Immortalization of hepatic progenitor cells.
Development of cell therapy-based strategies for the treatment of liver failures and of inherited metabolic diseases has become a necessity because of the limitations of orthotopic liver transplantation, including shortage of donor livers. This shortage limits also the availability for hepatocytes and these terminally differentiated cells cannot be expanded in vitro. Thus, other alternative sources of hepatocytes have to be explored such as hepatic stem cells. Foetal hepatic cells have specific intrinsic properties compared to adult hepatocytes that should overcome some of their limitations. Thus, the availability of in vitro expandable progenitor cells by means of immortalization and without inducing a transformed phenotype and disrupting their differentiation potential would facilitate studies on cell engraftment and differentiation within the hepatic parenchyma. A temporally controlled expression of the immortalizing transgene would also permit to revert the immortalized phenotype prior to cell transplantation. Since characteristics of murine stem cells cannot readily be extrapolated to their human or other primate counterparts, we have immortalized one clone of primate hepatic progenitor cells using a retroviral vector expressing SV40 Large T flanked by lox P sites. These hepatic cells were bipotent, expressing markers of both hepatocytic and biliary lineages. After transplantation into athymic mice, approximately 50% of immortalized cells engrafted, stopped proliferating after a few days and differentiated in adult hepatocytes, suggesting that the hepatic microenvironment plays an important role in such regulations. Upon infection with a retrovirus expressing the CRE recombinase, immortalized cells stopped growing and died, showing that immortalization was dependant on SV40 Large T. These studies suggest new approaches to expand hepatic progenitor cells, analyse their fate in animal models aiming at cell therapy of hepatic diseases.


Critical clinical gaps in cancer precision nanomedicine development.
Active targeting strategy is adopted in nanomedicine for cancer treatment. Personalizing the nanomedicine in accordance with patients' omics, under the precision medicine platform, is met with challenges in targeting ligand and matrix material selection at nanoformulation stage. The past 5-year literatures show that the nanoparticulate targeting ligand and matrix material are not selected based upon the cancer omics profiles of patients. The expression of cancer cellular target receptors and metabolizing enzymes is primarily influenced by age, gender, race/ethnic group and geographical origin of patients. The personalized perspective of a nanomedicine cannot be realised with premature digestion of matrix and targeting ligand by specific metabolizing enzymes that are overexpressed by the patients, and unmatched targeting ligand to the majority of cell surface receptors overexpressed in cancer. Omics analysis of individual metabolizing enzyme and cancer cell surface receptor expressed in cancer facilitates targeting ligand and matrix material selection in nanomedicine development.


Buffered fitness components: Antagonism between malnutrition and an insecticide in bumble bees.
Global insect biodiversity declines due to reduced fitness are linked to interactions between environmental stressors. In social insects, inclusive fitness depends on successful mating of reproductives, i.e. males and queens, and efficient collaborative brood care by workers. Therefore, interactive effects between malnutrition and environmental pollution on sperm and feeding glands (hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs)) would provide mechanisms for population declines, unless buffered against due to their fitness relevance. However, while negative effects for bumble bee colony fitness are known, the effects of malnutrition and insecticide exposure singly and in combination on individuals are poorly understood. Here we show, in a fully-crossed laboratory experiment, that malnutrition and insecticide exposure result in neutral or antagonistic interactions for spermatozoa and HPGs of bumble bees, Bombus terrestris, suggesting strong selection to buffer key colony fitness components. No significant effects were observed for mortality and consumption, but significant negative effects were revealed for spermatozoa traits and HPGs. The combined effects on these parameters were not higher than the individual stressor effects, which indicates an antagonistic interaction between both. Despite the clear potential for additive effects, due to the individual stressors impairing muscle quality and neurological control, simultaneous malnutrition and insecticide exposure surprisingly did not reveal an increased impact compared to individual stressors, probably due to key fitness traits being resilient. Our data support that stressor interactions require empirical tests on a case-by-case basis and need to be regarded in context to understand underlying mechanisms and so adequately mitigate the ongoing decline of the entomofauna.


NMR spectrometric studies of complexation of [60]fullerene with series of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins.
Extensive 1H NMR spectrometric studies have been done to gain information on the nature of molecular interactions of the supramolecular complexes of [60]fullerene with a series of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins, namely, meso-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (1), meso-5,10,15,20-tetra-2-bromophenyl-porphyrin (2) and meso-5,10,15,20-tetra-2-chlorophenyl-porphyrin (3) in toluene medium. [60]Fullerene has been shown to form 1:1 adducts with the above series of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins. Formation constants (K) for all the complexes have been determined from the systematic variation of the NMR chemical shifts of beta proton of the porphyrin in presence of [60]fullerene. It has been observed that 3 acts as a better donor in forming supramolecular complex with [60]fullerene.


An extremely rare case: Transorbital penetrating intracranial injury by wooden foreign body. Case report.
Transorbital Penetrating Intracranial Injury (TOPI) is a rare case, but those caused by Wooden Foreign Body are even challenging that may pose unusual diagnostic and surgical challenges. we presented a TOPI following a wood penetrated to the left temporal fossa region via orbital roof due to struck the tree branches while got a motor vehicle accident. The patient was fully conscious with decreased visual acuity in the left eye and left ophthalmoplegia. Non-contrast CT scan showed the linear-shaped foreign body, air mimicking that penetrated medial orbit plane to the left temporal fossa. The surgery was performed with a temporobasal approach and revealed good results with only mild ophthalmologic complications without long-term fatal complications (1-year followed-up). early removal of wooden foreign body that penetrates to the intracranial via transorbital is mandatory and should be involved multidisciplinary approach to get the optimal result and avoid the fatal complication both neurologically or ophthalmologically.


Updates on metoidioplasty.
Metoidioplasty presents a variant of phalloplasty in transmen who require simple and safe genital gender affirmation surgery (GAS). The aim is to evaluate updates on the technique, as well as personal experience. The surgical steps of metoidioplasty are removal of the vagina, clitoral straightening and lengthening, urethral lengthening using available flaps and grafts, and creation of the scrotum with testicular prostheses implantation. The surgical goal is to achieve appearance of male genitalia, voiding in standing position, and full erogenous sensitivity. Modifications of the technique have developed due to recent advances in anatomy and new requests from transmen. Besides full metoidioplasty, other variants include metoidioplasty before, after or simultaneously with total phalloplasty. Each variant has its' own advantages, which must be discussed with the candidate preoperatively. A total of 938 transmen with the mean age of 29 years underwent one-stage metoidioplasty between January 2004 and January 2022. In majority of cases (65%) metoidioplasty was performed as a final option, and the length of the neophallus ranged between 4 and 10 cm. Urethral complications occurred in 143 cases, dislocation and rejection of testicular implant in 55 and vaginal remnant in 92 cases. Voiding in standing position was reported in almost all cases (99%), and 12.5% of transmen requested phalloplasty after metoidioplasty. Metoidioplasty is a safe, one-stage procedure with good esthetic and functional outcomes. It includes a wide spectrum of variants that can be offered to transmen as a part of genital reconstruction, with goal of achieving patients' satisfaction.


Effect of succinate on mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. 1. Comparative studies on ferrous ion and ADP . Fe/NADPH-induced peroxidation.
Lipid peroxidation in isolated rat liver mitochondria, mitoplast, and mitochondrial inner membrane fragments was induced either by ferrous ions, or in an NADPH-dependent process by complexing with adenine nucleotides (ADP or ATP) iron. The Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation is nonenzymic when inner membrane fragments are used, while the differences in the inhibitory effect of Mn2+ ions and the stimulatory effect of the ionophore A-23187 in mitochondria and inner membrane fragments suggest an enzymic mechanism for ferrous ion-induced lipid peroxidation in intact mitochondria. Contrary to this the ADP/Fe/NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation is an enzymic process both in mitochondria and inner membrane preparations. We have shown that cytochrome P450 is involved in the ADP/Fe/NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation. Succinate, a known inhibitor of NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation, inhibited the Fe2+-induced process also, and there was no difference in this effect when inner membrane preparations, mitochondria, or mitoplasts were used.


Generation of Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Encoding VP2, NS1, and VP7 Proteins of Bluetongue Virus.
Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) is employed widely as an experimental vaccine vector for its lack of replication in mammalian cells and high expression level of foreign/heterologous genes. Recombinant MVAs (rMVAs) are used as platforms for protein production as well as vectors to generate vaccines against a high number of infectious diseases and other pathologies. The portrait of the virus combines desirable elements such as high-level biological safety, the ability to activate appropriate innate immune mediators upon vaccination, and the capacity to deliver substantial amounts of heterologous antigens. Recombinant MVAs encoding proteins of bluetongue virus (BTV), an Orbivirus that infects domestic and wild ruminants transmitted by biting midges of the Culicoides species, are excellent vaccine candidates against this virus. In this chapter we describe the methods for the generation of rMVAs encoding VP2, NS1, and VP7 proteins of bluetongue virus as a model example for orbiviruses. The protocols included cover the cloning of VP2, NS1, and VP7 BTV-4 genes in a transfer plasmid, the construction of recombinant MVAs, the titration of virus working stocks and the protein expression analysis by immunofluorescence and radiolabeling of rMVA infected cells as well as virus purification.


The systematic production of cells for cell therapies.
Stem cells have emerged as the starting material of choice for bioprocesses to produce cells and tissues to treat degenerative, genetic, and immunological disease. Translating the biological properties and potential of stem cells into therapies will require overcoming significant cell-manufacturing and regulatory challenges. Bioprocess engineering fundamentals, including bioreactor design and process control, need to be combined with cellular systems biology principles to guide the development of next-generation technologies capable of producing cell-based products in a safe, robust, and cost-effective manner. The step-wise implementation of these bioengineering strategies will enhance cell therapy product quality and safety, expediting clinical development.


Biological effects of shock waves: lung hemorrhage by shock waves in dogs--pressure dependence.
The most serious side effect observed during the destruction of gallstones by shock waves in dogs was lung bleeding. To determine the conditions leading to lung damage, pressure probes were implanted into dogs between the lung and the diaphragm. The distance between the lung and the focal point of the pressure field was determined at which 1000 shock waves caused no more lung hemorrhage. On the long axis it is greater than 15 cm and perpendicular to the long axis it is 4 cm. Shock wave pressures over 2 MPa could be administered safely, whereas a pressure of 10 MPa caused bleedings in beagles, but probably not in boxers.


Distribution of mass in relaxed frog skeletal muscle and its redistribution upon activation.
Five orders of equatorial reflection were recorded from both relaxed and fully activated intact frog sartorius muscle using synchrotron x-ray radiation. Electron density maps of the myofilament lattice in axial projection were calculated from the integrated intensities by Fourier synthesis, using all possible phase combinations. These maps were evaluated systematically in terms of their compatibility with electron microscopically and biochemically derived properties of the lattice structure and with the minimum wavelength principle. For the relaxed state, one phase combination emerged as most consistent with these constraints: it shows a thick filament with a compact core surrounded by an annular shell of density. The distribution of mass suggests that the S-2 moiety of the myosin molecule is an integral part of the thick-filament backbone and the S-1 moiety makes up the shell and is tilted or slewed around the backbone. For the active state, there are two feasible maps, which differ according to whether or not the activation process is associated with phase inversion in two of the reflections. Both maps represent patterns of redistribution of mass upon activation in which the thick-filament backbone is practically unaffected and there is movement of density from the annular shell towards the thin filaments. In addition to this outward radial flux of density from the thick-filament periphery, the pattern of net mass transfer involves a pronounced azimuthal component in both cases. The total net mass transfer is equivalent to approximately 20% (no phase change) or approximately 40% (with phase change) of the S-1 mass. From the observed systematic increase in peak widths of the higher orders, the size of the crystalline domain in the myofilament lattice in the relaxed sartorius is estimated to be greater than 650 nm and the variations in myofilament lattice spacing among different myofibrils to be about +/- 3%. Furthermore, in the activated state, the equilibrium positions of the myofilaments are no longer well ordered, but are distributed statistically about the lattice points with a standard deviation of approximately 3 nm.


Use of Echinoderm Gametes and Early Embryos for Studying Meiosis and Mitosis.
The early embryos of sea urchins and other echinoderms have served as experimental models for the study of cell division since the nineteenth century. Their rapid development, optical clarity, and ease of manipulation continue to offer advantages for studying spindle assembly and cytokinesis. In the absence of transgenic lines, alternative strategies must be employed to visualize microtubules and actin. Here, we describe methods to visualize actin and microtubule using either purified, recombinant proteins, or probes in in vitro-transcribed mRNAs.


Malaria infection in rats with stimulated splenic red pulp: the blood flow and protective effect in normal and transplanted splenic tissue.
After splenic autotransplantation both weight and blood flow of the regenerated splenic tissue are decreased. In addition, the protective function of the transplant is less compared to that of the normal spleen. In the present study, the red pulp of normal and transplanted splenic tissue was stimulated by injections of phenylhydrazine to increase the weight, the blood flow, and the protective function. After stimulation, the weight of the normal spleen increased to 900 +/- 70 mg (control 530 +/- 20 mg) and the transplanted tissue to 240 +/- 70 mg (control 70 +/- 20 mg). This enlargement was caused by an increase in the splenic red pulp. However, the relative blood flow decreased in both the normal spleen and the transplant to 50% of the normal value. To evaluate the protective function of the stimulated splenic tissue, normal, splenectomized and transplanted rats were infected with Plasmodium berghei. Despite the dramatic increase in the red pulp, neither the normal nor the transplanted animals showed a survival rate superior to that of the splenectomized animals. The mass of splenic tissue obviously does not correlate with the protective effect of the spleen in parasitic infections.


Syntheses and biological evaluation of new fluoroquinolone antibacterials containing chiral oxiimino pyrrolidine.
The design and syntheses of new fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents having pyrrolidine ring at C-7 position are described. The pyrrolidine ring is optically active and possesses methyloxime functional group. Two of them have excellent in vitro antibacterial activities and pharmacokinetic profiles.


Finding the best hardware configuration for 2D SLAM in indoor environments via simulation based on Google Cartographer.
One of the most challenging topics in robotics is simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in the indoor environments. Due to the fact that Global Navigation Satellite Systems cannot be successfully used in such environments, different data sources are used for this purpose, among others light detection and ranging (LiDARs ), which have advanced from numerous other technologies. Other embedded sensors can be used along with LiDARs to improve SLAM accuracy, e.g. the ones available in the Inertial Measurement Units and wheel odometry sensors. Evaluation of different SLAM algorithms and possible hardware configurations in real environments is time consuming and expensive. In our study, we evaluate the accuracy of mapping and localization (based on Absolute Trajectory Error and Relative Pose Error). Our use case is a robot used for room decontamination. The results for a small room show that for our robot the best hardware configuration consists of three LiDARs 2D, IMU and wheel odometry sensors. On the other hand, for long hallways, a configuration with one LiDAR 3D sensor and IMU works better and more stable. We also described a general approach together with tools and procedures that can be used to find the best sensor setup in simulation.


Influence of microbial community structure of seed sludge on the properties of aerobic nitrifying granules.
In order to evaluate the influence of microbial community structure of seed sludge on the properties of aerobic nitrifying granules, these granules were cultivated with different seed sludge, and the variation of microbial community and dominant bacterial groups that impact the nitrogen removal efficiency of the aerobic nitrifying granules were analyzed and identified using 16s rDNA sequence and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles. The results presented here demonstrated that the influence of the community structure of seed sludge on the properties of aerobic nitrifying granules was remarkable, and the granules cultivated by activated sludge from a beer wastewater treatment plant showed better performance, with a stable sludge volume index (SVI) value of 20mL/g, high extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content of 183.3mg/L, high NH4(+)-N removal rate of 89.42% and abundant microbial population with 10 dominant bacterial groups. This indicated that activated sludge with abundant communities is suitable for use as seed sludge in culturing aerobic nitrifying granules.


Comparison of the sealing ability of four obturation techniques.
This study compared the apical seal produced by four obturation techniques. The Canal Finder system was compared with lateral condensation, the Ultrafil system, and the sectional warm gutta-percha techniques. Forty-two anterior single-rooted teeth were instrumented. Ten teeth were not obturated and served as positive and negative controls. The apical seal was tested for leakage with 0.25% methylene blue dye. The teeth were shaved horizontally and dye penetration was measured with a Boley gauge. Results revealed there was no statistically significant difference among the four obturation techniques.


[Assessment of knowledge in Transfusional Medicine in residents in Bajío].
Despite the existence of national and international guidelines, multiple studies show that the clinical use of blood components is not based on scientific evidence; this situation replicates, therefore it was necessary to apply an assessment tool in our medical unit. Assessment the knowledge in transfusion medicine in medical residents who have high requirements of blood hemocomponentes in Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Especialidades No.1 Centro Médico Nacional Bajío. A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed, and through a validated test the knowledge in transfusional medicine of residents of the unit was evaluated. 100 residents participated in the research, most of them from the anesthesiology department; as a result, the evaluation tool showed a "Fair" performance in 75% of the participants. No specialty achieved a "Satisfactory" result. The application of this tool is the first step to develop and implement strategies to reduce unjustified transfusions of blood components and thus continue to provide excellent care to beneficiaries, minimizing risks and optimizing institutional resources.


Effect of silver nanoparticles and Bacillus cereus LPR2 on the growth of Zea mays.
The effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (Bacillus sp.) and silver nanoparticles on Zea mays was evaluated. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized from Tagetes erecta (Marigold) leaf and flower extracts, whereas PGPR isolated from spinach rhizosphere. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were purified using ultra centrifugation and were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy at gradient wavelength and also by High Resolution Transmission Electron microscopy (HRTEM). The average particles size of AgNPs was recorded approximately 60 nm. Almost all potential isolates were able to produce Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), ammonia and Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), solubilized tricalcium phosphate and inhibited the growth of Macrophomina phaseolina in vitro but the isolate LPR2 was found the best among all. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, the isolate LPR2 was characterized as Bacillus cereus LPR2. The maize seeds bacterized with LPR2 and AgNPs individually showed a significant increase in germination (87.5%) followed by LPR2 + AgNPs (75%). But the maximum growth of root and shoot of maize plant was observed in seeds coated with LPR2 followed by AgNPs and a combination of both. Bacillus cereus LPR2 and silver nanoparticles enhanced the plant growth and LPR2 strongly inhibited the growth of deleterious fungal pathogen. Therefore, LPR2 and AgNPs could be utilized as bioinoculant and growth stimulator, respectively for maize.


Violence, mental illness, and the brain - A brief history of psychosurgery: Part 3 - From deep brain stimulation to amygdalotomy for violent behavior, seizures, and pathological aggression in humans.
In the final installment to this three-part, essay-editorial on psychosurgery, we relate the history of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in humans and glimpse the phenomenal body of work conducted by Dr. Jose Delgado at Yale University from the 1950s to the 1970s. The inception of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1974-1978) is briefly discussed as it pertains to the "determination of the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare regarding the recommendations and guidelines on psychosurgery." The controversial work - namely recording of brain activity, DBS, and amygdalotomy for intractable psychomotor seizures in patients with uncontrolled violence - conducted by Drs. Vernon H. Mark and Frank Ervin is recounted. This final chapter recapitulates advances in neuroscience and neuroradiology in the evaluation of violent individuals and ends with a brief discussion of the problem of uncontrolled rage and "pathologic aggression" in today's modern society - as violence persists, and in response, we move toward authoritarianism, with less freedom and even less dignity.


Sexual behavior-associated c-Fos induction in the sagittalis nucleus of the hypothalamus in male rat.
The sagittalis nucleus of the hypothalamus (SGN) is a small nucleus located in the interstitial area between the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus in rats. The SGN exhibits male-biased sexual dimorphism and expresses estrogen receptor α and calbindin-D28K. This suggests a contribution of the SGN to sexually differentiated brain function, but its functional role is unknown. In this study, neuronal activation in the SGN during sexual behavior in male rats was examined by c-Fos immunohistochemistry. The number of c-Fos-immunoreactive (c-Fos-ir) cells was elevated with only exposure to chemosensory cues of estrous females and significantly increased after the first mount. The first intromission and ejaculation did not induce further increases in the number of c-Fos-ir cells in the SGN. These findings suggest that the SGN is involved in regulation of the early phase of male sexual behavior, including motivation.


Inflammatory mediators and neonatal sepsis. Rarely has so little been known by so many about so much.
Many questions remain unanswered (and probably many more remain unasked) about neonatal sepsis. In addition, many mediators of inflammation have been implicated in neonatal sepsis at one time or another. The goal of this article is to put together what the authors view as some of the more important outstanding questions with what is known about some of the more important mediators. We address four questions specifically: (1) Why is neonatal sepsis different from all other (adult) sepsis? (2) 41Is control of pulmonary hypertension the white whale or red herring in neonatal septic shock? (3) Is sepsis more like dominoes or like 52 pick-up? and (4) Is disruption of QO2/VO2 coupling a legitimate clinical concern or a laboratory anomaly?


Discovery of four estrogen receptors and their expression profiles during testis recrudescence in male Spinibarbus denticulatus.
Estrogen plays an important role in male reproduction. Most of the actions are mediated by estrogen receptor (ER). To investigate the profile of estrogen affecting male fertility, we firstly cloned four ERs from the male Spinibarbus denticulatus, a local economically important cyprinid fish in China. Phylogenetic tree analysis ranked the four sdERs as two distinct groups of ERalpha and beta, which could be further divided into duplicated isoforms 1 and 2, respectively. High score identities were shared between each of the duplicated isoforms. All of the four sdERs distributed in central nervous system of male fish with a quite broad spectrum. However, distribution diversity became evident between sdERalpha and sdERbeta subtypes in the peripheral tissues. Both of the two isoforms of ERbeta were detected in all seven tissues examined, while expression of sdERalpha1 was mainly limited to liver, kidney, testis and intestine and sdERalpha2 was confined to liver, heart, kidney, testis and gill. During the testis recrudescing stages, serum concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and estradiol-17beta (E(2)) were increasing. T and LH levels in the circulation were high until the later fully recrudesced phase, while serum E(2) level was low all the time. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis determined the most abundance of sdERs in pituitary where the two sdERalpha isoforms positively expressed with testis development, while sdERbeta isoforms expressed with a reverse pattern. sdERalpha1 and sdERbeta1 were the primary forms in testis. sdERalpha1 gradually increased during the recrudescence process while sdERbeta1 firstly decreased during the recrudescing stage and then positively expressed in fully recrudesced stage. Little or no signal was detected in brain. The present work provided evidence of four sdERs in male reproductive system and suggested an important role of sdERalpha1 during testis recrudescence. Pituitary contained duplicates forms of sdERalpha which may play a role in the feedback effects of estrogen on LH secretion.


Biofouling of surgical power tools during routine use.
Surgical power tools (SPTs) are frequently used in many surgical specialties such as dentistry, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, neurology, and podiatry. They have complex designs that may restrict access to cleaning and sterilization agents and frequently become contaminated with microbial and tissue residues following use. Due to these challenges, surgical power tools can be considered the weak link in the decontamination cycle and present a potential for iatrogenic transmission of infection. We aimed to review the existing literature on the decontamination of surgical power tools and associated iatrogenic transmission of infection. A search of the medical literature was performed using Ovid online using the following databases: Ovid Medline 1950-2014, Embase 1980-2014, and EBM Reviews Full Text--Cochrane DSR, ACP Journal Club, and Dare. Despite challenges to decontamination processes, reported episodes of iatrogenic infection directly linked to SPTs appear rare. This may reflect a true picture but more likely represents incomplete reporting, failure to investigate power tools, or lack of surveillance linking surgical site infections (SSIs) to power tools. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the complexities associated with the decontamination of different SPTs, and should review manufacturers' reprocessing instructions prior to purchase. More clarity is required in the manufacturers' validation of these reprocessing instructions. This particularly applies to the emerging surgical robot systems that present extreme challenges to decontamination between uses. Investigation of cross-infection incidents or SSI surveillance should include an element of assessment of SPT decontamination to further elucidate the contribution of SPTs to skin and soft tissue infections.


Galectin-3 Expression in Functioning and Silent ACTH-Producing Adenomas.
Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a beta galactoside-binding protein, has been implicated in a variety of biological functions including cell growth, differentiation, tumor cell adhesion, angiogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. We recently reported that Gal-3 was expressed in a subset of normal pituitary cells and tumors including PRL, ACTH, and in folliculo-stellate (FS) cells and tumors and that Gal-3 had an important regulatory role in pituitary cell proliferation. We further investigated the expression of Gal-3 protein in ACTH- and PRL-producing tumors and the expression of various galectin mRNAs by RT-PCR in pituitary adenomas and normal pituitary. Most silent ACTH subtypes 1 and 2 adenomas were negative or only focally positive for Gal-3 expression compared to functioning ACTH tumors from patients with Cushing's disease and Nelson's syndrome. In the normal pituitary, Gal-3 was expressed in less than 1% of the basophil-invading cells (ACTH cells present in the posterior pituitary) and in a subset of the anterior lobe ACTH-positive cells. RT-PCR analyses showed that many members of the galectin family including galectins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were expressed in normal pituitary and in functioning ACTH- and PRL-producing tumors. These results indicate that Gal-3 is associated with functioning ACTH and PRL tumors and is expressed infrequently in silent ACTH adenomas, suggesting that Gal-3 protein and/or gene is altered in non-functioning ACTH tumors. The use of ACTH and Gal-3 immunostaining should help in the diagnosis of silent ACTH adenomas.


Communicating an effective message.
The increasing pervasiveness of "business" concerns in a cost-controlled medical care environment underscores the need to target communications regarding the operations of consultation-liaison (C-L) programs to the fiscal concerns of hospital and health care program administrators. Descriptions of what C-L programs have to offer should anticipate the specific interests of those who manage inpatient and ambulatory care programs and be phrased in terminology understandable by those managers.


Ginsenoside Re Mitigates Photooxidative Stress-Mediated Photoreceptor Degeneration and Retinal Inflammation.
Loss of photoreceptors is the central pathology accountable for irreversible vision impairment in patients with photoreceptor degenerative disorders. Currently, mechanisms-based pharmacological therapies protecting photoreceptors from degenerative progression remain clinically unavailable. Photooxidative stress plays a pivotal role in initiating the degenerative cascade in photoreceptors. Meanwhile, photoreceptor degeneration interacts closely with neurotoxic inflammatory responses primarily mediated by aberrantly activated microglia in the retina. Thus, therapies with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been actively investigated for their pharmacological value in controlling photoreceptor degeneration. In the current study, we examined the pharmacological potentials of ginsenoside Re (Re), a naturally occurring antioxidant with anti-inflammatory activities, in photooxidative stress-mediated photoreceptor degeneration. Our results demonstrate that Re attenuates photooxidative stress and associated lipid peroxidation in the retina. Furthermore, Re treatment preserves the morphological and functional integrity of the retina, counteracts photooxidative stress-induced perturbation of the retinal gene expression profiles and mitigates photoreceptor degeneration-associated neuroinflammatory responses and microglia activation in the retina. Lastly, Re partially antagonizes the deleterious effects of photooxidative stress on müller cells, verifying its beneficial impact on retina homeostasis. In conclusion, the work here provides experimental evidence supporting novel pharmacological implications of Re in attenuating photooxidative stress-mediated photoreceptor degeneration and ensuing neuroinflammation.


Diversity in Academic Laryngology: An Evaluation of Academic Advancement and Research Productivity.
Diversity within the medical profession with respect to sex and racial minorities has been shown to have a positive effect on health and healthcare. Characterization of a field is key to evaluating trends and the advancement of diversity in an otolaryngology subspecialty. Observational study. A comprehensive list of all the academic laryngologists was compiled from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited otolaryngology residency programs in 2020. The last 20 past presidents of the American Laryngological Association (ALA) and American Broncho-Esophogological Association (ABEA) were analyzed. Academic rank and years in practice were determined from departmental websites, with online search tools used as secondary resources. The h-index was utilized as a measure of research productivity. Regression analysis was performed to analyze these variables. There are 184 academic laryngologists in the 124 programs. The majority of the population is Caucasian 76.6% (141/184), followed by Asian 16.3% (30/184), African American 4.34% (8/184), and then Hispanic 1% (2/184). There are 47 full professors with 83% Caucasian, 14.1% Asian, and 2.1% African American and 91.5% male and only 8.5% female. Past ALA presidents were 90% male and for the ABEA 75% male. H-index revealed a statistically significant difference between Caucasian and African American colleagues [P value (<.0005)]. Minorities are disproportionately underrepresented in laryngology. Women are less likely to be in leadership roles in laryngology and become full professors. Laryngology lags behind other surgical specialties in the representation of minorities and women. Continued efforts should be made to increase diversity in the field of laryngology, especially in regard to underrepresented minorities. NA Laryngoscope, 132:1245-1250, 2022.


Effects of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the survival and reproduction of Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818) and their elimination from this benthic aquatic snail.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3) coated with meso-2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) stabilizer on the survival and reproduction of the aquatic snail Biomphalaria glabrata. The cumulative means of egg masses and eggs per individual in the control group at the end of 4 weeks were 18.8 and 326.7, respectively. These values at the concentration of 1 mg/L were 17.2 and 291.6; at 10 mg/L, they were 19.6 and 334.4 ,and at 100 mg/L, they were 14.3 and 311.1. Results showed no significant differences between the tested and the control groups at the level of p < 0.05. Exposure of embryos for 10 days showed absence of mortality, malformation, or hatching delay. X-ray microtomography confirmed the presence of nanoparticles in exposed individuals and showed the complete elimination of the nanoparticles after 30 days in clean water. In the studied conditions, it is clear that γ-Fe2O3 coated with stabilizing DMSA did not alter the fecundity or the fertility of the snail B. glabrata after 4 weeks of exposure, and accumulation was not present after 30 days in clean water.


Comparison of ethanol withdrawal syndrome in humans and rats.
Physical dependence upon ehtanol induced in rats is in several respects similar to the tremulous and convulsive components of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome observed in man. These include short duration of the induction period, pattern of continuous ethanol consumption, rectilinear clearance of blood ethanol during prodromal detoxication phase and the onset of the ethanol dependence phase at relatively high blood ethanol concentrations. During the ethanol withdrawal period two phases are distinguished in both species: (1) Prodromal detoxication phase characterized by a spectrum of signs and responses of ethanol intoxication. (2) Ethanol dependence phase characterized by a spectrum of withdrawal signs and reactions. The successive onset and disappearance of the two sets of signs and reactions during both phases of the ethanol withdrawal period constitute a continuum of effects and responses and represent a reversal in the CNS function from the extremes of ethanol depression to the extremes of hyperexcitability.


The innovation and practice of "Hand as Foot teaching method" in the teaching of motion system injury course.
In view of the teaching characteristics of the motion system injury course and the actual clinical teaching. The orthopedic teaching team of the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University took the lead in proposing the "Hand as Foot teaching method" and applied it in clinical teaching. Through this teaching method, students' understanding and memorization of key and difficult issues in motion system injuries are strengthened, teacher-student interaction is increased, and teaching effect is improved. METHODS: The "Hand as Foot teaching method" was used to teach the key and difficult problems to the clinical undergraduate medical students of Inner Mongolia Medical University, and the teaching process was complemented by PPT + model teaching aids. The "Hand as Foot teaching method" is generally welcomed by medical students and has achieved good teacher-student interaction, and is effective in understanding and remembering difficult knowledge points. The "Hand as Foot teaching method" is a novel teaching method that can be applied in clinical teaching. This image teaching method improves the teaching effect, enlivens the classroom atmosphere, and enhances the interaction between teachers and students, which makes students' learning process from abstract to intuitive, from simple rote memorization to comprehension and memory, and achieves satisfactory results. It can complement each other with the traditional teaching method of pure PPT + teaching aids model, and to some extent it is worth promoting in the motion system injury courses.


Aorto-cardiac fistula etiology, presentation, and management: A systematic review.
Aorto-cardiac fistulae are a rare but increasingly reported entity, and data are scarce. The authors performed a systematic review of ACFs to characterize the underlying etiology, clinical presentation, and compare outcomes of treatment strategies. 3,733 publications were identified in the search. Of those, 292 studies including 300 patients were included. Etiology of ACFs was 38% iatrogenic, 25% infectious, 14% traumatic, and 15% due to other causes. Most patients (74%) presented with heart failure. Common locations were aortic-right atrium (37%), and aortic-pulmonary artery (25%). The majority of patients (71%) were treated surgically, while 13% were treated percutaneously, and 16% were treated conservatively. Patients who were managed conservatively had a higher mortality than those treated with invasive closure (53% vs. 12% vs. 3%, p = <0.00001). This systematic review sheds light on this highly morbid condition. Once recognized, fistula closure appears to be superior to conservative management.


Early Clones Expand in Richter Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Subclones that drive Richter transformation (RT) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia are seeded early.


Phylogeny of tremellomycetous yeasts and related dimorphic and filamentous basidiomycetes reconstructed from multiple gene sequence analyses.
The Tremellomycetes (Basidiomycota) contains a large number of unicellular and dimorphic fungi with stable free-living unicellular states in their life cycles. These fungi have been conventionally classified as basidiomycetous yeasts based on physiological and biochemical characteristics. Many currently recognised genera of these yeasts are mainly defined based on phenotypical characters and are highly polyphyletic. Here we reconstructed the phylogeny of the majority of described anamorphic and teleomorphic tremellomycetous yeasts using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and neighbour-joining analyses based on the sequences of seven genes, including three rRNA genes, namely the small subunit of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rDNA, and the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS 1 and 2) of rDNA including 5.8S rDNA; and four protein-coding genes, namely the two subunits of the RNA polymerase II (RPB1 and RPB2), the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) and the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b (CYTB). With the consideration of morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characters and the congruence of phylogenies inferred from analyses using different algorithms based on different data sets consisting of the combined seven genes, the three rRNA genes, and the individual protein-coding genes, five major lineages corresponding to the orders Cystofilobasidiales, Filobasidiales, Holtermanniales, Tremellales, and Trichosporonales were resolved. A total of 45 strongly supported monophyletic clades with multiple species and 23 single species clades were recognised. This phylogenetic framework will be the basis for the proposal of an updated taxonomic system of tremellomycetous yeasts that will be compatible with the current taxonomic system of filamentous basidiomycetes accommodating the 'one fungus, one name' principle.


Global epigenomic analysis of KSHV-infected primary effusion lymphoma identifies functional MYC superenhancers and enhancer RNAs.
Enhancers play indispensable roles in cell proliferation and survival through spatiotemporally regulating gene transcription. Active enhancers and superenhancers often produce noncoding enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) that precisely control RNA polymerase II activity. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human oncogenic gamma-2 herpesvirus that causes Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). It is well characterized that KSHV utilizes host epigenetic machineries to control the switch between two lifecycles, latency and lytic replication. However, how KSHV impacts host epigenome at different stages of viral lifecycle is not well understood. Using global run-on sequencing (GRO-seq) and chromatin-immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we profiled the dynamics of host transcriptional regulatory elements during latency and lytic replication of KSHV-infected PEL cells. This revealed that a number of critical host genes for KSHV latency, including MYC proto-oncogene, were under the control of superenhancers whose activities were globally repressed upon viral reactivation. The eRNA-expressing MYC superenhancers were located downstream of the MYC gene in KSHV-infected PELs and played a key role in MYC expression. RNAi-mediated depletion or dCas9-KRAB CRISPR inhibition of eRNA expression significantly reduced MYC mRNA level in PELs, as did the treatment of an epigenomic drug that globally blocks superenhancer function. Finally, while cellular IRF4 acted upon eRNA expression and superenhancer function for MYC expression during latency, KSHV viral IRF4 repressed cellular IRF4 expression, decreasing MYC expression and thereby, facilitating lytic replication. These results indicate that KSHV acts as an epigenomic driver that modifies host epigenomic status upon reactivation by effectively regulating host enhancer function.


Monitoring the end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane for preventing awareness during anesthesia (MEETS-PANDA): A prospective clinical trial.
It was hypothesized that monitoring end-tidal sevoflurane (ETS) during endoscopic surgery could reduce the incidence of intraoperative awareness in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Herein, the incidence of intraoperative awareness and other correlative factors was recorded and compared. Two thousand five hundred ASA I-III patients aged 18-80 years who underwent general anesthesia were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 1250): routine care group (R) and ETS concentration group (E). ETS concentration was monitored in group E and maintained at a sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of 0.7-1.3; group R was monitored using routine care, and the sevoflurane was maintained. Patients were assessed for intraoperative awareness with a questionnaire on their explicit memory 24-48 h after surgery. A total of 2532 patients were selected, and 86 patients were excluded. As for the groups, 1219 patients were assigned to group E, and 1227 patients were assigned to group R. As for intraoperative awareness, group E had 2 patients, and group R had 14. Compared with group R, the incidence of intraoperative awareness in group E was significantly lower (p = 0.003); the time-averaged ETS concentration and sevoflurane dosage were lower in group E (p < 0.05); and no significant changes were found in tracheal extubation time, intravenous general anesthetic dosage, or postoperative complication incidence in either group (p > 0.05). The incidence of intraoperative awareness was higher in women than men in group R (p < 0.05). Using ETS-guided anesthesia and maintaining the sevoflurane concentration (0.7-1.3 MAC) can decrease the incidence of patient awareness during endoscopic surgery.


Differential effects of verapamil and diltiazem on regional blood flow and function in the canine normal and ischemic myocardium.
We studied the effects of verapamil and diltiazem on regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF, tracer microspheres) and function during ischemia in 18 open-chest dogs. Instrumentation included left ventricular and aortic pressure transducers, an electromagnetic flowmeter, and a hydraulic occluder on the circumflex coronary artery; sonocardiometry measured shortening of severely ischemic, moderately ischemic, and nonischemic subendocardial segments (% delta L). Measurements were made in the control state, 10 min after subtotal coronary stenosis, and 10 min later in control (n = 6, group I), verapamil-treated (0.3 mg/kg i.v.) (n = 6, group II), and diltiazem-treated (0.3 mg/kg i.v.) (n = 6, group III) dogs. The effects of coronary stenosis were similar in all three groups and after 20 min of coronary stenosis there were no further modifications of any parameter in group I. Verapamil and diltiazem produced similar reductions in heart rate and mean aortic pressure. In severely ischemic zones, RMBF was similarly decreased [0.22 +/- 0.03-0.12 +/- 0.04 ml/min/g, p less than 0.01 (verapamil) and 0.21 +/- 0.02-0.12 +/- 0.02 ml/min/g, p less than 0.01 (diltiazem)] without any change in function. In moderately ischemic zones, verapamil did not modify RMBF and function while diltiazem increased RMBF from 0.43 +/- 0.05 to 0.96 +/- 0.18 ml/min/g (p less than 0.05) and % delta L from 3.5 +/- 1.2 to 6.2 +/- 1.2 (p less than 0.05). In nonischemic zones, although RMBF was increased by 42.9 +/- 13.6% (p less than 0.05) with verapamil and 156.9 +/- 33.8% (p less than 0.01) with diltiazem, % delta L remained unchanged. Thus, (a) diltiazem and verapamil, although increasing flow, do not affect function in nonischemic areas; (b) diltiazem and verapamil exert almost no effects either on flow or on function in severely ischemic areas; and (c) while verapamil shows no effects on flow and function, diltiazem increases both parameters in marginal areas demonstrating its ability to preserve the viability of this zone.


USP20 Promotes Cellular Antiviral Responses via Deconjugating K48-Linked Ubiquitination of MITA.
Mediator of IRF3 activation ([MITA] also known as STING) is a direct sensor of cyclic dinucleotide and critically mediates cytoplasmic DNA--triggered innate immune signaling. The activity of MITA is extensively regulated by ubiquitination and deubiquitination. In this study, we report that USP20 interacts with and removes K48-linked ubiquitin chains from MITA after HSV-1 infection, thereby stabilizing MITA and promoting cellular antiviral responses. Deletion of USP20 accelerates HSV-1-induced degradation of MITA and impairs phosphorylation of IRF3 and IκBα as well as subsequent induction of type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines after HSV-1 infection or cytoplasmic DNA challenge. Consistently, Usp20 -/- mice produce decreased type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines, exhibit increased susceptibility to lethal HSV-1 infection, and aggravated HSV-1 replication compared with Usp20 +/+ mice. In addition, complement of MITA into Usp20 -/- cells fully restores HSV-1-triggered signaling and inhibits HSV-1 infection. These findings suggest a crucial role of USP20 in maintaining the stability of MITA and promoting innate antiviral signaling.


Cardiac Nerve Growth Factor Overexpression Induces Bone Marrow-derived Progenitor Cells Mobilization and Homing to the Infarcted Heart.
Reparative response by bone marrow (BM)-derived progenitor cells (PCs) to ischemia is a multistep process that comprises the detachment from the BM endosteal niche through activation of osteoclasts and proteolytic enzymes (such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)), mobilization to the circulation, and homing to the injured tissue. We previously showed that intramyocardial nerve growth factor gene transfer (NGF-GT) promotes cardiac repair following myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. Here, we investigate the impact of cardiac NGF-GT on postinfarction BM-derived PCs mobilization and homing at different time points after adenovirus-mediated NGF-GT in mice. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry newly illustrate the temporal profile of osteoclast and activation of MMP9, PCs expansion in the BM, and liberation/homing to the injured myocardium. NGF-GT amplified these responses and increased the BM levels of active osteoclasts and MMP9, which were not observed in MMP9-deficient mice. Taken together, our results suggest a novel role for NGF in BM-derived PCs mobilization/homing following MI.


Green synthesis and characterization of hybrid collagen-cellulose-albumin biofibers from skin waste.
Collagen (C) and cellulose are prominent biopolymers from the animal and plant kingdom and widely used in bioengineering. Albumin, on the other hand, is the most abundant plasma protein present in mammalian blood. In this work, collagen extracted from animal skin waste was blended with hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and bovine serum albumin (A) and wet-spun to form hybrid biodegradable C/HEC/A fibers. They were further cross-linked with glutaraldehyde vapors and analyzed. X-ray diffraction and infra-red spectroscopic studies of the hybrid fibers display peaks corresponding to collagen, cellulose, and albumin. Incorporation of cellulose into the biopolymeric matrix leads to a reasonable improvement in mechanical, swelling, and thermal properties of hybrid fibers. Addition of albumin improves the regularity of fiber surface without altering the porosity as observed under a microscope. Hence, the formed hybrid biofibers can be potentially used as a suture material as well as for different biomedical applications due to their improved properties.


Creating lip seal by maxillo-facial osteotomies. A retrospective cephalometric study.
Lateral head films taken immediately pre-operatively and at least 6 months postoperatively were analysed in 99 selected orthognathic surgery patients to study soft and hard tissue ratios in relation to lip seal creation. The patients were grouped according to the osseous correction carried out. In maxillary advancement patients, the overall position of stomion superius was difficult to predict when important horizontal and vertical movements had been made. The vertical movement of stomion superius was 30% of that seen at the anterior palate point, and 25% of that at the upper incisal point, when the main vector of maxillary repositioning was vertical (either intrusion or extrusion). There was a weak linear correlation between mandibular advancement at pogonion and vertical changes at stomion inferius. The correlation increased if vertical movement at menton and mentolabial angle were added as independent variables. Good linear correlations between vertical changes at stomion inferius and vertical changes at lower incisal point and menton were observed in mandibular set-back surgery. In mandibular autorotation, the best linear correlation with single predictors was found between vertical changes at stomion inferius and those at menton (about 80% + 1 mm upward movement), and vertical changes at stomion inferius and horizontal changes at lower incisal point. Vertical changes at stomion inferius were mainly determined by vertical changes at menton in genioplasties, the change at stomion inferius being 40% of that at menton. The horizontal component at pogonion had almost no influence. In combined genioplasty and Le Fort I procedures, the vertical changes at stomion inferius were 50% of those at menton + 1 mm upward movement, this difference being due to mandibular autorotation.


Rapid response team activation after major hip surgery: A case series.
We describe the demographic, preoperative, surgical, anesthetic, and postoperative characteristics of patients who required a rapid response team (RRT) activation after major hip surgery. We determined the characteristics and outcomes of patients that require RRTs after major hip surgery, and their associations with mortality. We retrospectively reviewed adult patients undergoing major hip surgery in a university teaching hospital. We included patients who had an RRT or "code blue" activation post-surgery and within the index hospital admission. We extracted patient, surgical, anesthetic, and postoperative variables. We explored differences between patients who survived their index hospital stay and those who died. 187 (9%) patients had a postoperative RRT activation. The median age was 84.0 (78-90) years; 125 (67%) were female, and most patients had significant comorbidities. The median Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 5.0 (4.0-7.0). Patients were frail (68%), ASA physical status ≥Class 3 (91%) and underwent emergency surgery (88%). Death after RRT activation occurred in 1 in 7 patients. Compared to patients who survived RRT activation, those who died had a higher mean CCI (6.5 [1.8] vs. 5.5 [2.1], P = 0.02), were more frail (80.1% vs. 56.5%, OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.2,8.1; P = 0.03), and received less intraoperative opioids (intravenous morphine equi-analgesia: median = 5.8 (0.1-8.20 vs. 11.7 (3.7-19.0) mg, P = 0.03). Mortality after RRT activation is associated with non-modifiable patients factors rather than surgical or anesthesia factors. Our findings provide opportunities for the implementation of strategies aimed at improving postoperative outcomes.


A live attenuated vaccine prevents replication and transmission of H7N9 highly pathogenic influenza viruses in mammals.
H7N9 influenza viruses emerged in 2013 and have caused severe disease and deaths in humans in China. Some H7N9 viruses circulating in chickens have mutated to highly pathogenic viruses that have caused several disease outbreaks in chickens. Studies have shown that when the H7N9 highly pathogenic viruses replicate in ferrets or humans, they easily acquire certain mammalian-adapting mutations and become highly lethal in mice and highly transmissible in ferrets by respiratory droplet, creating the potential for human-to-human transmission. Therefore, the development of effective control measures is a top priority for H7N9 pandemic preparedness. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a cold-adapted, live attenuated H7N9 vaccine (H7N9/AAca) against two heterologous H7N9 highly pathogenic viruses in mice and guinea pigs. Our results showed that one dose of the H7N9/AAca vaccine prevented disease and death in mice challenged with two different H7N9 highly pathogenic viruses, but did not prevent replication of the challenge viruses; after two doses of H7N9/AAca, the mice were completely protected from challenge with A/chicken/Hunan/S1220/2017(H7N9) virus, and very low viral titers were detected in mice challenged with H7N9 virus CK/SD008-PB2/627 K. More importantly, we found that one dose of H7N9/AAca could efficiently prevent transmission of CK/SD008-PB2/627 K in guinea pigs. Our study suggests that H7N9/AAca has the potential to be an effective H7N9 vaccine and should be evaluated in humans.


Effects of adiposity on postural control and cognition in older adults.
Understanding the impacts of increased adiposity on postural control and cognitive deficits in adults is critical for health practitioners in recommending or prescribing effective weight loss regimens. Despite prior work in this area, the knowledge of increased adiposity impacts on postural control and cognitive deficits in older adults (OAs) is still limited. The purposes of the current study were: (a) to assess the relationship between postural measures and adiposity measures by using regression model analyses and, (b) to examine the impacts of increased adiposity and age on cognitive performance. A total of thirty (30) individuals aged 60+ years participated in the study. Participants were classified into three groups based upon their BMI scores at the onset of the study. The normal weight (NW) (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), the overweight (OW) (BMI: 25-29.9 kg/m2), and the obese (OB) groups (BMI: 30-40 kg/m2) each had five females and five males. Participants were required to perform two test sessions: (1) anthropometry assessment and body composition scanning; and (2) evaluation of plantar tactile function, postural control, and cognitive function. Overall, our findings indicate that increased adiposity in OAs is associated with declines in both cognitive function and postural control. Our data also indicate that measures such as BMI and abdominal fat mass amounts/ratios offer the best insight to the impact of adiposity on cognitive function and postural control measures. However, further work is still needed to clarify the mechanistic links between adiposity and cognitive-postural deficits.


New Insights on the Genetics of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma and Its Clinical Implications.
Pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that arise from chromaffin cells. PHEOs arise from the adrenal medulla, whereas PGLs arise from the neural crest localized outside the adrenal gland. Approximately 40% of all cases of PPGLs (pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas) are associated with germline mutations and 30-40% display somatic driver mutations. The mutations associated with PPGLs can be classified into three groups. The pseudohypoxic group or cluster I includes the following genes: SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, SDHAF2, FH, VHL, IDH1/2, MHD2, EGLN1/2 and HIF2/EPAS; the kinase group or cluster II includes RET, NF1, TMEM127, MAX and HRAS; and the Wnt signaling group or cluster III includes CSDE1 and MAML3. Underlying mutations can help understand the clinical presentation, overall prognosis and surveillance follow-up. Here we are discussing the new genetic insights of PPGLs.


Possible Sources of Listeria monocytogenes Contamination of Fresh-cut Apples and Antimicrobial Interventions During Antibrowning Treatments: A Review.
Fresh-cut apples, being rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, have emerged as popular snacks in restaurants, at home, and in school lunch programs, partially due to freshness, convenience, and portion size availability. Two major challenges in processing fresh-cut apples are the browning of cut surfaces and contamination with human pathogens. Regarding human pathogens, contamination by Listeria monocytogenes is a major concern, as evidenced by two outbreaks of whole apples and numerous recalls of fresh-cut apples. Antibrowning agents currently used by the industry have little to no antimicrobial properties. The present review discusses the possible origins of L. monocytogenes in fresh-cut apples, including contaminated whole apples, and contamination via the processing environment and the equipment in fresh-cut facilities. Treatment with antibrowning solutions could possibly be an opportunity for Listeria contamination and represents the last chance to inactivate pathogens. The discussion is focused on the antibrowning treatments where formulations and coatings with antibrowning and antimicrobial properties have been developed and evaluated against Listeria and other microorganisms. In addition, several research needs and considerations are discussed to further reduce the chance of pathogen contamination on fresh-cut apples.


Use of intravenous polymyxin B during continuous venovenous hemodialysis.
Described here is the case of a 23-year-old male with Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis and acute renal failure requiring continuous venovenous hemodialysis treated successfully with intravenous polymyxin B. The drug was administered as a loading dose of 2.5 mg/kg, followed by 2 doses of 1 mg/kg on days 4 and 8, then 0.8 mg/kg daily to complete a 24-day course. A discussion of dosing recommendations for polymyxins in dialysis is presented.


Current priorities for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Australia.
The sexual health needs of teenagers differ from those of adults. Young sexually active teenagers are at high risk of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection and its complications. Teenage pregnancy continues to be a problem in Australia. Current preventive strategies and clinical services in this domain of adolescent health in Australia are deficient. Australia can learn from the innovative and effective strategies developed in various countries for preventing high-risk sexual behaviours in teenagers.


Neuronal versus endothelial origin of vasoactive acetylcholine in pial vessels.
Functional pial vessels denuded in situ of the endothelial cell layer exhibit a markedly decreased choline uptake capacity (-53%) but integrally preserved choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and acetylcholine (ACh) release mechanisms. These studies demonstrate that endothelial cells possess a specific choline uptake system. However, the unimpaired ChAT activity in denuded pial vessels implies that the endothelial pool of choline is not significantly metabolized into ACh. In spite of possible differences in the mechanisms that govern release processes in endothelial and neuronal elements, taken together the findings of the present study suggest that the ACh released following depolarization of pial blood vessels originates predominantly from cholinergic perivascular nerve terminals.


The effect of care planning on quality of patient care.
Nursing care plans can be seen as a means of ensuring holistic care. This study investigated the view of nurses and support workers on the care plan as a tool to enhance quality care and how their views were reflected in practice.


The multifactorial role of vanillin in amelioration of aluminium chloride and D-galactose induced Alzheimer's disease in mice.
The onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are influenced by a variety of factors. These include oxidative stress, overexpression of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), depletion of acetylcholine levels, increased beta-secretase mediated conversion of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) to Amyloid Beta (Abeta), accumulation of Abeta oligomers, decrease in Brain Derived Neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and accelerated neuronal apoptosis due to elevated levels of caspase-3. The currently available therapeutic approaches are inadequate in affecting these pathological processes except maybe the overexpression of AChE (AChE inhibitors like donepezil, rivastigmine). There is an urgent need to develop disease modifying pharmacotherapeutic interventions which have appreciable safety and cost effectiveness. From previously reported in vitro studies and a preliminary assessment of neuroprotective effect in scopolamine induced dementia-like cognitive impairment in mice, vanillin has been used as the compound of interest in the present study. Vanillin, a phytoconstituent, has been used in humans, safely, in the form of a flavouring agent for various foods, beverages, and cosmetics. Owing to its chemical nature i.e. being a phenolic aldehyde, it has an additional antioxidant property that is congruent to the desirable characteristics that are sought in a suitable novel anti-AD agent. In our study, vanillin proved to have a nootropic effect in healthy Swiss albino mice as well as an ameliorative effect in aluminium chloride and D-galactose induced AD model in mice. Apart from tackling oxidative stress, vanillin was found to reduce the levels of AChE, beta secretase, caspase-3, enhance degradation of Abeta plaques and elevate the levels of BDNF, in cortical and hippocampal regions. Vanillin is a promising candidate for being incorporated into the search for safe and effective anti-AD molecules. However, further research might be needed to warrant its application clinically.


The neurotrophic effects of different human dental mesenchymal stem cells.
The current gold standard treatment for peripheral nerve injury is nerve grafting but this has disadvantages such as donor site morbidity. New techniques focus on replacing these grafts with nerve conduits enhanced with growth factors and/or various cell types such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Dental-MSCs (D-MSCs) including stem cells obtained from apical papilla (SCAP), dental pulp stem cells (DPSC), and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) are potential sources of MSCs for nerve repair. Here we present the characterization of various D-MSCs from the same human donors for peripheral nerve regeneration. SCAP, DPSC and PDLSC expressed BDNF, GDNF, NGF, NTF3, ANGPT1 and VEGFA growth factor transcripts. Conditioned media from D-MSCs enhanced neurite outgrowth in an in vitro assay. Application of neutralizing antibodies showed that brain derived neurotrophic factor plays an important mechanistic role by which the D-MSCs stimulate neurite outgrowth. SCAP, DPSC and PDLSC were used to treat a 10 mm nerve gap defect in a rat sciatic nerve injury model. All the stem cell types significantly enhanced axon regeneration after two weeks and showed neuroprotective effects on the dorsal root ganglia neurons. Overall the results suggested SCAP to be the optimal dental stem cell type for peripheral nerve repair.


Attitudes towards the Potential Use of Aversive Geofencing Devices to Manage Wild Elephant Movement.
Aversive geofencing devices (AGDs) or animal-borne satellite-linked shock collars might become a useful tool to mitigate human-elephant conflict (HEC). AGDs have the potential to condition problem elephants to avoid human-dominated landscapes by associating mild electric shocks with preceding audio warnings given as they approach virtual boundaries. We assessed the opinions of different stakeholders (experts, farmers, and others who have and have not experienced HEC; n = 611) on the potential use of AGDs on Asian elephants. Most respondents expressed positive opinions on the potential effectiveness of AGDs in managing elephant movement (62.2%). About 62.8% respondents also provided positive responses for the acceptability of AGDs if pilot studies with captive elephants have been successful in managing their movements. Some respondents perceived AGDs to be unacceptable because they are unethical or harmful and would be unsuccessful given wild elephants may respond differently to AGDs than captive elephants. Respondents identified acceptability, support and awareness of stakeholders, safety and wellbeing of elephants, logistical difficulties, durability and reliable functionality of AGDs, and uncertainties in elephants' responses to AGDs as potential challenges for implementing AGDs. These issues need attention when developing AGDs to increase support from stakeholders and to effectively reduce HEC incidents in the future.


Proliferative opisthomastigote forms in Herpetomonas roitmani (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae).
The flagellate Herpetomonas roitmani is a symbiont-bearing trypanosomatid that spontaneously differentiates from promastigote to para- and opisthomastigote forms when maintained in axenic culture medium. Thus, after cultivation for 72 h at 28 degrees C, 37% of the total number of cells are in the opisthomastigote form. In the present study, light microscopy observations of Giemsastained H. roitmani cells demonstrated that in early cultures (12 h at 28 degrees C) the percentage of opisthomastigotes was markedly high (about 98%). Furthermore, proliferative opisthomastigote forms (dividing cells with the kinetoplast posteriorly located relative to the nucleus) were frequently seen in these cultures. The latter observation was confirmed by analysis of routinely fixed parasites by transmission electron microscopy.


Outcomes using two tailored behavioral treatments for substance abuse in urban gay and bisexual men.
This project evaluated two behavioral therapies for substance abuse and concomitant sexual risk behaviors applied to primarily stimulant-abusing gay and bisexual men in Los Angeles. One hundred twenty-eight participants were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of a gay-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT, n = 64) or to a gay-specific social support therapy (GSST; n = 64), with follow-up evaluations at 17, 26, and 52 weeks after randomization. No overall statistically significant differences were observed between conditions along retention, substance use, or HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. All participants showed a minimum of twofold reductions in substance use and concomitant sexual risk behaviors from baseline to 52-week evaluations. Among methamphetamine-using participants, the GCBT condition showed significant effects over GSST for reducing and sustaining reductions of methamphetamine. Findings replicate prior work and indicate that GCBT produces reliable, significant, and sustained reductions in stimulant use and sexual risk behaviors, particularly in methamphetamine-abusing gay and bisexual men.


Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 Infection are Conflicting in Different Age Groups and Pregnant Women: A Literature Review.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a new type and rapidly spread viral pneumonia, is now producing an outbreak of pandemic proportions. The clinical features and laboratory results of different age groups are different due to the general susceptibility of the disease. The laboratory findings of COVID-19 in pregnant women are also conflicting. Para-clinical investigations including laboratory tests and radiologic findings play an important role in early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of COVID-19. The majority of previous reports on the COVID-19 laboratory results were based on data from the general population and limited information is available based on age difference and pregnancy status. This review aimed to describe the COVID-19 laboratory findings in neonates, children, adults, elderly and pregnant women altogether for the first time. The most attracting and reliable markers of COVID-19 in patients were: normal C-reactive protein (CRP) and very different and conflicting laboratory results regardless of clinical symptoms in neonates, normal or temporary elevated CRP, conflicting WBC count results and procalcitonin elevation in children, lymphopenia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in adult patients, lymphopenia and elevated CRP and LDH in the elderly people, leukocytosis and elevated neutrophil ratio in pregnant women.


Late rejection episodes more than 1 year after pediatric heart transplantation: risk factors and outcomes.
Little is known about late rejection episodes after pediatric heart transplantation. We determined the frequency of late rejection episodes (>1 year) after pediatric heart transplantation, defined risk factors for its occurrence, and evaluated outcome after late rejection. We analyzed data from 685 pediatric recipients (<18 years at transplantation) who underwent transplantation between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1997, at 18 centers in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS). Probability of freedom from late rejection was determined and risk factors for late rejection and for death after late rejection were sought using univariate and multivariate analyses. We followed 431 patients for >1 year (median follow-up, 32.9 months) of whom 106 (24.6%) experienced 1 or more late rejection episodes (total of 178 episodes, 27 with severe hemodynamic compromise). Probability of freedom from first late rejection was 73% at 3 years and 66% at 4 years after transplantation. Risk factors (multivariate analysis) for first late rejection were >1 episode of rejection in the first year (p = 0.009), recipient black race (p = 0.0002), and older age at transplantation (p = 0.0003). Only 4 of 325 (1.2%) children who survived beyond 1 year without late rejection died compared with 26 of 106 (24.6%) with late rejection (p < 0.0001). Nine of these 26 died within 1 month of the first late rejection episode, and 17 died subsequently: 5 of acute rejection, 3 of sudden unexplained deaths, 3 of documented coronary artery disease, and 6 of other causes. Severe hemodynamic compromise with late rejection was identified as a risk factor for death among children with 1 or more episodes of late rejection. Approximately 25% of pediatric recipients in the PHTS who survived beyond 1 year experienced late rejection episodes. Late rejection is associated with poor survival, especially when associated with hemodynamic compromise. Absence of late rejection episodes is associated with very low risk of death during medium-term follow-up after pediatric heart transplantation. Determining the risk factors for late rejection will help to identify a cohort of patients who may benefit from enhanced rejection surveillance and treatment.


SubsidyExplorer: A decision-support tool to improve our understanding of the ecological and economic effects of reforming fisheries subsidies.
The magnitude of subsidies provided to the fishing sector by governments worldwide is immense-an estimated $35.4 billion USD per year. The majority of these subsidies may be impeding efforts to sustainably manage fisheries by incentivizing overfishing and overcapacity. Recognizing the threat these subsidies pose, the World Trade Organization has set a goal of reaching an agreement that would end fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity, overfishing, and illegal fishing. However, negotiations have been hampered by uncertainty around the likely effects of reforming these subsidies. Here we present a novel method for translating a bioeconomic model into an interactive online decision support tool that draws upon real-world data on fisheries subsidies and industrial fishing activity so users can directly compare the relative ambition levels of different subsidy reform options.


Kinetics of changes in the crypts of the jejunal mucosa of dimethylhydrazine-treated rats.
When symmetrical 1,2 dimethylhydrazine was administered to rats by weekly s.c. injection, 37% of the animals had developed small intestinal carcinomas after 21-27 weeks. These lesions were largely localized to duodenum and upper jejunum. At the same time there was a diffuse crypt hyperplasia in the jejunum which affected all the treated animals, not just those with neoplasms. This marked hyperplasia was preceded by a modest sustained crypt elongation which was seen soon after DMH injections began. In these hyperplastic jejunal crypts the absolute size of the proliferative compartment was increased, but the growth fraction calculated from labelling studies appeared to fall, probably by reduction in relative size of the proliferating population within the proliferative compartment. No convincing alteration in actual cell-cycle time was observed in the abnormal crypts. There was a slight (25%) increase in cell-production rate in the abnormal crypts.


Loss of CD73 prevents accumulation of alternatively activated macrophages and the formation of prefibrotic macrophage clusters in irradiated lungs.
While radiotherapy is a mainstay for cancer therapy, pneumonitis and fibrosis constitute dose-limiting side effects of thorax and whole body irradiation. So far, the contribution of immune cells to disease progression is largely unknown. Here we studied the role of ecto-5'-nucelotidase (CD73)/adenosine-induced changes in the myeloid compartment in radiation-induced lung fibrosis. C57BL/6 wild-type or CD73-/- mice received a single dose of whole thorax irradiation (WTI, 15 Gy). Myeloid cells were characterized in flow cytometric, histologic, and immunohistochemical analyses as well as RNA analyses. WTI induced a pronounced reduction of alveolar macrophages in both strains that recovered within 6 wk. Fibrosis development in wild-type mice was associated with a time-dependent deposition of hyaluronic acid (HA) and increased expression of markers for alternative activation on alveolar macrophages. These include the antiinflammatory macrophage mannose receptor and arginase-1. Further, macrophages accumulated in organized clusters and expressed profibrotic mediators at ≥25 wk after irradiation (fibrotic phase). Irradiated CD73-/- mice showed an altered regulation of components of the HA system and no clusters of alternatively activated macrophages. We speculate that accumulation of alternatively activated macrophages in organized clusters represents the origins of fibrotic foci after WTI and is promoted by a cross-talk between HA, CD73/adenosine signaling, and other profibrotic mediators.-De Leve, S., Wirsdörfer, F., Cappuccini, F., Schütze, A., Meyer, A. V., Röck, K., Thompson, L. F., Fischer, J. W., Stuschke, M., Jendrossek, V. Loss of CD73 prevents accumulation of alternatively activated macrophages and the formation of prefibrotic macrophage clusters in irradiated lungs.


Fate of methyl methacrylate in rats.
Up to 88% of a single dose of methyl[14C]methacrylate in rats is expired as 14CO2 in 10 days (65% in 2 h), irrespective of the route of administration and of the specific labelling of the propylene residue of the molecule. The implications of this observation, and of the excretion of small amounts of [14C]methylmalonate, [14C]-succinate and probably of [14C]beta-hydroxyisobutyrate and 2-formylpropionate, and of the formation of [14C] normal, physiological metabolites that may be accounted for by anabolism both from 14CO2 and from [14C]acetate emergent from the citric acid cycle, are that the metabolic pathway concerned involves intermediary metabolism and relates to mitochondrial function. Present findings are discussed in relation to the imputations of a report of carcinogenic risk.


Arthroscopic findings in atraumatic shoulder instability.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the intra-articular pathology in patients with atraumatic shoulder instability who did not respond to conservative treatment. Prospective case series. Of 226 patients treated for shoulder instability over a 2-year-period, 43 patients (average age, 27.5 years; 26 men and 17 women) were classified as having atraumatic instability. None had responded to physiotherapy. The intra-articular pathology was documented during diagnostic arthroscopy before the definitive surgical procedure. Three types of lesions of the capsulolabral complex were defined: incomplete labral lesions, pathologic elongation of the capsule or "non-Bankart lesions" (type I), classic Bankart lesions (type II), and complex lesions of the labrum and capsule (type III). Type I was found in 19 patients (44.2%); type II lesions were seen in 13 (30.2%); and type III in 11 (25.6%) patients. Hill-Sachs lesions were found in 26 shoulders (60.5%). Chondral lesions of the glenoid were seen in 10 shoulders (23%); SLAP lesions in 5 (11.7%); and partial, articular-side defects of the supraspinatus tendon in 3 (6.9%) patients. Atraumatic onset of shoulder instability does not imply the absence of intra-articular lesions, at least in patients not showing a response to physiotherapy. Arthroscopy is helpful to diagnose the definite intra-articular pathology. Level IV.


Modeling insights into Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, transmission, and vaccine programs.
In response to the 2007-2009 Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine shortage in the United States, we developed a flexible model of Hib transmission and disease for optimizing Hib vaccine programs in diverse populations and situations. The model classifies population members by age, colonization/disease status, and antibody levels, with movement across categories defined by differential equations. We implemented the model for the United States as a whole, England and Wales, and the Alaska Native population. This model accurately simulated Hib incidence in all 3 populations, including the increased incidence in England/Wales beginning in 1999 and the change in Hib incidence in Alaska Natives after switching Hib vaccines in 1996. The model suggests that a vaccine shortage requiring deferral of the booster dose could last 3 years in the United States before loss of herd immunity would result in increasing rates of invasive Hib disease in children <5 years of age.


Synergism of lactate and succinate as metabolites utilized by Veillonella to inhibit the growth of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis in vitro.
The inhibition of salmonellae growth by a Veillonella bacterium isolated from the cecal contents of adult chickens was examined. The Veillonella isolate was grown on an agar medium supplemented with 175 mumol of lactate or succinate/ml. Either 0, 100, 125, 150, or 175 mumol of succinate/ml was added to the lactate medium; either 0, 100, 125, 150, or 175 mumol of lactate/ml was added to the succinate medium; and the pH of all media was adjusted to 6.0. Agar overlays of Veillonella cultures grown on the media were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium or S. enteritidis. The largest zones of inhibition of salmonellae growth were produced by Veillonella cultures grown on medium supplemented with 175 mumol/ml of both lactate and succinate. The widths of the zones of inhibition decreased as the concentration of lactate was reduced in the succinate medium and as the concentration of succinate was reduced in the lactate medium. Analyses of lactate broth and succinate broth inoculated with Veillonella indicated that inhibition of salmonellae growth on the agar media was related to the production of volatile fatty acids by Veillonella, the presence of residual succinate in the media, and the final pH of the media.


Immature wheat grain as a potential prebiotic ingredient in set-type yoghurts: impact on antioxidative, textural properties and survival of different probiotics.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of immature wheat grain (IWG) on the survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (LNCFM), Lactobacillus casei 431 (L431) and Lactobacillus acidophilus 20079 (L20079) in yoghurts under cold storage. Furthermore, the impact of IWG on physicochemical, textural and antioxidative properties of yoghurts was evaluated. Fortification of yoghurt with IWG positively affected LNCFM and L20079 counts during cold storage whereas no statistical improvement was observed in the viability of L431. The addition of IWG clearly supported the antioxidative activity and total phenolic content in yoghurt. No statistical differences were discovered regarding syneresis and water holding capacity in all probiotic applications. Although, enrichment with IWG enhanced the firmness of probiotic yoghurts, it simultaneously reduced the cohesiveness and viscosity index. This study demonstrated that IWG may be used as a food additive for enhancing probiotic LNCFM and L20079 survival and providing functional aspects in yoghurt.


Global stability of discrete virus dynamics models with humoural immunity and latency.
This paper studies the global stability of discrete-time viral infection models with humoural immunity. We consider both latently and actively infected cells. We study also a model with general production and clearance rates of all compartments as well as general incidence rate of infection. We use nonstandard finite difference method to discretize the continuous-time models. The positivity and boundedness of solutions of the discrete models are established. We establish by using Lyapunov method, the global stability of equilibria in terms of the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] and the humoural immune response activation number [Formula: see text]. The results signify that the infection dies out if [Formula: see text]. Moreover, the infection persists with inactive immune response if [Formula: see text] and with active immune response if [Formula: see text]. We illustrate our theoretical results by using numerical simulations.


Measurement of the carrying capacity of benthic habitats using a metabolic-rate based index.
Carrying capacities of grazed habitats are typically expressed as numbers or biomass of animals per unit area; however, such parameters are appropriate only when the body size of animals is constant because consumption and other metabolic-rate based parameters such as respiration and production are proportional to body mass raised by a power of ≈0.75 rather than 0 or 1. Habitat carrying levels are therefore better expressed in the form of an index of total community consumption by summing the body masses of individual animals after they have been scaled using a biomass exponent of ≈0.75. A parameter scaled in this way,P 20, varied in a predictable manner when calculated for the mobile epifaunal assemblages associated with rope fibre habitats placed at marine and estuarine sites;P 20 showed no significant difference between 17 shallow, clear-water sites worldwide, but declined consistently when photosynthesis was reduced.P 20 also did not vary significantly when calculated for the mobile epifaunal communities associated with fourAmphibolis antarctica seagrass habitats in Australia ([Formula: see text] = 100 µg ·g-1 · day-1), and reached but did not significantly exceed a ceiling of ≈280 μg · g-1 · day-1 forSargassum plants. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the production of shallow-water epifaunal communities of grazers is constrained by resource ceilings which can be quantified using metabolic-rate based indices. If this "production ceiling" hypothesis is correct then diffuse competition is generally more important than predation or environmental disturbance in restricting the growth of mobile epifaunal populations.


Commentary: Is There a Lack of Insight on the Anatomy Teaching Adaptations Made by "Cadaver-Free" Medical Schools in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted anatomy education as it ceased face-to-face anatomy teaching sessions and laboratory practicals. In the past 2 years, a growing body of literature has been dedicated to the adaptations made in the teaching of anatomy predominantly by medical schools who employ cadaveric dissection and prosection-based practicals to teach anatomy. Despite this, there is dearth of evidence in terms of the challenges that medical schools who do not use cadaveric dissection or prosected specimens to teach anatomy faced as well as the adaptations they made in response to the pandemic.


Neurocognitive rehabilitative approach effectiveness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon. A randomized controlled trial.
A proper knee rehabilitation after a surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) should start immediately after the injury and it should be focused on recovery of symmetry, proprioception, swelling reduction, gait training, hyperextension exercises, and even mental preparation. Aim of this study was to test a neurocognitive rehabilitative approach based on proprioceptive exercises and proper motor strategy choices, compared with conventional rehabilitation, assessing baropodometric, gait and clinical changes. Randomized controlled trial. Ambulatory University Centre. Fourteen subjects (27.9±5.2 years) underwent to a surgical reconstruction of ACL were divided into the two groups. The subjects were randomly assigned into a group who received a specific neurocognitive and perceptive rehabilitation treatment (TG), and into a control group who received the common physical therapy (CG). The following outcome measures were assessed pre-intervention, one, three and six months later: static and dynamic baropodometry, Visual Analog Scale for pain, Short Form SF-36, Range of Motion, trophism of thigh region, edema, Manual Muscle Test, magneto-resonance imaging assessment. Lower impairment was observed in TG in respect of CG in terms of load asymmetry during static baropodometry (from 7% to 3% vs. from 10% to 7%, interaction time per treatment: P=0.037), less wide steps during gait (effect size=1.05 vs. 0.38 for CG), swelling (treatment effect: P=0.012). A significantly higher improvement (from 35% to 100%) in terms of SF-36 was recorded only in TG for physical activity (P=0.027). CG showed a quite higher walking speed (treatment effect: P=0.049). Even if further studies are needed on larger samples, the obtained results showed that a neurocognitive rehabilitative approach could be an effective treatment after ACL-reconstruction: in TG we observed a more rapid load symmetrization, the reduction of step width and a more rapid resolution of edema. Posture, gait, clinical features and quality of life could benefit from a neurocognitive rehabilitation after ACL surgical reconstruction.


Bleeding events associated with novel anticoagulants: a case series.
Until lately warfarin was the only valuable oral anticoagulant in stroke reduction in high risk cases with non valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Although with warfarin the rate of stroke reduced notably, the major concern is the risk of serious bleeding and difficulty of establishing and maintaining the international normalised ratio (INR) within the therapeutic range. With the development of the novel anticoagulants we now have for the first time since the innovation of Warfarin feasible alternatives to it to decrease stroke rates in high risk patients with NVAF. To diminish adverse bleeding events with the novel anticoagulant proper selection of patients prior starting treatment is essential.


[Effect of heparin combined with aspirin upon intragastric administration on the state of the insulin system in animals with alloxan diabetes].
We studied the effect of heparin combined with aspirin on the development and course of experimental alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. This drug produced a stable hypoglycemic action when it was regularly introduced intragastrically into rats with developing or chronic diabetes.


Characterization of a prostanoid EP3-receptor in guinea-pig aorta: partial agonist action of the non-prostanoid ONO-AP-324.
Contraction of guinea-pig isolated aorta induced by the prostaglandin E analogue sulprostone (1-400 nM) has a lower maximum response (40%) than that of phenylephrine or U-46619 (TP-receptor agonist). A prostanoid EP3-receptor subtype is involved based on agonist potency ranking: equi-effective molar ratios (EMR) are sulprostone (EC50 approximately equal to 23 nM) 1.0, SC-46275 0.11, misoprostol 2.2, gemeprost 3.3, PGE2 5.4, 17-phenyl PGE2 6.0, GR-63799 8.9. GR-63799, which contains a bulky ester group, is relatively more potent on neuronal EP3 preparations than on the aorta. ONO-AP-324, a relative of the non-prostanoid prostacyclin mimetic series, behaves as an EP3 partial agonist on the aorta, inhibiting sulprostone responses but acting synergistically (in a similar manner to sulprostone) with phenylephrine; it may be a useful pharmacological tool for studying EP3-receptors. Sulprostone contractions are markedly suppressed in zero-Ca2+ bathing fluid containing either 2 mM EDTA or 50 microM EGTA, and by Cd2+ (500 microM), but are usually unaffected by nifedipine (0.3 microM) and verapamil (4.44 microM). Influx of Ca2+, but not through L-type Ca2+-channels, appears to be the major contractile mechanism. The guinea-pig aorta is a valuable addition to the vascular EP3 preparations available and may increase our knowledge of the mechanisms whereby Gi-coupled receptors mediate vasoconstriction (c.f. 5-HT1B/D- and alpha2-receptors). The possibility of certain EP3 agonists distinguishing EP3-receptor isoforms is discussed.


Binding of new cationic porphyrin-tetrapeptide conjugates to nucleoprotein complexes.
Ongoing research on DNA binding of cationic porphyrin derivatives and their conjugates is a subject of growing interest because of their possible DNA binding and demonstrated biological properties. In this study nucleoprotein binding of tri-cationic meso-tri(4-N-methylpyridyl)-mono-(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TMPCP) and tetrapeptides conjugated TMPCP (TMPCP-4P) and bi-cationic meso-5,10-bis(4-N-methylpyridyl)-15,20-di-(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (BMPCP-4P2) was investigated with comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The key observation is that tetrapeptide-conjugates of cationic porphyrins with two or three positive charges bind to encapsidated DNA in T7 phage nucleoprotein complex. The binding modes were analyzed by fluorescent energy transfer, fluorescent life time and CD measurements. Intercalative binding is most feasible when tricationic ligands complex with DNA, especially when it is in close connection with protein capsid. It was found that larger ligand BMPCP-4P2 binds externally to encapsidated T7 DNA, and complex externally as well as by intercalation when the DNA accommodate to relaxed B-conformation. In the case of TMPCP and TMPCP-4P the intercalation is the predominant binding form both in nucleoprotein (NP) and preheated complexes. Further, melting experiments revealed that bound porphyrins do not influence the capsid stability or protein-DNA interactions, but efficiently stabilize the double helical structure of DNA without respect to binding form. A good correlation was found between porphyrin/base pair ration and DNA strand separation temperature.


[Follow-up with refugees during patient therapeutic education sessions].
The reception of a growing refugee population has confronted the team at our health centre with the challenge of managing chronic pathologies in patients who are in precarious situations in terms of financial resources, residence status and social rights. The organisation of the follow-up of chronically ill migrants as soon as they enter the care pathway and the adaptation of therapeutic education techniques to this vulnerable population seem to be able to constitute a way of social integration through care.


Residual volume in the cuff of the endotracheal tube when the pilot balloon is torn off instead of deflated using a syringe.
In recent years, there has been a shift in airway management with the use of cuffed endotracheal tubes (ETT) in pediatric patients. While the use of a syringe to deflate the cuff is generally recommended, anecdotal observations suggest that some healthcare practitioners tear off the pilot balloon from ETT to deflate the cuff. This study was conducted to estimate the residual volume in the cuff when the pilot balloon is torn off for deflation. The in vitro study was conducted in three phases. In phases 1 and 2, various sized cuffed ETTs (3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mm) were inflated to achieve an intracuff pressure of 20-30 cmH2O in open atmosphere (phase 1) or inside a tube to simulate external pressure from the tracheal wall (phase 2). The pilot balloons were ripped off and the residual volume in the cuff was measured. The process was repeated using 10 ETTs of each of the 3 sizes. In phase 3, the same process was repeated using ten, size 7.0 cuffed ETTs inflated in an intubating mannequin. In phase 1, the percentage of the remaining residual volume was 60.7, 72.8, and 69.5% in 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mm ETTs respectively. Although the percentage of residual volume in phases 2 and 3 was less than phase 1, the residual volume in phases 2 and 3 still averaged approximately 60-70% of the volume required for cuff inflation. In one case, the pilot balloon tube was completely occluded and the residual volume in the cuff could not be expelled even with external pressure. Since significant percentage of the volume remained in the cuff after tearing off the pilot balloon tube with one being completely occluded, we would not recommend this method for cuff deflation.