Expression of nerve growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid of congenital hydrocephalic and normal children.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is secreted by the choroids plexuses and has the potential to act as a signaling pathway for physiological control as it has been demonstrated to contain molecules such as interleukins, leukoterins, neuropeptides, growth transforming factor-beta (TGF-beta) and nerve growth factor (NGF), which are present at specific times during development. In this study, CSF from hydrocephalic and normal children were analysed using SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining. In order to obtain semi-quantitative estimates of the relative amounts of 26 kDa protein, an image analyzer was used to determine the intensities of the band in the respective lanes in silver-stained gels. Quantification of the silver-stained gels from repeated experiments showed that the amount of 26 kDa protein was clearly increases in the hydrocephalic CSF when compared with the normal CSF. A Western blot analysis using anti-NGF antibody as a probe confirmed the presence of NGF. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), it was shown that the level of NGF in the hydrocephalic CSF is higher than in normal CSF. It is concluded that NGF is not only a constant component of human CSF but could also be significantly involved in the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus.


Patient perspectives on consequences of resection for colorectal cancer: A qualitative study.
Colorectal cancer is diagnosed in approximately 500,000 patients each year in Europe, leading to a high number of patients having to cope with the consequences of resection for colorectal cancer. As treatment options tend to grow, more information on the effects of these treatments is needed to engage in shared decision-making. This study aims to explore the impact of resection for colorectal cancer on patients' daily life. Patients (≥18 years of age) who underwent an oncological colorectal resection between 2018 and 2021 were selected. Purposeful sampling was used to include patients who differed in age, comorbidity conditions, types of (neo)adjuvant therapy, postoperative complications and the presence/absence of a stoma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, guided by a topic guide. Interviews were fully transcribed and subsequently thematically analysed using the framework approach. Analyses were carried out using the following predefined themes: (1) daily life and activities; (2) psychological functioning; (3) social functioning; (4) sexual functioning; and (5) healthcare experiences. Sixteen patients with a follow-up period of between 0.6 and 4.4 years after surgery were included in this study. Participants reported several challenges experienced because of poor bowel function, a stoma, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, fear of recurrence and sexual dysfunction. However, they reported these as not interfering much with daily life. Colorectal cancer treatment leads to several challenges and treatment-related health deficits. This is often not recognized by generic patient-reported outcome measures, but the findings on treatment-related health deficits presented in this study contain valuable insights which might contribute to improving colorectal cancer care, shared decision making and value-based health care.


Natural antibodies in man to a protein antigen from the bacterium Streptococcus mutans related to dental caries experience.
Serum antibodies to a cell-wall protein antigen derived from Streptococcus mutans (SA I/II) were examined in 108 subjects by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. As a control, antibodies to lipoteichoic acid and to Strep. mutans whole cells were examined and the relationship to dental caries of isotype-specific antibodies to both antigens determined. Serum-IgG antibodies to SA I/II and to Strep. mutans were significantly greater in subjects of low caries experience than in subjects of high caries experience, whereas serum-IgG antibodies to LTA showed no relationship. Serum-IgM antibodies to SA I/II were depressed in subjects with carious lesions, whereas IgM antibodies to Strep. mutans in the same subjects were raised. IgA antibodies against any antigen were not related to caries. Serum antibodies of each isotype to SA I/II were generally positively-correlated with antibodies to LTA but inhibition experiments demonstrated specificity of antibodies for each antigen. The relationship between antibodies to SA I/II and dental caries are consistent with those reported with antibodies to whole cells of Strep. mutans and suggest that high-serum IgG antibodies to SA I/II may be associated with protection against dental caries in man.


Using Natural Scenes to Enhance our Understanding of the Cerebral Cortex's Role in Visual Search.
Using natural scenes is an approach to studying the visual and eye movement systems approximating how these systems function in everyday life. This review examines the results from behavioral and neurophysiological studies using natural scene viewing in humans and monkeys. The use of natural scenes for the study of cerebral cortical activity is relatively new and presents challenges for data analysis. Methods and results from the use of natural scenes for the study of the visual and eye movement cortex are presented, with emphasis on new insights that this method provides enhancing what is known about these cortical regions from the use of conventional methods.


Myocardial oxygen supply in coronary artery disease.
In patients with coronary artery disease investigated during cardiac catheterisation, myocardial blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption were significantly decreased as compared to control patients without signs of coronary artery disease. At the same time left ventricular function was impaired. In addition to regional contraction abnormalities observed in 77% of the patients, mean heart index and mean left ventricular work were diminished and mean enddiastolic pressure elevated. Among the coronary artery disease group, patients with normal blood pressure had a significantly higher left ventricular enddiastolic pressure than patients with hypertension.


Cholinesterase activity in the caddisfly Sericostoma vittatum: Biochemical enzyme characterization and in vitro effects of insecticides and psychiatric drugs.
Sericostoma vittatum is a caddisfly species, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, proposed as a biomonitor species for lotic ecosystems. Since inhibition of cholinesterases׳ (ChE) activity has been used to evaluate the exposure of macroinvertebrates to organophosphates and carbamate pesticides, this work intended to characterize the ChE present in this species so their activity can be used as a potential biomarker of exposure. Biochemical and pharmacological properties of ChE were characterized in this caddisfly species using different substrates (acetylthiocholine iodide, propionylthiocholine iodide, and butyrylthiocholine iodide) and selective inhibitors (eserine sulfate, BW284c51, and iso-OMPA). Also, the in vitro effects of two insecticides (carbaryl and chlorantraniliprole) and two psychiatric drugs (fluoxetine and carbamazepine) on ChE activity were investigated. The results suggest that S. vittatum possess mainly AChE able to hydrolyze both substrates acetylthiocholine and propionylthiocholine since: (1) it hydrolyzes the substrate acetylthiocholine and propionylcholine at similar rates and butyrylthiocholine at a much lower rate; (2) it is highly sensitive to eserine sulfate and BW284c51, but not to iso-OMPA; and (3) its activity is inhibited by excess of substrate, a characteristic of typical AChE. in vitro inhibitions were observed only for carbaryl exposure while exposure to chlorantraniliprole and to relevant environmental concentrations of psychiatric drugs did not cause any significant effect on AChE activity. This study suggests that AChE activity in caddisflies can indeed be used to discriminate the effects of specific insecticides in monitoring programs. The use of non-target species such as caddisflies in ecotoxicological research in lotic ecosystems is also discussed.


Who benefits most from guided self-help for binge eating? An investigation into the clinical features of completers and non-completers.
Guided self-help (GSH) is a recommended first step in treatment for bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) (NICE, 2004). It remains unclear what makes some individuals more likely to respond to this form of treatment than others. Forty-eight patients participated in this study using a GSH programme for binge eating. Profiles of treatment completers and non-completers are compared, and reasons for non-completion explored. Completion of treatment was associated with significant improvements in mood, general functioning and on measures of dietary restraint, frequency of objective binge eating (OBE), laxative misuse, self-induced vomiting (SIV) and driven exercise. Improvements were maintained at follow-up. Treatment non-completers reported significantly higher pre-treatment levels of depression and weight concern, and lower levels of general health and vitality. Reasons for discontinuing treatment were related to perceptions of the GSH programme; practicalities of the programme; and readiness to change. Whilst GSH can be effective for a sub-group of patients, factors such as pre-morbid level of depression, degree of weight concern, perceptions of the programme, and readiness to change may increase the likelihood of non-completion.


Simultaneous determination and confirmation of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, florfenicol and florfenicol amine in chicken muscle by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
A reliable and sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) confirmation method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of chloramphenicol (CAP), thiamphenicol (TAP), florfenicol (FF), and florfenicol amine (FFA) in chicken muscle. Samples were extracted with basic ethyl acetate, defatted with hexane, and cleaned up on Oasis MCX cartridges. LC separation was achieved on a XTerra C(18) column with gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 0.20 mL/min. The analysis was carried out on a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via electrospray interface operated in the positive and negative ionization modes, with deuterated chloramphenicol-d5 (d(5)-CAP) as the internal standard. The method validation was performed according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Four identification points were obtained for each analyte with one precursor ion and two product ions. Limits of detection (LODs) were 0.1 microg/kg for CAP, 0.2 microg/kg for FF and 1 microg/kg for TAP and FFA in chicken muscle. Linear calibration curves were obtained over concentration ranges of 0.3-20 microg/kg for CAP, 0.5-20 microg/kg for FF and 3-100 microg/kg for TAP and FFA in tissues. Mean recoveries of the 4 analytes ranged from 95.1% to 107.3%, with the corresponding intra- and inter-day variation (relative standard deviation, R.S.D.) less than 10.9% and 10.6%, respectively. The decision limit (CCalpha) and detection capability (CCbeta) of the method were also reported.


High Entropy Approach to Engineer Strongly Correlated Functionalities in Manganites.
Technologically relevant strongly correlated phenomena such as colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) and metal-insulator transitions (MIT) exhibited by perovskite manganites are driven and enhanced by the coexistence of multiple competing magneto-electronic phases. Such magneto-electronic inhomogeneity is governed by the intrinsic lattice-charge-spin-orbital correlations, which, in turn, are conventionally tailored in manganites via chemical substitution, charge doping, or strain engineering. Alternately, the recently discovered high entropy oxides (HEOs), owing to the presence of multiple-principal cations on a given sub-lattice, exhibit indications of an inherent magneto-electronic phase separation encapsulated in a single crystallographic phase. Here, the high entropy (HE) concept is combined with standard property control by hole doping in a series of single-phase orthorhombic HE-manganites (HE-Mn), (Gd0.25 La0.25 Nd0.25 Sm0.25 )1- x Srx MnO3 (x = 0-0.5). High-resolution transmission microscopy reveals hitherto-unknown lattice imperfections in HEOs: twins, stacking faults, and missing planes. Magnetometry and electrical measurements infer three distinct ground states-insulating antiferromagnetic, unpercolated metallic ferromagnetic, and long-range metallic ferromagnetic-coexisting or/and competing as a result of hole doping and multi-cation complexity. Consequently, CMR ≈1550% stemming from an MIT is observed in polycrystalline pellets, matching the best-known values for bulk conventional manganites. Hence, this initial case study highlights the potential for a synergetic development of strongly correlated oxides offered by the high entropy design approach.


An automated approach for the optimised estimation of breast density with Dixon methods.
To present and evaluate an automated method to correct scaling between Dixon water/fat images used in breast density (BD) assessments. Dixon images were acquired in 14 subjects with different T1 weightings (flip angles, FA, 4°/16°). Our method corrects intensity differences between water (W) and fat (F) images via the application of a uniform scaling factor (SF), determined subject-by-subject. Based on the postulation that optimal SFs yield relatively featureless summed fat/scaled-water (F+WSF) images, each SF was chosen as that which generated the lowest 95th-percentile in the absolute spatial-gradient image-volume of F+WSF . Water-fraction maps were calculated for data acquired with low/high FAs, and BD (%) was the total percentage water within each breast volume. Corrected/uncorrected BD ranged from, respectively, 10.9-71.8%/8.9-66.7% for low-FA data to 8.1-74.3%/5.6-54.3% for high-FA data. Corrected metrics had an average absolute increase in BD of 6.4% for low-FA data and 18.4% for high-FA data. BD values estimated from low- and high-FA data were closer following SF-correction. Our results demonstrate need for scaling in such BD assessments, where our method brought high-FA and low-FA data into closer agreement. We demonstrated a feasible method to address a main source of inaccuracy in Dixon-based BD measurements.


Using ²²²Rn as a naturally occurring tracer to estimate NAPL contamination in an aquifer.
The naturally occurring radioisotope (222)Rn was used as a partitioning tracer to evaluate the presence and amount of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in an aquifer. The batch experiment results of a diesel contaminated soil showed that the emanation rate of (222)Rn decreased to 31%, relative to a background rate. Batch experiment results of water contaminated by gasoline, diesel, PCE and TCE were similar. A field study to examine TCE contamination was conducted using 54 groundwater samples in Wonju city, Republic of Korea. Estimates of TCE contamination ranged from <0.001 mg/L to 14.3mg/L, and (222)Rn concentrations ranged from 1.89 Bq/L to 444. Results of (222)Rn analysis showed that TCE contamination was mainly restricted to an asphalt laboratory area and that the (222)Rn values of a NAPL-contaminated aquifer were correlated with TCE analytical results.


Marfan syndrome: absence of type I or III collagen structural defects in 25 patients.
The structure and metabolism of type I and III collagens were studied in fibroblast cultures and dermis from 25 unrelated patients including 23 with typical Marfan syndrome and two infants with a very severe clinical form of this syndrome. Electrophoretic analysis of collagen alpha-chains, as well as one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis of collagen cyanogen bromide peptides, failed to show any evidence of primary structure defects or overmodification of lysine residues in these collagens. The proportion of hydroxylated prolyl residues in isolated alpha 1(I) chains was also normal. There was a minimal increase in the proportion of type III collagen produced by nine cultures. The findings in this study indicate that the underlying molecular defects in the patients studied are unlikely to involve the structure of the main fibrillar type I and III collagens.


Mathematical analysis of an age-structured population model with space-limited recruitment.
In this paper, we investigate structured population model of marine invertebrate whose life stage is composed of sessile adults and pelagic larvae, such as barnacles contained in a local habitat. First we formulate the basic model as an Cauchy problem on a Banach space to discuss the existence and uniqueness of non-negative solution. Next we define the basic reproduction number R0 to formulate the invasion condition under which the larvae can successfully settle down in the completely vacant habitat. Subsequently we examine existence and stability of steady states. We show that the trivial steady state is globally asymptotically stable if R0 < or = 1, whereas it is unstable if R0 > 1. Furthermore, we show that a positive (non-trivial) steady state uniquely exists if R0 > 1 and it is locally asymptotically stable as far as absolute value of R0 - 1 is small enough.


Size-dependent survivorship in the web-building spiderAgelena limbata.
Stage-specific mortality rates and mortality factors for the web-building spiderAgelena limbata, which is suggested to be food-limited, were studied, and the relationship between body size of spiders and survivorship for instar 3 to adults was examined. The mortality rate of the egg sac stage including eggs, deutova (prenymphal stage), and overwintering instar 1 nymphs was low. The low mortality of this stage was partly due to maternal care that reduced the mortality caused by predation and/or abiotic factors. From emergence of instar 1 nymphs from egg sacs to reproduction, the stagespecific mortality rates were almost constant, 32-47%, and the time-specific mortality rates were also constant. These results suggest a Deevey (1947) type II survivorship curve inA. limbata, in contrast to other reports on the wandering or burrowing spiders which suggested type III curves. Important mortality factors for nymphs and adults were parasitism by an ichneumonid wasp and predation by spiders. There were great variations in body size (carapace width) ofA. limbata in the field. Smaller individuals survived at a lower rate to the next stage than larger individuals. This tendency was clearer for the population living under poorer prey availability.A. limbata was unlikely to starve to death in the field because every stage ofA. limbata could survive starvation for a long time in the laboratory, 22-65 days on average. I suggest that the size-dependent survivorship of this spider is associated with vulnerability of smaller individuals to parasitism and predation.


Imaging of the inflammatory response in ischemic canine myocardium with 111indium-labeled leukocytes.
Myocardial leukocyte infiltration is one hallmark of acute myocardial infarction. In order to detect noninvasively this inflammatory response associated with acute myocardial infarction, we produced coronary occlusion in eight dogs, intravenously administered autologously labeled indium-111 (111In) leukocytes and scintigraphically monitored accumulation of radionuclide in myocardium. Seventy-two hours after coronary occlusion, 111In-labeled white cells accumulated in regions corresponding to myocardial infarcts, and positive images with 111In-labeled leukocytes correlated well with images obtained with technetium-99m pyrophosphate and computer-reconstructed tomograms obtained with nitrogen-13-labeled ammonia. In contrast, two control dogs subjected to sham operation did not exhibit positive 111In-leukocyte images. Scintigraphic results with 111In-labeled leukocytes were verified in vitro by analysis of radioactivity in normal myocardium and in infarcts. Thus, leukocytic infiltration associated with acute myocardial infarction can be detected noninvasively in vivo.


Mechanical stress induces release of ATP from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.
The supernatant from a suspension of Ehrlich cells exposed to centrifugation at 700xg for 45 s induced a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of free, cytosolic Ca2+, [Ca2+]i, as well as activation of an outwardly rectifying whole-cell current when added to a suspension of non-stimulated cells. These effects were inhibited by suramin, a non-specific P2 receptor antagonist, and mimicked by ATP. Reversed phase HPLC analysis revealed that the supernatant from Ehrlich cells exposed to centrifugation contained 2. 6+/-0.2 microM ATP, and that the mechanical stress-induced release of ATP was inhibited by glibenclamide and verapamil, non-specific inhibitors of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and P-glycoprotein, respectively. After trypan blue staining, less than 0.5% of the cells were unable to extrude the dye. Addition of extracellular ATP induced a suramin-sensitive, transient, concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, activation of an outwardly rectifying whole-cell current and a hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane. The ATP-induced hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane was strongly inhibited in the presence of charybdotoxin (ChTX), an inhibitor of several Ca2+-activated K+ channels, suggesting that stimulation of P2 receptors in Ehrlich cells evokes a Ca2+-activated K+ current. The relative potencies of several nucleotides (ATP, UTP, ADP, 2-MeSATP, alpha,beta-MeATP, bzATP) in eliciting an increase in [Ca2+]i, as well as the effect of repetitive addition of nucleotides were investigated. The results lead us to conclude that mechanical stimulation of Ehrlich cells leads to release of ATP, which in turn stimulates both P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors, resulting in Ca2+ influx as well as release and activation of an outwardly rectifying whole-cell current.


The effect of spinal immobilization on healthy volunteers.
To determine the effects of standard spinal immobilization on a group of healthy volunteers with respect to induced pain and discomfort. Prospective study. University teaching hospital. Twenty-one healthy volunteers with no history of back disease. Subjects were placed in standard backboard immobilization for a 30-minute period. Number and severity of immediate and delayed symptoms were determined. One hundred percent of subjects developed pain within the immediate observation period. Occipital headache and sacral, lumbar, and mandibular pain were the most frequent symptoms. Fifty-five percent of subjects graded their symptoms as moderate to severe. Twenty-nine percent of subjects developed additional symptoms over the next 48 hours. Standard spinal immobilization may be a cause of pain in an otherwise healthy subject.


[Postoperative nursing care of patients submitted to thoracoabdominal aortic surgery].
Patients who underwent surgery of the thoracoabdominal aorta require, in the post-operative period, special nursing care, related to the specificity and complexity of the disease and surgical procedure. This paper is aimed at to describe the nurse's experience of the Intensive Care Unit of the Vascular Surgical Department at Santa Maria Hospital in the management of these critical patients.


Accurate detection of tumor-specific gene fusions reveals strongly immunogenic personal neo-antigens.
Cancer-associated gene fusions are a potential source for highly immunogenic neoantigens, but the lack of computational tools for accurate, sensitive identification of personal gene fusions has limited their targeting in personalized cancer immunotherapy. Here we present EasyFuse, a machine learning computational pipeline for detecting cancer-specific gene fusions in transcriptome data obtained from human cancer samples. EasyFuse predicts personal gene fusions with high precision and sensitivity, outperforming previously described tools. By testing immunogenicity with autologous blood lymphocytes from patients with cancer, we detected pre-established CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses for 10 of 21 (48%) and for 1 of 30 (3%) identified gene fusions, respectively. The high frequency of T cell responses detected in patients with cancer supports the relevance of individual gene fusions as neoantigens that might be targeted in personalized immunotherapies, especially for tumors with low mutation burden.


Study on the role of Cathepsin B and JNK signaling pathway in the development of cerebral aneurysm.
To investigate the correlation between JNK signal and the apoptosis of VSMC as well as the expression of Cathepsin B and to explore the role of JNK signal in the development of cerebral aneurysm. Rat models of cerebral aneurysm were established and histopathologic changes of cerebral aneurysm and the apoptosis of VSMC were analyzed. Rat models were respectively subject to subcutaneous injection of Cathepsin B siRNA and JNK inhibitor SP600125. Western blot technique was used to detect the expression of proteins like Cathepsin B, Caspase-3, and p-JNK. Spearman's rho was used to examine the correlation between p-JNK and Cathepsin B, as well as the expression of relevant proteins. The success rate of modeling rats with cerebral aneurysm was 88.75%. After the respective injection of Cathepsin B siRNA, SP600125 and their combination, the cell densities of VSMC of rats with cerebral aneurysm all increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but the apoptosis rate of VSMC decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with normal rats, the expression of Cathepsin B, Caspase-3 and p-JNK in Cerebral aneurysm models increased significantly. Effectively intervening Cathepsin B genes with Cathepsin B siRNA could significantly inhibit the expression of Cathepsin B and Caspase-3, but hardly influence the expression of p-JNK. JNK inhibitor SP600125 had no influence on the expression of Cathepsin B and Caspase-3, but effectively inhibited the expression of p-JNK. In cerebral aneurysm tissues, positive correlation was observed between the expression of p-JNK and Cathepsin B, the correlation coefficient was r = 0.640. After the attack of cerebral aneurysm, proteins like Cathepsin B, Caspase-3 and p-JNK are all involved in the apoptosis of VSMCs. This process may be realized by Cathepsin B which activates the apoptosis mechanism of Caspase-3 and mediate the apoptosis of VSMC through the JNK signaling pathway. Therefore, silencing Cathepsin B gene or inhibiting the conduction through JNK signaling pathway can mitigate the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in cerebral aneurysm.


Synthesis and anticonvulsant screening of 3,3-diphenyl-2-pyrrolidone derivatives.
Six derivatives of 3,3-diphenyl-2-pyrrolidone were synthesized and screened for anticonvulsant activity. The synthetic route involved a mono-N-demethylation of an intermediate N,N-dimethylaminonitrile with methyl chloroformate followed by cleavage of the carbamate group. Of the six derivatives, (+/-)-2-imino-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine hydrochloride was effective in protecting mice against maximal electroshock (MES) -induced seizures at a 30-mg/kg dose level.


Distributed motor commands in the limb premotor network.
Neuroanatomical studies have demonstrated extensive interconnections between the motor cortex, red nucleus and cerebellum, forming a premotor network for controlling limb movement. Single-unit studies indicate that command signals for limb movements are distributed broadly throughout this network. Cellular studies have demonstrated multiple recurrent loops in this network, and the presence of excitatory and inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters. A recent model suggests that movement commands are initiated by sensory inputs to these loops, and that positive feedback, regulated by inhibition from cerebellar Purkinje cells, distributes commands throughout the limb premotor network. This model offers a new framework for exploring relationships between basic neural mechanisms and concepts of motor performance that derive from experimental psychology.


Presbynasalis.
As with all systems in the body, the nose and paranasal sinuses change in time as we age. Some of these changes have been individually studied, but a unified description of current research has not been published since 1996. Since that time, a great deal has changed in our understanding of the aging nose. The English language literature was examined using a combination of PubMed and Google Scholar search inquiries. The focus was on articles published since 1996 that described sinonasal changes or disease processes within the advanced-age population. Publications since 1996 were prioritized for discussion. Of the 50 articles selected, manuscripts were grouped into categories of allergy and cellular-level change, rhinorrhea, mechanical and airflow change, olfactory change, and sinusitis. Understanding the normal aging process is essential for otolaryngologists for patient education. We propose use of the term presbynasalis for description of the aging nose, paranasal sinuses, and olfactory system. Several points are consistent across the literature. The immune system becomes less responsive with age, a process known as immunosenescence. The incidence of rhinorrhea increases as the population ages. Though nasal volumes increase with age, other age-related changes may result in the perception of increasing nasal obstruction with age. There is a trend toward diminished olfaction in the elderly, and in some patients, this may be an early manifestation of neurodegenerative conditions. Sinusitis treatment should be similar in the elderly population, and the data demonstrates the safety of surgery when needed.


Relationship between tourism development and vegetated landscapes in Luya Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanxi, China.
The relationship between tourism development and vegetated landscapes is analyzed for the Luya Mountain Nature Reserve (LMNR), Shanxi, China, in this study. Indices such as Sensitive Level (SL), Landscape Importance Value (LIV), information index of biodiversity (H'), Shade-tolerant Species Proportion (SSP), and Tourism Influencing Index (TII) are used to characterize vegetated landscapes, the impact of tourism, and their relationship. Their relationship is studied by Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). TWINSPAN gives correct and rapid partition to the classification, and DCA ordination shows the changing tendency of all vegetation types based on tourism development. These results reflect the ecological relationship between tourism development and vegetated landscapes. In Luya Mountain Nature Reserve, most plant communities are in good or medium condition, which shows that these vegetated landscapes can support more tourism. However, the occurrence of the bad condition shows that there is a severe contradiction between tourism development and vegetated landscapes.


Evaluation and standardization of polymerized ragweed extracts by chromatography, radioimmunoassay inhibition, and end point cutaneous titration.
The standardization procedures for polymerized ragweed (PRW) must evaluate activity of PRW with assessments that differ from those used for standard unmodified extracts. This is because PRW allergens are different from conventional ragweed extracts in that they are much greater in average molecular weight and much lower in allergenicity for equivalent immunogenicity. We have evaluated seven samples of PRW for three parameters: allergenicity as determined by cutaneous end point titration, molecular weight distribution as determined by Sephadex G-200 chromatography, and availability of antigen E (AgE) determinants as measured by the ability of an extract to inhibit AgE binding to antibody by using a modification of the Farr technique. The skin test titers and molecular weight profiles provide information as to the safety of a PRW preparation and antigen-binding inhibitory activity gives information about allergenicity and immunogenicity. Appropriate limits may be set for each of these parameters to standardize PRW for clinical use.


Prospective study of refractory greater trochanter pain syndrome. MRI findings of gluteal tendon tears seen at surgery. Clinical and MRI results of tendon repair.
(1) To compare MRI and surgical findings in patients with refractory greater trochanter pain syndrome and (2) to assess surgical outcomes. All consecutive patients seen between 2002 and 2006 by a single clinician were selected for surgical treatment according to the following criteria: (1) tendinopathy confirmed by physical tests; (2) painful disability persisting for at least 6 months despite treatment; (3) on MRI: area of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, in the area of gluteus medius and/or minimus tendon; and (4) absence of marked muscle atrophy or fatty degeneration. Two musculoskeletal radiologists interpreted images by consensus. A single surgeon operated on all patients. Eight patients met the criteria for surgery. All were women, aged 71.1 (SD: 9.4). Mean symptoms duration before surgery: 14.3 months (11.8). Surgery confirmed the presence of a tear of the lateral part of the gluteus medius tendon in all eight patients, with an associated tear of its main tendon in one patient, all tears revealed on MRI. An associated tear of the gluteus minimus tendon was present at surgery in five patients, of which three were not seen on MRI (false negative). Bursitis was confirmed in all eight patients. Steady complete remission of spontaneous and provoked (physical examination) pain was observed in seven patients and partial remission in one (mean follow-up: 22.4 months (SD: 16.3)). Six MRIs performed after 20+/-12 months showed good reinsertion of the sutured tendon. The eight MR images of tear of the lateral part of the gluteus medius tendon were all confirmed at surgery. Three of five associated tendon tears (gluteus minimus only) were not seen on MRI. Surgical treatment was very effective in all patients but one.


Electronic monitoring and counseling to improve medication adherence.
Electronic caps, pill caps that record the date and time of pill bottle opening provide an objective measure of adherence to prescribed medication. A promising intervention to improve adherence, cue-dose training, involves reviewing patients' pill cap-generated reports concerning their medication-taking and offering individualized recommendations for remembering to take medications at specific times of day. In this preliminary study, 79 patients prescribed the antihyperglycemic medication metformin had adherence assessed during a 4-week baseline period. Adherence, defined as proportion of prescribed doses taken within a predetermined 4-h window, was measured using electronic MEMS caps. Those who had less than 80% baseline adherence (n = 33) were randomly assigned to either receive 4 months of cue-dose training (n = 16) or to a control group (n = 17). Cue-dose training was associated with significantly better adherence to metformin (mean improvement of 15%). The effects of cue-dose training on adherence to other antihyperglycemic medication did not reach statistical significance. Glycosylated hemoglobin (a measure of blood sugar control) did not differ between groups. Data from nine patients who reviewed pill cap-generated data with their primary care providers suggested that both patients and providers found the discussion moderately helpful and not at all uncomfortable.


Identification of levers for improving dead equine traceability: A survey of French equine owners' perception of regulatory procedures following their animal's death.
The core of the French equine traceability system is the census database (SIRE) managed by the French horse and riding institute (IFCE). Following the death of an equine, owners are legally obliged to take charge of cadaver removal by contacting a rendering company directly or after registration on the national ATM-équidés ANGEE association (ATM) website, which proposes negotiated prices for removal and recording of the death in the SIRE database. Despite these offers, ATM notes few users. Owners are also legally obliged to return the equine's passport to the IFCE, but only 30-40 % of owners comply with the regulation. Rendering companies register data on equine mortality in the fallen stock data interchange database (FSDI), but it is difficult to cross-reference these data with SIRE data. Consequently, the death of equines is not well registered in the SIRE database. The objective of the present study was to identify levers that could be used to improve dead equine traceability by i) investigating the level of satisfaction of equine owners with ATM and rendering company services; and ii) investigating the drawbacks of owners having to return the passport to the IFCE. An online survey was designed and distributed by email to the 5 158 owners who used ATM services between April 2017 and April 2018. The response rate was 16.4 %. Most owners were satisfied by ATM and rendering company services. The lack of simple and quick removal procedures and the lack of any connection between ATM and the rendering companies were among the main drawbacks identified. Regarding the return of the passport to the IFCE, most responding owners returned it through the rendering company (65 %) or directly (2 %). The passport was returned significantly more frequently when requested by the renderers. The main reason for not providing the passport was the owner wanted to keep it as a souvenir. These results suggest that ATM and the rendering companies are key players in dead equine traceability. ATM services should be developed through the establishment of a direct connection with rendering companies to accelerate the cadaver removal request and to allow the cross-referencing of data between the ATM, FSDI and SIRE databases for a better dead equine traceability. Rendering companies need regulatory support to help them ask owners for the equine's passport, formalizing their contribution to equine traceability. Finally, effective communication has to be established to inform owners about the removal procedures and the regulations.


Epidemiology of nocturnal enuresis in a part of Khartoum, Sudan. I. The extensive study.
An epidemiological study was made of 8,462 children aged 3-15 living in the suburban area Hag Yousif, Khartoum, Sudan. The prevalence of enuresis was higher in boys than in girls. Eighty-eight per cent wetted their beds at least several times per week. Up to the age of 9 both sexes showed prevalences which were significantly higher than comparable age/sex groups discussed in different European studies. Only 5% of the children above 7 years of age had secondary enuresis.


Simple in vitro methods for titrating feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and FIV neutralizing antibodies.
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) readily produced syncytia in Crandell feline kidney (CrFK) cells adapted to a medium containing 0.5% fetal calf serum, a variety of growth factors and other supplements. This finding has been exploited to develop simple and sensitive virus titration and neutralization assays. High titre neutralizing antibodies were detected in cats infected naturally and experimentally with FIV, but not in uninfected animals.


Tremorogenesis by LON-954 [N-carbamoyl-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamidine hydrochloride]: evidence for the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine.
LON-954 [N-carbamoyl-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamidine hydrochloride], a novel tremorogen known to affect the central dopaminergic system, has been investigated in rats for tremor and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) metabolism. Five, 10 and 20 mg/kg of LON-954 IP caused a reproducible and consistent tremor with a high frequency (16 Hz) within 2 minutes and lasting 30-45 minutes. 5-HT content of the tuberculum olfactorium and basal ganglia was found to be increased significantly at a time when 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) content showed a decrease. 5-HT and 5-HIAA of medulla oblongata showed significant changes only after 15 minutes. The alterations in the levels of the indoleamine in tuberculum olfactorium and its relationship with dosage as well as duration and intensity of LON-954 tremor indicate the involvement of the mesolimbic system in its action. A direct role of 5-HT in LON-tremor was evidenced since the drug failed to produce tremor in rats pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg IP) for 3 days.


Reflex fall in blood pressure mediated by capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers of the rat splanchnic nerve.
1. Capsaicin treated rats, in which the function of substance P-containing primary sensory neurons was impaired, were used to investigate the function of afferent fibers within the splanchnic nerve. The effects of electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerve either distal or proximal to the site of its transsection on blood pressure and heart rate were investigated. 2. Distal splanchnic nerve stimulation evoked an equal rise in blood pressure in capsaicin treated rats and in their controls. Distal splanchnic nerve stimulation did not cause plasma extravasation in the adrenal medulla, an effect which is produced by antidromic stimulation of cutaneous sensory nerves. Peripheral effects of stimulation of primary afferent fibers within the splanchnic nerve cannot be assumed from these experiments. 3. Proximal stimulation of the splanchnic nerve evoked a reflex fall in blood pressure but no bradycardia. The fall in blood pressure was absent in capsaicin treated rats, which indicates that this effect is mediated by primary afferent fibers. Since the reflex fall in blood pressure was abolished by adrenergic blockade with guanethidine, it can be explained by vasodilatation resulting from reduction of sympathetic vasoconstrictor tone.


Double-edged sword role of miRNA-633 and miRNA-181 in human cancers.
Understanding the function and mode of operation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer is of growing interest. The short non-coding RNAs known as miRNAs, which target mRNA in multicellular organisms, are described as controlling essential cellular processes. The miR-181 family and miR-633 are well-known miRNAs that play a key role in the development and metastasis of tumor cells. They may facilitate either tumor-suppressive or oncogenic function in malignant cells, according to mounting evidence. Metastatic cells that are closely linked to cancer cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis can be identified by abnormal levels of miR-181 and miR-633. Numerous studies have demonstrated their capacity to control drug resistance, cell growth, apoptosis, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis process. Interestingly, the levels of miR-181 and miR-633 and their potential target genes in the basic cellular process can vary depending on the type of cancer cells and their gene expression profile. Such miRNAs' interactions with other non-coding RNAs such as long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs can influence tumor behaviors. Herein, we concentrated on the multifaceted roles of miR-181 and miR-633 and potential targets in human tumorigenesis, ranging from cell growth and metastasis to drug resistance.


Editorial Commentary: Editor's Conflict of Interest.
The Editor-in-chief has recused himself from industry consulting, which he performed before assuming the position, and returned related royalties and divested related stock options, in order to mitigate against conflict-of-interest. The Editor discloses affiliation with an institution that receives support from diverse industry partners in support of research and education.


Radiochemotherapy plus 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-AP, NSC #663249) in advanced-stage cervical and vaginal cancers.
Cervical and vaginal cancers have virally-mediated or mutated defects in DNA damage repair responses, making these cancers sensible targets for ribonucleotide reductase inhibition during radiochemotherapy. We conducted a phase II study evaluating 3× weekly 2-hour intravenous 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-AP, 25 mg/m(2)) co-administered with 1× weekly intravenous cisplatin (40 mg/m(2)) and daily pelvic radiation (45 Gy) in women with stage I(B2)-IV(B) cervical (n=22) or stage II-IV vaginal (n=3) cancers. Brachytherapy followed (40 Gy). Toxicity was monitored by common terminology criteria for adverse events (version 3.0). The primary end point of response was assessed by 3-month posttherapy 2-[(18)F] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (PET/CT) and clinical examination. 3-AP radiochemotherapy achieved clinical responses in 24 (96% [95% confidence interval: 80-99%]) of 25 patients (median follow-up 20 months, range 2-35 months). 23 (96% [95% confidence interval: 80-99%]) of 24 patients had 3-month posttherapy PET/CT scans that recorded metabolic activity in the cervix or vagina equal or less than that of the cardiac blood pool, suggesting complete metabolic responses. The most frequent 3-AP radiochemotherapy-related adverse events included fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and reversible hematological and electrolyte abnormalities. The addition of 3-AP to cisplatin radiochemotherapy was tolerable and produced high rates of clinical and metabolic responses in women with cervical and vaginal cancers. Future randomized phase II and III clinical trials of 3-AP radiochemotherapy are warranted.


How do children prepare to react? Imaging maturation of motor preparation and stimulus anticipation by late contingent negative variation.
Both the motor system and the frontal executive control system show a late maturation in humans which continues into school-age and even adolescence. We investigated the maturation of preparation processes towards a fast motor reaction in 74 healthy right-handed children aged 6 to 18 years and analyzed the topography of the late component of contingent negative variation (lCNV) in a 64-electrode high density sensor array. While adolescents from about 12 years on showed a bilaterally distributed centro-parietal maximum like adults do, younger children almost completely missed the negativity over the left central area contralaterally to the side of the anticipated movement. The reason, as revealed by current source density, was that only adolescents showed significant evoked activity of the left pre-/primary motor and supplementary/cingulate motor areas, while in contrast both age groups displayed significant current sinks over the right (ipsilateral) centro-temporal area and right posterior parietal cortex. Spatio-temporal source analysis confirmed that negativity over the right posterior parietal area could not be explained by a projection via volume conduction from frontal areas involved in motor preparation but represented an independent component with a different maturational course most likely related to sensory attention. Significant event-related desynchronization of alpha-power over the contralateral sensorimotor cortex was found in the younger age group, indicating that also 6- to 11-year-old children were engaged in motor preparation. Thus, the missing current sink over the contalateral sensorimotor cortex during late CNV in 6- to 11-year-old children might reflect the immaturity of a specific subcomponent of the motor preparation system which is related to evoked (late CNV) but not induced activity (alpha-ERD).


Majority of Studies Show Similar Rates of Return to Play After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair or Latarjet Procedure: A Systematic Review.
To systematically review the current evidence in the literature to compare return to play following arthroscopic Bankart repair versus open Latarjet procedure for the treatment of anterior shoulder instability. A literature search was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Comparative studies reporting return to play following arthroscopic Bankart repair versus open Latarjet procedure were included. Return to play was compared, with all statistical analysis performed using Review Manager, Version 5.3. Nine studies with 1,242 patients (mean age: 15-30 years) were included. The rate of return to play was 61% to 94.1% among those undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair and 72% to 96.8% in those undergoing an open Latarjet procedure. Two studies (Bessiere et al. and Zimmerman et al.) found a significant difference in favor of the Latarjet procedure (P < .05 for both, I2 = 37%). The rate of return to play at preinjury level was 9% to 83.8% among those undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair and 19.4% to 80.6% in those undergoing an open Latarjet procedure, with no study finding a significant difference (P > .05 for all, I2 = 0%). The mean time of return to play was 5.4 to 7.3 months among those undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair and 5.5 to 6.2 months in those undergoing an open Latarjet procedure, with no study finding a significant difference (P > .05 for all, I2 = 39%). Overall, the majority of studies showed no significant difference in rates of return to play or timing following arthroscopic Bankart repair or open Latarjet procedure. Furthermore, no study has found a significant difference in rate of return to play at pre-injury level, or rate of return to play among collision athletes. III, systematic review of Level I-III studies.


Fractographic analyses of all-ceramic crowns: a study of 27 clinically fractured crowns.
The use of all-ceramic restorations has been steadily increasing in the decades since the introduction of high-strength core ceramics as an alternative to metal cores. Even with high-strength ceramic cores, the crowns are susceptible to fractures during clinical function, probably the major concern associated with all-ceramic restorations. The aim of this study was to analyze fracture features of clinically fractured crowns in order to determine crack initiation sites and crack propagation paths. Fractographic methods were used to analyze 27 all-ceramic full coverage crowns with alumina cores and feldspatic veneering ceramic. The fractured crowns were supplied by dentists in private and public practices with information of type of cement and time in function if available. The fractured crowns comprised 13 incisors, 3 premolars and 11 molars. The results revealed that all fractures initiated in the cervical margin of the crowns and usually from the approximal area close to the most coronally placed curvature of the margin. There was no statistically significant association between the cement used and time in function. Fractography of clinically failed all-ceramic crowns can provide information on the fracture modes and design considerations. The findings are in contrast to fracture modes from in vitro tests. The results suggest that more clinically relevant in vitro test methods to study the durability of ceramic crowns should be developed.


Asymptomatic intracardiac metastasis from a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with successful surgical resection.
The endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare neoplasm of the uterine origin. Intracardiac metastasis from the low-grade ESS is an extremely rare event. A case of a patient who successfully underwent surgical extraction of metastatic tumors of the low-grade ESS in the right ventricle is described in the present report. A 48-year-old woman was considered recurrence of the low-grade ESS 4 years after the initial operation for this disease. The CT scanning and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated solid masses in the pelvis, the lungs, the inferior vena cava, and the right ventricle. The chemotherapy was effective against the recurrent tumors except for intracardiac site. Although she had no symptoms of right-sided heart failure, surgical resection of the intracardiac masses was successfully performed. Pathological examination confirmed intracardiac recurrent low-grade ESS. Surgical approach to intracardiac metastasis of the low-grade ESS is considered viable because of an excellent long-term prognosis in this disease and the likelihood of fatal heart failure or sudden death in untreated cases.


Author Correction: Origin of large plasticity and multiscale effects in iron-based metallic glasses.
The authors became aware of a mistake in the original version of this Article. Specifically, where discussing the Curie temperature of the amorphous phase, Tc, in the 'Thermal characterization' section of the Results and in Fig. 2, the authors should have been discussing the Curie temperature of the magnetic crystalline phases T'c. While the Curie temperature of the glass is lower than previously reported, this error does not affect the original discussion or conclusions of the Article. The authors apologize for the confusion caused by this mistake. In addition to this, there were errors in some of the equations in the main text, and the glass composition. A number of changes have been made in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article to reflect these errors. A full list of these changes is available online.


Using films as a psychoeducation tool for patients with schizophrenia: a pilot study using a quasi-experimental pre-post design.
Relapses and, subsequently, readmissions are common in patients with schizophrenia. Psychoeducation has been shown to reduce the number and duration of readmissions. Yet, only little more than 20% of psychiatric patients in German speaking countries receive psychoeducation. Among other reasons, costs may be considered too high by hospitals. The objective of the present study was to test the feasibility of a new cost-efficient approach in the psychoeducation of patients with schizophrenia. In this study, films were used to impart knowledge about the illness to inpatients. A total of 113 participants were initially included in the study, eleven of which were not included in the final analyses. Six films about the symptoms, diagnosis, causes, warning signs, treatment of schizophrenia and about the influence of family members and friends were shown in a group setting in the presence of nursing staff. All films combined facts, expert opinions, and personal experiences of peers. As the main outcome criterion of this feasibility pilot study, we measured the effects on knowledge. Secondary outcome measures included compliance, insight into illness, side effects, and quality of life. Data were collected directly after the intervention and about half a year afterwards. The number and the duration of readmissions to the hospital were recorded and compared to the number and duration of prior admissions. Patients were also asked to state their subjective opinion about the films. Main data analyses were done using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Secondary analyses also involved ANOVAs and ANCOVAs. One hundred and two inpatients were included in the data analyses. Showing the films in the tested setting was shown to be feasible. Knowledge about schizophrenia (p < .001), compliance (ps < .01), insight into illness (p < .01), and quality of life (p < .001) all increased significantly after patients had watched the films and remained stable for at least half a year. A vast majority (84.9%) of the patients found the films to be interesting and informative. Using films to educate inpatients about schizophrenia is a feasible method that is cost- and time-efficient and well received by the patients.


Ultra-low dose of intravitreal bevacizumab in retinopathy of prematurity.
We aimed to investigate the effectivity of the 0.0625 mg dose of bevacizumab in patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and compare the results with 0.625 mg dose of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection. The medical records of the patients with type 1 ROP who received IVB monotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The patients were classified into two groups with respect to received dose of bevacizumab as follows: group F (n = 46) (full dose of bevacizumab-0.625 mg/0.025 ml) and group L (n = 45) (low dose (one tenth) of bevacizumab-0.0625 mg/0.025 ml). Both treatment dose regimens have similar outcomes. Moreover, the mean retinal vascularization time seemed to be significantly higher in group F compared to group L, 168 ± 65 and 97 ± 29 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Disappearance of plus sign is observed earlier in group F (2.45 ± 1.7 vs 3.66 ± 2.46 days, respectively, p = 0.03). The low dose (0.0625 mg) of IVB treatment was effective as full (0.625 mg) dose in ROP treatment. Moreover, our results showed that low-dose treatment might provide faster retinal vascularization than the regular used dose. On the other hand, disappearance of the plus sign takes longer time in patients treated with low dose compared to eyes treated with full dose of IVB that should be taken into account.


Use of CT simulation for treatment of cervical cancer to assess the adequacy of lymph node coverage of conventional pelvic fields based on bony landmarks.
To assess the adequacy of nodal coverage of "conventional" pelvic radiation fields for carcinoma of the cervix, with contoured pelvic vessels on simulation computed tomography (CT) as surrogates for lymph node location. Pelvic arteries were contoured on non-contrast-enhanced CT simulation images of 43 patients with cervix cancer, FIGO Stages I-III. Vessel contours were hidden, and conventional pelvic fields were outlined: (1) anterior/posterior fields (AP): superior border, L5-S1 interspace; inferior border, obturator foramina; lateral border, 2 centimeters lateral to pelvic brim. (2) Lateral fields (LAT): Anterior border, symphysis pubis; posterior border, S2-S3 interspace. Distances were measured between the following: (1) bifurcation of the common iliac artery and superior border, (2) external iliac artery and lateral border of the AP field, and (3) external iliac artery and anterior border of the LAT field. The distances were considered as "inadequate" if <15 mm, "adequate" if 15-20 mm, and "generous" if >20 mm. Superiorly, 34 patients (79.1%) had inadequate coverage. On the AP, margins were generous in 19 (44.2%), but inadequate in 9 (20.9%). On the LAT, margins were inadequate in 30 (69.8%) patients. Overall, 41 (95.4%, CI, 84.2%-99.4%) patients had at least 1 inadequate margin, the majority located superiorly. Twenty-four (55.8%; CI, 39.9%-70.9%) patients had at least 1 generous margin, the majority located laterally on the AP field. Conventional pelvic fields based on bony landmarks do not provide optimal lymph node coverage in a substantial proportion of patients and may include excess normal tissue in some. CT simulation with vessel contouring as a surrogate for lymph node localization provides more precise and individualized field delineation.


Development in the first half of gestation of genetically abnormal human fetuses.
Linear measurements, total weight and organ weights were determined for 24 second trimester human fetuses with a cytogenetic or metabolic defect. The three fetuses with trisomy 13 or 18 tended to be smallest in all parameters. This data should be of value to other laboratories interested in human fetal growth. It demonstrates that the intrauterine growth retardation reported at term in cytogenetically abnormal newborns is already manifested at the eighteenth to twentieth week of gestation.


The Impact of Physical Distancing in the Pandemic Situation: Considering the Role of Loneliness and Social Brain.
The new normal has made social distancing a new way of experiencing sociality. Social neuroscience has for a long time been concerned with studying the beneficial effects of social relationships, of physical contact. It is known that physical contact activates neurophysiological processes that reduce the perception of discomfort and even physical pain. So in the absence of physical contact, our social brain may be modulated differently when we are with others. But what could be the long-term effects of this normality? This mini-review focuses on highlighting with the support of social neuroscience evidence such as isolation, distancing can affect people's health.


PEG spacer gel and adaptive planning vs single plan in external prostate radiotherapy--clinical dosimetry evaluation.
Spacer gel is used to reduce the rectal dose in prostate radiotherapy. It is injected to increase the distance between the prostate and rectum. During the course of external radiotherapy treatment, physiological changes in rectal volume exist. When using polyethylene glycol material, such as DuraSeal(®) (Covidien, Mansfield, MA), gel resorption also occurs. Together, these factors alter the original dose plan distribution. External dose planning and calculations were simulated using images acquired from 10 patients who were treated with brachytherapy and gel. The CT series was taken relative to gel injection: pre 1 day, post 1 day, post 1 month and post 2 months. Adaptive planning was compared with a single plan. Adaptive planning shows better results compared with the single plan used in the total treatment course; however, the effect is minor. Gel usage is clearly favourable to rectal DVH. Using adaptive planning with gel improves rectal DVH but is not necessary according to this study. Spacer gel is used in prostate radiotherapy to increase distance between the prostate and the rectum, thus reducing the rectal doses. During the treatment course, gel resorption exists which affects the rectal doses. The usefulness of adaptive planning to compensate this resorption effect has not been studied before.


Laparoscopic salvage of Tenckhoff catheters.
Laparoscopic abdominal surgery has opened many previously unexploited diagnostic and therapeutic options. At our institution, we have used laparoscopic techniques in several patients to successfully salvage dysfunctional Tenckhoff catheters. Peritoneal dialysis has gained widespread approval as an acceptable alternative to hemodialysis. Unfortunately, following surgical placement of the catheter, mechanical complications are all too common and usually result in unnecessary removal or replacement. To illustrate the usefulness of laparoscopy in preventing this unnecessary patient morbidity, we present a case study of an easily correctable cause of Tenckhoff catheter outflow obstruction that would have avoided detection under normal circumstances.


Sexual behaviour in pregnancy, after childbirth and during breast-feeding.
Sexual and marital relationships change throughout marriage and the transition to parenthood can be seen as a psychosocial crisis. Recent studies do not support the finding of Masters and Johnson (1966) that there is a mid-trimester rise in sexual responsiveness. Sexual behaviour decreases towards the end of pregnancy and a number of studies have found that in the majority of mothers there is only a slow return to pre-pregnancy levels in the first postnatal year. Some of the factors influencing the rate of return are discussed. Breast-feeding is important because of the hormonal changes it produces and it has been said to stimulate sexual feelings in both mother and baby. There is some evidence that breast-feeding has an adverse effect on sexuality in the first postnatal year. It is not clear whether this could be related to differences in hormone levels or differences in feeding behaviour. Fatigue and contraception have largely been ignored in studies of factors influencing postnatal sexual behaviour. Women who went on to breast-feed were found to be very similar on antenatal measures of sexual behaviour to those who went on to bottle-feed. The method of feeding is the major influence on the hormonal status, and the experience of painful intercourse reported by breast-feeding mothers may be related to low oestrogen levels. Breast-feeding persistence is influenced by both social and psychological factors and its effect on sexual behaviour is discussed.


Insight into the effect of chemical structure for microbial lignite methanation.
The chemical structure of lignite plays a fundamental role in microbial degradation, which can be altered to increase gas production. In this study, the structural changes in lignite were analyzed by conducting pretreatment and biomethane gas production experiments using crushing and ball milling processes, respectively. The results revealed that different particle size ranges of lignite considerably influence gas production. The maximum methane yield under both treatments corresponded to a particle size range of 400-500 mesh. The gas production after ball milling was higher than that after crushing, irrespective of particle size. Compared with lignite subjected to crushing, that subjected to ball milling exhibited more oxygen-containing functional groups, less coalification, more disordered structures, and small aromatic ring structures, demonstrating more unstable properties, which are typically favorable to microbial flora for the utilization and degradation of lignite. Additionally, a symbiotic microbial community comprising multiple species was established during the microbial degradation of lignite into biogas. This study provides new insights and a strong scientific foundation for further research on microbial lignite methanation.


Differential effects of reperfusion on incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and recovery of ventricular function at 4 days following coronary occlusion.
To determine the influence of coronary reperfusion on ventricular arrhythmias and ventricular function at 4 days post occlusion, anesthetized dogs randomly received no occlusion (sham), permanent occlusion, or 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 6-hour occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by reperfusion. An ambulatory ECG was recorded between 78 and 96 hours. The total runs of ventricular tachycardia were 1 +/- 0 (sham), 155 +/- 101 (1 hour), 66 +/- 32 (2 hours), 56 +/- 35 (3 hours), 167 +/- 68 (4 hours), 942 +/- 618 (6 hours), and 1422 +/- 486 (permanent occlusion); the runs of ventricular tachycardia were significantly less in the combined 1- to 4-hour groups (93 +/- 24) compared to the 6-hour and permanent occlusion groups (1282 +/- 384; p less than 0.006). Similar results were obtained for the number of hours in which ventricular tachycardia or frequent ventricular premature beats occurred. At 96 hours, improvement in percent systolic wall thickening of the ischemic myocardium assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography was seen in the group reperfused at 1 hour (p less than 0.01). Similar results were obtained for the reduction in degrees of wall circumference showing systolic thinning. In summary, at 4 days post occlusion in a dog model, spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias are reduced by reperfusion within 4 hours, while return of ventricular function is only improved by reperfusion within approximately 1 hour of coronary occlusion.


Methylazoxymethanol acetate: effect of postnatal injection on brain amines and behavior.
The antimitotic drug, methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAMA), was injected into newborn rats during the first four days of life. At 48 days of age, these rats weighed one-third less than controls, as did the cerebella of their brains, but the rest of their brains weighed only 7% less than those of controls. The cerebella structures of the drug-injected rats was highly disorganized. Purkinje cells were scattered haphazardly in the granular layer instead of forming a monolayer. More foldings and short folia were found in the cerebella of drugged animals. In spite of these large morphological differences, the total amounts of norepinephrine and serotonin in the cerebella of the drugged rats were not different from those of the control rats. Behavioral effects of postnatal injection of MAMA include retarded development of the righting reflex,i.e., the drugged pups took longer time to right themselves when placed on their backs during the first nine days after birth; and scondly, MAMA reduced locomotor activity measured 45 days after birth.


Genetic Ablation of the MET Oncogene Defines a Crucial Role of the HGF/MET Axis in Cell-Autonomous Functions Driving Tumor Dissemination.
Cancer cell dissemination is sustained by cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous functions. To disentangle the role of HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor) and MET ligand/receptor axis in this complex process, we genetically knocked out the MET gene in cancer cells in which MET is not the oncogenic driver. In this way, we evaluated the contribution of the HGF/MET axis to cancer cell dissemination independently of its direct activities in cells of the tumor microenvironment. The lack of MET expression in MET-/- cells has been proved by molecular characterization. From a functional point of view, HGF stimulation of MET-/- cancer cells was ineffective in eliciting intracellular signaling and in sustaining biological functions predictive of malignancy in vitro (i.e., anchorage-independent growth, invasion, and survival in the absence of matrix adhesion). Cancer cell dissemination was assessed in vivo, evaluating: (i) the ability of MET-/- lung carcinoma cells to colonize the lungs following intravenous injection and (ii) the spontaneous dissemination to distant organs of MET-/- pancreatic carcinoma cells upon orthotopic injection. In both experimental models, MET ablation affects the time of onset, the number, and the size of metastatic lesions. These results define a crucial contribution of the HGF/MET axis to cell-autonomous functions driving the metastatic process.


A Survey of Ultrasound Milestone Incorporation Into Emergency Medicine Training Programs.
With the introduction of the Emergency Medicine Milestone Project in 2013, residencies now assess emergency ultrasound (US) skills at regular intervals. However, it is unclear how programs are implementing the emergency US milestones and assessing competency. With the use of the milestone tool, a survey was distributed to emergency US educators to determine when programs are providing emergency US education, when residents are expected to attain competency, and whether the milestones reflect their expectations of trainees. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional survey study distributed electronically to designated emergency US experts at 169 programs. Participants were queried on education and competency evaluation within the context of the milestones by designating a postgraduate year when the 5 milestone levels were taught and competency was expected. Survey findings were reported as percentages of total respondents from descriptive statistics. Responses were received from 53% of programs, and 99% were familiar with the milestones. Most programs provide level 1 (88%) and 2 (85%) instruction during postgraduate year 1. Most programs expect level 1 competency before residency (61%) and expect mastery of level 2 by the end of postgraduate year 1 (60%). Sixty-two percent believe the milestones do not accurately reflect their expectations, citing insufficient minimum scan numbers, lack of specificity, and unattainable level 5 requirements. There is substantial variability in the frequency and methods of competency evaluation using the emergency US milestones. However, most responders agree that residents should obtain level 2 competency by postgraduate year 1. Variation exists regarding what year and what skills define level 3 or greater competency.


10-year weight loss outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and attendance at follow-up visits: a single-center study.
Long-term durability of weight loss is a prerequisite for a greater acceptance of bariatric surgery. To examine long-term weight trajectory in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and determine factors predicting long-term follow-up and weight outcomes. University hospital. A retrospective cohort of adults who underwent RYGB during 1997-2010 were identified and followed until 2017. Predictors for attendance at periodic follow-up visits, reduction in body mass index (BMI), and percent excess BMI lost were determined using multivariable logistic regression and linear mixed-effects models. The latter was used to predict long-term weight outcomes for a typical patient. The study included 1104 patients with a mean age of 45.5 (standard deviation [SD] 9.9) years and a preoperative BMI of 54.7 (SD 10.9) kg/m2. Follow-up data were available for 92.8% of the patients after 1 year, 50.0% after 5 years, and 35.2% after 10 years post-surgery. Black patients, compared with White patients, were less likely to attend follow-up visits. Attendance at follow-up visits at least every other year was not associated with larger weight loss, but higher preoperative BMI, being White (versus Black), and female sex were. Predicted BMI reduction for a typical patient, a 45-year-old White female with a preoperative BMI of 54.7 kg/m2 and private health insurance, undergoing laparoscopic RYGB in 2004, was 18.3 (standard error [SE] .36) kg/m2 at year 5 and 17.6 (SE .49) kg/m2 at year 10. RYGB results in clinically significant and durable weight loss. Attendance at periodic follow-up visits does not appear to be associated with long-term weight loss outcomes. Future work should focus on strategies to remove barriers to post-operative care.


Fat depot-related differences in gene expression, adiponectin secretion, and insulin action and signalling in human adipocytes differentiated in vitro from precursor stromal cells.
The distinct metabolic properties of visceral and subcutaneous adipocytes may be due to inherent characteristics of the cells that are resident in each fat depot. To test this hypothesis, human adipocytes were differentiated in vitro from precursor stromal cells obtained from visceral and subcutaneous fat depots and analysed for genetic, biochemical and metabolic endpoints. Stromal cells were isolated from adipose tissue depots of nondiabetic individuals. mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific proteins were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Insulin signalling was evaluated by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Glucose transport was measured by a 2-deoxy-glucose uptake assay. Adiponectin secretion in the adipocyte-conditioned medium was determined by a specific RIA. With cell differentiation, mRNA levels of PPARG, C/EBPalpha (also known as CEBPA), AP2 (also known as GTF3A), GLUT4 (also known as SLC2A4) were markedly upregulated, whereas GLUT1 (also known as SLC2A1) mRNA did not change. However, expression of C/EBPalpha, AP2 and adiponectin was higher in subcutaneous than in visceral adipocytes. By contrast, adiponectin was secreted at threefold higher rates by visceral than by subcutaneous adipocytes while visceral adipocytes also showed two- to threefold higher insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, IRS proteins, Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 was more rapid and tended to decrease at earlier time-points in visceral than in subcutaneous adipocytes. Subcutaneous and visceral adipocytes, also when differentiated in vitro from precursor stromal cells, retain differences in gene expression, adiponectin secretion, and insulin action and signalling. Thus, the precursor cells that reside in the visceral and subcutaneous fat depots may already possess inherent and specific metabolic characteristics that will be expressed upon completion of the differentiation programme.


Constancy, Distribution, and Frequency of Lepidoptera Defoliators of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus urophylla (Myrtaceae) in Four Brazilian Regions.
The growth of the Brazilian forest sector with monocultures favors the adaptation of Arthropoda pests. The Lepidoptera order includes major pests of Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae). The aim of this work is to study the population constancy, distribution, and frequency of Lepidoptera primary pests of Eucalyptus spp. Lepidoptera pests in Eucalyptus spp. plantations were collected in Três Marias and Guanhães (state of Minas Gerais), Niquelândia (state of Goiás), and Monte Dourado (state of Pará), Brazil, for a period of 5 years, with light traps and captures, every 15 days, for every region. The number of primary pest species (12) has been similar in the four regions, and even with 1.5 to 2.4% of the total species collected, this group has shown a high frequency, especially in Três Marias, Niquelândia, and Monte Dourado, with 66.3, 54.2, and 40.0% of the individuals collected, respectively, for 5 years. The primary pest species have been constant and frequent in all the regions, with population peaks from February to September in Três Marias, February and May in Niquelândia, and from July to September in Monte Dourado. The highest population peaks of these species have been recorded when the Eucalyptus spp. plants are 3 to 6 years old. The Guanhães region is more stable and, therefore, has a lower possibility of outbreaks of the Lepidoptera primary pest species.


Type IV-A CRISPR-Csf complex: Assembly, dsDNA targeting, and CasDinG recruitment.
Type IV CRISPR-Cas systems, which are primarily found on plasmids and exhibit a strong plasmid-targeting preference, are the only one of the six known CRISPR-Cas types for which the mechanistic details of their function remain unknown. Here, we provide high-resolution functional snapshots of type IV-A Csf complexes before and after target dsDNA binding, either in the absence or presence of CasDinG, revealing the mechanisms underlying CsfcrRNA complex assembly, "DWN" PAM-dependent dsDNA targeting, R-loop formation, and CasDinG recruitment. Furthermore, we establish that CasDinG, a signature DinG family helicase, harbors ssDNA-stimulated ATPase activity and ATP-dependent 5'-3' DNA helicase activity. In addition, we show that CasDinG unwinds the non-target strand (NTS) and target strand (TS) of target dsDNA from the CsfcrRNA complex. These molecular details advance our mechanistic understanding of type IV-A CRISPR-Csf function and should enable Csf complexes to be harnessed as genome-engineering tools for biotechnological applications.


Effects of a chitin binding vicilin from Erythrina velutina seeds on bean bruchid pests (Callosobruchus maculatus and Zabrotes subfasciatus).
Erythrina velutina vicilin, EvV, is a dimeric glycoprotein with Mr of 124.6 kDa. EvV was tested for anti-insect activity against bean bruchid larvae. EvV had LD(50) of 0.10% and ED(50) of 0.14% for Z. subfasciatus and LD(50) of 0.26% and ED(50) of 0.19% for C. maculatus. EvV was not digested by bean larvae enzymes until 12 h of incubation, and at 24 h EvV was more resistant to Z. subfasciatus enzymes.


Gut microbiota and bacterial translocation in digestive surgery: the impact of probiotics.
It is conceivable that manipulation of the gut microbiota could reduce the incidence or magnitude of surgical complications in digestive surgery. However, the evidence remains inconclusive, although much effort has been devoted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses on probiotics. Furthermore, the mechanism behind the protective effects of probiotics appears elusive, our understanding of probiotic actions being fragmentary. The objective of this review is to assess the clinical relevance of the perioperative use of probiotics in major digestive surgery, based on a comprehensive view of the gut microbiota, bacterial translocation (BT), and host defense system. The first part of this article describes the pathophysiological events associated with the gut microbiota. Results of RCTs for the perioperative use of probiotics in major digestive surgery are reviewed in the latter part. The development of the structural and functional barrier to protect against BT primarily results from the generally cooperative interactions between the host and resident microbiota. There is a large body of evidence indicating that probiotics, by enhancing beneficial interactions, reinforce the host defense system to limit BT. The perioperative use of probiotics in patients undergoing hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery is a promising approach for the prevention of postoperative infectious complications, while the effectiveness in colorectal surgery remains controversial due to substantial heterogeneity among the RCTs with small sample populations. Further studies, such as multi-center RCTs with a larger sample size, are necessary to confirm the clinical relevance of probiotic agents in major digestive surgery.


Current and emerging biomarkers in tumors of the central nervous system: Possible diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications.
Recent investments in research associated with the discovery of specific tumor biomarkers important for efficient diagnosis and prognosis are beginning to bear fruit. Key biomarkers could potentially outweigh traditional radiological or pathological methods by enabling specificity of early detection, when coupled with tumor molecular profiling and clinical associations. Only few biomarkers are approved by regulatory authorities for Central Nervous System Tumors (CNSTs), despite the evaluation of a large number of CNST related markers during clinical trials. Traditional CNSTs biomarkers include 1p/19q co-deletion, O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Methylation, and mutations in IDH1/IDH2. Recently tested CNSTs biomarkers include VEGFR-2, EGFRvIII, IL2, PDGFR, MMPs, BRAF, STAT3, PTEN, TERT, AKT, NF2, and BCL2. Additional studies have highlighted new and novel MicroRNAs, circular RNAs and long non-coding RNAs as promising biomarkers. Studies on microvesicles pinpoint exosomes as promising, less invasive biomarkers that could be isolated from the serum of cancer patients. Furthermore, Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) related molecules, such as CD133, SOX2 and Nestin, utilized as CNST biomarkers, might enable efficient monitoring of cancer progression, and/or surveillance of emerging drug resistant cells. Approved protocols that implement novel molecular markers in diagnostics, prognostics and drug development will herald a new era of precision and personalized neuro-oncology. This review summarizes and discusses putative CNST biomarkers that are under clinical development, and are ready to move into diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications. Data presented here is predicted to aid in streamlining the process of biomarker's research and development.


Hippocampal formation neurons code the level of activation of the cholinergic septohippocampal pathway.
In these experiments, differing levels of activation of the cholinergic septohippocampal pathway, as reflected by shifts in type 2 slow wave theta frequency recorded in the hippocampal formation, were studied in urethane-anesthetized rats. The purpose was to determine whether the discharge rates of cells in the hippocampal formation varied in any systematic way with the frequency shifts produced during spontaneous theta and by stimulation of the dorsomedial-posterior hypothalamic region. Linear regression analysis revealed that a class of neurons called theta-on cells precisely coded the level of activation of the septohippocampal pathway through their discharge rates. Administration of atropine sulfate abolished this coding. A second class of neurons called theta-off cells were shown to have reciprocal relationships with theta-on cells. Implications for the sensorimotor model of hippocampal formation theta subsystems were discussed.


Insights into the fates of plasmids and antimicrobial resistance genes during swine manure treatment and related factors based on plasmidome and metagenome analyses.
Swine manure treatment plants are important reservoirs of plasmid-harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and physicochemical contaminants, but the changes in the abundances of plasmids and ARGs, and their interactions with the physicochemical properties of manure, are still unclear. Thus, in the present study, plasmidome and metagenome analyses were conducted for samples collected at different stages in the swine manure treatment process. The results indicated that anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion were the most efficient stages for reducing the abundances of ARGs in swine manure. However, the plasmids associated with ARGs were not effectively removed in these stages. Through the whole treatment process, the IncL/M, IncQ1, IncHI2A, IncA/C, and IncN plasmid groups had strong correlations (r > 0.8, P < 0.01) with most ARG types, thereby indicating that these plasmids play important roles in the persistence of ARGs in this environment. Furthermore, the pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and four heavy metals (Cu, Zn, As, and Fe) significantly affected the abundances of seven ARG subtypes (tetB(P), ant(6)-Ia, tet44, aph(3'')-Ib, mefB, tet(L), and tet(39)). In particular, florfenicol had the most positive correlations with ARGs. Our results indicated that nutrients, heavy metals, and antibiotics all contributed to the presence and persistence of plasmid-harboring ARGs. This study provides insights into the fate of plasmids and ARGs, and related factors during the swine manure treatment process, thereby facilitating the development of a new treatment technique for removing ARGs and reducing the public health risk associated with livestock production.


Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy regression induced by an angiotensin receptor blocker-based regimen in hypertensive patients with the metabolic syndrome: data from the SARA Study.
The authors assessed the effect of an angiotensin receptor blocker (candesartan)-based regimen on electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) in 276 patients with hypertension, including 141 with the metabolic syndrome (MS). Baseline blood pressure (BP) and ECG-LVH parameters did not differ in patients with and without MS. At the study's end, BP had decreased similarly in both groups. At baseline, 26.1% of patients with MS and 24.7% without MS exhibited ECG-LVH by Cornell product (CorP) criteria (P=NS); 26.8% and 17.2%, respectively, by Sokolow-Lyon product (SokP) (P=.01); 11.4%and 11.8% by Cornell voltage (CorV) (P=NS); and 12.4% and 6.5% by Sokolow-Lyon voltage (SokV) (P=.01). At the study's end, in the MS group, prevalence of ECG-LVH was reduced to 19.5% from 26.1% (P=.001), to 8.5% from 11.4% (P=.01), and to 24.4% from 26.8%(P=.03) by CorP, CorV, and SokP, respectively. In patients without MS, only the CorP criterion showed a significant decrease in ECG-LVH prevalence, declining to 20.5% (P=.01). The relative risk reduction of ECG-LVH was higher in patients with MS according to CorV and SokP criteria (P<.01).


Association between body mass index and outcomes in Japanese living kidney transplant recipients: The role of sex differences.
To evaluate the impact of pretransplant body mass index on graft failure and mortality in Japanese patients undergoing living kidney transplant. A cohort of 888 living kidney transplant recipients who received standard immunosuppressive therapy between 2000 and 2013 were identified from the Japan Academic Consortium of Kidney Transplantation database. Pretransplant body mass index was divided into three categories according to the following tertiles: <19.4, 19.5-22.2 and ≥22.3 kg/m(2) . A multivariable time-to-event analysis was carried out. Estimated hazard ratios of the body mass index effects regarding graft failure were 1.62 (95% confidence interval 0.83-3.18) for the first tertile and 2.20 (95% confidence interval 1.24-3.90) for the third tertile. Patient mortality was 1.21 (95% confidence interval 0.32-4.54) for the first tertile and 1.52 (95% confidence interval 0.56-4.13) for the third tertile. In a subgroup analysis, the effects of body mass index according to sex were substantially heterogeneous (P = 0.029 for interaction). Pretransplant body mass index had a non-linear J-shaped association with graft failure that resulted from qualitative interaction between body mass index and the recipient's sex. Sex differences and interaction effects must be considered when evaluating the effects of pretransplant body mass index on post-transplant outcomes in Japanese patients undergoing living kidney transplant.


Hospital dietetics and food service in developing countries: II. Lebanon.
A survey of 15 hospitals in Lebanon revealed that food service personnel in most hospitals had no training in nutrition, dietetics, or food service management. Kitchen sanitation was inadequate. Therapeutic diets were usually incorrectly planned and seldom used. The need for training food service personnel was recognized only in hospitals with some trained persons on the staff.


Proteome-based identification of chicken egg yolk proteins associated with antioxidant activity on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
In this study, a proteome analysis of Tibetan chicken egg yolk as well as the comparison to that of lowland chicken were performed by label-free quantitative proteomics. A total of 135 proteins were identified and abundances of 19 of these proteins were significantly different between these two groups. These differential proteins were mainly associated with oxidative stress, defense, energy metabolism and tissue development through bioinformatics analysis. To further verify the species-specific diversity of the antioxidant capacity, the antioxidative activities of egg yolk proteins were further invested in vitro and in Caco-2 cells. It was observed that both Tibetan and lowland chicken egg yolk proteins showed antioxidant activities, but the former exerted a much stronger effect. PIT54 and glutathione peroxidase 3 were considered to be antioxidant-related candidate proteins. These results provide substantial evidence for the molecular mechanisms of enhancing physical activity levels of egg yolk proteins, especially with regard to the cross-species protective mechanisms against oxidative stress.


The Influence of Heat Stress on Chicken Immune System and Mitigation of Negative Impacts by Baicalin and Baicalein.
Heat stress (HS) in poultry husbandry is an important stressor and with increasing global temperatures its importance will increase. The negative effects of stress on the quality and quantity of poultry production are described in a range of research studies. However, a lack of attention is devoted to the impacts of HS on individual chicken immune cells and whole lymphoid tissue in birds. Oxidative stress and increased inflammation are accompanying processes of HS, but with deleterious effects on the whole organism. They play a key role in the inflammation and oxidative stress of the chicken immune system. There are a range of strategies that can help mitigate the adverse effects of HS in poultry. Phytochemicals are well studied and some of them report promising results to mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation, a major consequence of HS. Current studies revealed that mitigating these two main impacts of HS will be a key factor in solving the problem of increasing temperatures in poultry production. Improved function of the chicken immune system is another benefit of using phytochemicals in poultry due to the importance of poultry health management in today's post pandemic world. Based on the current literature, baicalin and baicalein have proven to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in mammalian and avian models. Taken together, this review is dedicated to collecting the literature about the known effects of HS on chicken immune cells and lymphoid tissue. The second part of the review is dedicated to the potential use of baicalin and baicalein in poultry to mitigate the negative impacts of HS on poultry production.


A pH-responsive nanoparticle targets the neurokinin 1 receptor in endosomes to prevent chronic pain.
Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery is especially useful for targets within endosomes because of the endosomal transport mechanisms of many nanomedicines within cells. Here, we report the design of a pH-responsive, soft polymeric nanoparticle for the targeting of acidified endosomes to precisely inhibit endosomal signalling events leading to chronic pain. In chronic pain, the substance P (SP) neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) redistributes from the plasma membrane to acidified endosomes, where it signals to maintain pain. Therefore, the NK1R in endosomes provides an important target for pain relief. The pH-responsive nanoparticles enter cells by clathrin- and dynamin-dependent endocytosis and accumulate in NK1R-containing endosomes. Following intrathecal injection into rodents, the nanoparticles, containing the FDA-approved NK1R antagonist aprepitant, inhibit SP-induced activation of spinal neurons and thus prevent pain transmission. Treatment with the nanoparticles leads to complete and persistent relief from nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic nociception and offers a much-needed non-opioid treatment option for chronic pain.


Basal forebrain cholinergic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease--interrelationship with beta-amyloid, inflammation and neurotrophin signaling.
Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder of senile dementia, is characterized by two major morpho-pathological hallmarks. Deposition of extracellular neuritic, beta-amyloid peptide-containing plaques (senile plaques) in cerebral cortical regions of Alzheimer patients is accompanied by the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles in cerebral pyramidal neurons. Basal forebrain cholinergic dysfunction is also a consistent feature of Alzheimer's disease, which has been suggested to cause, at least partly, the cognitive deficits observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Impaired cortical cholinergic neurotransmission may also contribute to beta-amyloid plaque pathology in Alzheimer's disease by affecting expression and processing of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Vice versa, low level of soluble beta-amyloid has been observed to inhibit cholinergic synaptic function. Deposition of beta-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease is also accompanied by a significant plaque-associated glial up-regulation of interleukin-1, which has been attributed to affect expression and metabolism of APP and to interfere with cholinergic transmission. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the interrelationship between cortical cholinergic dysfunction, beta-amyloid formation and deposition, as well as local inflammatory upregulation, would allow to derive potential treatment strategies to pharmacologically intervene in the disease-causing signaling cascade.


Predicting borderline and antisocial personality disorder features in nonclinical subjects using measures of impulsivity and aggressiveness.
This study examines impulsivity and aggressiveness dimensions as predictors of borderline (BPD) and antisocial (ASPD) personality disorder symptoms in nonclinical subjects. A total of 747 undergraduate university students were administered the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that motor impulsiveness, irritability, resentment, and guilt predicted BPD symptoms among university students after controlling for the effect of ASPD and depressive symptoms. ASPD symptoms were predicted by motor impulsiveness, physical aggression, indirect aggression, and negativism. These results indicate that in nonclinical subjects BPD and ASPD symptoms share a common impulsivity dimension but are linked to different aggressiveness facets.


Sex and androgenic steroid receptor expression in hepatic adenomas.
Sex hormones and anabolic-androgenic steroids are implicated in the development and progression of hepatic adenomas (HA). We studied the expression of their receptors in HA and adjacent liver. Archival tissue sections of 27 HA (16 resections, four needle biopsies, seven aspirations) from 18 patients, and the adjacent liver, were immunostained with monoclonal antibody to estrogen receptor (ER, 1/80) (Dako, Carpinteria, CA), progesterone receptor (PR, 1/50) (BioGenex, San Ramon, CA), and androgen receptor (AR, 1/80) (BioGenex). An avidin-biotin complex technique was used with microwave antigen retrieval. Nuclear expression was assessed as 1+ to 3+ intensity, with semiquantitation of the percentage of nuclei immunopositive. Five percent or more nuclei immunopositive was regarded as positive. The 18 patients included 16 females of 34 years mean age (range, 16 to 49) with an available history of oral contraceptives in five; the two men were 24 and 30 years, with no history of androgenic steroids. ER, PR, and AR were present in seven (26%) (1+/-2+ intensity, 5% to 10% of nuclei) of HA, seven (26%) (1+/-2+ intensity, 5% to 30% of nuclei) and nine (33%) (1+/-3+ intensity, 5% to 80% of nuclei), respectively. In the adjacent liver in 11 cases, there were one (9%) ER, (2+ intensity, 5% of nuclei), four (36%) PR (1+/-2+ intensity, 5% to 20% of nuclei), and two (18%) AR (2+/-3+ intensity, 10% of nuclei). Receptors are present and may mediate the action of sex hormones or androgenic steroids on HA and adjacent liver, but in less than one third of patients. This may have therapeutic implications.


Interoceptive accuracy mediates the longitudinal relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattentive symptoms and disordered eating in a community sample.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with disordered eating and interoceptive deficits (as assessed by reliance on hunger/satiety cues) have been suggested as a potential mediating influence. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine whether the association between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating is explained by deficits in specific facets of interoception. We also aimed to provide further evidence on the previously reported association between ADHD symptoms, negative mood and disordered eating. A community-based sample of 345 adult men and women (M age = 33.9, 72.5% women) completed questionnaires assessing disordered eating (restrictive and binge-type), ADHD symptoms, reliance on hunger/ satiety cues, specific facets of interoception (interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive sensibility) and negative mood at two timepoints over a 6-month period. We tested the mediating influence of reliance on hunger/satiety cues, facets of interoception and negative mood on the relationship between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating. Reliance on hunger/satiety cues mediated the relationship between inattentive symptoms of ADHD and both restrictive and binge-type eating. Interoceptive accuracy, but not sensibility mediated the relationship between inattentive ADHD symptoms and binge-type eating. Negative mood mediated the relationship between both ADHD symptom types and restrictive and binge-type eating. The results from this longitudinal study confirm that deficits in interoception and negative mood contribute to the relationship between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating and extend knowledge by highlighting interoceptive accuracy specifically as the most important facet of interoception in the relationship between inattentive symptoms and binge-type eating.