development, and basement membrane integrity of some tissues. However, the mechanisms of TEN-1 action remain to be elucidated. Using a genome-wide RNA interference approach, we identified phy-1 as a novel interaction partner of ten-1. phy-1 codes for the catalytic domain of collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase. Loss of phy-1 significantly enhanced the embryonic lethality of ten-1 null mutants. Double-mutant embryos arrested during late elongation with epidermal defects, disruption of basement membranes, and detachment of body wall muscles. We found that deletion of phy-1 caused aggregation of collagen IV in body wall muscles in elongated embryos and triggered the loss of tissue integrity in ten-1 mutants. In addition, phy-1 and ten-1 each genetically interact with genes encoding collagen IV. These findings support a functional mechanism in which loss of ten-1, together with a reduction of assembled and secreted basement membrane collagen IV protein, leads to detachment of the epidermis from muscle cells during late elongation of the embryo when mechanical stress is generated by muscle contractions.


Assessment of biomarkers in pediatric atopic dermatitis by tape strips and skin biopsies.
The cytokine profile of atopic dermatitis (AD) depends on age, ethnicity, and disease severity. This study examined biomarkers in children with AD collected by tape strips and skin biopsies, and examined whether the levels differed with filaggrin genotype, disease severity, and food allergy. Twenty-five children aged 2-14 years with AD were clinically examined. Skin biopsies were collected from lesional skin and tape strips were collected from lesional and non-lesional skin. We analyzed natural moisturizing factor (NMF) and 17 immune markers represented by mRNA levels in skin biopsies and protein levels in tape strips. Common filaggrin gene mutations were examined in all children. The cytokine profile in lesional skin was dominated by a T helper (Th) 2 response in skin biopsies, and by a general increase in innate inflammation markers (interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-18) along with TARC and CTACK in tape strips. The levels of TARC, CTACK, IL-8, IL-18 showed significant correlation with AD severity in both lesional and non-lesional tape stripped skin, while no significant correlations were observed in skin biopsy data. In tape strips from lesional and non-lesional skin, the levels of NMF and selected cytokines differed significantly between children with and without FLG mutations and food allergy. Sampling of the stratum corneum with non-invasive tape strips can be used to identify biomarkers that are associated with disease severity, food allergy and FLG mutations. Skin biopsies showed robust Th2 signature but was inferior for association analysis regarding severity.


Urine-based multi-omic comparative analysis of COVID-19 and bacterial sepsis-induced ARDS.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening condition during critical illness, is a common complication of COVID-19. It can originate from various disease etiologies, including severe infections, major injury, or inhalation of irritants. ARDS poses substantial clinical challenges due to a lack of etiology-specific therapies, multisystem involvement, and heterogeneous, poor patient outcomes. A molecular comparison of ARDS groups holds the potential to reveal common and distinct mechanisms underlying ARDS pathogenesis. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of urine-based metabolomics and proteomics profiles from COVID-19 ARDS patients (n = 42) and bacterial sepsis-induced ARDS patients (n = 17). The comparison of these ARDS etiologies identified 150 metabolites and 70 proteins that were differentially abundant between the two groups. Based on these findings, we interrogated the interplay of cell adhesion/extracellular matrix molecules, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in ARDS pathogenesis through a multi-omic network approach. Moreover, we identified a proteomic signature associated with mortality in COVID-19 ARDS patients, which contained several proteins that had previously been implicated in clinical manifestations frequently linked with ARDS pathogenesis. In summary, our results provide evidence for significant molecular differences in ARDS patients from different etiologies and a potential synergy of extracellular matrix molecules, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in ARDS pathogenesis. The proteomic mortality signature should be further investigated in future studies to develop prediction models for COVID-19 patient outcomes.


Lichens as a repository of bioactive compounds: an open window for green therapy against diverse cancers.
Lichens, algae and fungi-based symbiotic associations, are sources of many important secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and anticancer agents. Wide range of experiments based on in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that lichens are a rich treasure of anti-cancer compounds. Lichen extracts and isolated lichen compounds can interact with all biological entities currently identified to be responsible for tumor development. The critical ways to control the cancer development include induction of cell cycle arrests, blocking communication of growth factors, activation of anti-tumor immunity, inhibition of tumor-friendly inflammation, inhibition of tumor metastasis, and suppressing chromosome dysfunction. Also, lichen-based compounds induce the killing of cells by the process of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis, that inturn positively modulates metabolic networks of cells against uncontrolled cell division. Many lichen-based compounds have proven to possess potential anti-cancer activity against a wide range of cancer cells, either alone or in conjunction with other anti-cancer compounds. This review primarily emphasizes on an updated account of the repository of secondary metabolites reported in lichens. Besides, we discuss the anti-cancer potential and possible mechanism of the most frequently reported secondary metabolites derived from lichens.


Evaluation of immune evasion in SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants.
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants with higher transmissibility and immune escape remain a persistent threat across the globe. This is evident from the recent outbreaks of the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron variants. These variants have originated from different continents and spread across the globe. In this study, we explored the genomic and structural basis of these variants for their lineage defining mutations of the spike protein through computational analysis, protein modeling, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. We further experimentally validated the importance of these deletion mutants for their immune escape using a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay, and an antibody (4A8) that binds directly to the spike protein's NTD. Delta variant with the deletion and mutations in the NTD revealed a better rigidity and reduced flexibility as compared to the wild-type spike protein (Wuhan isolate). Furthermore, computational studies of 4A8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) revealed a reduced binding of Delta variant compared to the wild-type strain. Similarly, the MD simulation data and virus neutralization assays revealed that the Omicron also exhibits immune escape, as antigenic beta-sheets appear to be disrupted. The results of the present study demonstrate the higher possibility of immune escape and thereby achieved better fitness advantages by the Delta and Omicron variants, which warrants further demonstrations through experimental evidences. Our study, based on in-silico computational modelling, simulations, and pseudovirus-based neutralization assay, highlighted and identified the probable mechanism through which the Delta and Omicron variants are more pathogenically evolved with higher transmissibility as compared to the wild-type strain.


Correction to: The Rising of the Shield Hero. Development of the Post-traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ) and Assessment of the Protective Effect of Self-esteem from Trauma-related Anxiety and Depression.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s40653-022-00503-z.].


Surgical subcision as a cost-effective and minimally invasive treatment for axillary osmidrosis.
Axillary osmidrosis, characterized by unpleasant odor and occasional staining of clothing, is a personal discomfort and social impairment for people who suffer from it. Various types of surgical procedures involving instrumented-assisted tools (lasers, ultrasonic, endoscope, and others) have shown relatively positive results; however, for patients in developing countries, especially in China, these treatments are inconvenient and cost-ineffective. To introduce a minimal incision surgical procedure with skin flap treatment that removes the apocrine sweat glands in the subcutaneous tissue through a 1-cm-long incision without instrument-assisted tools. From July 2005 to October of 2007, 108 patients (68 women and 40 men) were treated with the minimal incision and cost-effective surgical treatment by manual excision. A 1-cm-long incision is made in the axillary crease. Subcutaneous tissue and glands were removed with scissors through this incision. This procedure is repeated throughout the entire axilla until the axilla has essentially become a super-thin flap. Malodor elimination was good in 206 out of 215 axillae (95.8%) treated, fair in nine (4.2%), and poor in zero (0%). The resulting scar is small and virtually invisible because it is only 1-cm long and located in the axillary crease. Treatment of axillary osmidrosis by manual excision through a 1-cm incision is a convenient, efficient, cost-effective, and relatively safe technique that results in high patient satisfaction and benefits patients and surgeons in developing countries. Axillary osmidrosis, a non-life-threatening condition characterized by unpleasant odor and occasional staining of clothing, is an annoying problem, particularly in Asian societies. For many people who suffer from this problem, this condition is a personal discomfort, a social impairment, and discourages patients from enjoying social or personal activities, especially young women. They are usually embarrassed by the smell during their daily activities and communication with other people.


Opitz trigonocephaly syndrome presenting with sudden unexplained death in the operating room: a case report.
Opitz trigonocephaly C syndrome (OTCS) is a rare malformation syndrome with the following features: synostosis of metopic suture, craniofacial abnormalities, severe mental retardation and a multitude of pathological findings affecting almost every organ system. OTCS is associated with a high mortality rate. We describe the case of a Caucasian male baby who died at five months of age during surgical correction of the craniofacial anomaly. As previously reported, OTCS may have an increased mortality rate during craniofacial surgery. Careful evaluation of surgery risk-benefit ratio is warranted in such patients.


Cell-type specific signal transduction and gene regulation via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in catecholaminergic neurons by restraint stress.
It has been demonstrated that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene is easily regulated in the CNS as well as peripheral nervous systems by stressful conditions. The stimuli, such as stress or reserpine administration, significantly increased the TH gene in noradrenergic neurons in the locus ceruleus (LC), but not in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). To explore the molecular mechanisms governing differential TH gene regulation in catecholaminergic cells, the present study investigated the regulation of immediate early gene (c-Fos), transcription factors (pCREB, CREB binding protein [CBP]), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (phospho-extra-cellular regulated kinase [pERK]1/2, phospho-p38 MAP kinase [p-p38 MAPK], phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase [pJNK]) in the LC and SN in control conditions and in response to 2 h restraint stress (RS). Significant induction of c-Fos expression was observed in the LC, but not in the SN. In addition, pERK1/2 significantly increased following 2 h RS specifically in the LC, but not in the SN. No significant change was observed in p-p38 MAPK and pJNK. The expression of c-Fos and pERK1/2 preceded the upregulation of TH in the LC. Furthermore, pCREB and CBP also increased in the LC in response to 2 h RS. The induction of c-Fos prior to TH, in conjunction with the upregulation of pCREB and CBP in the LC, suggests that activator protein 1 and CRE transcription sites in the TH gene may be involved in the cell-type specific activation in the stress response, at least, by pERK1/2.


Mothers' Repartnering after a Nonmarital Birth.
This paper examines the prevalence, predictors and outcomes of unmarried mothers' repartnering patterns following a nonmarital birth. Results indicate that, within five years after a birth, approximately two-thirds of unmarried mothers ended their relationship with the focal child's biological father, and over half of these mothers entered new partnerships. Among those who repartnered, 60 percent of mothers formed unions with men with higher economic capabilities than their former partners, 20 percent formed unions with men with similar capabilities, and 20 percent formed unions with men with lower capabilities. This pattern holds for both nonresidential and coresidential unions. Our findings are consistent with marriage market, learning, and evolutionary biology theories about union formation, and they provide support for qualitative evidence that unmarried mothers have high standards for new partners. While many mothers are able to successfully find new partners with better economic capabilities, many other mothers remain unpartnered, likely due (at least in part) to the limited pool of potential partners with relatively high levels of economic capabilities.


Image segmentation and separation of spectrally similar dyes in fluorescence microscopy by dynamic mode decomposition of photobleaching kinetics.
Image segmentation in fluorescence microscopy is often based on spectral separation of fluorescent probes (color-based segmentation) or on significant intensity differences in individual image regions (intensity-based segmentation). These approaches fail, if dye fluorescence shows large spectral overlap with other employed probes or with strong cellular autofluorescence. Here, a novel model-free approach is presented which determines bleaching characteristics based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) and uses the inferred photobleaching kinetics to distinguish different probes or dye molecules from autofluorescence. DMD is a data-driven computational method for detecting and quantifying dynamic events in complex spatiotemporal data. Here, DMD is first used on synthetic image data and thereafter used to determine photobleaching characteristics of a fluorescent sterol probe, dehydroergosterol (DHE), compared to that of cellular autofluorescence in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It is shown that decomposition of those dynamic modes allows for separating probe from autofluorescence without invoking a particular model for the bleaching process. In a second application, DMD of dye-specific photobleaching is used to separate two green-fluorescent dyes, an NBD-tagged sphingolipid and Alexa488-transferrin, thereby assigning them to different cellular compartments. Data-based decomposition of dynamic modes can be employed to analyze spatially varying photobleaching of fluorescent probes in cells and tissues for spatial and temporal image segmentation, discrimination of probe from autofluorescence and image denoising. The new method should find wide application in analysis of dynamic fluorescence imaging data.


Diagnosis and management of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in children: single centre experience.
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) although rare is the commonest cause of acute renal failure (ARF) in children and has poor prognosis. We present single centre experience of aHUS. Thirty six children (29 males, 7 females) with mean age, 7.9 years presented with ARF, 2 children also had tonic-clonic type convulsions. Their hematology examination revealed hemolytic anemia with s. creatinine (SCr), 5.54 mg/dl. Acute HUS was observed in 75 %, acute on chronic HUS in 19.4 % and patchy cortical necrosis (PCN) in 5.6 % biopsies. Mean 5.4 plasma exchanges (PE) were carried out. Supportive management of anti-hypertensives and prednisone was also given. Recovery end points were establishment of urine output, improvement of SCr and hematological profile. Hematology and renal function profile improved variably in all children, 5.6 % died, relapse was observed in 80.5 % over mean 70 days; 13.9 % children are doing well over mean follow-up of 268.8 days. Thus poor prognosis was observed in 86.1 % children. Children with acute on chronic HUS and PCN did not recover. Six children who recovered had acute HUS. aHUS in Indian children occurs at an older age of around 8 years and chronic/irreversible changes on histopathology examination are harbingers of poor prognosis. PE is life-saving however further research for developing strategies to improve long-term survival is needed.


Analysis of ras gene mutations in childhood myeloid leukaemia.
Previous studies have shown that approximately 30% of adult acute myeloid leukaemias and 20% of adult acute lymphoid leukaemias contain point mutated ras oncogenes. In order to assess whether ras oncogenes are also involved in childhood leukaemias, we have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and synthetic oligonucleotide probes to study the nature and frequency of ras gene mutations in childhood leukaemias, concentrating largely on the acute myeloid leukaemias (AML). Thirty-four childhood presentation AML DNAs were screened for mutations in and around codons 12, 61 and 117 of N-, K- and H-ras. Eight of these samples (24%) contained ras mutations. As in the adult disease, the gene predominantly involved was N-ras (6/8), with occasional activation of K-ras (2/6). The most common base change was a G----A transition at codon 12 or 13 (4/8). Of the patients with mutant ras, 4/8 were diagnosed as AML FAB subtype M5. Five of the 34 childhood AMLs analysed displayed abnormalities of chromosome 7. However, none of these cases contained a mutant ras gene. One AML patient was studied at relapse, 14 months after initial presentation. The presentation mutation (N61p3) was not detectable, although a new mutation (N13Cys) was readily identified. This observation extends our original finding with presentation and relapse samples of adult AML, in which it was uncommon for the relapse sample to contain the same ras mutation as the presentation DNA. In addition, two out of five patients diagnosed as juvenile CML, were found to harbour mutant ras.


Outcomes of Laparoscopic vs Open Repair of Perforated Peptic Ulcers: An ACS-NSQIP Study.
Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is a surgical emergency needing swift operative resolution. While laparoscopic and open approaches are viable options, it remains unclear whether laparoscopic repair has significantly improved outcomes. We use a national surgical database to compare perioperative and 30-d postoperative (30POP) outcomes. The 2016-2018 ACS-NSQIP database was used to create the patient cohort, using ICD-10 and CPT codes. An unmatched analysis identified factors that likely contributed to the laparoscopic versus open treatment allocation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to identify outcomes that were not explained by underlying differences in the patient cohorts. A total of 3475 patients were included: 3135 in open group (OG), 340 (~10%) in laparoscopic group (LG). After PSM to control for comorbidities and illness severity that differed between groups on univariate analysis, 288 patients remained in each group. Analysis of the matched cohorts revealed no statistically significant difference in mortality (5.9% OG versus 3.8% LG, P = 0.245). The LG had significantly longer operative times (92 versus 79 min, P = 0.003), shorter hospital stays (8.2 versus 9.4 d, P = 0.044) and higher probability of being discharged home (81% versus 73%, P = 0.017). 30POP outcomes were largely equivalent, except that OG had higher risk for bleeding (14.6% versus 8%, P = 0.012) and pneumonia (8.7% versus 4.5%, P = 0.044). While laparoscopic repairs take longer, they lead to shorter hospital stays and higher likelihood of discharge home. Further study to identify patients that are candidates for this technique is warranted.


Synthesis, characterization, and antioxidative activity of new vitamin B6 triethanolamine rare earth (III) complexes.
A series of new vitamin B6 triethanolamine rare earth (III) complexes Re(PN)3(TEA)(NO3)2Cl (PN = pyridoxol; TEA = triethanolamine; Re = La1, Ce2, Pr3, Nd4, Sm5, Tb6, Dy7, Ho8, Er9, Y10), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, TGA-DTA, UV, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. The suppression ratio of complexes for the hydroxyl radical (OH.) and the superoxide radical (O2-.) were determined, the results show that these complexes possess scavenging effects on OH. and O2(-.). In this paper we also discuss the effect of complex conc. for the suppression ratio on superoxide radical O2(-.).


Long-Term Metabolic Assessment of Cryopreserved Sternal Allograft: A Case Series.
Sternal resection and reconstruction with cryopreserved allografts provides a safe alternative to traditional methods of anterior chest wall reconstruction. Despite favorable results, successful integration of the graft sternum has never been demonstrated owing to the invasiveness of bone biopsy. We describe our experience of using 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans as a noninvasive method of evaluating graft integration. Seven patients underwent surgery and radiologic follow-up. Surgical indications were sternal metastases (n = 5) and sternal dehiscence (n = 2). Sternal reconstruction was performed using a cryopreserved cadaveric sternal allograft fixed in place with titanium plates and screws. Follow-up with 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans was performed at 1 and 2 years after surgery. Three patients underwent total sternectomy. Two underwent partial upper sternectomy involving the manubrium, clavicle (1 patient only), and upper sternal body; and 2 had partial sternectomy of the sternal body and xiphoid process. Focal tracer accumulation occurred at the junctions between native bone and graft bone. The median maximum standardized uptake value at 1 year was 16.8 (range, 11.2 to 37.9; interquartile range, 13.6 to 19.4), and at 2 years it was 10.8 (range, 6.1 to 30.2; interquartile range, 8.9 to 15.1). In 6 cases accumulation was lower at the second scan, whereas in 1 patient the accumulation was higher at the second scan. Sternal reconstruction with cryopreserved allograft is safe and well tolerated. The 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans are a useful and promising noninvasive method of demonstrating the metabolic activity of the graft and its incorporation into the host skeleton during follow-up.


Cardiovascular changes and hearing threshold shifts in men under complex exposures to noise, whole body vibrations, temperatures and competition-type psychic load.
This study deals with changes in the temporary hearing threshold (TTS2), heart rate (HR), R-wave amplitude (RWA), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressure (PP) and reaction time (RT) in subjects (n = 108) who, while working on a choice reaction apparatus, were exposed in an exposure chamber to combinations of noise and vibration at dry bulb temperatures of 20 degrees and 30 degrees C. The study was carried out as a type 2-3-3 factorial experiment, the number of the exposure combinations thus being 18. To find out the effects of competition-type psychic stress, some of the subjects were placed in a competitive group and some in a non-competitive group. The members of the competitive group were given financial encouragement and information on their progress during the test, whereas those in the non-competitive group worked at the rate they considered best without any monetary rewards or interim information. The noise classes were: no noise, a stable broadband (bandwidth 0.2-16.0 kHz) A-weighted noise of 90 dB not related to competition, and a stable broadband A-weighted noise of 90 dB related to competition about the fastest reaction time. The vibration classes were: no vibration, sinusoidal whole body vibration (Z-axis) at a frequency of 5 Hz, and stochastic broadband (bandwidth 2.8-11.2 Hz) whole body vibration (Z-axis). The acceleration (rms) of both vibrations was 2.12 m/s2. One experiment consisted of a control period of 30 min, three consecutive exposure periods of 16 min with an interval of 4 min, and a 15-min recovery period. The variance analysis model best explained the variation in TTS2 values at 4 kHz and second best the variation in TTS2 values at 6 kHz; it explained the variation in HR values third best, the variation in SBP values fourth best and the variation in PP values fifth best. On the other hand, the model explained least well the variation in DBP and RWA values. In general, the explanatory power of the model increased together with the number of exposures. The psychic stress caused by competition accelerated the growth of the TTS2 values, HR values and SBP values, when the subjects were simultaneously exposed to noise or to a combination of noise and vibration. An interesting finding for the continuation of the research project was that sinusoidal and stochastic vibration affected the cardiovascular changes, temporary hearing threshold and reaction times in different ways.


Development of prediction models for the incidence of pediatric acute otitis media using Poisson regression analysis and XGBoost.
Otitis media has profound health and economic impact, and its occurrence is known to be influenced by air pollution and climate. The purpose of this study was to develop prediction models using climate and air pollution indicators for the occurrence of acute otitis media (AOM). The study was conducted from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019, and included pediatric patients (age < 12 years) diagnosed on their emergency room visit in our tertiary medical institution. We obtained data on the weekly number of AOM patients and the weekly average values of air pollution and climate indicators. Poisson regression analysis and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were used to develop prediction models for the overall pediatric patients and for the patients classified according to sex (male and female) and age (< 2 years and ≥ 2 years). For the overall population, the correlation coefficients between the original and estimated data in the testing set were 0.441 (p < 0.001) and 0.844 (p < 0.001) for the models developed using Poisson regression analysis and XGBoost, respectively. The root-mean-square errors in the testing set were 3.094 and 1.856, respectively. For patients classified according to sex and age, the prediction models developed using XGBoost showed better performance than the models developed using Poisson regression analysis. In conclusion, this study successfully developed prediction models with air pollution and climate indicators for the incidence of pediatric AOM, using XGBoost. This model can be further developed to prevent pediatric AOM.


Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a novel target of Puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA/NPEPPS): PSA/NPEPPS is a possible modifier of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Accumulation of misfolded neurotoxic Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) protein found in both familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is recognized as an important contributing factor of neuronal cell death. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling the accumulation and turnover of SOD1 protein. Puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA/NPEPPS) was recently identified as a major peptidase acting on neurotoxic TAU protein and protecting against TAU-induced neurodegeneration. In addition, recent report implicated PSA/NPEPPS in the direct removal of neurotoxic polyglutamine repeats. These combined data suggest that PSA/NPEPPS might represent a novel degradation pathway targeting pathologically aggregating neurotoxic protein substrates including SOD1. Here, we report that PSA/NPEPPS directly regulates SOD1 protein abundance and clearance via proteolysis. In addition, PSA/NPEPPS expression is significantly decreased in motor neurons of both SODG93A transgenic mice and sporadic ALS patients, suggesting its possible contribution to the disease pathogenesis. These results implicate SOD1 as a new target protein of PSA/NPEPPS and point to the possible neuroprotective role of PSA/NPEPPS in ALS.


Flavobacterium proteolyticum sp. nov., isolated from aquaculture water.
A novel aerobic, yellow, and rod-shaped bacterial isolate, designated as 1Y8AT, was isolated from aquaculture water sampled in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, P. R. China. Here, the taxonomic position of strain 1Y8AT was conducted based on phenotypic, genomic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics. Strain 1Y8AT was observed to grow at 10-37 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum 7.0) and in 0-2% NaCl (optimum 1%, w/v). The 16S rRNA gene-based analysis showed that strain 1Y8AT was closely related to "Flavobacterium sasangense" YC6274T (99.3%), Flavobacterium aquaticum JC164T (98.4%), Flavobacterium cucumis R2A45-3T (98.0%), Flavobacterium celericrescens TWA-26T (98.0%), and Flavobacterium cheniae NJ-26T (97.2%). The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain 1Y8AT and reference strains above were far below the recognized thresholds of 70% dDDH and 95-96% ANI for species definition, implying that the strain represents a novel genospecies. The phylogenomic analysis indicated that strain 1Y8AT formed an independent branch distinct from known species. The major cellular fatty acids of strain 1Y8AT were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G and C15:0; the polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid, and two lipids; the respiratory quinone was MK-6. The G + C content of genomic DNA was 32.5%. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics such as the utilization of D-glucose and casein hydrolysis, strain 1Y8AT is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium proteolyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is 1Y8AT (= GDMCC 1.1933T = KACC 22081T).