[Myoglobin content and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase activity of different muscles of cattle and calf].
The heart, tongue, jowl, diaphragm and tail as well as shoulder, top round, the longissimus dorsi muscle of slaughtered cattle and the diaphragms of calf were examined with respect to their myoglobin content and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity. According to Gottesmann and Hamm [1] the product of these two values, the so-called MH value, can serve as the differentiation between the diaphragm and "normal cross striated skeletal muscles". Like the diaphragm, heart, tongue and jowl of cattle show higher MH values than those of "normal beef". Muscles in the tail have the same MH values as those of normal beef muscles. There are no essential differences in the MH values of various cross-striated muscle types of cows and calves. Muscles of cattle show a slightly higher myoglobin content, whereas the HADH activity is lower than in veal.


Wnt/beta-catenin signaling: turning the switch.
The regulation of many targets of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is thought to occur through a transcriptional switch that is achieved by beta-catenin binding to TCF transcription factors. Recent work indicates that beta-catenin's intrinsic affinity for TCF is not sufficient for the switch to occur.


[The formulation of semi-defined culture media to overcome antibiotic antagonism (author's transl)].
Semi-defined susceptibility media are a compromise between undefined and totally defined media. Antibiotic antagonism can still occur in semi-defined media. The undefined nutrients antagonizing sulphonamide/trimethroprim and the defined additives antagonizing other antibiotics. Methods used to overcome these problems are discussed.


Information-theoretical feature selection using data obtained by scanning electron microscopy coupled with and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer for the classification of glass traces.
In this work, a selection of the best features for multivariate forensic glass classification using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with an Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX) has been performed. This has been motivated by the fact that the databases available for forensic glass classification are sparse nowadays, and the acquisition of SEM-EDX data is both costly and time-consuming for forensic laboratories. The database used for this work consists of 278 glass objects for which 7 variables, based on their elemental compositions obtained with SEM-EDX, are available. Two categories are considered for the classification task, namely containers and car/building windows, both of them typical in forensic casework. A multivariate model is proposed for the computation of the likelihood ratios. The feature selection process is carried out by means of an exhaustive search, with an Empirical Cross-Entropy (ECE) objective function. The ECE metric takes into account not only the discriminating power of the model in use, but also its calibration, which indicates whether or not the likelihood ratios are interpretable in a probabilistic way. Thus, the proposed model is applied to all the 63 possible univariate, bivariate and trivariate combinations taken from the 7 variables in the database, and its performance is ranked by its ECE. Results show remarkable accuracy of the best variables selected following the proposed procedure for the task of classifying glass fragments into windows (from cars or buildings) or containers, obtaining high (almost perfect) discriminating power and good calibration. This allows the proposed models to be used in casework. We also present an in-depth analysis which reveals the benefits of the proposed ECE metric as an assessment tool for classification models based on likelihood ratios.


Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient without apparent immunosuppression.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a viral demyelinating disease due to the reactivation of the JC virus (JCV), which usually occurs in the context of immunosuppression in HIV infection, malignancy, or in patients on disease modifying therapy for autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease. Notably, there is growing recognition that PML can occur in patients with transient immune dysfunction. Here, we present a case of a 55-year-old man without history of immunosuppression or evidence of ICL who was diagnosed with PML on brain biopsy. We will discuss the potential etiologies of mild and transient immunosuppression that can lead to PML with non-apparent immunosuppression.


Hemidesmus indicus induces apoptosis as well as differentiation in a human promyelocytic leukemic cell line.
The decoction of the roots of Hemidesmus indicus is widely used in the Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of blood diseases, dyspepsia, loss of taste, dyspnea, cough, poison, menorrhagia, fever, and diarrhea. Poly-herbal preparations containing Hemidesmus are often used by traditional medical practitioners for the treatment of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytodifferentiative, cytostatic and cytotoxic potential of a decoction of Hemidesmus indicus's roots (0.31-3 mg/mL) on a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60). The decoction of Hemidesmus indicus was characterized by HPLC to quantify its main phytomarkers. Induction of apoptosis, cell-cycle analysis, levels of specific membrane differentiation markers were evaluated by flow cytometry. The analysis of cell differentiation by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity, adherence to the plastic substrate, α-napthyl acetate esterase activity and morphological analysis was performed through light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Starting from the concentration of 0.31 mg/ml, Hemidesmus indicus induced cytotoxicity and altered cell-cycle progression, through a block in the G0/G1 phase. The decoction caused differentiation of HL-60 cells as shown by NBT reducing activity, adherence to the plastic substrate, α-naphtyl acetate esterase activity, and increasing expression of CD14 and CD15. The morphological analysis by LM and TEM clearly showed the presence of granulocytes and macrophages after Hemidesmus indicus treatment. The cytodifferentiating, cytotoxic and cytostatic activities of Hemidesmus indicus offers a scientific basis for its use in traditional medicine. Its potent antileukemic activity provides a pre-clinical evidence for its traditional use in anticancer pharmacology. Further experiments are worthwhile to determine the in vivo anticancer potential of this plant decoction and its components.


Cervical screening in Western Kazakhstan: Liquid-based cytology 'Cell Scan' versus azur-eosin staining.
To assess the effectiveness of the current cervical cancer screening tools in Western Kazakhstan. Smears taken through (i) conventional cytology using azur-eosin staining and (ii) liquid-based cytology (LBC) 'Cell Scan' in the general female population and in women first diagnosed with cervical cancer were collected throughout the region. ROC-analysis with curve construction and weighted Cohen's κ calculation were applied. A total of 494 cytological pairs were collected, including 94 sets with histology findings. The conventional (azur-eosin staining) technique contained 0.2% non-informative material and LBC 'Cell Scan' had 5.9%. Area under the curve was 0.95 for the conventional technique and 0.92 for 'Cell Scan' (p > 0.05). The conventional smears showed κ 0.62, sensitivity 90.4% at specificity 90.0% for CIN2+, while LBC 'Cell Scan' smears showed κ 0.47, sensitivity 83.3% at specificity 92.5%. In this analysis it was not possible to prove that the LBC 'Cell Scan' technique was superior to its predecessor, azur-eosin staining. These findings highlight the need to modify the current screening programme according to updated international scientific evidence on effective screening design, such as the use of HPV DNA testing with Pap smear triage in women aged 30 or older. Further research, and a Health Technology Assessment, are necessary if we wish to establish a national standardized screening programme using the available technology appropriately.


Selenylation modification can enhance immune-enhancing activity of Chinese angelica polysaccharide.
On the basis of previous test that selenizing Chinese angelica polysaccharides (sCAPs) with stronger immune-enhancing activity in vitro were picked out, the immune-enhancing activity in vivo of three sCAPs, sCAP2, sCAP6 and sCAP8, at high and low dosage were compared taking the unmodified Chinese angelica polysaccharide (CAP) as control by determination of peripheral lymphocyte proliferation, serum antibody titer, IFN-γ and IL-6 contents in chicken vaccinated with Newcastle Disease vaccine. The results showed that three sCAPs at suitable dosage could significantly promote lymphocyte proliferation, enhance serum antibody titer, IFN-γ and IL-6 contents as compared with unmodified CAP, sCAP2 at low dosage possessed the strongest action. These results indicated that selenylation modification could significantly enhance the immune-enhancing activity of CAP, sCAP2 possessed the best efficacy and would be as a component drug of new-type immunoenhancer.


Geography alone cannot explain Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) population abundance and genetic diversity in the context of the center-periphery hypothesis.
The center-periphery hypothesis (CPH) states that the genetic diversity, genetic flow, and population abundance of a species are highest at the center of the species' geographic distribution. However, most CPH studies have focused on the geographic distance and have ignored ecological and historical effects. Studies using niche models to define the center and periphery of a distribution and the interactions among geographical, ecological, and historical gradients have rarely been done in the framework of the CPH, especially in biogeographical studies of animal species. Here, we examined the CPH for a widely distributed arthropod, Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae), in eastern China using three measurements: geographic distance to the center of the distribution (geography), ecological suitability based on current climate data (ecology), and historical climate data from the last glacial maximum (history). We found that the relative abundances of different populations were more strongly related to ecology than to geography and history. Genetic diversity within populations and genetic differentiation among populations based on mitochondrial marker were only significantly related to history. However, the genetic diversity and population differentiation based on microsatellites were significantly related to all three CPH measurements. Overall, population abundance and genetic pattern cannot be explained very well by geography alone. Our results show that ecological gradients explain the variation in population abundance better than geographic gradients and historical factors, and that current and historical factors strongly influence the spatial patterns of genetic variation. This study highlights the importance of examining more than just geography when assessing the CPH.


Essential role of T lymphocytes in the development of allergen-driven airway hyperresponsiveness.
Asthma now affects more than 15 million Americans and results in significant expenditure of resources. Despite intensive investigation into the pathogenesis of asthma, debate continues over which cells or which mediators are the primary contributors to the disease. Increasingly, asthma is recognized as a chronic, inflammatory disease. T lymphocytes, T-cell derived cytokines, and eosinophils play major roles in the initiation and perpetuation of the inflammatory response. Animal models have enabled us to link directly T cells with eosinophilic inflammation of the airways, providing new insights into pathogenesis and novel opportunities for therapeutic interventions.


Reduction of heart rate variability after colorectal resections.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a sensitive marker of altered sympathetic-parasympathetic function and is reduced in inflammation, illness, and trauma. The effect of major abdominal surgery on the course of HRV parameters is still an issue requiring further investigation. A prospective, observational study including 40 consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery under "fast-track" perioperative management. Time and frequency domain parameters of HRV were measured 1 day prior to operation and on days 1-5 postoperatively. General and surgical complications as well as the course of leucocytes and C-reactive protein (CRP) were documented and correlated to the HRV measurements. Time domain parameters of HRV showed a significant decrease compared to the preoperative values on postoperative day 1 and returned to baseline on day 2, demonstrating impaired autonomic regulation in the early postoperative period. No correlation to complications or course of leukocytes or CRP was significant in our study. Colorectal resections significantly influence the HRV course. The autonomic regulation is reduced in the early postoperative time and all parameters return to baseline until the third day.


Production of extracellular enzymes in continuous culture.
The production of bacterial enzymes in batch fermentations is compared with results obtained in continuous culture. When studying the production of alpha-amylase in Bacillus subtilis it was found that instability of the enzyme synthesis was due to nonhomogeneity of the population rather than to "the culture's history" (i.e. succession of several physiological states necessary for the enzyme production). The plasmid contained in the production clone was found to be the factor responsible for the alpha-amylase production. Predominance of the production clone or of the nonproduction one depends on the cultivation conditions used. As compared with batch cultivation the continuous production yields higher enzyme concentrations under optimal conditions and the fermentor productivity may be four to five times higher.


Impact of a transformation from flood to drip irrigation on groundwater recharge and nitrogen leaching under variable climatic conditions.
The sustainability of agriculture in the Mediterranean climate is challenged by high irrigation water demands and nitrogen fertilizer losses to the environment, causing significant pressure on groundwater resources and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Advanced irrigation technologies and improved fertilizer management have been promoted as key solutions to reduce the agricultural impact on aquatic systems. However, it remains unclear how different irrigation-fertilizer practices perform on the long-term under a highly variable climate, such as the Mediterranean one. Here, we conduct hydrological simulations over a fifty-year period to quantify the magnitude and dynamics of groundwater recharge and nitrogen leaching under five real-case irrigation-fertilizer practices observed in Valencia (eastern Spain). The Valencian Region is the largest citrus-producing region of Europe and current irrigation-fertilizer practices reflect the ongoing transformation of irrigation systems from flood to drip irrigation. Our simulations highlight three major implications of the irrigation transformation for groundwater resources. First, the transformation from flood to drip irrigation reduces the recharge fraction (19% vs. 16%) and especially the nitrogen leaching fraction (33% vs. 18%) on the long term. Second, the long-term performance of the two irrigation practices is subject to substantial inter-annual differences controlled by precipitation variability. The sensitivity of recharge and nitrogen leaching to annual meteorological conditions is stronger in drip irrigation, which eventually leads to a similar performance of flood and drip irrigation in wet years if fertilizer inputs are similar. Third, we identify a pronounced year-to-year nitrogen memory in the soil, whereby an enhanced (decreased) nitrogen leaching is observed after anomalously dry (wet) years, affecting the performance of irrigation-fertilizer practices. Overall, the study demonstrates the highly variable nature of the performance of irrigation-fertilizer practices, and the major findings can guide future efforts in designing sustainable water management strategies for agricultural areas with a Mediterranean climate.


The Freter model: a simple model of biofilm formation.
A simple, conceptual model of biofilm formation, due to R. Freter et al. (1983), is studied analytically and numerically in both CSTR and PFR. Two steady state regimes are identified, namely, the complete washout of the microbes from the reactor and the successful colonization of both the wall and bulk fluid. One of these is stable for any particular set of parameter values and sharp and explicit conditions are given for the stability of each. The effects of adding an anti-microbial agent to the CSTR are examined.


Five machine learning-based radiomics models for preoperative prediction of histological grade in hepatocellular carcinoma.
To compare the efficacy of radiomics models via five machine learning algorithms in predicting the histological grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before surgery and to develop the most stable model to classify high-risk HCC patients. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images of 175 HCC patients before surgery were analysed, and radiomics features were extracted from CECT images (including arterial and portal phases). Five machine learning models, including Bayes, random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM), were applied to establish the model. The stability of the five models was weighed by the relative standard deviation (RSD), and the lowest RSD value was chosen as the most stable model to predict the histological grade of HCC. The area under the curve (AUC) and Delong tests were devoted to assessing the predictive efficacy of the models. High-grade HCC accounted for 28.57% (50/175) of the 175 patients. The RSD value of AUC via the RF machine learning model was the lowest (2.3%), followed by Bayes (3.2%), KNN (6.4%), SVM (8.7%) and LR (31.3%). In addition, the RF model (AUC = 0.995) was better than the other four models in the training set (p < 0.05), as well as obtained good predictive performance in the test set (AUC = 0.837). Among the five machine learning models, the RF-based radiomics model was the most stable and performed excellently in identifying high histological grade of HCC.


Recent experience with intensive combination chemotherapy for treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Forty-eight children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who presented to the Oncology Department of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin over a 52 month period were treated using a schedule modified from the BFM-81 protocol. All patients achieved remission within four weeks. With a minimum follow up period of 18 months, actuarial disease free survival was 68% and overall survival 75%. Mean hospital stay throughout the treatment period was 31 days. While these results represent an improvement in overall survival compared with historical controls, careful selection of risk categories will be the major aim of future studies so that more appropriate treatment can be instituted for high risk patients while minimising therapy for low risk disease.


Exposure to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Affected Offspring.
There is growing awareness that prenatal adversity may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we examined the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and ASD risk at 7 years of age using the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a representative cohort of 13,192 children born in the UK from 2000 to 2001. We also sought to examine cytokine expression in the serum of women with pre-eclampsia, which is the most common HDP, and whether exposure of foetal neurons to this serum could change patterns of neuronal growth. HDP were reported by mothers 9 months post-delivery. ASD was parent reported at age seven, based on a doctor or health care professional's diagnosis. Weighted logistic regression was used for data analysis, adjusting for several potential confounders including maternal alcohol consumption, education, depression, age, and poverty status. Sensitivity analyses were performed excluding pre-term births, small for gestational age (SGA), and pre-pregnancy hypertension and depression. There was a significant association between HDP and a twofold increased risk of ASD (AOR = 2.10 [95% CI 1.20-3.70]). Excluding preterm births, SGA births, and offspring of women who had pre-pregnancy hypertension or over the age of 40 did not change the results materially. At the cellular level, exposure of foetal cortical neurons to 3% serum isolated from women with an established HDP increased neuronal growth and branching in vitro. These findings indicate that HDP exposure may increase the risk of ASD in the offspring.


Network pharmacology strategy for predicting the correlation of Systemic Scleroderma with Vitamin D deficiency.
The deficiency of Vitamin D (VD) is a common symptom of systemic scleroderma (SSc), but the correlation of VD deficiency and SSc is not completely clear. Therefore, a strategy based on network pharmacology was designed to explore the correlation of VD deficiency and SSc. After a series of network construction and analysis, 5 integrins were predicated as the kernel targets in the correlation of VD deficiency and SSc, including ITGA5, ITGA4, ITGB3, ITGB1 and ITGAV. The crucial pathways in which the kernel targets participated were mainly involved in the function of immune, vascular and internal organ. The regulation modules of crucial pathways were closely related to the biological processes in the pathological of SSc. Taken together, the analysis predicted that the deficiency of VD might affect the pathological of SSc through the mediation of these integrins. Therefore, targeted regulation of these integrins might be an effective therapy against SSc.


Neonatal T-cell maturation and homing receptor responses to Toll-like receptor ligands differ from those of adult naive T cells: relationship to prematurity.
Inflammation and infection are associated with premature birth and with activation of the fetal immune system. We hypothesized that exposure to microbial Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands plays an important role in neonatal T-cell maturation and that early exposure to microbial products may result in early T-cell maturation and a tendency for these matured effector cells to change their homing receptor patterns. Expression of the CD45RO marker was induced in term neonatal T cells after in vitro exposure to TLR ligands for 7 days. Interestingly, naive T cells from adult blood were unaffected by TLR ligand exposure. In addition, neonatal T cells had more cells with decreased expression of the α4β7 integrins and increased expression of CCR4 after in vitro exposure of TLR ligands-similar to the expression of these molecules in adult naive T cells. These findings are relevant for the understanding of neonatal T-cell maturation and may contribute to our understanding of multiorgan inflammatory complications of prematurity. Cord blood was obtained from term and preterm infants. Using flow cytometry, we identified a mature (CD45RO(+)) phenotype in preterm infant cord blood (CB) T cells that had decreased expression of the α4β7 integrins and increased expression of the C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) as compared with term infant CB.


Neurosecretases provide strategies to treat sporadic and familial Alzheimer disorders.
Recent discoveries on neurosecretases and their trafficking to release fibril-forming neuropeptides or other products, are of interest to pathology, cell signaling and drug discovery. Nomenclature arose from the use of amyloid precursor protein (APP) as a prototypic type-1 substrate leading to the isolation of beta-secretase (BACE), multimeric complexes (gamma-secretase, gamma-SC) for intramembranal cleavage, and attributing a new function to well-characterized metalloproteases of the ADAM family (alpha-secretase) for normal APP turnover. While purified alpha/beta-secretases facilitate drug discovery, gamma-SC presents greater challenges for characterization and mechanisms of catalysis. The review comments on links between mutation or polymorphisms in relation to enzyme mechanisms and disease. The association between lipoprotein receptor LRP11 variants and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) offers scope to integrate components of pre- and post-Golgi membranes, or brain clathrin-coated vesicles within pathways for trafficking as targets for intervention. The presence of APP and metabolites in brain clathrin-coated vesicles as significant cargo with lipoproteins and adaptors focuses attention as targets for therapeutic intervention. This overview emphasizes the importance to develop new therapies targeting neurosecretases to treat a major neurological disorder that has vast economic and social implications.


Interim analysis for randomized clinical trials: simulating the predictive distribution of the log-rank test statistic.
This paper presents an analog to stochastic curtailment, where the simulation of the remaining trial data from interim analysis is constructed using the existing data, rather than the design planning parameters. The nonparametric approach for the predictive distribution as proposed by Berliner and Hill (1988, Journal of the American Statistical Association 83, 772-779) forms the basis of the procedure. The methods are applied retrospectively to a clinical trial in childhood cancer.


Effect of a single daily dose treatment of fenofibrate on plasma lipoproteins in hyperlipoproteinaemia IIb.
The safety and efficacy of a single daily dose of fenofibrate (200 mg) have been evaluated in 12 Type IIB hyperlipidaemic patients in a three-month study. At the same time the pharmacokinetics was studied to check whether this new dosage schedule would give a therapeutic plasma levels of fenofibrate. At the single daily dose of 200 mg, fenofibrate was highly effective, very well tolerated, and it reached therapeutic plasma levels without accumulation. It appears that fenofibrate can usefully be employed at this dosage in hyperlipidaemia, especially since patient compliance is better when only one daily dose need be taken.


Photoactivated Release of Nitric Oxide and Antimicrobial Peptide Derivatives for Synergistic Therapy of Bacterial Skin Abscesses.
It is of paramount importance to develop novel approaches for combating bacterial resistance and the integration of different antibacterial mechanisms is essential to achieve synergistic bactericidal efficiency while reducing the associated side effects. Herein, amphiphilic antimicrobial copolymers derived from poly-l-lysine (PLL), black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) as near-infrared (NIR) sensitizer, and S-nitrosocysteamine (SNO) as nitric oxide (NO) donor, are assembled into PELI@BPQD-SNO nanoparticles through electrostatic interactions. Amphiphilic copolymers with isopentanyl grafts on PLL at a ratio of 50% achieve an optimal balance between antibacterial activity and hemolysis rate. Photothermal effect of BPQDs leads to NIR-responsive release of NO and the combination with amphiphilic copolymers mutually enhances long-term inhibition of bacterial growth. In an S. aureus-infected subcutaneous abscess model, the bactericidal rate of PELI@BPQD-SNO/NIR treatment reaches nearly 99.6%, which is significantly higher than those without NO release (38%) or amphiphilic copolymers (24%) or NIR irradiation (17%). PELI@BPQD-SNO/NIR treatment shows full recovery of infected wounds, efficient retardation of inflammatory cells, and reconstruction of blood vessels similar to those of healthy skin. Therefore, the electrostatic assembly demonstrates a promising strategy to deliver charged therapeutic agents and the photoactivated release of NO and amphiphilic copolymers achieves synergistic antibacterial efficacy without using any antibiotics.


Combined molecular MRI and immuno-spin-trapping for in vivo detection of free radicals in orthotopic mouse GL261 gliomas.
Free radicals play a major role in gliomas. By combining immuno-spin-trapping (IST) and molecular magnetic resonance imaging (mMRI), in vivo levels of free radicals were detected within mice bearing orthotopic GL261 gliomas. The nitrone spin trap DMPO (5,5-dimethyl pyrroline N-oxide) was administered prior to injection of an anti-DMPO probe (anti-DMPO antibody covalently bound to a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-Gd (gadolinium)-DTPA (diethylene triamine penta acetic acid)-biotin MRI contrast agent) to trap tumor-associated free radicals. mMRI detected the presence of anti-DMPO adducts by either a significant sustained increase (p<0.001) in MR signal intensity or a significant decrease (p<0.001) in T1 relaxation, measured as %T1 change. In vitro assessment of the anti-DMPO probe indicated a significant decrease (p<0.0001) in T1 relaxation in GL261 cells that were oxidatively stressed with hydrogen peroxide, compared to controls. The biotin moiety of the anti-DMPO probe was targeted with fluorescently-labeled streptavidin to locate the anti-DMPO probe in excised brain tissues. As a negative control a non-specific IgG antibody covalently bound to the albumin-Gd-DTPA-biotin construct was used. DMPO adducts were also confirmed in tumor tissue from animals administered DMPO, compared to non-tumor brain tissue. GL261 gliomas were found to have significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) protein adducts (p<0.001) and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) (p<0.05) compared to normal mouse brain tissue, indicating increased oxidized lipids and proteins, respectively. Co-localization of the anti-DMPO probe with either 3-NT or 4-hydroxynonenal was also observed. This is the first report regarding the detection of in vivo levels of free radicals from a glioma model.


Isotretinoin and timing of procedural interventions: Clinical implications and practical points.
For decades, the notion that elective surgeries and cutaneous procedures should be postponed for 6-12 months in patients on, or recently administered with isotretinoin, has been widely accepted. However, some recent studies showed the need for a change in this regard. Here, we reviewed the existing data in this regard through searching on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. All of the relevant papers published in English, until October, 2022, which we could access to their full-texts, were included. We found some recommendations made by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, ENT surgeons, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, and dentists regarding the correct timing of procedural interventions in patients on, or recently administered with isotretinoin and tried to summarize them to provide a practical guide for clinicians. Physicians may discuss with patients regarding the known risk of abnormal wound healing in the setting of systemic isotretinoin treatment and suggest that, when possible, surgical procedures be postponed until the activity of the retinoids has time to subside. It is even more important regarding patients with darker skin phototypes to follow an even more strict guideline.


Cochlear changes in serous labyrinthitis associated with silent otitis media: A human temporal bone study.
To determine histopathological findings in the cochlea of human temporal bones with serous labyrinthitis. We compared human temporal bones with serous labyrinthitis (20 cases) associated with silent otitis media and without serous labyrinthitis (20 cases) to study location of serous labyrinthitis, the degree of endolymphatic hydrops, number of spiral ganglion cells and hair cells, loss of fibrocytes in the spiral ligament, and areas of the spiral ligament and stria vascularis. The serous labyrinthitis caused significant loss of outer hair cells in the lower basal (P=0.006), upper basal (P=0.005), and lower middle (P=0.011) cochlear turns, and significant increase in the degree of endolymphatic hydrops than the control group (P=0.036). No significant difference was found in the loss of inner hair cells, in the number of spiral ganglion cells and fibrocytes in the spiral ligament, and in areas of the stria vascularis and spiral ligament (P>0.05). Serous labyrinthitis resulted in significant loss of outer hair cells and significant increase in the degree of endolymphatic hydrops.


Insertion mutagenesis of the ferric pyoverdine receptor FpvA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: identification of permissive sites and a region important for ligand binding.
Insertion of an 18-amino-acid-encoding sequence within the fpvA gene identified permissive sites at residues Y350, A402, R451, R521, and R558, consistent with these residues occurring in extramembranous loop regions of the protein. Insertions at R451, R521, and R558 did not adversely affect receptor function, although insertions at Y350 and A402 compromised ferric pyoverdine binding and uptake. The latter region likely contributes to or interacts with the ligand-binding site.


Decreased oxidative burst activity of monocytes from asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals.
Although changes in function of monocytes from AIDS patients have previously been reported, the functional deficits that could occur in monocytes from asymptomatic HIV-seropositive individuals has not been extensively investigated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the oxidative burst response and cell surface marker expression of monocytes from this group. Both the oxidative burst, as measured by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate oxidation, and cell surface markers were evaluated on CD14+ (Leu-M3) monocytes by two-color flow cytometry. A significantly lower oxidative burst capacity was observed in asymptomatic, seropositives after phorbol myristate acetate and calcium ionophore stimulation when compared to seronegative controls. However, differences in oxidative burst between the two groups were not observed after stimulation with heat-aggregated IgG. The oxidative burst of monocytes from seropositive HIV antigen+ or antigen- subjects was not significantly different. The most significant difference in monocyte surface markers between seropositive and seronegative controls was a decrease in the proportion of complement receptor 3+ (CD11b+) cells while slightly decreased numbers of CD13+ and CD33+ monocytes were observed. The decreased expression of CD11b+ cells in seropositives was found entirely within the seropositive, HIV antigen+ group. Similarly, when monocytes from seropositive HIV antigen+ and antigen- were compared, significantly lower numbers of CD4+ and HLA-DR+ cells were noted. These results indicate that significant changes in monocyte function and surface markers occur early during the course of HIV infection and are associated with the expression of serum HIV antigen.


Density dependence in a fluctuating wild reindeer herd; maternal vs. offspring effects.
The Hardangervidda wild reindeer herd in Norway is the largest in Western Europe. It has fluctuated between 7000 and 32000 animals during the last 35 years. Four density-dependent effects were found: 1. A food limitation effect due to a shift in diet after overgrazing lichen on the winter range. This led to increased tooth wear and lowered body size and fat reserves. 2. A significant correlation between population density and juvenile winter survival rate. No effect on adult female survival rate was found. 3. A cohort effect. After population increase and overgrazing, recruitment was reduced by 30% and remained so after population reduction. Birth weights had increased by 30% 5 years after population reduction and the mean calving time was earlier. As a result, after population reduction weights of newborns were 40% greater at a comparable date. Neonatal survival rate was related to maternal condition during the last part of gestation which coincides with the peak winter snow accumulation. The slow increase in adult dressed body weights (DBW) after population reduction is due to the combined effects of increased tooth wear when winter range was limiting and to the cohort-generation time, so that an improvement in neonatal survival and size was first expressed in subsequent offspring cohorts. 4. An inter-generation effect. During 30 years of resource limitation, DBW decreased by 23%, birth rate was unchanged after the first peak, while fecundity increased by 15%, suggesting increased reproductive effort per unit body weight. Natural selection for increased reproductive effort by smaller females when food was limiting was suggested. Some size-effect due to hunters selecting the largest adult phenotypes was possible but not the main cause. These results do not support some earlier hypotheses about the effects of population density on size at maturity in ungulates.


Cyclical transmission of in vitro cultivated bloodstream forms and procyclic trypomastigotes of trypanosoma brucei brucei by Glossina morsitans morsitans.
In vitro cultivated bloodstream and procyclic forms of Trypanosoma b. brucei STIB 247 were cyclically transmitted by Glossina m. morsitans. The tsetse flies were infected artificially on a silicon membrane. Metacyclic trypanosomes from mature salivary gland infections were used to initiate bloodstream form cultures. They transformed into slender bloodstream forms and gave rise to established cultures that proved to be infective for the vector. The metacyclic forms retained the strain-specific basic set of variable antigen types.


DIEP-flap failure after pedicle division three years following transfer.
Flap neovascularisation is generally believed to make free skin-containing flaps independent of their axial pedicle blood supply. A case of DIEP-flap failure 3 years after transfer is presented in a breast reconstruction patient in whom a lateral breast reduction for symmetry improvement was performed. Causative factors in this patient were the division of the flap pedicle during lateral breast reduction and smoking in the postoperative period. A review of literature is presented and highlights the uniqueness of this case.


A method for the determination of sphingomyelinase activity.
A method is presented for the determination of the activity of sphingomyelinase. It is based on the determination of sphingomyelin before and after enzymatic conversion with the aid of a quantitative paper chromatographic analysis of phospholipids. This method is used for the determination of sphingomyelinase activity in various tissues such as those of the human brain and liver and fibroblast cultures. Normal values are presented.


Changes in the serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, and free haemoglobin during transurethral resection of the prostate--parts of the TUR-syndrome?
In 133 patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate under standardized conditions the concentration of serum sodium decreased, and the concentration of free plasma haemoglobin increased significantly after the operation. Such changes were not found in a control group of 31 patients undergoing cystoscopy or bladder biopsy. The changes in the operated group are believed to be caused by the absorption of water used as irrigating fluid during the resection.


Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human thyrotropin and use in an immunoradiometric assay and immunohistochemistry.
Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against human thyrotropin. 13 different antibodies were characterized. Ten antibodies were of the IgG1 subclass. The affinities of the antibodies were in the range 10(9)-10(11) mol-1 X l. Four of them were specific for hTSH and did not react with hLH, hFSH, hCG or alpha hCG. Four reacted with these hormones and recognized the alpha subunit of hCG. One cross-reacted only with hFSH. The remaining four antibodies recognized the holo-hTSH only, and thus were designated as anti-conformational determinants. Monoclonal antibodies reacting with different antigenic determinants on the hTSH molecule defined seven clusters. Two of them were used to develop a simplified two-site sandwich radioimmunoassay in which one monoclonal antibody was immobilized on tubes (anti-beta TSH) and another (anti-alpha) labelled with 125I. This assay was highly specific and demonstrated a sensitivity level of 0.1 microIU/ml. Two monoclonal antibodies were used in immunohistochemistry and their quality and specificity was assessed in the detection of hTSH immunoreactivity in human pituitary biological sections.


Land use regression models for crustal and traffic-related PM2.5 constituents in four areas of the SAPALDIA study.
Many studies have documented adverse health effects of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), but there is still limited knowledge regarding the causal relationship between specific sources of PM2.5 and such health effects. The spatial variability of PM2.5 constituents and sources, as a exposure assessment strategy for investigating source contributions to health effects, has been little explored so far. Between 2011 and 2012, three measurement campaigns of PM and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were performed in 80 sites across four areas of the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung and heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA). Reflectance analysis and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were performed on PM2.5 filter samples to estimate light absorbance and trace element concentrations, respectively. Three air pollution source factors were identified using principal-component factor analysis: vehicular, crustal, and long-range transport. Land use regression (LUR) models were developed for temporally-adjusted scores of each factor, combining the four study areas. Model performance was assessed using two cross-validation methods. Model explained variance was high for the vehicular factor (R(2)=0.76), moderate for the crustal factor (R(2)=0.46), and low for the long-range transport factor (R(2)=0.19). The cross-validation methods suggested that models for the vehicular and crustal factors moderately accounted for both the between and within-area variability, and therefore can be applied to the four study areas to estimate long-term exposures within the SAPALDIA study population. The combination of source apportionment techniques and LUR modelling may help in identifying air pollution sources and disentangling their contribution to observed health effects in epidemiologic studies.


Reporting incidence from a surveillance system with an operational case definition of unknown predictive value positive.
When reporting incidence rate estimates for relatively rare health conditions, associated case counts are often assumed to follow a Poisson distribution. Case counts obtained from large-scale electronic surveillance systems are often inflated by the presence of false positives, however, and adjusted case counts based on the results of a validation sample will have variances which are hyper-Poisson. This paper presents a simple method for constructing interval estimates for incidence rates based on case counts that are adjusted downward using an estimate of the predictive value positive of the surveillance case definition.


Ultrasonographic risk factors of malignancy in thyroid nodules.
Between 40 and 50 % of the population will have at least one thyroid nodule, although only 5-8 % will have a malignant one. The objective of this study was to establish the ultrasonographic characteristics which allow us to distinguish benignity from malignancy in thyroid nodules. In the study population, inclusion criteria are (1) a single thyroid nodule and (2) multinodular goiter and exclusion criteria are (1) previous thyroid surgery and (2) fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the past month. This study is a double-blind prospective study. The study protocol is as follows: (1) clinical study; (2) ultrasound examination; (3) FNA; and (4) surgery-follow-up. The variables analysed are as follows: a multinodular nodule or goitre; colloid degeneration; morphology; margins; hyperechoic rim; rim thickness; rim morphology; size; angle between the major axis and the skin; echostructure; posterior acoustic findings; calcifications; thick colloid; localization of the intrathyroid nodular tissue; and characteristics in the Doppler scan. A total of 221 thyroid nodules were analysed. The following ultrasound findings were associated with malignancy (p < 0.05): a nodule with posterior acoustic shadowing; the echotexture of the nodule; intranodular colloid degeneration; nodule margins; nodular morphology; the presence of thick colloid; the angle between the major axis and the skin; characteristics of the intranodular vessels using color Doppler and Doppler energy; and calcifications. In the multivariate analysis, the following factors persisted as predictors of malignancy: the echotexture of the nodule (odds ratio 12.81), microcalcifications (OR 9.05), and chaotic vascularisation in the Doppler energy (OR 43.47). The high-resolution ultrasound allowed for a more reliable diagnosis of malignancy. The main findings of malignancy were the hypoechogenicity echotexture, microcalcifications, and chaotic intranodular vessels using Doppler energy.


Transvalvular Unloading Mitigates Ventricular Injury Due to Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with Impella, known as EC-Pella, limits cardiac damage in acute myocardial infarction remains unknown. The authors now report that the combination of transvalvular unloading and ECMO (EC-Pella) initiated before reperfusion reduced infarct size compared with ECMO alone before reperfusion in a preclinical model of acute myocardial infarction. EC-Pella also reduced left ventricular pressure-volume area when transvalvular unloading was applied before, not after, activation of ECMO. The authors further observed that EC-Pella increased cardioprotective signaling but failed to rescue mitochondrial dysfunction compared with ECMO alone. These findings suggest that ECMO can increase infarct size in acute myocardial infarction and that EC-Pella can mitigate this effect but also suggest that left ventricular unloading and myocardial salvage may be uncoupled in the presence of ECMO in acute myocardial infarction. These observations implicate mechanisms beyond hemodynamic load as part of the injury cascade associated with ECMO in acute myocardial infarction.


Tetravalent vanadium mediated oxidation of low density lipoprotein.
1. Tetravalent vanadium causes oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) as manifest by protein degradation and lipid peroxidation. 2. Oxidative modification of the apolipoprotein B-100 is paralleled by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and fluorescent chromolipid production. 3. The metal chelators ethylenediamine tetracetic acid and desferrioxamine, and the alcohols, ethanol and isopropanol inhibit the oxidation of LDL by tetravalent vanadium. No inhibition is observed with superoxide dismutase, catalase or mannitol. 4. The data suggest that aldehydes formed during the process of lipid peroxidation induced by tetravalent vanadium react with the proteins in LDL to form fluorescent chromolipids and that the oxidative process originates within the hydrophobic domain of LDL.


Resuscitation decisions in fetal myelomeningocele repair should center on parents' values: a counter analysis.
In our response to, "Parental request for non-resuscitation in fetal myelomeningocele repair: an analysis of the novel ethical tensions in fetal intervention" by Wolfe and co-authors, we argue that parental authority should guide resuscitation decision-making for a fetus at risk for preterm delivery as a complication of fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) repair. Due to the elevated morbidity and mortality risks of combined myelomeningocele, extreme prematurity, and fetal hypoxia, parents' values regarding the acceptability of possible outcomes should be elicited and their preferences honored. Ethical decision-making in these situations must also consider the broader context of the fetal-maternal dyad. Innovations in fetoscopic approaches to fMMC repair may pose additional complexity to these resuscitation decisions.


Retracted: Effect of Ruanjian Xiaoying Granules on Hashimoto Rats with Depression of Liver and Deficiency of Spleen and Effect on Intestinal Microflora.
[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/8221124.].


Risk of bipolar disorder among adolescents with allergic rhinitis: A nationwide longitudinal study.
Previous studies have suggested an immunological dysfunction in bipolar disorder, but none has investigated the temporal association between allergic rhinitis (AR) and bipolar disorder. Using Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 9506 adolescents aged 12-18 years with allergic rhinitis were enrolled between 2000 and 2008 and compared to 38,024 age-and gender-matched (1:4) control groups. Subjects of bipolar disorder that occurred up to the end of follow-up (December 31, 2011) were identified. Adolescents with AR had a significantly higher incidence of developing bipolar disorder (0.77 vs. 0.18 per 1000 person-years, p<0.001) during the follow-up period than the controls. Adolescents with AR had an increased risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.17-6.75) of developing bipolar disorder in their later life compared to the control group after adjusting for demographic data and comorbid allergic diseases. This is the first study showing a temporal association between AR and bipolar disorder, in that patients who had AR in adolescence exhibited an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder in later life. Further study would be required to investigate the underlying mechanism about this association.


Performance of the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia within a context similar to the Swedish primary healthcare sector: a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy studies.
Dementia is a common but underdiagnosed health problem. Instruments developed for initial screening exist internationally but are not available within the Swedish primary healthcare sector. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the diagnostic test accuracy of the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia in identifying symptomatic dementia within a context similar to the Swedish primary healthcare sector. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library and manually via reference lists up to November 2019. Eligibility criteria were the reporting of Diagnostic test accuracy outcomes for the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia's ability to identify dementia according to internationally approved criteria. The population of interest was selected within the community or primary care. QUADAS-2 was used for quality assessment, and data were analysed with a narrative approach. Five studies with a total of 13,345 participants were included. With sensitivity (88-100%), specificity (67-91%), positive and negative predictive values (28-63%; 96-100%) respectively, the results show that the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia has good ability to identify true positives, false negatives and predict low-risk dementia. That is, the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia has a greater ability to predict people who are at risk of not having dementia than to correctly identify those at risk of having dementia within the target population. The results show that the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia has the ability to identify persons with symptomatic dementia within the target population. Thus, an evaluation of its potential benefits should be considered and evaluated within the Swedish primary healthcare context. KEY POINTS Dementia is a common but underdiagnosed health problem. Instruments developed for initial screening exist but are not available within the Swedish primary healthcare sector. We found that the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8), has the ability to identify individuals with symptomatic dementia within the target population. The Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8), has the potential to increase the possibility for timely detection of individuals with symptomatic dementia.


Parasitic, amoeboid dinoflagellates.
SEXUAL reproduction has so far been unknown among the Dinococcales, unicellular brown algae belonging to the Dinophyceae (dinoflagellates). As we report here, however, the life cycles of two members of this group, Stylodinium sphaera and Cystodinedria inermis, include a parasitic amoeboid stage which brings about vegetative reproduction and also possibly sexual reproduction. We believe that the two amoeboid forms have previously been identified mistakenly as a separate taxon of protozoon.


Multimodal Detection and Targeting of Biopsy-Proven Myocardial Inflammation in Genetic Cardiomyopathies: A Pilot Report.
The authors present a clinical report focused on the overlap between myocarditis and genetic cardiomyopathies of the dilated and arrhythmogenic spectrum. Our cohort was composed of 25 patients undergoing extensive baseline characterization and prospective reassessment by a dedicated multidisciplinary disease unit during a median follow-up of 69 months. We showed that the use of multimodal imaging allowed both discrimination of specific genotypes and identification of myocardial inflammation proven using endomyocardial biopsy. In addition, we showed that the use of immunomodulatory therapy was beneficial for most patients.


The Rise of Jaw Protrusion in Spiny-Rayed Fishes Closes the Gap on Elusive Prey.
Jaw protrusion is one of the most important innovations in vertebrate feeding over the last 400 million years [1, 2]. Protrusion enables a fish to rapidly decrease the distance between itself and its prey [2, 3]. We assessed the evolution and functional implications of jaw protrusion in teleost fish assemblages from shallow coastal seas since the Cretaceous. By examining extant teleost fishes, we identified a robust morphological predictor of jaw protrusion that enabled us to predict the extent of jaw protrusion in fossil fishes. Our analyses revealed increases in both average and maximum jaw protrusion over the last 100 million years, with a progressive increase in the potential impact of fish predation on elusive prey. Over this period, the increase in jaw protrusion was initially driven by a taxonomic restructuring of fish assemblages, with an increase in the proportion of spiny-rayed fishes (Acanthomorpha), followed by an increase in the extent of protrusion within this clade. By increasing the ability of fishes to catch elusive prey [2, 4], jaw protrusion is likely to have fundamentally changed the nature of predator-prey interactions and may have contributed to the success of the spiny-rayed fishes, the dominant fish clade in modern oceans [5].


Glycosylation of ascites-derived exosomal CD133: a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Cancer cells surviving in ascites exhibit cancer stem cell (CSC)-like features. This study analyzed the expression of the CSC marker CD133 in the ascites-derived exosomes obtained from patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. In addition, inverse correlation of CD133 expression with prognosis was examined. Of the 133 consecutive patients, 19 patients were enrolled in the study. Exosomes derived from the malignant ascites demonstrated higher density and wider variation in size than those from non-malignant ascites. Western blot revealed enhanced expression of CD133 in exosomes obtained from patients with pancreatic cancer compared to those obtained from patients with gastric cancer or liver cirrhosis. A xenograft mouse model with malignant ascites was established by intraperitoneal inoculation of human pancreatic cancer cells in nude mice. Results obtained from the human study were reproduced in the mouse model. Statistically significant equilateral correlation was identified between the band intensity of CD133 in western blot and overall survival of patients. Lectin microarray analyses revealed glycosylation of CD133 by sialic acids as the major glycosylation among diverse others responsible for the glycosylation of exosomal CD133. These findings suggest that highly glycosylated CD133 in ascites-derived exosomes as a potential biomarker for better prognosis of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.


Hemoglobinometry: A comparison between the hemiglobincyanide method and the Coulter S counter.
The relative accuracy and precision of the Coulter S Counter have been evaluated in comparison with manual hemiglobincyanide determination according to the recommendations of the International Committee for Standardization in Hematology. Some improvements in the manual procedure, such as centrifugation of hemiglobincyanide solutions and the use of the detergent Triton X-100, were also tested. The Coulter S Counter generally gives higher precision in comparison with the manual method. Nevertheles, Coulter S determinations are systematically lower due to both constant and proportional errors. The available data ranged between hemoglobin values of 11.5 and 18.5%, giving differences of 0-8% between hemoglobin values determined by the Coulter S Counter and the hemiglobincyanide method.


Application of novel Ni(II) complex and ZrO2 nanoparticle as mediators for electrocatalytic determination of N-acetylcysteine in drug samples.
The electrooxidation of N-acetylcysteine (N-AC) was studied by a novel Ni(II) complex modified ZrO2 nanoparticle carbon paste electrode [Ni(II)/ZrO2/NPs/CPE] using voltammetric methods. The results showed that Ni(II)/ZrO2/NPs/CPE had high electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of N-AC in aqueous buffer solution (pH = 7.0). The electrocatalytic oxidation peak currents increase linearly with N-AC concentrations over the concentration ranges of 0.05-600μM using square wave voltammetric methods. The detection limit for N-AC was equal to 0.009μM. The catalytic reaction rate constant, kh, was calculated (7.01 × 102 M-1 s-1) using the chronoamperometry method. Finally, Ni(II)/ZrO2/NPs/CPE was also examined as an ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of N-AC in real samples such as tablet and urine.


Impact of a Multiplexed Polymerase Chain Reaction Panel on Identifying Diarrheal Pathogens in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients.
Diarrhea is common and associated with substantial morbidity among hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, but the etiology is often not identified. Multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays increase the detection of diarrheal pathogens, but the impact of this technology in this population has not been evaluated. Our center replaced stool cultures and other conventional microbiologic methods with the FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel (GI PCR) in June 2016. We reviewed all adult patients who received an HCT from June 2014-May 2015 (pre-GI PCR, n = 163) and from June 2016-May 2017 (post-GI PCR, n = 182) and followed them for 1 year after transplantation. Clostridioides difficile infection was diagnosed by an independent PCR test in both cohorts. The proportion of patients with ≥1 identified infectious diarrheal pathogen increased from 25% to 37% after implementation of GI PCR (P = .01). Eight patients (5%) in the pre-GI PCR cohort tested positive for a pathogen other than C. difficile versus 49 patients (27%) in the post-GI PCR cohort (P < .001). The most common non-C. difficile diarrheal pathogens in the post-GI PCR cohort were enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (n = 14, 8%), norovirus (n = 14, 8%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (n = 7, 4%). The percentage of diarrheal episodes with an identified infectious etiology increased from 14% to 23% (P = .001). Median total costs of stool testing per patient did not increase (pre: $473; post: $425; P = .25). Infectious etiologies of diarrhea were identified in a higher proportion of HCT recipients after replacing conventional stool testing with a multiplexed PCR assay, without an increase in testing costs.


Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Zhedong White goose and characterization of NUMTs: Reveal domestication history of goose in China and Euro.
To understand the phyletic evolution of geese, the complete mitogenome of the Zhedong goose was sequenced for the first time. It is composed of 37 genes and 1 control region, and the structure and arrangement of all genes sequenced are identical to those of other goose breeds. We confirmed the accuracy of the mitogenome sequence through RT-PCR and found numts from amplification in genomic DNA. Comparisons of the phylogenetic trees and sequences of geese that were suggested a clade of Chinese geese, except the Yili goose, were classified in the Euro clade. Several breed-specific mutations and Chinese breed-specific mutations were found. Our results suggest that Chinese geese evolved from the swan goose, splitting from their common ancestors at different times, which was consistent with studies before. Furthermore, numts in most genes of Zhedong goose clustered with European geese in the phylogenetic tree, suggesting that the haplotypes in the Euro clade might be more ancient. However, the mitogenome of the swan goose shows distinctive evolutionary positions in some genes, which suggest its unclear relationship with Chinese geese and European geese. The current study added to the understanding of the evolution of geese and provided evidence that the typing of numts is an encouraging way for the evolutionary study of geese and the mitochondrial genomes of geese deserve further investigation.


Correlation between factors involved in the local haemostasis and angiogenesis in full term human placenta.
Few studies have been carried out to investigate whether distinct areas of full term placenta express different amounts of markers involved in the placental haemostasis and angiogenesis. A possible relationship between the expression of genes involved in the haemostasis and angiogenesis of human placenta has not been investigated. Twenty-eight fresh human placentas (35-41 weeks of gestation) from uneventful pregnancies were dissected with two different methods. Quantitative mRNA expression of the tissue factor (TF), TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI), TFPI-2, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-2), annexin V (Anx V), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and thrombomodulin (TM) genes was evaluated by quantitative real time PCR system. Histology of each sample was graded. Gene expression of all the considered markers was not significantly different in each area, using both the different methods of dissection. A significant correlation (p<0.05) was found between the expression of TF and TFPI-2. TF and TFPI-2 were significantly (p<0.05) associated with VEGF, whereas a stronger association (p<0.01) was found between TFPI and TFPI-2. TFPI and TFPI-2 were strongly associated with PAI-2 expression (p<0.01). In placentas with central cord insertion, gene expression is not dependent on the method of sampling site. A significant relationship between haemostasis and angiogenesis in at term placentas was shown.


Dynamic relocation of the TORC1-Gtr1/2-Ego1/2/3 complex is regulated by Gtr1 and Gtr2.
TORC1 regulates cellular growth, metabolism, and autophagy by integrating various signals, including nutrient availability, through the small GTPases RagA/B/C/D in mammals and Gtr1/2 in budding yeast. Rag/Gtr is anchored to the lysosomal/vacuolar membrane by the scaffold protein complex Ragulator/Ego. Here we show that Ego consists of Ego1 and Ego3, and novel subunit Ego2. The ∆ego2 mutant exhibited only partial defects both in Gtr1-dependent TORC1 activation and Gtr1 localization on the vacuole. Ego1/2/3, Gtr1/2, and Tor1/Tco89 were colocalized on the vacuole and associated puncta. When Gtr1 was in its GTP-bound form and TORC1 was active, these proteins were preferentially localized on the vacuolar membrane, whereas when Gtr1 was in its GDP-bound form, they were mostly localized on the puncta. The localization of TORC1 to puncta was further facilitated by direct binding to Gtr2, which is involved in suppression of TORC1 activity. Thus regulation of TORC1 activity through Gtr1/Gtr2 is tightly coupled to the dynamic relocation of these proteins.


Commitment to differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL60): an all-or-none event preceded by reversible losses of self-renewal potential.
A method for clonal analysis has been developed which allows the characterization of the number and type of progeny cells produced by each single cell arising during clonal evolution. The method is based on a symmetry of self-renewal exhibited by sister cells of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line -HL60-. This permits the use of one of the sister cells to measure the potential for self renewal of the other. Using a system of sequential daughter cell transfers in semisolid medium, we have analysed self-renewal and differentiation in individual clones exposed to all-trans retinoic acid or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). We find that in clones exposed to chemical inducers of differentiation commitment occurs as an all-or-none event which is preceded by coordinated but reversible losses of self-renewal potential. It is concluded that the differentiation pathway of HL60 cells has two distinct portions. These are, first, a predeterministic portion, reflected by coordinated but reversible losses of self-renewal potential, and second, a deterministic portion, reflected by irreversible phenotypic differentiation.


Significance of MOF adsorbents in uranium remediation from water.
Uranium is considered as one of the most perilous radioactive contaminants in the aqueous environment. It has shown detrimental effects on both flora and fauna and because of its toxicities on human beings, therefore its exclusion from the aqueous environment is very essential. The utilization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an adsorbent for the removal of uranium from the aqueous environment could be a good approach. MOFs possess unique properties like high surface area, high porosity, adjustable pore size, etc. This makes them promising adsorbents for the removal of uranium from contaminated water. In this paper, sources of uranium in the water environment, human health disorders, and application of the different types of MOFs as well as the mechanisms of uranium removal have been discussed meticulously.


The behavioral risk factor surveys: III. Chronic heavy alcohol use in the United States.
Results of adult telephone interview data from aggregated state surveys show significant chronic alcohol use (two or more drinks per day) by 8.7 percent of the U.S. population. Rates are higher in men than in women (13.8 percent versus 4.0 percent, and higher in whites than in blacks (9.1 percent versus 4.5 percent). Women 25-44 years of age have significantly lower rates (2.9 percent) than women 18-24 (5.7 percent) or women 45-64 (4.6 percent). Also, rates are higher in heavy smokers (over one pack per day) than nonsmokers (22.4 percent versus 5.9 percent), among nonusers of seatbelts than users of seatbelts (10.5 percent versus 6.2 percent), and in those who reported driving after having had "too much" to drink than in those who did not (32.3 percent versus 7.5 percent). Overweight women (2.7 percent) and those who eat in response to stress (3.1 percent) have lower rates of chronic heavy alcohol use than those without these risk factors. Alcohol-related morbidity contributes substantially to the loss of productive life. We conclude that examining alcohol consumption in the light of other lifestyle behaviors would help in the design of effective prevention programs based on multiple risk factor interventions.


Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction and structural characterization of pectin from sweet lemon peel.
The microwave-assisted extraction of pectin from sweet lemon peel (SLP) was optimized using Box-Behnken design. The highest pectin yield (25.31%) was observed under optimal condition (microwave power of 700 W, irradiation time of 3 min and pH of 1.5). The physicochemical, structural and some bioactivity of the SLP pectin isolated at optimum condition was evaluated. The SLP pectin was rich in galacturonic acid and galactose (87.2 mol%), high in molecular weight (615.836 kDa) and low in degree of esterification (1.2-35.1%). Furthermore, the SLP pectin was composed of 55.7% linear region (homogalacturonan) and 42.2% hairy region (rhamnogalacturonan-I). Also, the FT-IR and H-NMR results confirm the major presence of low methylated galacturonic acid rich structure in the isolated samples. In addition, SLP pectin showed good emulsifying and antioxidant properties. A pseudoplastic flow behavior was observed for SLP pectin solution at higher concentrations (1% w/v <). These results represent an inexpensive source for pectin extraction with high pectin yield and good properties.


Phenotypic analysis of lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from cattle and deer affected with "sheep-associated" malignant catarrhal fever.
Established lymphoblastoid cell lines with natural killer cell-like activity have been derived from cattle and deer affected with malignant catarrhal fever. They were examined phenotypically using monoclonal antibodies chosen for their cross-reactivity with peripheral blood lymphocytes from these species. Cell lines established from three of four cattle were identified as cytotoxic/suppressor lymphocytes (CD4-/CD8+/T19-) whilst the other was shown to be of the helper cell phenotype (CD4+/CD8-/T19-). Two other cell lines, one derived from a red deer and the other from a Père David's deer, were both CD4-/CD8-/T19. All of the lines examined expressed a T cell receptor (CD2+).


Hemorrhagic peripapillary lesions in presumed ocular histoplasmosis.
Eight eyes of five patients with hemorrhagic peripapillary histoplasmosis demonstrated prolonged symptomatic periods and recurrent bleeding episodes, although final visual acuity was equal to or better than 6/12 (20/40) in five eyes (63%). Fluorescein angiography demonstrated new subretinal neovascular growth at the margins of atrophic scars. In the late stages additional retinal pigment epithelium was lost and a white subretinal mass developed adjacent to the atrophic zone. Argon laser photocoagulation was used in two cases to destroy this neovascular tissue, but caused a permanent arcuate defect in one.


Postoperative intrathecal patient-controlled analgesia with bupivacaine, sufentanil or a mixture of both.
In a randomised double-blind study, 45 patients, scheduled for major orthopaedic surgery under continuous spinal anaesthesia, received for relief of postoperative pain patient-controlled analgesia with either sufentanil 2 micrograms.ml-1, bupivacaine 0.0625% or a mixture of both by the intrathecal route. The mean (SD) consumption of sufentanil and bupivacaine during the first 12 h was 65.5 (27.1) micrograms and 18.2 (4.8) mg, respectively. Combining bupivacaine and sufentanil reduced the consumption of both to approximately 40% as compared to the administration of each component separately. Pain relief was very good in all subjects, although this was obtained faster with the combined regimen. Moreover, more patients in this group remained completely painfree during the entire observation period (p < 0.05). The incidence of hypotension was low and not significantly different when the plain bupivacaine group was compared with the two other groups. Nausea and vomiting were significantly more frequently observed in both groups treated with sufentanil. Motor block was not a major problem and was noticed during the first 2 h of treatment only. Tachyphylaxis did not occur. It was concluded that the groups receiving plain bupivacaine and sufentanil alone experienced pain relief of good quality. The use of a mixture, however, accelerated the onset of analgesia, improved the analgesic quality and reduced the doses for both components by 60% but at the expense of a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting.


Ambient temperature, tandem catalytic dehydrocoupling-hydrogenation reactions using Rh colloids and Me2NH.BH3 as a stoichiometric H2 source.
Highly active Rh colloids, generated in situ during the catalytic dehydrocoupling of Me2NH.BH3 using [{Rh(cod)(mu-Cl)}2] as a precatalyst, are capable of efficiently hydrogenating alkenes at 25 degrees C in a one-pot procedure using only the evolved H2 from the initial dehydrocoupling reaction.


Endocervical curettage for diagnosing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse in women with type 3 transformation zone lesions: a retrospective, observational study.
This study aimed to assess the value of endocervical curettage (ECC) in detecting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (HSIL+) in women with type 3 transformation zone (TZ3) lesions, and to identify the clinical characteristics of patients with TZ3 lesions who benefit most from ECC. This retrospective, multicenter study included 1,905 women with TZ3 lesions who attended cervical screening in one of seven tertiary hospitals in China between January 2020 and November 2021. All participants had received abnormal results and had been referred to colposcopy. Risk factors were identified through univariate and multifactorial logistic analyses. In total, 20.5% (n = 391) of HSIL+ cases with TZ3 lesions had been diagnosed with biopsy and ECC. ECC detected 0.8% (n = 15) HSIL+ cases otherwise missed by biopsy alone. Multivariate analysis identified four factors which influenced detection performance. The probability of detecting HSIL+ with ECC is 2.653 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.009-6.977) times greater in women aged 40-49 years and 2.545 (95% CI 0.965-6.716) times greater for those aged 50 years and older compared to those younger than 30 years. The probability of ASC-H (atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) and HSIL cytologies were respectively 2.415 (95% CI 1.213-4.808) and 2.933 (95% CI 1.648-5.220) times higher than for NILM (negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy). Women with human papillomavirus 16/18 infections were 2.299 (95% CI 0.942-5.613) times more likely to be HSIL+. Precancerous lesions were 35.884 (95% CI 12.214-105.426) times more likely in women who had high-grade colposcopic impressions compared to those with normal impressions. ECC should be performed for patients with ASC-H or HSIL cytologies, human papillomavirus 16/18 infections, and for those with high-grade colposcopic impressions. This will increase the number of HSIL+ cases identified using biopsy by reducing the number of false negatives.


Impact of aggressiveness of Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum isolates on yield parameters and mycotoxin production in wheat.
Plant-associated isolates from Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum were inoculated on wheat in field experiments in 2007 and 2008 to ascertain their influence on fungal colonization of the ears, as well as mycotoxin contamination (deoxynivalenol, DON; nivalenol, NIV; zearalenone, ZEA) and yield parameters in the mature crop after inoculation with or without irrigation. The isolates were assigned to four different groups of aggressiveness on the basis of pathogenic symptom development and mycotoxin production in vitro. Increased levels of trichothecene-producing Fusarium DNA in the ears indicated a successful inoculation of the plants, which resulted in increased DON content in the wheat kernels in 2007. Dry conditions at anthesis markedly suppressed fungal colonization as well as mycotoxin accumulation. However, due to precipitation during the ripening period, yield and thousand-kernel weight were similar whether or not irrigation was applied at the time of inoculation. The level of aggressiveness among the isolates as determined in vitro was not reflected in the field experiment. The activity of the extracellular invertase in developing ears increased as a plant response to pathogen infection, especially when the plants were irrigated at the time of inoculation. In 2008, the Fusarium inoculation of wheat heads did not cause fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination in the grain, because of the dry weather conditions that occurred over the entire period of anthesis and ripening. The risk of future mycotoxin contamination in grains was discussed based on climate change prognosis.


Bending modulus of lipid bilayers in a liquid-crystalline phase including an anomalous swelling regime estimated by neutron spin echo experiments.
Membrane fluctuations of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) were investigated by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. The intermediate structure factor was analyzed in terms of the model proposed by Zilman and Granek (Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4788 (1996)), and the bending modulus of lipid bilayers was derived. The hardening of a lipid bilayer upon approaching the main transition point in the anomalous swelling regime was observed, which naturally connects the bending modulus in the gel phase below the main transition temperature.


Polypeptide translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.
Many polypeptides have been postulated to play direct roles in secretory protein translocation based on genetic criteria, cross-linking, and antibody inhibition. Much of the excitement in the next few years will come from the resolution of current controversies. What is the nature of the ribosome receptor, and is it essential for translocation? Is BiP required for translocation in mammalian cells? Are all of the polypeptides of signal peptidase and oligosaccharyltransferase required for catalytic function, or do some of them mediate steps of protein translocation? One of the best ways to resolve these problems will be to determine the importance of each in reconstituted translocation reactions by fractionation or immunodepletion, or by analysis in a purified reaction. Another approach is to identify homologues of these molecules in S. cerevisiae and to assess their importance in in vivo translocation. Several mechanistic questions remain to be addressed as well. Does the protein translocation apparatus consist of protein, or lipid, or both? How are integral membrane proteins inserted? How is the translocon gated to admit only unfolded or partially folded secretory polypeptides and to exclude cytoplasmic molecules? The answers to these questions will illuminate a basic enigma in cell biology that has remained unanswered for many years.


Deletion of the Na/HCO3 Transporter NBCn1 Protects Hippocampal Neurons from NMDA-induced Seizures and Neurotoxicity in Mice.
The Na/HCO3 cotransporter NBCn1/SLC4A7 can affect glutamate neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. Here, we examined NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in NBCn1 knockout mice to determine whether a similar effect also occurs in the mouse brain. In primary cultures of hippocampal neurons from knockouts, NMDA had no neurotoxic effects, determined by lactate dehydrogenase release and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent cGMP production. Male knockouts and wildtypes (6-8 weeks old) were then injected with NMDA (75 mg/kg; ip) and hippocampal neuronal damages were assessed. Wildtypes developed severe tonic-clonic seizures, whereas knockouts had mild seizure activity (motionless). In knockouts, the NOS activity, caspase-3 expression/activity and the number of TUNEL-positive cells were significantly low. Immunochemical analysis revealed decreased expression levels of the NMDA receptor subunit GluN1 and the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 in knockouts. Extracellular recording from hippocampal slices showed no Mg2+/NMDA-mediated epileptiform events in knockouts. In conclusion, these results show a decrease in NMDA neurotoxicity by NBCn1 deletion. Given that acid extrusion has been known to prevent pH decrease and protect neurons from acid-induced damage, our study presents novel evidence that acid extrusion by NBCn1 stimulates neurotoxicity.


Development of candidate gene-based markers and map-based cloning of a dominant rust resistance gene in cultivated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).
A dominant rust resistance gene, VG 9514-Rgene was isolated through map-based cloning. Sequence analysis revealed non-synonymous mutations in the TIR, NBS and LRR region of the R-protein. Candidate gene-based markers from these SNPs revealed complete co-segregation of the isolated VG 9514-Rgene with rust resistance in a RIL population and confirmed their map position in between FRS 72 and SSR_GO340445 markers in arahy03 chromosome. Blastp search of VG 9514-Rprotein detected Arahy.T6DCA5 with >80.0% identity that localized at 142,544,745.0.142,549,184 in arahy03 chromosome. Ka/Ks calculation revealed that VG 9514-Rgene had undergone positive selection compared to four homologous genes in the groundnut genome. Homology based structure modelling of this R-protein revealed a typical consensus three-dimensional folding of TIR-NBS-LRR protein. Non-synonymous mutations in susceptible version of R-protein were mapped and found E268Q mutation in hhGRExE motif, Y309F in RNBS-A motif and I579T in MHD motif of NB-ARC domain are probable candidates for loss of function.


Discovery of DS-6930, a potent selective PPARγ modulator. Part II: Lead optimization.
Attempts were made to reduce the lipophilicity of previously synthesized compound (II) for the avoidance of hepatotoxicity. The replacement of the left-hand side benzene with 2-pyridine resulted in the substantial loss of potency. Because poor membrane permeability was responsible for poor potency in vitro, the adjustment of lipophilicity was examined, which resulted in the discovery of dimethyl pyridine derivative (I, DS-6930). In preclinical studies, DS-6930 demonstrated high PPARγ agonist potency with robust plasma glucose reduction. DS-6930 maintained diminished PPARγ-related adverse effects upon toxicological evaluation in vivo, and demonstrated no hepatotoxicity. Cofactor recruitment assay showed that several cofactors, such as RIP140 and PGC1, were significantly recruited, whereas several canonical factors was not affected. This selective cofactor recruitment was caused due to the distinct binding mode of DS-6930. The calcium salt, DS-6930b, which is expected to be an effective inducer of insulin sensitization without edema, could be evaluated clinically in T2DM patients.


Anti-staphylococcal gamma hemolysin antibodies in rabbits with staphylococcal osteomyelitis.
Titers of antibodies against staphylococcal gamma hemolysin were estimated in 23 rabbits with experimental staphylococcal osteomyelitis and in 32 control animals. In all but three infected animals from 2- to 64-fold increases of the antibody titers were detected. Most of the control animals showed no changes in anti-gamma toxin antibody titers, but in two animals some increase was noted. The possible significance of these differences is discussed.


Regulation of anion secretion by cyclo-oxygenase and prostanoids in cultured epididymal epithelia from the rat.
1. The role of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) in the regulation of anion secretion (measured as short- circuit current, Isc) in cultured epididymal epithelia from immature rats was investigated. 2. COX inhibitors attenuated the increase of anion secretion caused by bradykinin (LBK) but had no effect on that caused by PGE2, suggesting that prostaglandin synthesis mediates the secretory response of the tissues to LBK. 3. The apparent IC50 values for indomethacin, piroxicam and L-745,337 in inhibiting the LBK-induced Isc were 0.14, 1.34 and 15.7 microM, respectively. This order of potency: indomethacin > piroxicam > L-745,337 >> DFU suggests the involvement of the COX-1 isozyme in the mediation of the secretory response to LBK. 4. Among the COX products (prostaglandins, thromboxane and prostacyclins) tested, only PGE2 and, to a much lesser extent, PGF2alpha stimulated anion secretion by cultured rat epididymal epithelia. 5. The effect of PGE2 was mimicked by 11-deoxyl PGE1, a specific prostaglandin E (EP)2/4 receptor agonist, but not by sulprostone, a specific EP1/3 receptor agonist, indicating that cyclic AMP-coupled EP2/4 receptors are involved in the LBK-stimulated anion secretion. 6. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction study detected the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA in intact rat epididymis and in cultured epididymal epithelia. The expression of COX-1 mRNA was reduced by LBK by 44 %. 7. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated the presence of COX-1 immunoreactivity in the basal cells of the intact rat epididymis. By comparison, COX-2 immunoreactivity was detected in the apical pole of the principal cells. 8. The role of COX in the formation of the epididymal microenvironment and the implication of long term administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on male fertility are discussed.


Paramagnetic effects on nuclear relaxation in enzyme-bound Co(II)-adenine nucleotide complexes: relative contributions of dipolar and scalar interactions.
31P NMR measurements on CoADP bound to creatine kinase designed to estimate the relative contribution of scalar and dipolar interactions to 31P spin relaxation rates show that these rates are primarily due to distance-dependent dipolar interactions and that the contribution of the scalar interaction is negligible.


Clinical application and technique of 64-slice spiral CT subtraction angiography in head and neck.
To discuss the technique of 64-slice spiral CT subtraction angiography (64-SCTSA) in head and neck, and evaluate its clinical application. 84 patients suspected of head-neck vascular diseases were examined with 64-SCTSA. The examination techniques, image quality and clinical application were retrospectively analyzed, and the diagnoses of 64-SCTSA were compared with those of surgery or DSA. Eighty-four subjects were successfully examined with 64-SCTSA, whose scanning and imaging parameters are effective. Image quality was excellent in 51 cases (60.7 %), good in 29 (34.5 %) and acceptable in 4 (4.8 %). In the 84 subjects, 79 cases were found abnormal in blood vessel (58 in head and 21 in neck), of which 57 were confirmed by surgical operation or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). 64-SCTSA is a feasible technique with satisfactory image quality and has the advantages of showing the lesions of vasculature without shelter from bone. It can improve the diagnostic accuracy in head-neck vascular diseases.


Associations between interpregnancy interval and preterm birth by previous preterm birth status in four high-income countries: a cohort study.
To investigate the effect of interpregnancy interval (IPI) on preterm birth (PTB) according to whether the previous birth was preterm or term. Cohort study. USA (California), Australia, Finland, Norway (1980-2017). Women who gave birth to first and second (n = 3 213 855) singleton livebirths. Odds ratios (ORs) for PTB according to IPIs were modelled using logistic regression with prognostic score stratification for potential confounders. Within-site ORs were pooled by random effects meta-analysis. PTB (gestational age <37 weeks). Absolute risk of PTB for each IPI was 3-6% after a previous term birth and 17-22% after previous PTB. ORs for PTB differed between previous term and preterm births in all countries (P-for-interaction ≤ 0.001). For women with a previous term birth, pooled ORs were increased for IPI <6 months (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.43-1.58); 6-11 months (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.16); 24-59 months (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.13-1.18); and ≥ 60 months (OR 1.72, 95%CI 1.60-1.86), compared with 18-23 months. For previous PTB, ORs were increased for <6 months (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.18-1.42) and ≥60 months (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17-1.42), but were less than ORs among women with a previous term birth (P < 0.05). Associations between IPI and PTB are modified by whether or not the previous pregnancy was preterm. ORs for short and long IPIs were higher among women with a previous term birth than a previous PTB, which for short IPI is consistent with the maternal depletion hypothesis. Given the high risk of recurrence and assuming a causal association between IPI and PTB, IPI remains a potentially modifiable risk factor for women with previous PTB. Short versus long interpregnancy intervals associated with higher ORs for preterm birth (PTB) after a previous PTB.


Osteophyte detection for hand osteoarthritis identification in x-ray images using CNNs.
In this paper we describe a class of analog algorithms based on the concept of cellular neural networks (CNNs) for detecting osteoarthritis (OA) from x-ray images. The indicator of OA that we examine is the presence of bony spurs or osteophytes in the vicinity of the weight bearing joints of the fingers. Results on a series of hand x-ray images are shown to be promising.


Methods to limit reinfarction and ischemia after thrombolytic therapy.
Thrombolytic therapy has greatly influenced the long-term outcome of thousands of patients suffering AMI. The incidence of reocclusion and recurrent ischemia are continuing problems that need to be confronted if thrombolytic therapy is to have its full impact on the care of these patients. Clinical studies are providing more information on the best adjunctive therapy to accompany thrombolysis. Nursing has the potential to improve the outcome of patients by assuring the methods of preventing reocclusion we have available are skillfully implemented. If reocclusion occurs, nurses can identify the event and initiate treatment before substantial myocardium is lost. In the future, noninvasive methods to identify which patients will reocclude may be available. Thrombolytic "cocktails" or medications such as antiplatelet antibodies may be useful and may abolish reocclusion completely.


Highly Selective and Sensitive Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide by the Diffraction Peak of Periodic Au Nanoparticle Array with Silver Coating.
The two-dimensional (2D) periodic Au nanosphere array with silver coating was prepared by using a colloidal monolayer template to obtain a Au nanosphere array and subsequently depositing silver thin coating on it, which could be used as an optical sensor to effectively detect H2S. Such periodic Au nanosphere array with silver coating displayed a surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) peak and an optical diffraction peak. Compared with the SPR peak, the diffraction peak, originated from the periodic arrangements of the obtained array, demonstrated a more sensitive optical change to detect H2S with a significant redshift as the H2S concentration increased. It was attributed to the increase of the refractive index of the environment around the Au nanosphere arrays with silver coating due to the partial formation of Ag2S after detecting H2S. Furthermore, the H2S sensor based on the change of the optical diffraction peak, showed an excellent selectivity and it was very sensitive to detect H2S from 2 to 30 μM. This method was investigated by the analysis in H2S-spiked blood samples, which indicates that the method has the potential to detect H2S in blood samples. The presented work provides a new strategy of utilizing the optical diffraction peak of the periodic array to develop promising sensors.


Association between nutrient intake related to the one-carbon metabolism and colorectal cancer risk: a case-control study in the Basque Country.
Epidemiologic evidence for the association between methyl-donor nutrient intake and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk remains inconclusive. We aimed to examine the relationship between intake of vitamins of the B group, methionine, total choline and betaine and CRC risk, in a population from the CRC screening programme in the Basque Country. This observational study included 308 patients with CRC and 308 age- and sex-matched subjects as controls. During recruitment, dietary, anthropometric, lifestyle, socioeconomic, demographic, and health status information was collected. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for CRC risk. The adjusted ORs for CRC risk decreased with higher intakes of choline and betaine (p < 0.05). After further adjustment for folate, high intake of choline and betaine remained associated with a reduced CRC risk (adjusted model for choline, OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.80, p = 0.006; for betaine, OR third tertile vs first tertile = 0.27, 95% CI 0.16-0.47, p < 0.001). Regarding the other nutrients, our findings indicated a non-significant decrease in CRC risk with the high level of intake. Our data suggest that choline and betaine intake influence CRC risk in the studied population.


The effect of changes in condom usage and antiretroviral treatment coverage on human immunodeficiency virus incidence in South Africa: a model-based analysis.
This study aims to assess trends in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence in South Africa, and to assess the extent to which prevention and treatment programmes have reduced HIV incidence. Two models of the South African HIV epidemic, the STI (sexually transmitted infection)-HIV Interaction model and the ASSA2003 AIDS and Demographic model, were adapted. Both models were fitted to age-specific HIV prevalence data from antenatal clinic surveys and household surveys, using a Bayesian approach. Both models suggest that HIV incidence in 15-49 year olds declined significantly between the start of 2000 and the start of 2008: by 27 per cent (95% CI: 21-32%) in the STI-HIV model and by 31 per cent (95% CI: 23-39%) in the ASSA2003 model, when expressed as a percentage of incidence rates in 2000. By 2008, the percentage reduction in incidence owing to increased condom use was 37 per cent (95% CI: 34-41%) in the STI-HIV model and 23 per cent (95% CI: 14-34%) in the ASSA2003 model. Both models also estimated a small reduction in incidence owing to antiretroviral treatment by 2008. Increased condom use therefore appears to be the most significant factor explaining the recent South African HIV incidence decline.


Effects of an Ai Chi fall prevention programme for patients with Parkinson's disease.
One of the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease is the high incidence of falls occurring due to the decline of both static and dynamic balance. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of an Ai Chi programme designed to prevent falls in patients with Parkinson's disease by improving both functional independence and perception of physical pain. Fifteen patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3) participated in a 10-week Ai Chi programme consisting of 30 to 45-minute aquatic exercise sessions twice a week. The assessment measures used in this study were the pain visual analogue scale (VAS), the Tinetti gait and balance assessment tool, and the Timed Get up and Go test. The results were calculated by applying the Friedman test to 3 related measurements: patients at baseline, at post-treatment (at the end of the 10 week programme) and after one month of follow-up. The data obtained showed a significant improvement (p <.001) in scores for pain perception, balance, and gait function after the treatment programme. Furthermore, patients continued to show significant improvements and the benefits remained at the one-month follow-up visit. Ai Chi is a promising and feasible aquatic treatment for improving pain perception, balance, and functional capacity in patients diagnosed with mild or moderate Parkinson's disease.


Assessment of nutrition education of dental students.
This study was undertaken to determine the source and quality of the nutrition education received and to determine the nutritional knowledge gained by dental students. The assessment of the dental education program revealed a limited nutrition component uidely scattered among a number of departments and offered diversely in each of the four years. Faculty interviews and a review of course outlines indicated that some material was presented on foods; disorders; diets; nutrition, biochemistry, and physiology; and anatomical terms. A "self-instructional unit" contained seven tapes on aspects of nutrition. National Dental Board Examinations contained nutrition-related questions which would be helpful in developing a nutrition program, including the development of a dental-related nutritional knowledge test. Such a test, developed within the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, was administered to the dental students on an honor-code basis early in the fall semester. Tests were completed by 178 students. The mean per cent score, 58.7 +/- 10.2, was below the mean for undergraduate students who had completed a basic course in nutrition with a grade of "C". Evidence is presented indicating that the general nutritional knowledge of the dental students increased only during the first year of their program. A gain in nutritional knowledge was noted in the categories of: Nutrition, biochemistry, and physiology; disorders, diets, and organisms.


Stereoselective β-Mannosylation via Anomeric O-Alkylation with L-Sugar-Derived Electrophiles.
A total synthesis of the trisaccharide repeat unit of Salmonella serogroup E1 O-antigen is reported. This synthesis features a key β-mannosylation reaction via cesium carbonate-mediated anomeric O-alkylation of a partially protected D-mannose with an L-fucose-derived electrophile for the first time.


Lactic fermentation of cellobiose by a yeast strain displaying beta-glucosidase on the cell surface.
The Aspergillus aculeatus beta-glucosidase 1 (bgl1) gene was expressed in a lactic-acid-producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to enable lactic fermentation with cellobiose. The recombinant beta-glucosidase enzyme was expressed on the yeast cell surface by fusing the mature protein to the C-terminal half region of the alpha-agglutinin. The beta-glucosidase expression plasmids were integrated into the genome. Three strong promoters of S. cerevisiae, the TDH3, PGK1, and PDC1 promoters, were used for beta-glucosidase expression. The specific beta-glucosidase activity varied with the promoter used and the copy number of the bgl1 gene. The highest activity was obtained with strain PB2 that possessed two copies of the bgl1 gene driven by the PDC1 promoter. PB2 could grow on cellobiose and glucose minimal medium at the same rate. Fermentation experiments were conducted in non-selective-rich media containing 95 g l(-1) cellobiose or 100 g l(-1) glucose as a carbon source under microaerobic conditions. The maximum rate of L-lactate production by PB2 on cellobiose (2.8 g l(-1) h(-1)) was similar to that on glucose (3.0 g l(-1) h(-1)). This indicates that efficient fermentation of cellobiose to L-lactate can be accomplished using a yeast strain expressing beta-glucosidase from a mitotically stable genomic integration plasmid.