Activating dynamic atomic-configuration for single-site electrocatalyst in electrochemical CO2 reduction.
One challenge for realizing high-efficiency electrocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction is lacking in comprehensive understanding of potential-driven chemical state and dynamic atomic-configuration evolutions. Herein, by using a complementary combination of in situ/operando methods and employing copper single-atom electrocatalyst as a model system, we provide evidence on how the complex interplay among dynamic atomic-configuration, chemical state change and surface coulombic charging determines the resulting product profiles. We further demonstrate an informative indicator of atomic surface charge (φe) for evaluating the CO2RR performance, and validate potential-driven dynamic low-coordinated Cu centers for performing significantly high selectivity and activity toward CO product over the well-known four N-coordinated counterparts. It indicates that the structural reconstruction only involved the dynamic breaking of Cu-N bond is partially reversible, whereas Cu-Cu bond formation is clearly irreversible. For all single-atom electrocatalysts (Cu, Fe and Co), the φe value for efficient CO production has been revealed closely correlated with the configuration transformation to generate dynamic low-coordinated configuration. A universal explication can be concluded that the dynamic low-coordinated configuration is the active form to efficiently catalyze CO2-to-CO conversion.


Lunate resection and vascularized Os pisiform transfer in Kienböck's Disease: an average of 10 years of follow-up study after Saffar's procedure.
To investigate the long-term results of lunate replacement by vascularized bone transfer in advanced Kienböck's disease. Twenty-one patients were reviewed (mean follow-up period +/- SD, 9.9 +/- 3.5 y) to analyze results after lunate replacement by vascularized pisiform transposition (Saffar's procedure) for Lichtman stages III and IV. Pain was improved in 16 of 21 patients but range of motion did not improve after surgery. Range of motion was reduced to 68% and grip power to 80% of that of the opposite hand. At follow-up evaluation the mean score on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire was 22.3 +/- 17.9 and the mean Cooney score was 75.4 +/- 13.2. Radiologically, Lichtman stage persisted in 8, improved in 1, progressed in 8, and could not be evaluated in 3 patients. Two patients had radiologic signs of arthritis before surgery. At follow-up examination osteoarthritis was found in 50% of patients. The majority of degenerative changes were associated with carpal collapse. The replacement of the lunate by vascularized pisiform transposition maintained preoperative ranges of motion. At follow-up examination both patient satisfaction and wrist function were high. In the long term, however, Saffar's procedure can restore alignment of the carpus only partly and also results in osteoarthritis in half of all patients.


Anticonvulsants for preventing seizures in patients with chronic subdural haematoma.
Anticonvulsant therapy is sometimes used prophylactically in patients with chronic subdural haematoma, although the benefit is unclear. To establish the effectiveness of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with chronic subdural haematoma, for both pre- and post-operative periods. We searched the Cochrane Injuries Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Database and abstract books of conference proceedings of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. We also searched the references of all identified studies. Randomised controlled trials comparing any anticonvulsant versus placebo or no intervention. No trials met the inclusion criteria for the review. No randomised, controlled trials were identified. No formal recommendations can be made about the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with chronic subdural haematoma based on the literature currently available. Non-controlled studies came up with conflicting results. There is an urgent need for well-designed randomised controlled trials.


Evaluation of a new and potent cholecystokinin antagonist on motor responses of the guinea-pig intestine.
The potency and selectivity of D,L-4-(3,4-dichloro-benzoyl-amino)-5-(dipentyl-amino)-5-oxo-pen tan oic acid (CR 1409) as a cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist was investigated on motor responses of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the guinea-pig isolated ileum. CR 1409 was further used to examine whether nerve-mediated motor responses to electrical field stimulation or distension of the gut wall may involve the release of CCK-like peptides. CR 1409 (0.06-2.1 microM) antagonized longitudinal muscle responses to ceruletide (caerulein, a CCK-related decapeptide) in a concentration dependent and competitive manner (pA2 7.77); responses to CCK-octapeptide (CCK-8) were antagonized with a similar potency. Contractions of the circular muscle evoked by ceruletide were also blocked by CR 1409 (0.2-0.4 microM). Longitudinal muscle contractions in response to dimethylphenylpiperazinium, bethanechol, histamine, substance P, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and circular muscle contractions evoked by acetylcholine, 5-HT, substance P, or substance K were not altered by CR 1409 (0.4 microM). Longitudinal muscle contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (with pulses delivered at 0.05 and 1 Hz in the absence, and at 5 Hz in the presence of atropine) were not or only slightly reduced by CR 1409 (0.4 microM). Longitudinal contractions due to activation of extrinsic nerves by capsaicin remained unaltered in the presence of CR 1409 (0.4 microM). Reflex contractions of the circular muscle, induced by balloon distension and recorded orally to the site of distension, and peristaltic activity elicited by intraluminal infusion of Tyrode solution remained unaffected by CR 1409 (0.4 microM). 5 These findings indicate that CR 1409 is a potent and selective antagonist of CCK-like peptides in the guinea-pig ileum. The results do not provide any evidence that CCK-like peptides, released from extrinsic or intrinsic neurones, are involved in nerve-mediated contractions of intestinal muscle and in the peristaltic reflex.


Alan Alda's If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating.
A primary function of my role is asking top neuroscientists to write about the latest developments in their specialty areas for lay readers. If they agree to the assignment, I encourage them to use-whenever possible-conversational language, anecdotes, storytelling, and their own voice in communicating what are often complex and hard-to-explain topics. Another option might be to suggest they read Alan Alda's new book before they begin.


Clinical reactivation during lamivudine treatment correlates with mutations in the precore/core promoter and polymerase regions of hepatitis B virus in patients with anti-hepatitis B e-positive chronic hepatitis.
Drug-resistant mutants may emerge in patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving lamivudine therapy. To evaluate whether different viral mutational patterns may be associated with clinical reactivation during lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic B hepatitis. Eight anti-hepatitis B e-positive patients with (group A) and 14 patients without clinical exacerbation (five anti-hepatitis B e-positive, group B1; nine hepatitis B e antigen-positive, group B2) during lamivudine treatment were investigated. 'Polymerase region': M204V/I variants were found in all group A patients, but in none of group B1 (P=0.0007) and in four of nine of group B2 (44%; P=0.02) patients. The L180M substitution was detected in four of eight (50%) of group A and in none of groups B1 and B2. 'Core promoter': the double basic core promoter (A1762T/G1764A) variant was detected in seven of eight (87%) of group A and in one of five (20%; P=0.03) of group B1 and one of nine (11%; P=0.002) of group B2 patients. 'Precore': the G1896A stop codon mutation was present in seven of eight (87%) of group A and in zero of five (P=0.004) of group B1 and one of nine (11%; P=0.002) of group B2. Different mutational patterns were observed in the lamivudine-treated patients with and without exacerbation. There was an association of the basic core promoter and stop codon mutations with lamivudine resistance in patients with disease exacerbation.


Resolution of refractory orbital cellulitis in an immunocompetent child: A case report.
Orbital cellulitis in children is a potentially fatal emergency and develops rapidly, leading to severe visual loss and life-threatening complications. We report a case of a 16-month-old girl who presented to the emergency department unconscious with a four-day history of a swollen right eyelid. CT scan revealed soft tissue swelling at the superior and inferior palpebral region with bilateral maxillary sinusitis. She had a severe sepsis and received intravenous antibiotics. After her general condition improved, she underwent surgical drainage in conjunction with mini-FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery)-the culture of purulent material from which Staphylococcus Aureus was isolated. After a few days, she had hospital-acquired pneumonia, and an abscess in her right eyelid reformed. Immunoglobulin test and lymphocyte subset test was normal. The patient underwent re-surgical drainage and had complete resolution of refractory orbital cellulitis. Severe refractory orbital cellulitis secondary to indolent infection is oftentimes found in immunocompromised patients or in those with underlying ocular diseases; our immunocompetent patient had a seemingly mild case of sinusitis which quickly progressed to severe orbital cellulitis. Oftentimes, broad-spectrum antibiotics are sufficient to treat orbital cellulitis, however, the same cannot be said for our patient, abscess reformed despite appropriate definitive antibiotic therapy in accordance with the culture results. While the main treatment of orbital cellulitis is administration of antibiotics, in certain conditions as found in our patient, patients may not respond well to conservative treatment. Thus, close monitoring is essential, and any sign of progression warrants prompt surgical drainage.


Antenatal ultrasonographic features associated with segmental small bowel dilatation: an unusual neonatal condition mimicking congenital small bowel obstruction.
Segmental dilatation of the intestine (SDI) is an unusual condition presenting during the neonatal period, with symptoms of obstruction. Late diagnosed cases are also reported. The clinical polymorphism, and the lack of specificity of radiological investigations, make diagnosis difficult. Prenatal detection of abdominal cystic lesions or bowel dilatation has occasionally been reported to be associated with SDI. We herein report two cases of SDI, with a prenatal ultrasonographic suspicion of intestinal abnormality. In both infants, a dilatation of the ileum was found at surgery, without any evident site of obstruction or abnormal histology. SDI must be taken into consideration when a prenatal alert of possible bowel obstruction is not followed by postnatal clinical signs.


Interleukin 6 mediates selected effects of Notch in chondrocytes.
Notch receptors determine cell fate by regulating transcription, an event mediated by the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which is generated by proteolysis brought about by Notch-ligand interactions. Since Notch activation or exposure to interleukin (Il)6 have similar effects in chondrocytes, we explored whether interleukin 6 (Il6) contributes to the mechanisms of Notch action in these cells. NICD was overexpressed in primary chondrocytes from Rosa(Notch) mice, where the Rosa26 promoter precedes a loxP-flanked STOP cassette followed by the NICD coding sequence. Cells were infected with adenoviral vectors expressing Cre to induce NICD or green fluorescent protein (GFP) as control. Gene expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Il6 protein concentration in the culture media was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To test the mechanisms of Notch action on Il6 expression, cells were transfected with a fragment of the Il6 promoter or control vector pGL3, or transcriptionally arrested with 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole. Il6 was inhibited with a neutralizing antibody, whereas a normal immunoglobulin G (IgG) was used as control. NICD induced Il6 mRNA and protein, and transactivated the Il6 promoter without affecting Il6 mRNA stability. Il6 neutralization had no impact on gene expression under basal conditions, and did not modify the effects of NICD on sex determining region-Y-related high mobility group-box gene (Sox)9, collagen type II α1 (Col2a1) and collagen type X α1 (Col10a1) expression. Conversely, Il6 neutralization opposed aggrecan (Acan) suppression and prevented matrix metalloprotease (Mmp)13 induction by NICD. Il6 mediates suppression of Acan and induction of Mmp13 expression by Notch in chondrocytes.


Clear cell variant squamous cell carcinoma of temporal bone: Case report and literature review.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the temporal bone is a rare malignancy. Clear cell SCC is a rare variant of SCC of temporal bone in which no clear risk factor has been suggested as possible etiology. Otalgia, otorrhea, and hearing loss are the usual presenting symptoms of SCC of the temporal bone. This is a case is of a 62-year-old female who presented with a 6 months' history of experiencing intermittent left hearing disturbance, loss of balance, persistent left tinnitus, left otalgia radiating to the lateral neck and post auricular swelling. Histology showed clear cell variant, well differentiated SCC. The patient's tumor was found to be non-resectable due to the extensive invasion. The patient was referred for palliative therapy by medical and radiation oncology, however, the patient couldn't tolerate it. One month later she passed away. SCC of the temporal bone is a challenging clinical entity. It is diagnosed mainly by clinical and radiological assessment, and deep biopsies are used to confirm the diagnosis. Temporal bone SCC is usually diagnosed late due to delayed presentation. This case of temporal bone SCC was aggressive in nature and presentation. The presentation was different from the known triad of symptoms of temporal bone SCC which is offensive otorrhea, pain, and bleeding. This case showed a very destructive and bizarre clinical presentation but more report of cases is needed to have a better characterization of the clinical presentation and prognosis of this variant of SCC of temporal bone.


The role of heart rate reduction in angina management and beyond.
This article highlights the significance of heart rate as an independent risk factor and prognostic marker for cardiovascular disease and examines the pharmacological measures available that lead to effective heart rate reduction.


Separation of estrogen receptors from nonspecific binding employing receptor antibodies.
Sedimentation analysis in the presence of monoclonal antibodies to the estrogen receptor results in a well-marked separation of the estrogen receptor peak from that containing significant amounts of nonspecific binding. This method has been applied to the study of liver and breast cancer cytosols. These findings are of importance in the study of breast cancer metastases and of endocrine-responsive organs such as the liver, that previously could not be readily analyzed because of the presence of significant amounts of nonspecific binding.


Study on the mechanism of co-catalyzed pyrolysis of biomass by potassium and calcium.
The effects of K and Ca on the pyrolysis of rice straw were studied. The results showed that impregnating a certain amount of Ca is beneficial to the uniform distribution of K, and mixing a certain amount of K is also beneficial to the uniform distribution of Ca. Ca and K would combine with the silicon-aluminum compound in the sample during the pyrolysis and become invalid. Ca can effectively reduce the invalid K, but cannot completely protect K from combining with the silicon-aluminum compound. The binary metal carbonates K2Ca(CO3)2 and K2Ca2(CO3)3 were produced during the pyrolysis of the samples, which have a limited effect for the uniform distribution of the catalysts. In addition, acid-leaching removed most of the inorganic components in rice straw, which made it difficult for the catalyst to be evenly distributed, indicating that the inorganic components play an important role in evenly distributing the catalyst.


Outcome of 6 months MBMDT in MB patients in Bangladesh- preliminary results.
Duration of leprosy treatment remains long and difficult to complete in resource poor areas. Studies suggest that shortening duration of therapy for MB patients to 6 months may be possible. New MB patients in 2005 in two NGO projects in Bangladesh were treated with 6 months WHO MB MDT and the rate of relapse and fall in BI on slit skin smear during follow up to date were compared with a control group treated for 12 months the previous year. 1612 patients were enrolled in the trial, and the average duration of follow up was over 7 years after diagnosis. During 11,425 PYAR of follow-up, no relapses were detected, by bacteriological or clinical criteria, in the 918 patients in the 6 months MB MDT group, nor in the 694 patients in the control group. Rate of decline of BI in those who were smear positive was not significantly different between groups. The data does not suggest that shortening duration of treatment from 2 months to 6 months MDT for MB leprosy patients leads to increased rates of relapse.


T cells responding to Trypanosoma cruzi detected by membrane TNF-α and CD154 in chagasic patients.
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection whose pathogenesis is related to parasite persistence and a dysfunctional cellular immune response. Variability in cytokine secretion among chronic Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients might preclude the identification of the pool of antigen specific T cells. The goal of this study was to determine the fraction of T cells responding to T. cruzi antigen measured by the expression of membrane TNF-α and CD154. A total of 21 chagasic patients, 11 healthy and 5 non-chagasic cardiomyopathy controls were analyzed. PBMCs were short-term cultured in the presence of anti-CD28, anti-CD49d, anti-TNF-α, and TACE (TNF-α converting enzyme) inhibitor either under T. cruzi-lysate or polyclonal stimuli. Cells were stained with anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-CD154, and analyzed with flow cytometry. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in chagasic patients displayed higher percentages of membrane-bound TNF-α+ and CD154+ compared with controls after T. cruzi-antigen stimulation. Both markers displayed a positive correlation in the T cell subpopulations analyzed. Symptomatic chagasic patients were differentiated from asymptomatic patients based on the expression of CD154 and membrane TNF-α in TCD4+ and TCD8+ compartments, respectively. These results show that both markers could be useful for assessing the pool of antigen-specific T cells in chronic chagasic patients.


Can Hematological Parameters be a Indicator Risk Factor in the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity?
Hematological parameters have been investigated as being indicative of increased inflammatory response in morbidity of very preterm infants. This study aims to determine whether the hematologic parameters and ratios of preterms can be an indicative risk factor for the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This retrospective cohort study examined newborns born before 32 weeks. Twenty-three patients treated with the diagnosis of ROP were included in the patient group. The control group included 23 patients who did not have ROP (no-ROP). Medical records of eligible preterm infants were retrospectively reviewed. Hemogram samples obtained from all patients during the first 24 h of life and samples of their mothers obtained before delivery were evaluated. The hemogram parameters of white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte/monocyte ratio, and platelet mass index were calculated. No difference was observed between the groups in terms of demographic data. In terms of hematological parameters, maternal WBC counts of ROP patients were significantly higher than those of no-ROP patients and WBC counts of ROP patients were significantly lower than those of no-ROP patients. This study found that high WBC counts in mothers before delivery and/or low WBC counts in preterms during the first postnatal day were higher in developed ROP. These results could lead to the development of prospective studies to assess the real prognostic value of WBC in ROP.


Technique for superimposing a color slide onto a facial cast to sculpt a facial prosthesis.
A precise and uncomplicated technique for superimposing a color slide onto a facial cast for sculpting a facial prosthesis of the periorbital region is described. This technique allows making a facial impression with the eye closed. The superimposed slide in full-face and profile views provide a natural appearance to the facial cast. Properly selected dental and photographic materials are essential to the success of this imaginative procedure.


A comparative evaluation of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from harness racing-horses, breeding mares and riding-horses in Italy.
To investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) which is a potencial risk factor of transmission between animals and humans in different types of horses (harness racing-horses, breeding mares and riding-horses) and to compare the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates. A total of 191 healthy horses, housed at different locations of the Campania Region (Italy), were included in the study. Nasal swab samples were collected from each nostril of the horses. The mecA gene was detected by a nested PCR technique. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested for each isolate. MRS was isolated from nasal samples of 68/191 (35.6%; 95% CI: 28.9%-42.9%) healthy horses. All isolates were coagulase-negative with the exception of two coagulase-positive MRS strains, identified as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, 2/83 (2.4%; 95% CI: 0.4%-9.2%). Interestingly, both coagulase-positive MRS isolates were from harness racing-horses. These horses also presented a significantly higher positivity for MRS (53.3%; 95% CI: 40.1%-66.1%) than the breeding mares and riding-horses groups. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed difference between isolates due to different origins except for an almost common high resistance to aminopenicillins, such as ampicillin and amoxicillin. It can be concluded that harness racing-horses may act as a significant reservoir of MRS as compared to breeding mares and riding-horses.


Response of influenza virus-infected mice to selected doses of ribavirin administered intraperitoneally or by aerosol.
The effects of graded doses of ribavirin administered either by aerosol or intraperitoneally were compared in influenza virus-infected mice. The median effective dose values (based upon percent survival) were 3.3 and 15.8 mg/kg per day for the aerosol and intraperitoneal routes, respectively. Lung lesion scores and titer of virus were lower after aerosol than intraperitoneal therapy.


Abdominal Diffusion-Weighted MRI With Simultaneous Multi-Slice Acquisition: Agreement and Reproducibility of Apparent Diffusion Coefficients Measurements.
Simultaneous multi-slice diffusion-weighted imaging (SMS-DWI) can shorten acquisition time in abdominal imaging. To investigate the agreement and reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from abdominal SMS-DWI acquired with different vendors and different breathing schemes. Prospective. Twenty volunteers and 10 patients. 3.0 T, SMS-DWI with a diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging sequence. SMS-DWI was acquired using breath-hold and free-breathing techniques in scanners from two vendors, yielding four scans in each participant. Average ADC values were measured in the liver, pancreas, spleen, and both kidneys. Non-normalized ADC and ADCs normalized to the spleen were compared between vendors and breathing schemes. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test; intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); Bland-Altman method; coefficient of variation (CV) analysis; significance level: P < 0.05. Non-normalized ADCs from the four SMS-DWI scans did not differ significantly in the spleen (P = 0.262, 0.330, 0.166, 0.122), right kidney (P = 0.167, 0.538, 0.957, 0.086), and left kidney (P = 0.182, 0.281, 0.504, 0.405), but there were significant differences in the liver and pancreas. For normalized ADCs, there were no significant differences in the liver (P = 0.315, 0.915, 0.198, 0.799), spleen (P = 0.815, 0.689, 0.347, 0.423), pancreas (P = 0.165, 0.336, 0.304, 0.584), right kidney (P = 0.165, 0.336, 0.304, 0.584), and left kidney (P = 0.496, 0.304, 0.443, 0.371). Inter-reader agreements of non-normalized ADCs were good to excellent (ICCs ranged from 0.861 to 0.983), and agreement and reproducibility were good to excellent depending on anatomic location (CVs ranged from 3.55% to 13.98%). Overall CVs for abdominal ADCs from the four scans were 6.25%, 7.62%, 7.08, and 7.60%. The normalized ADCs from abdominal SMS-DWI may be comparable between different vendors and breathing schemes, showing good agreement and reproducibility. ADC changes above approximately 8% may potentially be considered as a reliable quantitative biomarker to assess disease or treatment-related changes. 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.


[Structural and thermodynasmic aspects of the packing of collagen fibrils].
Studies devoted to the analysis of the mechanisms of packing of collagen fibrils and the effect of the macromolecular structure and the physicochemical parameters of medium on the packing are reviewed.


A Schnurri/Mad/Medea complex attenuates the dorsal-twist gradient readout at vnd.
Morphogen gradients are used in developing embryos, where they subdivide a field of cells into territories characterized by distinct cell fate potentials. Such systems require both a spatially-graded distribution of the morphogen, and an ability to encode different responses at different target genes. However, the potential for different temporal responses is also present because morphogen gradients typically provide temporal cues, which may be a potential source of conflict. Thus, a low threshold response adapted for an early temporal onset may be inappropriate when the desired spatial response is a spatially-limited, high-threshold expression pattern. Here, we identify such a case with the Drosophila vnd locus, which is a target of the dorsal (dl) nuclear concentration gradient that patterns the dorsal/ventral (D/V) axis of the embryo. The vnd gene plays a critical role in the "ventral dominance" hierarchy of vnd, ind, and msh, which individually specify distinct D/V neural columnar fates in increasingly dorsal ectodermal compartments. The role of vnd in this regulatory hierarchy requires early temporal expression, which is characteristic of low-threshold responses, but its specification of ventral neurogenic ectoderm demands a relatively high-threshold response to dl. We show that the Neurogenic Ectoderm Enhancer (NEE) at vnd takes additional input from the complementary Dpp gradient via a conserved Schnurri/Mad/Medea silencer element (SSE) unlike NEEs at brk, sog, rho, and vn. These results show how requirements for conflicting temporal and spatial responses to the same gradient can be solved by additional inputs from complementary gradients.


Delayed recovery of hand grip strength predicts postoperative morbidity following major vascular surgery.
Forearm muscle dynamometry was performed in the non-dominant arm in 61 patients undergoing major abdominal and limb vascular surgery, before operation and then 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after surgery. Six patients died in the postoperative period and seven patients developed major postoperative complications (bronchopneumonia, two; wound infection, four; myocardial infarction, one). The preoperative grip strength, measured in kilograms, of the patients who died after major vascular surgery was not significantly lower than that of patients who had an uncomplicated postoperative course. Of the 55 surviving patients, seven developed complications after surgery. These patients had significantly reduced grip strength, expressed as a percentage of the individual preoperative value (P less than 0.05), from the first to the seventh postoperative day when compared with patients without complications. The delayed recovery of grip strength preceded the clinical manifestation of complications. These data suggest that delayed recovery of voluntary muscle performance may be used to detect patients developing postoperative complications and so allow their early treatment.


Alternative Models Examination and Gender Measurement Invariance of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire among Nigerian Adolescents.
The objective of this study was to examine the factor structures of the a priori alternative models of the 12-items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), its psychometric characteristics and gender measurement invariance in a sample of non-clinical Nigerian adolescents (n=1326; Mage=15.16). The sample consisted of 606 (45.7%) males, who completed the GHQ-12 in addition to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). We compared 21 models to identify which has the best fit indices applying confirmatory factor analysis. Gender measurement invariance was examined with nested multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). The model that best captures psychological distress was a three-factor model that was initially described among the Australian general population (CFI=0.952, SRMR=0.0310, RMSEA=0.042) (90%CI=0.035-0.049). The internal consistencies (ω) of this model and its dimensions were modestly satisfactory. The criterion validity of this model was supported via significant correlations with the other study measures. MGCFA supported the configural, metric and scalar gender invariances of this model. A three-factor GHQ-12 model (anhedonia/sleep disturbances; social performance and Loss of confidence) is useful as a psychological distress assessment tool among Nigerian adolescents.


Lead identification of 2-iminobenzimidazole antagonists of the chemokine receptor CXCR3.
Modification of a 2-iminobenzimidazole series derived from an HTS hit resulted in compounds with improved in-vitro species selectivity. Incorporation of an 8-quinoline amide and conformational rigidification of an aliphatic tether furnished potent compounds suitable for further lead optimization.


Unilateral pulmonary oedema: a case report.
We have presented a case of unilateral pulmonary oedema which we feel is secondary to obstruction of the right main bronchus during spontaneous respiration. An anode tracheal tube was introduced through a tracheostomy during operation in a man with pre-existing pulmonary and cardiac disease. At the end of the anaesthetic, acute obstruction to ventilation of the right main bronchus developed with the tube still in place and the patient breathing spontaneously. The obstruction was relieved, by repositioning of the tracheal tube, but not before the patient developed right unilateral pulmonary oedema.


The role of radical hysterectomy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in carcinoma of the cervix.
The patient presenting with a bulky stage IB2 cervical cancer is a therapeutic challenge. None of the current surgical or radiation treatment strategies satisfactorily leads to a high rate of disease-free survival and a low risk of treatment-related complications including ovarian failure and psychosexual deficits. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may allow for reductions in tumor bulk, thereby rendering radiation therapy more effective or surgery more feasible. Impressive clinical response rates to cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy have been achieved with acceptable toxicity. Approximately 20% of patients achieve a complete clinical response, and many also experience a complete pathologic response. There are still too few comparative studies and phase III trials to assess the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery relative to standard treatments.


Ca2+ and Mg2+ selectively induce aggregates of PHF-tau but not normal human tau.
The molecular mechanism of pathological aggregation of microtubule-associated protein tau during neurodegeneration is unclear. In the present study, the in vitro effect of various metal ions on the aggregation of tau was examined using paired helical filament tau (PHF-tau) obtained from corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains as well as normal human tau proteins isolated from fetal and adult brains and a recombinant system. Among the metal ions tested, Ca2+ and Mg2+ effectively induced formation of approximately 340 kD aggregates of PHF-tau but not normal tau proteins as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Al3+ and Fe2+ precipitated both PHF-tau and normal tau protein as SDS-insoluble pellets. The other metal ions examined (Cu2+, Zn2+, and Li+) were inactive and caused neither aggregation nor precipitation of any tau protein. Intermixing experiments using PHF-tau and various normal tau preparations showed that the 340-kD aggregates induced by Ca2+ contained PHF-tau but not normal tau regardless whether unmodified (recombinant) or highly phosphorylated (fetal brain) tau proteins were used. The present results suggest that post-translational modifications other than the fetal-type phosphorylation are required for Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent aggregation of PHF-tau and that the regional elevation of these ions may trigger pathological deposition of PHF-tau in certain neurodegenerative disorders.


Complete genome sequences of newcastle disease virus strains isolated from three different poultry species in china.
In 2000, three Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains were isolated from outbreaks of infection in layers, ducklings, and geese in the same region of China during the same time period. Here, we report their complete genome sequences, which belong to the NDV genotype VIId. This discovery might provide clues as to the evolution of the NDVs of different avian origins.


Fabrication of cellulose acetate nanocomposite membranes using 2D layered nanomaterials for macromolecular separation.
Cellulose acetate (CA) nanocomposite ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were fabricated using 2D layered nanosheets such as graphene oxide (GO) and exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (E-MoS2) and effectively used for the removal of macromolecular protein. The GO and E-MoS2 nanosheets were prepared and characterized by FT-IR and XRD respectively. GO and E-MoS2 (0.5wt.%) were blended individually with CA. The assenting changes generated by the incorporation of GO and E-MoS2 in terms of surface hydrophilicity of the nanocomposite membrane were analyzed by pure water flux (PWF) and contact angle measurement. The influence of 2D nanosheets on the morphology of CA are studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical strength and hydraulic resistance of the nanocomposite membranes were found to be improved compared to bare CA membrane. The separation and antifouling performance of the nanocomposite membranes were studied using macromolecular bovine serum albumin (BSA). From the results, it was observed that a CA/GO-0.5 membrane exhibited the highest PWF (125.4±1.7Lm-2h-1), water content (70.6±1.2%), porosity (34.6±1.7%), flux recovery ratio (FRR) (88.8±1.6%) and lowest contact angle (63.9±2.5°), hydraulic resistance (4.3±0.67kPa/Lm-2h -1) than pure CA and CA/E-MoS2-0.5 membranes. CA/GO-0.5 membrane displayed superior UF and antifouling performance due to the greater affinity of GO nanoparticles towards water.


An algorithm for selection of full endoscopic approach for symptomatic nerve root decompression.
Both Transforaminal (TF) and Interlaminar (IL) endoscopic approaches are established techniques of decompression for lumbar compressive radiculopathy. In the absence of adequate literature, there is always some dilemma in selecting the approach for endoscopic decompression leading to long learning curves and high chances of inadequate decompression, iatrogenic instability, dural tear, or dysesthesia. Hence authors propose a new surgical nomenclature and algorithm for selection of endoscopic approach. This retrospective study included 396 of 626 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria, who underwent either TF (n=302) or IL (n=202) full endoscopic spine surgery. MRI findings of every patient were classified as per FAPDIS (Facet angle, Anterior pathology, Posterior pathology, Dorsal, Inferior, and Superior migration) algorithm. Inter-observer variations were calculated. The targeted nomenclature was used to define the selection of endoscopic TF or IL approach for symptomatic nerve root decompression. All patients were followed up for preop and postop 6 months VAS and Oswestry Disability Index score for validation of FAPDIS algorithm. Median age: 46.8 years; Sides and levels operated 330 single-level ipsilateral, 54 multiple-level ipsilateral, 6 single-level bilateral, and 6 multiple-level bilateral. Interobserver agreement in the selection of TF approach was 0.873 and IL approach was 0.882. Interobserver variability was also calculated for each FAPDIS factor, selection of P3 and P4 pathology was the main reason for disagreement. All other FAPDIS factors show good to excellent correlation. The overall VAS score decreased from a preoperative value of 9 to 1 at 6 months follow-up (p-value < 0.001), and the overall Oswestry Disability Index score improved from 89 to 12 (p-value <.001). The author's new FAPDIS surgical nomenclature and algorithm is a reliable tool for describing the symptomatic nerve root compression for the selection of endoscopic surgical approach to achieve adequate decompression of offending neural structure with minimum challenges to minimize perioperative complication rate.


The autophagic inducer and inhibitor display different activities on the meiotic and developmental competencies of porcine oocytes derived from small and medium follicles.
This study aimed to examine the effect of rapamycin (autophagy inducer) and 3-methyladenine (3-MA, autophagy inhibitor) on the meiotic and developmental competencies of porcine oocytes derived from medium follicles (MF, 3-6 mm in diameter) and small follicles (SF, 1-2 mm in diameter) during in vitro maturation (IVM) process. The presence of 1 nM but not 10 nM rapamycin significantly increased the maturation rate of MF-derived oocytes (P < 0.05). However, the maturation rate of SF-derived oocytes was not affected by rapamycin at both concentrations (1 nM and 10 nM). The maturation rate of MF-derived oocytes decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the presence of 0.2 mM but not 2 mM 3-MA than non-supplemented control. In contrast, in SF-derived oocytes, 3-MA at both 0.2 and 2 mM concentrations did not affect the maturation rates. The presence of 1 nM rapamycin significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate of MF-derived mature oocytes following parthenogenetic activation (P < 0.05). However, the blastocyst formation rate of SF-derived mature oocytes was not affected by the presence of rapamycin. The presence of 3-MA significantly reduced the blastocyst formation rate of MF-derived mature oocytes but did not change that of SF-derived oocytes. In conclusion, our study results show differences in activity of the autophagy inducer and inhibitor on the meiotic and developmental competencies of MF- and SF-derived porcine oocytes.


Psycholinguistic abilities of children with Williams syndrome.
The objective of this study was to investigate the psycholinguistic abilities of children with Williams syndrome (WS) and typically developing children using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA). Performance on the ITPA was analysed in a group with WS (N=20, mean age=8.5 years, SD=1.62) and two typically developing groups, matched in mental (MA, N=20, mean age=4.92 years, SD=1.14) and chronological age (CA, N=19, mean age=8.35 years, SD=3.07). Overall, within-group analyses showed that individuals with WS displayed higher scalar scores on the visual reception and visual association subtests. When groups were compared, we observed inferior performance of the WS group on all ITPA subtests when compared with typically developing groups. Moreover, an interaction between reception and group was found, only the WS group demonstrated superior performance on the visual reception subtest when compared to the auditory reception subtest. Evidence from this study offers relevant contributions to the development of educational intervention programs for children with WS.


A Distinct Clinicopathological Presentation of Cutaneous Dermatophytosis Mimicking Autoimmune Blistering Disorder.
Infectious diseases can clinically present as vesiculobullous disorders. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) study of skin biopsy helps distinguish true autoimmune blistering disorders from other conditions. In many situations, even DIF findings in infections disorders imitate autoimmune process. Here, we describe a case of 29-year-old female with extensive dermatophytosis having presentation mimicking bullous pemphigoid both clinically and histopathologically including DIF findings.


Polypharmacy cut-points in older people with cancer: how many medications are too many?
Polypharmacy is often defined as use of 'five-or-more-medications'. However, the optimal polypharmacy cut-point for predicting clinically important adverse events in older people with cancer is unclear. The aim was to determine the sensitivities and specificities of a range of polypharmacy cut-points in relation to a variety of adverse events in older people with cancer. Data on medication use, falls and frailty criteria were collected from 385 patients aged ≥70 years presenting to a medical oncology outpatient clinic. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were produced to examine sensitivities and specificities for varying definitions of polypharmacy in relation to exhaustion, falls, physical function, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and frailty. Sub-analyses were performed when stratifying by age, sex, comorbidity status and analgesic use. Patients had a mean age of 76.7 years. Using Youden's index, the optimal polypharmacy cut-point was 6.5 medications for predicting frailty (specificity 67.0 %, sensitivity 70.0 %), physical function (80.2 %, 49.3 %) and KPS (69.8 %, 52.1 %), 5.5 for falls (59.2 %, 73.0 %) and 3.5 for exhaustion (43.4 %, 74.5 %). For polypharmacy defined as five-or-more-medications, the specificities and sensitivities were frailty (44.9 %, 77.5 %), physical function (58.0 %, 69.7 %), KPS (47.7 %, 69.4 %), falls (44.5 %, 75.7 %) and exhaustion (52.6 %, 64.1 %). The optimal polypharmacy cut-points were similar when the sample was stratified by age, sex, comorbidity status and analgesic use. Our results suggest that no single polypharmacy cut-point is optimal for predicting multiple adverse events in older people with cancer. In this population, the common definition of five-or-more-medications is reasonable for identifying 'at-risk' patients for medication review.


Structural and biochemical analysis of the phosphate donor specificity of the polynucleotide kinase component of the bacterial pnkp•hen1 RNA repair system.
Clostridium thermocellum Pnkp is the end-healing and end-sealing subunit of a bacterial RNA repair system. CthPnkp is composed of three catalytic modules: an N-terminal 5'-OH polynucleotide kinase, a central 2',3' phosphatase, and a C-terminal ligase. The crystal structure of the kinase domain bound to ATP•Mg(2+) revealed a rich network of ionic and hydrogen-bonding contacts to the α, β, and γ phosphates. By contrast, there are no enzymic contacts to the ribose and none with the adenine base other than a π-cation interaction with Arg116. Here we report that the enzyme uses ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, or dATP as a phosphate donor for the 5'-OH kinase reaction. The enzyme also catalyzes the reverse reaction, in which a polynucleotide 5'-PO4 group is transferred to ADP, GDP, CDP, UDP, or dADP to form the corresponding NTP. We report new crystal structures of the kinase in complexes with GTP, CTP, UTP, and dATP in which the respective nucleobases are stacked on Arg116 but make no other enzymic contacts. Mutating Arg116 to alanine elicits a 10-fold increase in Km for ATP but has little effect on kcat. These findings illuminate the basis for nonspecific donor nucleotide utilization by a P-loop phosphotransferase.


The impact of a community-based health education programme on oral cancer risk factor awareness among a Gujarati community.
To determine any differences in oral cancer risk factor awareness and behaviour among first and second generation Gujarati muslims and to investigate the impact of a community-based health education programme on oral cancer risk factor awareness. Respondents completed a confidential, bilingual questionnaire in English and Gujarati regarding alcohol, tobacco, paan, sopari, paan masala and gutka use before and after a community-based health education programme on oral cancer risk factors. Community Health Fair. Indian Muslim Welfare Association, Batley, West Yorkshire. Ninety-six male and female Gujarati muslims aged 16 to 81 years. Quantitative results on oral cancer risk factor awareness before and after a health education programme. Quantitative figures obtained from the questionnaire with regards to alcohol, tobacco, paan, sopari, paan masala and gutka usage. There were very low levels of alcohol consumption among Gujarati muslims. First generation Gujarati males consumed significantly more tobacco than second generation Gujarati males, difference in proportion 0.30 (0.03 to 0.56, p = 0.03). There was complete absence of paan use among Gujarati females. First generation Gujarati males consumed significantly higher amounts of sopari compared with their male counterparts in the second generation (p = 0.003). There were very low rates of paan masala use. Only first generation Gujarati males consumed gutka. Significantly more first generation males and females correctly identified all oral cancer risk factors after the health education intervention compared with baseline (difference 0.40, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.57, p = <0.001). Significantly more second generation males and females correctly identified all oral cancer risk factors after the health education intervention compared with baseline (difference 0.45, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.61, p = <0.001). Our study demonstrated significant differences in oral cancer risk factor awareness and practices among first and second generation Gujarati muslims and that a local community-based health education programme was effective in raising awareness.


Increase in Na+, K+ -ATPase enzyme units in liver and kidneys from essential fatty acid deficient rats.
(3H)-Ouabain binding to liver and kidney preparations was utilized to estimate the number of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme units in livers and kidneys from rats fed 2% corn oil supplemented or fat-free diets. The specific (3H)-ouabain binding in liver and kidney preparations from fatty acid deficient rats was increased approximately 40%, but the affinity of the binding sites for ouabain (Kd-value) remained unchanged. The increased concentration of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme units observed in the essential fatty acid deficient rats may contribute to the reduced body fat accumulation and elevated heat production observed in these animals.


Prader-Willi syndrome genetic subtypes and clinical neuropsychiatric diagnoses in residential care adults.
The historical diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a complex genetic disorder, in adults is often achieved by clinical presentation rather than by genetic testing and thus limited genetic subtype-specific psychometric investigations and treatment options. Genetic testing and clinical psychiatric evaluation using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV-TR criteria were undertaken on 72 adult residents (34 M; 38 F) from the Prader-Willi Homes of Oconomowoc (PWHO), a specialty PWS group home system. Methylation specific-multiplex ligation probe amplification and high-resolution microarrays were analyzed for methylation status, 15q11-q13 deletions and maternal uniparental disomy 15 (mUPD15). Seventy (33M; 37F) of 72 residents were genetically confirmed and 36 (51%) had Type I or Type II deletions; 29 (42%) with mUPD15 and 5 (7%) with imprinting defects from three separate families. Psychiatric comorbidities were classified as anxiety disorder (38%), excoriation (skin picking) (33%), intermittent explosive disorder ([30%-predominantly among males at 45% compared with females at 16% [OR = 4.3, 95%CI 1.4-13.1, P < 0.008]) and psychotic features (23%). Psychiatric diagnoses did not differ between mUPD15 vs deletion, but a greater number of psychiatric diagnoses were observed for the larger Type I (4.3) vs smaller Type II (3.6) deletions when age was controlled (F = 5.0, P < 0.04). Adults with PWS presented with uniformly higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities which differed by genetic subtype with gender-specific trends.


DNA Methylation as a Potential Molecular Mechanism in X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism.
X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism is a neurodegenerative movement disorder. The underlying molecular basis has still not been completely elucidated, but likely involves dysregulation of TAF1 expression. In X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism, 3 disease-specific single-nucleotide changes (DSCs) introduce (DSC12) or abolish (DSC2 and DSC3) CpG dinucleotides and consequently sites of putative DNA methylation. Because transcriptional regulation tightly correlates with specific epigenetic marks, we investigated the role of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism. DNA methylation at DSC12, DSC3, and DSC2 was quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing in DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes, fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons and brain tissue from X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism patients and age- and sex-matched healthy Filipino controls in a prospective study. Compared with controls, X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism patients showed striking differences in DNA methylation at the 3 investigated CpG sites. Using methylation-sensitive luciferase reporter gene assays and immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated (1) that lack of DNA methylation because of DSC2 and DSC3 affects gene promoter activity and (2) that methylation at all 3 investigated CpG sites alters DNA-protein interaction. Interestingly, DSC3 decreased promoter activity per se compared with wild type, and promoter activity further decreased when methylation was present. Moreover, we identified specific binding of proteins to the investigated DSCs that are associated with splicing and RNA and DNA binding. We identified altered DNA methylation in X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism patients as a possible additional mechanism modulating TAF1 expression and putative novel targets for future therapies using DNA methylation-modifying agents. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.


Transition from high cardiac output to elevated vascular resistance in hypertension.
The early phase of hypertension (borderline hypertension) is characterized by a hyperkinetic circulation caused by excessive sympathetic drive and decreased parasympathetic inhibition to the heart. In later phases the cardiac output becomes normal, but the hypertension is still neurogenic, as demonstrated by the fact that continued pharmacologic parasympathetic, beta- and alpha-adrenergic inhibition normalizes the blood pressure. In both of these phases of the process, plasma norepinephrine values are elevated. These patients also show characteristic behavioral patterns; they are outward oriented, submissive, but experience unexpressed anger and frequently harbor hostile feelings. In late phases of hypertension the cardiac output is normal and the total peripheral resistance is elevated. This hemodynamic transition can be explained by a secondary response to elevated blood pressure. The heart becomes less responsive as a result of altered receptor responsiveness and decreased cardiac compliance, whereas the responsiveness of arterioles increases because of vascular hypertrophy, which leads to changes in the wall-to-lumen ratio. However, one observation eludes explanation: the absence of plasma norepinephrine elevation in later phases of hypertension. We propose a new conceptual framework to explain the disappearance of elevated plasma norepinephrine in the course of hypertension. The concept is based on a wide range of observations with the use of various receptor-blocking agents during neurogenic pressor responses. Invariably, the blood pressure response is preserved, but the hemodynamic pattern can be altered from a high cardiac output to high total peripheral resistance or vice versa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is characterized by clinical evidence of myocardial infarction with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on angiography (less-than 50% stenosis). MINOCA is a group of heterogeneous diseases with different pathophysiologic mechanism which all can cause ischaemia. MINOCA is considered a "working diagnosis" after angiography until further evaluation regarding its underlying cause is made. The aim of this review is to assess the literature on clinical features, aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with MINOCA.


Evaluation of a pregnant mares' serum and human chorionic gonadotrophin mixture for alleviating summer infertility in sows.
A controlled on-farm trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial gonadotrophin hormone mixture at overcoming a seasonal decrease in fertility in pigs in a sub-tropical environment (summer infertility). The average weaning to oestrus interval of the untreated sows was more than double that of the treated sows and this difference was highly significant. However, fewer of the treated sows farrowed and they produced smaller litters. The improvement in fertility in the treated group achieved by reducing the weaning to oestrus interval was more than cancelled out by an overall reduction in the number of weaners produced.


Expression of neurofilament proteins in granule cells of the cerebellum.
We have used a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against the low, middle and high molecular weight subunits of neurofilament triplet, to study their expression in mouse cerebellar granule cells. We demonstrate that in situ such cells only express the 2 lower molecular weight subunits either at various developmental stages or in the adult. The same results were obtained in vitro. This pattern of neurofilament protein expression in adult granule cells is therefore similar to that observed in developing neurons but differs from most neurons in the adult brain. The retention of such 'immature' pattern of neurofilament protein expression throughout adulthood could explain the lack of cytologically identifiable intermediate filaments in these neurons when examined with conventional electron microscopic techniques. It furthermore suggests that various neuronal populations might be characterized by the expression of specific subsets of neuronal intermediate filaments.


Perceptual "blankout" of monocular homogeneous fields (Ganzfelder) is prevented with binocular viewing.
The loss of visual perception or "blankout" which occurs when a homogeneous field (Ganzfeld) is presented monocularly is prevented when the same field is viewed binocularly. Thus, blankout cannot be retinal; and contours or transients in time and space are unnecessary for the continuous maintenance of visual perception. Experiments are reported in which blankout ensues only if the two eyes receive luminance disparities ca 0.75 log I. Furthermore, blankout is only marginally affected by stimulus intensity, nor is it dependent on stimulus hue. However, equally luminant but disparate hues presented to the two eyes produce perceptions reminiscent of blankout, with the darkness of blankout replaced with that of color. It is hypothesized that the underlying mechanisms have a commonality in the phenomena of blankout and binocular rivalry but several noncongruent features require explanation.


Is prosthesis retention effective for chronic infections in hip arthroplasties? A systematic literature review.
The success rate of prosthesis removal as the standard approach to manage chronic infection in hip arthroplasties (HA) is 80-90 %. The effectiveness of prosthesis retention, with or without surgical debridement, to treat patients with chronic HA infection (symptom duration of more than 4 weeks) has not been well established, whereas this strategy is sometimes used in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore the cumulative incidence of failure of chronic HA infections treated with prosthesis retention, with or without debridement. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the methods described in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Studies concerning patients with chronically infected HA treated with prosthesis retention were included. The primary outcome was the cumulative risk of failure. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to April 2014. The database searches provided a total of 1,213 studies for potential inclusion in the review. Six relevant studies were finally identified, corresponding to 29 patients included. Their treatments consisted of prosthesis retention with debridement. This strategy failed for 14 out of these 29 patients after a 1-year follow-up. The failure rate of the prosthesis retention approach associated to debridement for chronic infection in HA is 48.3 % in this review. Debridement and prosthesis retention in association with prolonged antimicrobial treatment may be an advantageous alternative to arthroplasty exchange for frail patients. The difficulty in finding relevant studies illustrates the challenges of interpreting the existing literature for the management of chronic prosthetic joint infection (PJI).


Molecular characterization of Trichinella spiralis aminopeptidase and its potential as a novel vaccine candidate antigen against trichinellosis in BALB/c mice.
Trichinella spiralis is an intracellular parasite that can cause a serious threat to human health by causing trichinellosis. The aminopeptidase (AP) was found in the proteins produced by T. spiralis infective larvae after in vitro co-culture with intestinal epithelial cells, but its characteristics and function are unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify the T. spiralis aminopeptidase (TsAP) and to investigate its potential as a vaccine candidate antigen against T. spiralis infection. T. spiralis aminopeptidase (TsAP) gene encoding a 54.7 kDa protein was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified recombinant TsAP protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice. The antibodies obtained were used to determine where TsAP was localized in the parasite. Transcription and expression of TsAP in different developmental stages of T. spiralis were observed by RT-PCR and Immunofluorescence test (IFT). The immune protection of recombinant TsAP protein against T. spiralis infection in BALB/c mice was evaluated. Anti-TsAP antibodies recognized the native protein migrating at 54.7 kDa by Western blotting of the crude antigens from muscle larvae. Transcription and expression of TsAP gene was observed in different developmental stages (adult worms, newborn larvae, pre-encapsulated larvae and muscle larvae). TsAP appears to be a cytoplasmic protein located primarily at the cuticle and internal organs of this parasite. After a challenge infection with T. spiralis infective larvae, mice immunized with the recombinant TsAP protein displayed a 38.1% reduction in adult worm burden and 59.1% reduction in muscle larval burden. In this study, T. spiralis aminopeptidase (TsAP) was first characterized and will help reveal its potential biological functions. TsAP is a novel potential vaccine candidate antigen that merits further investigation.


Monitoring variation in greenhouse gases concentration in urban environment of Delhi.
Cities across the globe are considered as major anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases (GHG), yet very few efforts has been made to monitor ambient concentration of GHG in cities, especially in a developing country like India. Here, variations in the ambient concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and methane (CH(4)) in residential, commercial, and industrial areas of Delhi are determined from fortnightly daytime observations from July, 2008 to March, 2009. Results indicate that the average daytime ambient concentration of CO(2) varied from 495 to 554 ppm in authorized residential areas, 503 to 621 ppm in the slums or jhuggies in the unauthorized residential areas, 489 to 582 ppm in commercial areas, and 512 to 568 ppm in industrial areas with an average of 541 ± 27 ppm. CH(4) concentration varied from 652 to 5,356 ppbv in authorized residential areas, 500 to 15,220 ppbv in the unauthorized residential areas, 921 to 11,000 ppbv in the commercial areas, and 250 to 2,550 ppbv in the industrial areas with an average of 3,226 ± 1,090 ppbv. A low mid-afternoon CO(2) concentration was observed at most of the sites, primarily due to strong biospheric photosynthesis coupled with strong vertical mixing.


Hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy: a precise assessment of hemodynamic characteristics and clinical implications.
A precise assessment of left ventricular function was performed in 20 patients with hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy to elucidate the basic pathophysiology, and the data were compared with those in 22 normal subjects. Whereas end-diastolic pressure was high in those with cardiomyopathy, a more accurate index of preload, end-diastolic stress, did not differ from normal value. Afterload was about half the normal value. Both isovolumic indexes [peak positive dP/dt and (dP/dt)/DP40] and ejection phase indexes of contractility (ejection fraction) were in the normal range; however, the end-systolic stress volume ratio was significantly reduced (43% of the normal value). Although the left ventricular minute work index was in the normal range, the unit muscle performance (minute work/mass) was very low (49%). An abnormality of left ventricular relaxation was demonstrated by low peak negative dP/dt (56%) and prolonged time constant T (191%), and a stiff left ventricle was demonstrated by a high diastolic elastic stiffness constant (129%). These observations suggest that the contraction of a unit muscle is inappropriate to produce an adequate contraction of the whole ventricle, and that hypertrophy might be an adaptive process to maintain normal systolic function by increasing mass and reducing afterload.


Endothelial LRP1-ICD Accelerates Cognition-Associated Alpha-Synuclein Pathology and Neurodegeneration through PARP1 Activation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein (αSyn) into Lewy bodies. In addition to motor impairment, PD commonly presents with cognitive impairment, a non-motor symptom with poor outcome. Cortical αSyn pathology correlates closely with vascular risk factors and vascular degeneration in cognitive impairment. However, how the brain microvasculature regulates αSyn pathology and neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we constructed a rapidly progressive PD model by injecting alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils (αSyn PFFs) into the cerebral cortex and striatum. Brain capillaries in mice with cognitive impairment showed a reduction in diameter and length after 6 months, along with string vessel formation. The intracellular domain of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1-ICD) was upregulated in brain microvascular endothelium. LRP1-ICD promoted αSyn PFF uptake and exacerbated endothelial damage and neuronal apoptosis. Then, we overexpressed LRP1-ICD in brain capillaries using an adeno-associated virus carrying an endothelial-specific promoter. Endothelial LRP1-ICD worsened αSyn PFF-induced vascular damage, αSyn pathology, or neuron death in the cortex and hippocampus, resulting in severe motor and cognitive impairment. LRP1-ICD increased the synthesis of poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose) (PAR) in the presence of αSyn PFFs. Inhibition of PAR polymerase 1 (PARP1) prevented vascular-derived injury, as did loss of PARP1 in the endothelium, which was further implicated in endothelial cell proliferation and inflammation. Together, we demonstrate a novel vascular mechanism of cognitive impairment in PD. These findings support a role for endothelial LRP1-ICD/PARP1 in αSyn pathology and neurodegeneration, and provide evidence for vascular protection strategies in PD therapy.


"You don't want anyone who hasn't been through anything telling you what to do, because how do they know?": Qualitative analysis of case managers in a hospital-based violence intervention program.
Intentional violent injury is a leading cause of disability and death among young adults in the United States. Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs), which strive to prevent re-injury through intensive case management, have emerged as a successful and cost-effective strategy to address this issue. Despite the importance of strong therapeutic relationships between clients and their case managers, specific case manager behaviors and attributes that drive the formation of these relationships have not been elucidated. A qualitative analysis with a modified grounded theory approach was conducted to gain insight into what clients perceive to be crucial to the formation of a strong client-case manager relationship. Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with prior clients of our hospital's HVIP. The interviews were analyzed using constant comparison method for recurrent themes. Several key themes emerged from the interviews. Clients emphasized that their case managers must: 1) understand and relate to their sociocultural contexts, 2) navigate the initial in-hospital meeting to successfully create connection, 3) exhibit true compassion and care, 4) serve as role models, 5) act as portals of opportunity, and 6) engender mutual respect and pride. This study identifies key behaviors of case managers that facilitate the formation of strong therapeutic relationships at the different stages of client recovery. This study's findings emphasize the importance of case managers being culturally aligned with and embedded in their clients' communities. This work can provide a roadmap for case managers to form optimally effective relationships with clients.


Relationship between pronuclear scoring and embryo quality and implantation potential in IVF-ET.
To assess the relationship between pronuclear scoring and day-3 embryo quality and pregnancy outcome and to determine the clinical value of pronuclear stage scoring system in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program, a pronuclear scoring system was used to score zygotes 16-20 h after insemination during conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The embryos were classified into groups Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4. Comparisons were made of the rates of arrested embryos and excellent embryos on day 3. Comparisons of pregnancy outcome were made only in those patients in whom cohorts of similarly Z-scored embryos were transferred. The results showed that there were less arrested embryos and more excellent embryos on day 3 in groups Z1 and Z2 than those in group Z3 and Z4. More embryos arrested and less excellent embryos developed in group Z4 than group Z3. The clinical pregnancy rates resulting from the transfer of single pronuclear score homologous embryo types were similar among groups Z1, Z2 and Z3. Implantation rates of group Z1 were higher (P<0.05) than that of group Z3. These findings suggests that pronuclear scoring can predict developmental ability on day 3 and implantation potential. A evaluation that combines the Z-score and day 3 embryo morphology is useful in the determination of the most viable embryos and the number of embryos for transfer.


DAE-TPGM: A deep autoencoder network based on a two-part-gamma model for analyzing single-cell RNA-seq data.
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can reveal differences in genetic material at the single-cell level and is widely used in biomedical studies. However, the minute RNA content within individual cells often results in a high number of dropouts and introduces random noise of scRNA-seq data, concealing the original gene expression pattern. Therefore, data normalization is critical in the analysis pipeline to adjust for unexpected biological and technical effects, leading to a particular bimodal expression pattern exhibited in the semi-continuous normalized data. We further find the positive continuous expression presents a right-skewed distribution, which is still under-explored by mainstream dimensionality reduction and imputation methods. We introduced a deep autoencoder network based on a two-part-gamma model (DAE-TPGM) for joint dimensionality reduction and imputation of scRNA-seq data. DAE-TPGM uses a two-part-gamma model to capture the statistical characteristics of semi-continuous normalized data and adaptively explores the potential relationships between genes for promoting data imputation by deep autoencoder. Just as the classic application scenarios that use an autoencoder in dimensionality reduction, our personalized autoendoer can capture phenotypic information on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) better and clearly infer continuous phenotype information for hematopoiesis in mice. Compared with that of mainstream imputation methods such as MAGIC, SAVER, scImpute and DCA, the new model achieved substantial improvement on the recognition of cellular phenotypes in two real datasets, and the comprehensive analyses on synthetic "ground truth" data demonstrated that our method obtains competitive advantages over other imputation methods in discovering underlying gene expression patterns in time-course data.


3D printed biomimetic cochleae and machine learning co-modelling provides clinical informatics for cochlear implant patients.
Cochlear implants restore hearing in patients with severe to profound deafness by delivering electrical stimuli inside the cochlea. Understanding stimulus current spread, and how it correlates to patient-dependent factors, is hampered by the poor accessibility of the inner ear and by the lack of clinically-relevant in vitro, in vivo or in silico models. Here, we present 3D printing-neural network co-modelling for interpreting electric field imaging profiles of cochlear implant patients. With tuneable electro-anatomy, the 3D printed cochleae can replicate clinical scenarios of electric field imaging profiles at the off-stimuli positions. The co-modelling framework demonstrated autonomous and robust predictions of patient profiles or cochlear geometry, unfolded the electro-anatomical factors causing current spread, assisted on-demand printing for implant testing, and inferred patients' in vivo cochlear tissue resistivity (estimated mean = 6.6 kΩcm). We anticipate our framework will facilitate physical modelling and digital twin innovations for neuromodulation implants.


One-pot synthesis of single-crystalline PtPb nanodendrites with enhanced activity for electrooxidation of formic acid.
Bimetallic PtPb nanodendrites with a single-crystalline structure were obtained by a facile one-pot strategy. The as-synthesized dendritic structure was well characterized and the growth mechanism was investigated. PtPb nanodendrites exhibited superior activity (5.1 times higher than commercial Pd black) and strong anti-poisoning ability for electrooxidation of formic acid.


Fatty acid-induced NF-kappaB activation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle are chain length dependent.
The saturated fatty acid (SFA) palmitate induces insulin resistance in cultured skeletal muscle cells, which may be related to NF-kappaB activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether other SFAs also exert these effects on skeletal muscle and whether these relate to chain length. Therefore, we incubated L6 and C(2)C(12) skeletal muscle cells with four different fatty acids, caprylate (C8:0), laurate (C12:0), palmitate (C16:0), and stearate (C18:0), to study effects on GLUT4 translocation, deoxyglucose uptake, and NF-kappaB activation. Incubation of L6 cells with the long-chain FAs C16:0 and C18:0 reduced insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and deoxyglucose uptake, whereas L6 cells incubated with the medium-chain FAs C8:0 and C12:0 remained insulin sensitive. Besides increasing NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in both L6 and C(2)C(12) cells, C16:0 also induced NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. C18:0 showed comparable effects, whereas the SFAs with shorter chain lengths were not able to elevate NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. Collectively, these results demonstrate that SFA-induced NF-kappaB activation coincides with insulin resistance and depends on FA chain length.


Dominance of a single Epstein-Barr virus strain in SCID-mouse tumors induced by injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy human donors.
Severe Combined Immune Deficiency mouse tumors, induced by inoculating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 healthy human donors (hu-PBMC-SCID tumors), were used to analyse Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) type and strain variations. PCR analysis of EBNA 2- and EBNA 3C-specific sequences showed that EBV type A was present in SCID-mouse tumors induced by PBMC from all donors but one, while, using amplimers for a highly polymorphic region within the latent membrane protein (LMP) coding sequence, 5 different strains could be detected among the samples examined. The same LMP fragment was present in different tumors arising in the same animal, as well as in different mice injected with PBMC from any donor. Compared to B95.8 and AG876 prototype viruses, sequence analysis of LMP variants disclosed a higher homology to the latter, with 33 bp additional repetitions and a few point mutations in specific sites. This study confirms and extends previous data on the presence of a single EBV type and strain in the peripheral blood of most normal healthy subjects using the SCID-mouse system.


The endocannabinoid system is modulated in response to spinal cord injury in rats.
Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators with protective effects in many diseases of the nervous system. We have studied the modulation of the endocannabinoid system after a spinal cord contusion in rats. In early stages, lesion induced increases of anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) levels, an upregulation of the synthesizing enzyme NAPE-phospholipase D and a downregulation of the degradative enzyme FAAH. In delayed stages, lesion induced increases in 2-arachidonoylglycerol and a strong upregulation of the synthesizing enzyme DAGL-alpha, that is expressed by neurons, astrocytes and immune infiltrates. The degradative enzyme MAGL was also moderately increased but only 7 days after the lesion. We have studied the cellular targets for the newly formed endocannabinoids using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry against CB(1) and CB(2) receptors. We observed that CB(1) was constitutively expressed by neurons and oligodendrocytes and induced in reactive astrocytes. CB(2) receptor was strongly upregulated after lesion, and mostly expressed by immune infiltrates and astrocytes. The endocannabinoid system may represent an interesting target for new therapeutical approaches to spinal cord injury.


Doubly Charged Small Organic Fragments Derived from [Ce(tripeptide)(CH3CN)m]3+ Complexes: Observation of the Elusive [bn + H]2+ Ions.
[a3 + H]2+ ions generated from Ln3+/tripeptide complexes, where Ln = La or Ce, have similar structures to the linear [an]+ ions but with protonation at both the terminal NH2 and N═CH2 groups. Ion stability is favored by having the basic secondary amine of the proline residue at the N-terminus and by an amino acid residue accommodating one of the protons on the side chain. Dissociation of [a3 + H]2+ ions derived from peptides containing only aliphatic residues is by cleavage of the second amide bond to give [b2]+ or [a2]+ ions along with internal [a1]+ ions. For [a3 + H]2+ ions containing a tryptophan residue in the central location, in addition to cleavage of the amide bond, losses of neutrals NH3, HN═CHR, (NH3 + CO), and HNCO were observed. Dissociations of some unsolvated Ln3+/tripeptide complexes gave [b3 + H]2+ ions in low abundance; formation of these [b3 + H]2+ ions was favored by the presence of a proline residue at the N-terminus and by either a histidine or tryptophan residue in the central position. Dissociation of these [b3 + H]2+ ions was by the loss of (H2O + CO) and not only CO, indicating that these ions did not have the same type of oxazolone structure as found for [bn]+ ions. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the observed [b3 + H]2+ ions of ProGlyGly were formed from [Ce(ProGlyGly)]3+ complexes in which the peptide was bound to the metal ion as an enolate. Dissociation of the slightly lower-energy complex, where the peptide is bound in the keto form, would produce an oxazolone but the high barrier required to create this isomer of the [b3 + H]2+ ion would be sufficient to result in further dissociation. Two isomers of the [b3 + H]2+ ion of ProHisGly have been created, one from the [Ce(ProHisGly)]3+ complex that characteristically dissociates by the combined loss of (H2O + CO) and the other by the loss of glycine from [ProHisGlyGly + 2H]2+. The [b3 + H]2+ ion derived from [ProHisGlyGly + 2H]2+ dissociated by the loss of only CO.


Tracing the trajectory of behavioral impairments and oxidative stress in an animal model of neonatal inflammation.
Exposure to early-life inflammation results in time-of-challenge-dependent changes in both brain and behavior. The consequences of this neural and behavioral reprogramming are most often reported in adulthood. However, the trajectory for the expression of these various changes is not well delineated, particularly between the juvenile and adult phases of development. Moreover, interventions to protect against these neurodevelopmental disruptions are rarely evaluated. Here, female Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in either environmental enrichment (EE) or standard care (SC) and their male and female offspring were administered 50 μg/kg i.p. of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pyrogen-free saline in a dual-administration neonatal protocol. All animals maintained their respective housing assignments from breeding until the end of the study. LPS exposure on postnatal days (P) 3 and 5 of life resulted in differential expression of emotional and cognitive disruptions and evidence of oxidative stress across development. Specifically, social behavior was reduced in neonatal-treated (n)LPS animals at adolescence (P40), but not adulthood (P70). In contrast, male nLPS rats exhibited intact spatial memory as adolescents which was impaired in later life. Moreover, these males had decreased prefrontal cortex levels of glutathione at P40, which was normalized in adult animals. Notably, EE appeared to offer some protection against the consequences of inflammation on juvenile social behavior and fully prevented reduced glutathione levels in the juvenile prefrontal cortex. Combined, these time-dependent effects provide evidence that early-life inflammation interacts with other developmental variables, specifically puberty and EE, in the expression (and prevention) of select behavioral and molecular programs.


Changes in the Q-tip angle in relation to the patient position and bladder filling.
It is hypothesized that patient position, supine or recline, and bladder filling status, empty or full, could change the Q-tip test result. This study evaluated the effect of the patient position and bladder filling status on the Q-tip angle for urethral hypermobility (UH). There was a measurement of the Q-tip angle in the supine position and at a 45° angle in a reclining position during bladder emptying; and then the measurements were repeated while filling the bladder. We defined urethral hypermobility as the urethral angle straining or coughing minus that at rest ≥ 30°. All 63 female patients (mean age: 61.6 years, range: 36-81) who complained of urinary incontinence were assessed using the Q-tip angle test. The pelvic organ prolapse quantification stages of all patients were ≤ stage 1. The mean Q-tip angle with an empty bladder was 14.1 ± 9.1° in the supine position and 16.4 ± 11.1° in the reclining position (p = 0.001). Then mean Q-tip angle during the filling bladder state was 15.4 ± 9.7° in the supine position and 15.9 ± 11.0° in the reclining position (p = 0.771). The UH rate during the bladder emptying state was 11.1 % (7/63) in the supine position and 19.1 % (12/63) in the reclining position. The UH rate during the bladder filling state was 15.0 % (9/60) in the supine position and 15.3 % (9/59) in the 45° reclining position. The odds ratio (OR) was 7.03 in the reclining position for a positive Q-tip angle. The positive rate was higher in the 45° reclining position during bladder emptying than that in the other position during bladder filling. The outcome of the Q-tip angle and the rate of UH changed in relation to patient position. The reclining position during bladder emptying increased the Q-tip angle, thereby resulting in a positive UH.


Amino-acid sequence and tissue distribution of guinea-pig leukotriene A4 hydrolase.
The guinea-pig leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H)-encoding cDNA was isolated from a guinea-pig lung cDNA library by cross-hybridization using a human probe. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence consists of 611 aa (68 756 Da) and contains all twelve internal peptide and N-terminal sequences determined from the purified enzyme from guinea-pig intestine. The aa identity of the guinea-pig enzyme with its human, mouse and rat counterparts was 92.9, 90.5 and 90.4%, respectively. The previously characterized zinc-binding motif and a putative active site were highly conserved, supporting the aminopeptidase activity described for this enzyme. RNA blot analysis demonstrated ubiquitous expression of the LTA4H mRNA.


Aicardi goutières syndrome is associated with pulmonary hypertension.
While pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a potentially life threatening complication of many inflammatory conditions, an association between Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS), a rare genetic cause of interferon (IFN) overproduction, and the development of PH has not been characterized to date. We analyzed the cardiac function of individuals with AGS enrolled in the Myelin Disorders Bioregistry Project using retrospective chart review (n = 61). Additional prospective echocardiograms were obtained when possible (n = 22). An IFN signature score, a marker of systemic inflammation, was calculated through the measurement of mRNA transcripts of type I IFN-inducible genes (interferon signaling genes or ISG). Pathologic analysis was performed as available from autopsy samples. Within our cohort, four individuals were identified to be affected by PH: three with pathogenic gain-of-function mutations in the IFIH1 gene and one with heterozygous TREX1 mutations. All studied individuals with AGS were noted to have elevated IFN signature scores (Mann-Whitney p < .001), with the highest levels in individuals with IFIH1 mutations (Mann-Whitney p < .0001). We present clinical and histologic evidence of PH in a series of four individuals with AGS, a rare interferonopathy. Importantly, IFIH1 and TREX1 may represent a novel cause of PH. Furthermore, these findings underscore the importance of screening all individuals with AGS for PH.


1898-1998: Camillo Golgi and "the Golgi": one hundred years of terminological clones.
Camillo Golgi discovered, in 1898, the cell organelle that has been called, after him, "the Golgi apparatus" or "the Golgi complex." Because of the necessity of saving words in scientific literature, "the Golgi apparatus" is nowadays frequently referred to only as "the Golgi" or used in an adjectival form in combination with a variety of terms (e.g., Golgi vesicle, Golgi area, Golgi traffic, and so forth). We present here a search of the Medline database for the years 1967 through 1997, which demonstrates that the eponym has lost all connection with Golgi's personal identity. In addition, the search indicates that interest in the Golgi apparatus is steadily increasing, as evidenced in the scientific literature, and that Golgi's name is much more frequently used in association with the cell organelle than with any of the other scientific contributions of this scientist, including the Golgi impregnation of nerve cells.


Human breast milk-derived exosomes protect against intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in neonatal rats.
Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury like that seen in midgut volvulus can be life-threatening in the pediatric population. Human breast milk-derived exosomes (HMDEs) can prevent intestinal inflammation in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis and other intestinal diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of HMDEs on intestinal damage related to IR injury. Exosomes were isolated from human breast milk by ultracentrifugation then confirmed by Nanoparticle tracking analysis and detection of exosome membrane markers. 2-weeks old Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a) Sham (n = 8) with laparotomy alone, b) Sham with HMDEs administration by gavage (n = 8), c) Intestinal IR injury (n = 8) by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 30 min followed by reperfusion, and d) Intestinal IR by SMA occlusion with HMDEs administration by gavage (n = 8). Six hours after laparotomy, animals were euthanized, and the ilea (10 cm to cecum) were harvested. Mucosal injury was scored histologically. The intestines were further examined for inflammatory cytokine TNFα, and epithelial proliferation marker Ki67. Compared to sham, the small intestine of IR rats had more intestinal damage, increased expression of inflammatory cytokine TNFα and decreased intestinal proliferation. HMDEs significantly counteracted all these changes. Human breast milk-derived exosomes protect the intestine against damage by IR injury. This beneficial effect is associated with decreased intestinal inflammation and enhanced epithelial proliferation. This study implicates the potential novel application of HMDEs in preventing intestinal damage in infants with intestinal IR injury.


Monoclonal antibodies as structural probes of surface residues in the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II from porcine heart.
Two murine monoclonal antibodies (H5 and B6) generated against bovine heart type II regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were shown to cross-react equally well with the homologous subunit from porcine heart. The antibodies demonstrated specificity for only the type II regulatory subunit and showed negligible cross-reactivity with the type I regulatory subunit, the catalytic subunit, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Following limited proteolysis of type II regulatory subunit with chymotrypsin, the H5 monoclonal antibody was shown to cross-react with the Mr = 37,000 cAMP-binding domain corresponding to the COOH-terminal region of the polypeptide chain. To more specifically localize the antigenic sites, the porcine type II regulatory subunit was carboxymethylated and cleaved with cyanogen bromide. Both monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with the NH2-terminal CNBr peptide, and this peptide demonstrated affinities similar to native bovine type II regulatory subunit in competitive displacement radioimmunoassays. Tryptic cleavage of this CNBr fragment destroyed all antigenicity for both monoclonal antibodies, whereas antigenicity was retained following chymotryptic digestion. A single major immunoreactive chymotryptic fragment that cross-reacted with H5 was isolated by gel filtration and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. this peptide retained the complete antigenic site and had the following sequence: Asn-Pro-Asp-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Asp-Thr-Asp-Pro-Arg-Val-Ile-His-Pro-Lys-Thr-Asp-Gl n. This antigenic site was localized just beyond the major site of autophosphorylation, approximately a third of the distance from the NH2-terminal end of the polypeptide chain.


The macroeconomic benefits of Tennessee APRNs having full practice authority.
To-date, advocacy efforts to advance full practice authority for APRNs have primarily stressed arguments based on evidence on the cost effectiveness and quality of APRN-provided care, as well as the improved care access and patient satisfaction these providers offer. The economic impact analysis forecasts the additional job and economic output associated with granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority. The IMPLAN software and a variety of data inputs were used to estimate the direct, indirect, and induced economic impact on jobs, labor income, value-added benefits, total output, and tax revenues. From a 2017 baseline, the cumulative impact of granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority is a net gain of 25,536 jobs and $3.2 billion in economic impact. Granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority would confer substantial economic benefits and employment opportunities to the state.


Diverse nature of femtosecond laser ablation of poly(L-lactide) and the influence of filamentation on the polymer crystallization behaviour.
Over the past few years we have witnessed growing interest in ultrafast laser micromachining of bioresorbable polymers for fabrication of medical implants and surface modification. In this paper we show that surface structuring of poly(L-lactide) with 300 fs laser pulses at 515 and 1030 nm wavelength leads to formation of defects inside the polymer as a result of laser beam filamentation. Filament-induced channels have diameter around 1 μm and length of hundreds of micrometers. SEM images of microchannels cross-sections are presented. The influence of wavelength and pulse spacing on bulk modification extent was investigated and parameters limiting filamentation were determined. We show that filamentation can be used for controlling properties of PLLA. The presence of filament-induced modifications such as empty microchannels and pressure wave-induced stress lead to increased ability of polymer to crystallize at lower temperature. Crystallization behaviour and crystal morphology after laser treatment was investigated in details using different analytical techniques such as WAXD, DSC and FTIR/ATR. Hydrolytic degradation experiment was performed. Presented method can be applied for controllable, spatially distributed modification of polymer crystallinity, crystalline phase structure and hydrolytic degradation profile.


Dry deposition, ionic species measured and source interpretation during seasonal cycle at offshore areas near Taiwan Strait.
The characterization for water-soluble species of total suspended particulate (TSP), dry deposition flux, and dry deposition velocity (V(d)) were studied at Taichung Harbor (TH) and Wuchi traffic sampling sites at offshore sampling site near Taiwan Strait of central Taiwan during March 2004-January 2005. The average concentrations of TSP and dry deposition flux at the TH sampling site were higher than at the WT sampling site during the sampling period. The samples collected were analyzed by a ion chromatography (DIONEX-100) for the ionic species (Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), NH(4)(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+)) analysis. The dominant ionic species for TSP are SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), and NH(4)(+) of the total mass of the inorganic ions at both sampling sites. In addition, the results indicated that the NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-) showed higher concentrations in winter and lower in summer for both TH and Wuchi sampling sites. Statistical methods such as correlation coefficient and principal component analysis were also used to identify the possible pollutant source.


Transcriptional regulation of fis operon involves a module of multiple coupled promoters.
The transcription of the Escherichia coli fis gene is strongly activated during the outgrowth of cells from stationary phase. The high activity of the promoter of the fis operon requires the transcription factor IHF. Previously, we identified a divergent promoter, div, located upstream of the fis promoter. In this study we demonstrate that at least two additional promoters, designated fis P2 and fis P3, are located in the control region of the fis operon. The fis P2 and div promoters overlap completely, whereas fis P3 and div P are arranged as face-to-face divergent promoters. We show that the div and the tandem fis promoters counterbalance each other, such that their activity is kept on a lower than potentially attainable level. Furthermore, we demonstrate an unusual activation mechanism by IHF, involving a coordinated shift in the balance of promoter activities. We infer that these coupled promoters represent a regulatory module and propose a novel "dynamic balance" mechanism involved in the transcriptional control of the fis operon.


Challenges in addiction-affected families: a systematic review of qualitative studies.
The relative paucity of research on Addiction-Affected Families' (AAF) issues and the lack of attention given to their difficulties and treatment in interventions and clinical practices indicate that the primary focus consistently revolves around individuals with addictive disorders, even when the treatment process involves their families. However, it is believed that family members endure significant pressures that result in extensive negative consequences on the personal, familial, and social aspects of their lives. Aiming for a better understanding of the challenges and issues that AAF's experience, this systematic review explored qualitative studies with a focus on the impact of addiction on different aspects of families. We searched Research Gate, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Elsevier, and Google Scholar Databases. We included studies of qualitative design which have investigated the effects of addiction on families. Non-English language studies, medical views, and quantitative approaches were excluded. Participants in the selected studies included parents, children, couples, sisters/brothers, relatives, drug users and specialists. The data from the selected studies were extracted using a standard format for the systematic review of qualitative research (the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence [NICE] 2102a). A thematic analysis of the findings of the studies identified 5 main themes: 1) initial shock (family encounter, searching for why), 2) family in the fog (social isolation, stigma and label), 3) sequence of disorders (emotional decline, negative behavioral experiences, mental disturbance, physical degeneration, family burden), 4) internal family chaos (instability of relationships, shadow people, erosive confrontation with the drug-using member, a newly emerging member, collapsing system, financial collapse), and 5) self-protection (attracting information, support, and protective sources, coping and adjusting the effects, the emergence of spirituality). This systematic review of qualitative research highlights the various and complex issues which addiction-affected families go through in terms of financial, social, cultural, mental and physical health problems, as a result of which experts of the field are needed to investigate and take measures. The findings can inform policy and practice and the development of interventions aimed to lighten the burdens which addiction-affected families carry.


Male exstrophy patients: a preliminary report on the reproductive capability.
Semen analyses from 9 male patients with bladder exstrophy revealed a high incidence of infertility (7 cases). Possible causes and measures that might help to preserve the fertility potential are suggested.


Microbiologic contamination of peripheral blood progenitor cells collected for hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) rather than bone marrow are used increasingly to provide hematologic reconstitution when transfused after marrow-ablative chemotherapy. PBPCs often are collected via central venous catheters that have remained in place for long periods of time and that may become infected. The investigators reviewed their 5-year experience in collecting PBPCs for the prevalence of bacterial contamination. Except for cotrimoxazole therapy given to prevent Pneumocystis cariini pneumonia, patients were not given antibiotic prophylaxis. Each patient underwent a median of 7 (range, 2-21) PBPC collections; 0.2 percent (3/1040 collections) were culture positive for bacteria (two collections contained coagulase-negative staphylococci and one contained Serratia marcescens). All culture-positive collections were discarded; no PBPCs were culture positive at the time of thawing and transfusion. This contamination rate is below that previously reported for bone marrow harvests and platelet concentrate collections. Obtaining PBPCs through large-bore central venous catheters has not added to the risk of infection in transplant patients. A program of screening in vitro cultures and strict adherence to sterility techniques can result in very low microbiologic contamination and thus obviates the need for prophylactic antimicrobials in the PBPCs and in the patient.


Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. Report of a case in Trinidad and Tobago.
A case of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is herein reported in a 27-year-old black woman. This is a very rare condition, the first to be reported from Trinidad and Tobago.