Low-Back Pain and Knee Position-Related Differences on Postural Control Measures During a One-Legged Stance in Athletes.
Chronic low-back pain (CLBP) may be associated with changes in postural balance in athletes as poor postural control during sports practice. To compare the postural control of athletes with and without CLBP during 2 one-legged stance tasks and identify the center of pressure (COP) cutoff values to determine the main differences. Designed: A cross-sectional study. Laboratory of functional evaluation and human motor performance. A total of 56 male athletes, 28 with and 28 without CLBP (mean age = 26 y). The one-legged stance with knee extension and with the knee at 30° flexion tasks were measured and analyzed on a force platform. The participants completed three 30-second trials (30 s of rest between each trial). The COP parameters: the area of COP, mean COP sway velocity in both the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions, and total COP displacement were computed, and a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was applied to determine the group differences. Athletes with CLBP had poorer postural control (P < .01) in both tasks. The 30° knee flexion reported more postural instability than the knee extension for all COP parameters (a large effect size d = 0.80).The knee extension cutoffs identified were >7.1 cm2 for the COP area, >2.6 cm/s for the COP sway velocity in the anterior-posterior direction, and >3.2 cm/s for the mediolateral direction. Whereas, the 30° knee flexion cutoffs were >10.9 cm2 for the COP area, >2.9 cm/s for the COP sway velocity in the anterior-posterior direction, and >4.1 cm/s for the mediolateral direction. Both measures showed enough sensitivity and specificity (ie, area under the curve = 0.88 in and 0.80, respectively) to discriminate both groups. The athletes with CLBP had poorer postural control than the healthy athletes and obtained specific cutoff scores from the COP values.


Caenorhabditis elegans neprilysin NEP-1: an effector of locomotion and pharyngeal pumping.
The control of signal peptide activity by cell surface proteases is one of the main factors that regulate the development and behaviour of organisms. In mammals, neprilysins (NEPs) are known to play a key role in these processes and their inactivation can initiate cellular disorganisation, which in turn may lead to prostate cancer or Hirschsprung disease. Although the proteome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been intensively studied, very little is known about the function of neprilysins. ZK20.6 (NEP-1), the C.elegans protein with highest identity to mammalian neprilysins, is a 753 amino acid residue protein that displays all neprilysin-typical characteristics, including a short intracellular domain, a transmembrane domain and a long extracellular active domain. Here we show that the expression pattern of nep-1 is limited to pharyngeal cells and a single head neuron. Compared to wild-type, the locomotion of nep-1 knockout animals is significantly impaired, a phenotype that can be rescued by the extrachromosomal re-introduction of nep-1. This suggests that this enzyme plays an important role in the regulation of nematode locomotion. Finally, electrophysiological recording of the pharyngeal activity showed a high sensitivity of the nep-1 pharynx to serotonin (5-HT) and to the neuropeptide AF1 (C.elegans FLP-8), indicating that NEP-1 is a central component that controls the neuronal innervation of pharyngeal pumping in C.elegans.


Effects of long-term moderate ethanol and cholesterol on cognition, cholinergic neurons, inflammation, and vascular impairment in rats.
There is strong evidence that vascular risk factors play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (vaD). Ethanol (EtOH) and cholesterol are such vascular risk factors, and we recently showed that hypercholesterolemia causes pathologies similar to AD [Ullrich et al. (2010) Mol Cell Neurosci 45, 408-417]. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term (12 months) EtOH treatment (20% v/v in drinking water) alone or long-term 5% cholesterol diet alone or a combination (mix) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Long-term EtOH treatment (plasma EtOH levels 58±23 mg/dl) caused significant impairment of spatial memory, reduced the number of choline acetyltransferase- and p75 neurotrophin receptor-positive nucleus basalis of Meynert neurons, decreased cortical acetylcholine, elevated cortical monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tissue-type plasminogen activator, enhanced microglia, and markedly induced anti-rat immunoglobulin G-positive blood-brain barrier leakage. The effect of long-term hypercholesterolemia was similar. Combined long-term treatment of rats with 20% EtOH and 5% cholesterol (mix) did not potentiate treatment with EtOH alone, but instead counteracted some of the EtOH-associated effects. In conclusion, our data show that vascular risk factors EtOH and cholesterol play a role in cognitive impairment and possibly vaD.


PALB2: a novel inactivating mutation in a Italian breast cancer family.
Rare germline monoallelic mutations in PALB2 confer a relative risk of breast cancer of 2 to 4-times. To better define the role of PALB2 in breast cancer susceptibility in Italian breast or breast-ovarian cancer families we screened 95 index cases negative for BRCA1/BRCA2 germline mutations. The mutational analysis of the PALB2 gene in a index case of an high risk breast cancer family, has identified a frameshift mutation (c.1517delG) in the exon 4 that leads to the formation of a stop codon, 12 residues downstream of the mutation (Leu451X). The mutation was identified in a woman 52 year old with an infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma and in two of the three sisters without breast cancer. Our results confirmed that PALB2 could be a susceptibility gene for familial breast cancer also in Italian population.


[Research progress in non-coding RNAs in mediating immune responses of macrophages to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection].
Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Macrophages are the first line in defensing MTB infection and the main host cells for the growth and persistence of MTB. Changes in macrophage function are critical for the host response to tuberculosis. Non-coding RNAs are involved in the pathophysiological process of many diseases, including TB, and play a very important regulatory role in the macrophage mediated immune response process. Therefore, we reviewed the mechanisms of the non-coding RNAs mediated function alteration of macrophages, in order to facilitate identification of potential therapeutic targets for host-directed anti-TB treatment.


Thermochemoradiation therapy using superselective intra-arterial infusion via superficial temporal and occipital arteries for oral cancer with N3 cervical lymph node metastases.
To evaluate the therapeutic results and histopathological effects of treatment with thermochemoradiation therapy using superselective intra-arterial infusion via the superficial temporal and occipital arteries for N3 cervical lymph node metastases of advanced oral cancer. Between April 2005 and September 2010, 9 patients with N3 cervical lymph node metastases of oral squamous cell carcinoma underwent thermochemoradiation therapy using superselective intra-arterial infusion with docetaxel (DOC) and cisplatin (CDDP). Treatment consisted of hyperthermia (2-8 sessions), superselective intra-arterial infusions (DOC, total 40-60 mg/m(2); CDDP, total 100-150 mg/m(2)) and daily concurrent radiation therapy (total, 40-60 Gy) for 4-6 weeks. Six of 9 patients underwent neck dissection 5-8 weeks after treatment. In four of these 6 patients, all metastatic lymph nodes, including those at N3, were grade 3 (non-viable tumor cells present) or grade 4 (no tumor cells present) tumors, as classified by the system by Shimosato et al (Shimosato et al Jpn J Clin Oncol 1971;1:19-35). In 2 of these 6 patients, the metastatic lymph nodes were grade 2b (destruction of tumor structures with a small amount of residual viable tumor cells). The other 3 patients did not undergo neck dissection due to distant metastasis after completion of thermochemoradiation therapy (n=2) and refusal (n=1). The patient who refused neck dissection underwent biopsy of the N3 lymph node and primary sites and showed grade 3 cancer. During follow-up, 5 patients were alive without disease, and 4 patients died due to pulmonary metastasis (n=3) and noncancer-related causes (n=1). Five-year survival and locoregional control rates were 51% and 88%, respectively. Thermochemoradiation therapy using intra-arterial infusion provided good histopathologic effects and locoregional control rates in patients with N3 metastatic lymph nodes. However, patients with N3 metastatic lymph nodes experienced a high rate of distant metastases.


Eustachian tube balloon dilation surgery.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common condition without an effective, accepted treatment. Balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty (BDET) has been recently proposed for the management of ETD. Previous studies of Eustachian tube function and treatment have not included a validated assessment of patient symptoms. We report for the first time the outcomes of BDET using a validated disease-specific symptom score, the 7-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7). Consecutive patients undergoing BDET were prospectively enrolled from an otolaryngology practice at a tertiary care medical center. Inclusion criteria were adults with a diagnosis of ETD based on symptoms and abnormal tympanogram. Patients with craniofacial abnormalities or active infection were excluded from study. Primary outcome measures included the ETDQ-7 score, tympanometry, and otoscopic appearance. Secondary measures included the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score. Twenty-two consecutive patients underwent 35 BDET procedures. Significant postoperative improvement was seen in tympanometry and otoscopic appearance (p < 0.001). ETDQ-7 scores at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively were significantly improved over baseline (p < 0.001). ETDQ-7 scores showed fair correlation with SNOT-22 scores (r > 0.65). ETDQ-7 change scores demonstrated good responsiveness and sensitivity to clinical change following BDET. BDET is an effective surgical intervention for the treatment of ETD in adults. Postoperative improvements were observed using objective and subjective measures. The ETDQ-7 is a valid, disease-specific instrument for the assessment of treatment outcomes and may be applied for clinical use in patients with ETD. Further study is necessary to determine long-term effectiveness.


Visually perceived eye level and perceived elevation of objects: linearly additive influences from visual field pitch and from gravity.
Observing a pitched visual field (i.e. tilted around a horizontal axis in the observer's frontal plane) results in large changes in the elevation visually perceived to correspond to eye level (VPEL) and in the perceived elevation and size of stationary objects viewed against the field. With topforward pitch (top toward observer) VPEL lies above true eye level and objects appear smaller and lower; with topbackward pitch VPEL lies below true eye level and objects appear larger and higher. Oscillation of the pitched field induces synchronous perceived oscillation of elevation of a stationary target viewed against the field. Typical VPEL settings deviated from true eye level by 20 degrees with the field pitched at 40 degrees, although some individuals mislocalized by as much as 40 degrees. VPEL varied linearly with visual field pitch with individual slopes for the relation between VPEL and visual field pitch ranging from +0.42 to +0.78 (avg = +0.56). The linear correlation (r) between VPEL in darkness and against an erect visual field was +0.91. The two relations--VPEL vs visual field pitch, VPEL in darkness vs VPEL in the erect illuminated visual field (slope approximately equal to 0.5)--are both accurately predicted by the linear model: VPEL = kvV + kbB; in which V is the influence of visual field structure and B is the influence of the body-referenced mechanism which combines information regarding the orientation of the head relative to gravity, the position of the eye in the orbit, and the vertical location of the image on the retina; kv and kb are the relative weights of V and B with kv + kb = 1. In an illuminated field kv = kb approximately equal to 0.5; in the dark kv = 0, kb = 1.


224Ra-induced osteopenia in male CBA mice.
Six groups of young adult, male mice were injected with six dose levels of the bone-seeking, alpha-emitting radionuclide 224Ra (half-life 3.6 days); a seventh group was injected with saline alone. The administered doses were relatively low, ranging from 2 to 64 kBq per animal. The mice were maintained under standard laboratory conditions until they either died or became moribund, when they were killed. The mean ages at death of the experimental groups were not significantly different from the normal control group. Individual bones--the mandible, parietal, nasal, and bulla--were isolated and standard linear measurements and dry weights were obtained. In all measurements considered, the highest two administered amounts (32 and 64 kBq) caused a significant reduction relative to controls. Low power microscopy of the mandible revealed osteonecrosis in the high dose groups. This is similar to the condition of "radium jaw" which has been described as a late effect of either accidental ingestion or therapeutic administration of 226Ra (half-life 1,620 years) in man; the other bones did not show obvious osteonecrosis. This work emphasizes the long-term osteopenic effects of low-dose radium, even in the short-lived species 224Ra. It also provides a method of quantifying the osteopenic effect of bone-seeking radionuclides.


Improved Visual Outcomes after Severe Open-Globe Injuries Associated with Perioperative Vitreoretinal Evaluation.
To investigate the impact of perioperative evaluation by a vitreoretinal surgeon on outcomes after severe open-globe injury (OGI). Retrospective, comparative study. Open-globe injury cohorts from 2 academic United States ophthalmology departments with disparate OGI management protocols and vitreoretinal referral patterns. Patients with severe OGI (presenting visual acuity [VA] of counting fingers or worse) from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) were compared with patients with severe OGI from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI). At UIHC, almost all cases of OGI were repaired by anterior segment surgeons, with postoperative vitreoretinal referral at the surgeon's discretion. In contrast, at BPEI, all OGIs were both repaired and managed postoperatively by a vitreoretinal surgeon. Rate of vitreoretinal surgeon evaluation, rate of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) (either primary or secondary), and VA at the last follow-up. Overall, 74 subjects from UIHC and 72 subjects from BPEI met the inclusion criteria. There were no differences in preoperative VA or rates of vitreoretinal pathology. The rate of vitreoretinal surgeon evaluation was 100% at BPEI and 65% at UIHC (P < 0.001), and the rate of PPV was 71% at BPEI and 40% at UIHC (P < 0.001). Median VA at the last follow-up in the BPEI cohort was 1.35 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (interquartile range [IQR], 0.53-2.30, corresponding to a Snellen VA of ∼ 20/500) compared with a median VA of 2.70 logMAR (IQR, 0.93-2.92, corresponding to a Snellen VA of light perception) in the UIHC cohort (P = 0.031). Overall, 68% of patients in the BPEI cohort had an improvement in VA from presentation to last follow-up versus 43% in the UIHC cohort (P = 0.004). Automatic perioperative evaluation by a vitreoretinal surgeon was associated with a higher rate of PPV and improved visual outcomes. Prompt evaluation by a vitreoretinal surgeon, either preoperatively or in the early postoperative period, should be considered, when logistically feasible, in severe OGIs because PPV is frequently indicated and may result in significant visual improvement. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.


The effect of calcium intake and physical activity on bone quantitative ultrasound measurements in children: a pilot study.
Environmental factors, such as nutritional status, physical activity, and drug therapy, can affect bone mineralization. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status, physical activity, and bone mineralization as assessed by multisite quantitative ultrasound technology in children. The study group comprised 67 children, aged 6-17 years (mean, 9.4), attending a primary care clinic. Data on calcium intake and physical activity were collected using a detailed questionnaire. Speed of sound measurements were performed at the distal 1/3 radius and the midshaft tibia using Sunlight Omnisense apparatus. The reported mean calcium intake was 1105 mg/day. There was a significant difference in Z-scores at the radius and tibia between the low-and high-calcium-intake groups (P = 0.004, P = 0.035, respectively). A similar difference was found between the low-and normal-physical-activity groups (P = 0.015, P = 0.036, respectively). In this pilot study, a positive association was found between calcium intake, physical activity, and bone status, as assessed by the quantitative ultrasound technique.


Oxidative Stress-mediated Sprouty-related Protein with an EVH1 Domain 1 Down-regulation Contributes to Resisting Oxidative Injury in Microglia.
Microglia play an ambiguous role in injury or repair after ischemia-reperfusion, and the induced oxidative stress serves as an important signal, mediates direct toxicity to nerve cells, and eventually simulates complex physiological processes such as activation of microglia to repair the damaged area. Herein, we show that sprouty-related protein with an EVH1 domain 1 (SPRED1) may act as a regulatory node in this phenomenon. The ischemic brain of an ischemia-reperfusion rat model constructed by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) showed an increase in oxidative stress and downregulation of SPRED1 expression. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-simulated oxidative damage exerted a fluctuating regulatory effect on SPRED1 level in BV2 microglia, which is highly consistent with its regulatory effect on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor p65. Interestingly, SPRED1 overexpressed in BV2 cells did not exert any regulatory effect on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), NF-κB p65, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, treatment of BV2 cells overexpressing SPRED1 with H2O2 led to significant changes in the above phenomena as well as their viability and apoptosis. In the absence of H2O2 induction, SPRED overexpression alone did not mediate such an effect. These findings indicate that SPRED1 tends to maintain intracellular homeostasis of signals, but the oxidative stress derived from ischemia-reperfusion can easily degrade SPRED1 and consequently re-activate these restricted signals and alter the behavior of microglia. Thus, our study reveals a novel role of SPRED1 in microglia in response to cerebral ischemia-induced oxidative stress.


Transverse topographical analysis of petit mal discharges: diagnostical and pathogenic implications.
The analysis, so far neglected, of the transverse distribution of the paroxysmal bilaterally synchronous activities (PBSA) of petit mal leads to differentiate two topographical varieties of discharges: a lateral variety, where the spike-and-wave patterns present two symmetrical maxima one on each side of the skull, and a medial variety, where the paroxysmal activity exhibits a maximal voltage on the midsagittal area of the scalp. In both cases the EEG patterns involve the frontal areas. In a group of 46 children, referred for petit mal, we have studied 3 main clinical parameters: the symptomatology of the absence, the evolution and the associations of the disease. This study results in the individualization of two forms of petit mal: (1) one marked by lateral discharges, simple absences, a good prognosis and non-specific associations with other epilepsies; (2) the other by medial discharges, complex absences, a poor prognosis and a high rate of associations with other forms of generalized epilepsies. The discussion is devoted to the pathogenic implications of the transverse topographical analysis of the PBSA of petit mal and more generally of bilaterally synchronous activities, paroxysmal or not, expressing physiological or pathological processes.


Evaluation of a new automated chemiluminescence immunoassay for FGF23.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a hormone regulating phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. We have previously established a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for FGF23 and reported that FGF23 values are useful for the differential diagnosis of chronic hypophosphatemia. However, this ELISA has a rather narrow assay range of 3-800 pg/ml, and it was pointed out that the assay performance is not satisfactory when automatic washing is used. Here we evaluated a new automated chemiluminescence immunoassay for FGF23. This assay uses 10 μl sera or plasma samples and requires 20 min to obtain the first result. The assay was linear up to about 15,000 pg/ml and had a detection limit of 1 pg/ml. In addition, this assay showed coefficients of variation of less than 5% using samples with average FGF23 levels of 43.2-2,454.0 pg/ml. When FGF23 levels in 210 samples from chronic hypophosphatemic patients were evaluated by both the previous ELISA and this new assay, there was a good correlation of R (2) = 0.96. However, FGF23 levels by the new assay showed lower values, especially in samples with high FGF23 levels. Given that the lowest FGF23 level in patients with FGF23-related hypophosphatemia was 30.8 pg/ml and that the highest FGF23 levels in patients with non-FGF23-related hypophosphatemia was 20.8 pg/ml by this novel assay, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% when the cutoff was set between 20.8 and 30.8 pg/ml. From the aspect of convenience and the coefficients of variation of this assay, we propose that the cutoff be 25 pg/ml. There results indicate that this new assay is ideal for both clinical use and clinical studies, especially when measuring many samples with high FGF23 levels.


An analysis of 1-3-year follow-up results of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: an Indian perspective.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become very popular nowadays among bariatric surgeons because of its surgical simplicity and good postoperative results. We present our experience on LSG as a single stage primary bariatric procedure for morbid obesity and its 1-3-year follow-up results. Between March 2008 and March 2011, a total of 110 patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Two patients were excluded from the study and thus the prospectively maintained data of 108 patients were retrospectively reviewed and outcomes were recorded. The mean patient age was 39.3 ± 11.1 years, mean body mass index was 44.5 ± 6.8, mean excess body weight was 54.1 ± 16.3 kg, and the mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 3.1 ± 0.57. The mean operative time for the LSG procedure was 64.8 ± 10.6 min. The minimum follow-up duration was 6 months and maximum of 36 months. The mean postoperative percent excess body weight loss achieved was 67.5 ± 13.0 at 1 year, 71.1 ± 13.8 at 2 years, and 66.09 ± 14.3 at 3 years. At the end of 3 years, there was 83.3% resolution in diabetes, 85.7% resolution in hypertension, and 85.71% resolution in dyslipidemia. There were no reports of postoperative hemorrhage, gastric leak, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, delayed gastric tube stricture, and operative mortality. LSG is a safe and effective bariatric procedure with low perioperative complications. Before it is considered as a single stage primary procedure, a long-term prospective comparative study with other bariatric procedures is required.


In vitro pharmacodynamic evaluation of VP-16-213 and implications for chemotherapy.
VP-16-213 (Etoposide) is an active antineoplastic agent which has undergone extensive evaluation of clinical dose escalation. To corroborate a putative dose-response relationship, we studied, in a modified clonogenic assay, various doses and durations of exposure. VP-16-213 at doses of 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 micrograms/ml, each with exposure durations of 1, 3, 18, and 30 h, was studied in vitro against two human tumor cell lines, MOLT and 9812. The doses and durations of exposure were chosen to approximate some of the pharmacokinetic values achievable in either standard-dose or high-dose clinical studies. The results, summarized as linear regression lines, demonstrate with statistical significance (p less than 0.03) that there is correlation between dose and cytotoxicity and between dose X duration of exposure (representing the area under the concentration-time curve) and cytotoxicity. Our in vitro data thus support the concept of intensive use of VP-16-213 to maximize antitumor activity. However, how best to accomplish the manipulation of dose and duration of exposure is not yet clear and will be the subject of future clinical investigations.


Evaluation of a multidisciplinary, multimodal pain management protocol following pancreas transplantation.
Patients undergoing solid-organ transplantation demonstrate pain arising from both the surgical intervention and pre-existing comorbidities. High levels of opioid use both pre- and post-transplant are associated with unfavorable transplant outcomes. Patient education, multimodal therapy, and discharge planning have all been demonstrated to reduce opioid use after transplant. This is a single-center, retrospective study analyzing patients before and after implementation of a multimodal, multidisciplinary pain management protocol. Morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) use during the index transplant hospitalization and the need for opioids at discharge was compared between the pre- and post-protocol groups. A total of 52 patients were included in the study, 31 in the pre and 21 in the post-protocol groups. Inpatient MME use was reduced from 135.5 to 67.5 MMEs after protocol implementation. Additionally, the number of patients discharged on opioids following transplant decreased from 90.3% to 47.6%. Pain scores, length of stay (LOS), and return of bowel function was not different between groups. The implementation of a multimodal, multidisciplinary pain management protocol significantly decreased opioid use during the post-surgical hospitalization and in the 6 months following transplantation. A combination of non-opioid analgesics, patient education, and discharge planning can be beneficial elements in pancreas transplant pain management.


Regulation of levels of specific Sertoli cell mRNAs by vitamin A.
The regulation of Sertoli cell transferrin and sulfated glycoprotein-2 (SGP-2) mRNA levels by vitamin A was studied in vitamin A deficient rats. Vitamin A deficiency differentially affected the levels of these mRNAs. Sertoli cells from vitamin A deficient rats contained 3-fold less transferrin mRNA and 1.8-fold more SGP-2 mRNA than Sertoli cells from normal rats. Vitamin A deficiency did not result in changes in the amount of transferrin mRNA per liver cell. When vitamin A deficient rats were fed a retinol supplemented diet, Sertoli cell transferrin and SGP-2 mRNA levels returned to normal. In contrast, dietary retinoic acid did not support recovery of the levels of the two mRNAs. The regulation of transferrin and SGP-2 mRNA levels was further examined in vitamin A deficient rats that had received subcapsular testicular injections of vitamin A and in vitamin A supplemented cultures of Sertoli cells from vitamin A deficient rats. Under these conditions, retinol and retinoic acid both stimulated transferrin mRNA levels but did not affect SGP-2 mRNA levels. Retinol did not inhibit the turnover of transferrin mRNA in Sertoli cell cultures suggesting that the stimulation of transferrin mRNA levels by retinol is due to increased transcription of the transferrin gene. A mathematical correlation between the Sertoli cell transferrin mRNA levels and the weight of the testes or the number of germinal cells was observed.


Detection of rinderpest virus using N-protein monoclonal antibodies.
A panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was generated against the RBOK strain of rinderpest virus (RPV). All of them bound to the N protein of RPV. The antigen capture ELISA using the mAbs could detect the virus in crude viral preparations. The mAb 12BF8.1.1 showed higher reactivity with cell-associated (CA) virus, whereas the mAbs 12AD10.1.1, 12BD7.1.1 and 12DG7.1.1 showed higher reactivity with extracellular virus (hereafter referred to as cell-free (CF) virus). The mAbs 12BF8.1.1 and 12AD10.1.1 could detect the virus in infected Vero cell culture supernatants (CCS) as early as 24 h post-cytopathic effect (CPE) initiation. Detergent treatment (Triton X-100) of RPV preparations enhanced the binding of the mAbs to the virus. All the seven mAbs showed specific fluorescence in virus-infected cell cultures. The immunofluorescence (IFA) using mAbs was found to be more sensitive and reliable than the immunoperoxidase test (IPT) for detection of rinderpest.


[Severe cutaneous drug reactions in children].
Severe cutaneous drug reactions also occur in children and range from reactions with blister forming of skin and mucosa to extensive exanthems with altered differential blood count and involvement of internal organs. The first group includes Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which are considered as one disease entity with different degrees of severity and are also referred to as "epidermal" or "epithelial necrolysis" (EN). The group of drug reactions with primarily systemic alterations is represented by a condition known as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).Although EN is generally considered as a drug reaction, a causative agent can only be identified in about 50% of all pediatric cases. Once a clear diagnosis is established, specific treatment measures should be carried out, whereby discontinuation of the causative agent plays a decisive role in drug-induced cases. In order to be able to identify and discontinue the drug responsible, a detailed medication history must be obtained. Certain antiepileptic drugs, sulfonamides and sulfasalazine are among the most frequent triggers of EN and DRESS in children. Supportive therapy including appropriate topical treatment, pain management and ophthalmological consultations are of utmost importance in EN but a short-term immunomodulating treatment with cyclosporine A has been shown to be helpful. In contrast, in DRESS middle to long-term systemic treatment with glucocorticosteroids is recommended.


A ferriprotoporphyrin IX-chloroquine complex promotes membrane phospholipid peroxidation. A possible mechanism for antimalarial action.
The effect of a ferriprotoporphyrin IX-chloroquine complex on phospholipid membranes was investigated on the basis of iron-induced lipid peroxidation using microsomal phospholipid liposomes. The ferriprotoporphyrin IX-chloroquine complex remarkably promoted peroxidative cleavage of unsaturated phospholipids in liposomes, compared with ferriprotoporphyrin IX alone. Neither the combination of protoporphyrin IX with chloroquine nor the combination of Fe3+-ADP with chloroquine promoted lipid peroxidation. DL-alpha-Tocopherol completely inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by the ferriprotoporphyrin IX-chloroquine complex.


A framework for comparing N95 and elastomeric facepiece respirators on cost and function for healthcare use during a pandemic- A literature review.
SARS-CoV-2 has posed implications for personal protective equipment supply. In this literature review we examine if elastomeric facepiece respirators (EFRs) are effective substitutes for N95 respirators through comparing their functionality and cost. We reviewed 30 articles which researched the advantages and disadvantages of each respirator. We compiled the reported results and found, among other things, that users favour N95 respirators for comfort but prefer EFRs for protection. EFRs are more cost effective when N95s are used as designed (single use) but mixed strategies minimize costs when N95s are reused (as practiced during shortages). Future research is needed on multicriteria analyses and to incorporate SARS-CoV-2 specific data to support future pandemic planning.


More than number sense: The additional role of executive functions and metacognition in arithmetic.
Arithmetic is a major building block for children's development of more complex mathematical abilities. Knowing which cognitive factors underlie individual differences in arithmetic is key to gaining further insight into children's mathematical development. The current study investigated the role of executive functions and metacognition (domain-general cognitive factors) as well as symbolic numerical magnitude processing (domain-specific cognitive factor) in arithmetic, enabling the investigation of their unique contribution in addition to each other. Participants were 127 typically developing second graders (7- and 8-year-olds). Our within-participant design took into account different components of executive functions (i.e., inhibition, shifting, and updating), different aspects of metacognitive skills (i.e., task-specific and general metacognition), and different levels of experience in arithmetic, namely addition (where second graders had extensive experience) and multiplication (where second graders were still in the learning phase). This study reveals that both updating and metacognitive monitoring are important unique predictors of arithmetic in addition to each other and to symbolic numerical magnitude processing. Our results point to a strong and unique role of task-specific metacognitive monitoring skills. These individual differences in noticing one's own errors might help one to learn from his or her mistakes.


Classification, causation and treatment of masticatory myogenous pain and dysfunction.
This article focuses on chronic myogenous pains affecting the masticatory muscles, including focal myalgia, regional myalgia, myofascial pain, and fibromyalgia. The probable mechanisms are discussed and treatment options, including self-directed treatment, physical medicine modalities, and several types of pharmacologic agents, are presented.


Synthesis and evaluation of molecularly imprinted polymeric microspheres for highly selective extraction of an anti-AIDS drug emtricitabine.
The molecularly imprinted polymeric microspheres (MIPMs, 3~5 μm), used as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) packing materials for anti-AIDS drug emtricitabine (FTC), were synthesized by precipitation polymerization. The effects of ratio of chloroform to acetonitrile on the morphology and diameter of MIPMs were investigated. The prepared MIPMs were characterized by HPLC. The imprinting factor (2.26) suggests that the resultant MIPMs exhibit good recognition and affinity to FTC. In addition, the MIPMs were used in SPE as packing material for separation and enrichment of FTC. The recovery of FTC on MIPMs cartridge was 97.6 % in standard solution. Finally, the MIPMs cartridge was applied to extract the FTC in human serum samples. Impurities in sample have been mostly removed, and the average recovery of 92.5 % was obtained with a detection limit of 0.005 μg/mL and a linear range of 0.02~4.0 μg/mL. The method established can be used to monitor the FTC in human serum sample with good accuracy and selectivity.


Total gastric necrosis due to aberrant arterial anatomy and retrograde blood flow in the gastroduodenal artery: a complication following pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Patients with coeliac artery occlusion often remain asymptomatic due to the rich collateral blood supply (pancreaticoduodenal arcades) from the superior mesenteric artery. However, division of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) during pancreaticoduodenectomy may result in compromised blood supply to the liver, stomach and spleen. Postoperative complications associated with this condition are rarely reported in the literature. We report two cases of coeliac artery occlusion encountered during pancreaticoduodenectomy, one of which was complicated by hepatic ischaemia and total gastric infarction postoperatively. Based on our experience and review of the literature, a management algorithm for coeliac artery stenosis encountered during pancreaticoduodenectomy is proposed.


Accumulation of true single strand breaks and AP sites in base excision repair deficient cells.
Single strand breaks (SSBs) are one of the most frequent DNA lesions caused by endogenous and exogenous agents. The most utilized alkaline-based assays for SSB detection frequently give false positive results due to the presence of alkali-labile sites that are converted to SSBs. Methoxyamine, an acidic O-hydroxylamine, has been utilized to measure DNA damage in cells. However, the neutralization of methoxyamine is required prior to usage. Here we developed a convenient, specific SSB assay using alkaline gel electrophoresis (AGE) coupled with a neutral O-hydroxylamine, O-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)hydroxylamine (OTX). OTX stabilizes abasic sites (AP sites) to prevent their alkaline incision while still allowing for strong alkaline DNA denaturation. DNA from DT40 and isogenic polymerase β null cells exposed to methyl methanesulfonate were applied to the OTX-coupled AGE (OTX-AGE) assay. Time-dependent increases in SSBs were detected in each cell line with more extensive SSB formation in the null cells. These findings were supported by an assay that indirectly detects SSBs through measuring NAD(P)H depletion. An ARP-slot blot assay demonstrated a significant time-dependent increase in AP sites in both cell lines by 1mM MMS compared to control. Furthermore, the Pol β-null cells displayed greater AP site formation than the parental DT40 cells. OTX use represents a facile approach for assessing SSB formation, whose benefits can also be applied to other established SSB assays.


Patient-Assessed Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) scenario in an Indian homeopathic hospital.
Homeopathy research has focused on chronic conditions; however, the extent to which current homeopathic care is compliant with the Chronic Care Model (CCM) has been sparsely shown. As the Bengali Patient-Assessed Chronic Illness Care (PACIC)-20 was not available, the English questionnaire was translated and evaluated in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India. The translation was done in six steps, and approved by an expert committee. Face validity was tested by 15 people for comprehension. Test/retest reliability (reproducibility) was tested on 30 patients with chronic conditions. Internal consistency was tested in 377 patients suffering from various chronic conditions. The questionnaire showed acceptable test/retest reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.57-0.75; positive to strong positive correlations; p < 0.0001] for all domains and the total score, strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.86 overall and 0.65-0.82 for individual subscales), and large responsiveness (1.11). The overall mean score percentage seemed to be moderate at 69.5 ± 8.8%. Gender and presence of chronic conditions did not seem to vary significantly with PACIC-20 subscale scores (p > 0.05); however, monthly household income had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on the subscales except for "delivery system or practice design." Overall, chronic illness care appeared to be quite promising and CCM-compliant. The psychometric properties of the Bengali PACIC-20 were satisfactory, rendering it a valid and reliable instrument for assessing chronic illness care among the patients attending a homeopathic hospital.


RNAi-mediated CHS-2 silencing affects the synthesis of chitin and the formation of the peritrophic membrane in the midgut of Aedes albopictus larvae.
Mosquitoes are an important vector of viral transmission, and due to the complexity of the pathogens they transmit, vector control may be the most effective strategy to control mosquito-borne diseases. Chitin is required for insect growth and development and is absent in higher animals and plants, so regulating the chitin synthesis pathway can serve as a potentially effective means to control vector insects. Most of the current research on the chitin synthase (CHS) gene is focused on chitin synthase-1 (CHS-1), while relatively little is known about chitin synthase-2 (CHS-2). The CHS-2 gene of Ae. albopictus is highly conserved and closely related to that of Aedes aegypti. The expression of CHS-2 in the third-instar larvae and pupal stage of Ae. albopictus was relatively high, and CHS-2 expression in adult mosquitoes reached the highest value 24 h after blood-feeding. In the fourth-instar larvae of Ae. albopictus, CHS-2 expression was significantly higher in the midgut than in the epidermis. Silencing CHS-2 in Ae. albopictus larvae had no effect on larval survival and emergence. The expression of four genes related to chitin synthesis enzymes was significantly upregulated, the expression level of three genes was unchanged, and only the expression level of GFAT was significantly downregulated. The expression of chitin metabolism-related genes was also upregulated after silencing. The level of chitin in the midgut of Ae. albopictus larvae was significantly decreased, while the chitinase activity was unchanged. The epithelium of the midgut showed vacuolization, cell invagination and partial cell rupture, and the structure of the peritrophic membrane was destroyed or even absent. The expression of CHS-2 in different developmental stages and tissues of Aedes albopictus was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR). After silencing CHS-2 of the fourth-instar larvae of Ae. albopictus by RNA interference (RNAi), the expression levels of genes related to chitin metabolism, chitin content and chitinase activity in the larvae were detected. The structure of peritrophic membrane in the midgut of the fourth-instar larvae after silencing was observed by paraffin section and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. CHS-2 can affect midgut chitin synthesis and breakdown by regulating chitin metabolic pathway-related genes and is involved in the formation of the midgut peritrophic membrane in Ae. albopictus, playing an important role in growth and development. It may be a potential target for enhancing other control methods.


Different tissue plasminogen activator release in the arm and leg during venous occlusion is equalized after DDAVP infusion.
The mechanism of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release during arm and leg venous occlusions and DDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) infusion was studied in 10 healthy males. The following determinations were carried out on venous blood: t-PA antigen (ELISA), t-PA activity, and t-PA inhibitor (PAI) activity (amidolytic assays). Before DDAVP, there was a 270% t-PA antigen increase in the arm at the end of occlusion as opposed to only a 40% increase in the leg. After DDAVP, t-PA antigen at the end of arm and leg occlusion reached an equal level which was significantly higher than in the arm before DDAVP. The study produced no evidence of PAI release during venous occlusion of a limb. It is concluded that DDAVP is able to elicit t-PA release from arm as well as from leg vessels. The poor fibrinolytic response of leg vessels to venous occlusion is not due to a high PAI release or t-PA stores depletion in leg vessels, but rather to low basal t-PA release in leg vessels.


Investigating emergency nurses' beliefs and experiences with patient handling in the emergency department.
Patient handling policy intends to decrease the risk of musculoskeletal injury for nurses. Many factors influence nurses' adherence to patient handling policy, including the context in which the activities take place. The aim of this study was to investigate emergency nurses' beliefs and experiences with patient handling in the emergency department. A phenomenological approach was used to explore the participants' experience of patient handling in the ED. Focus group interviews were held in a Victorian emergency department. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Five interviews were held with 40 nurse participants. Four themes were identified that described participants beliefs and experiences of patient handling: 'Putting the patient first' describes participants prioritisation of patient safety over their own; 'Patient -related challenges' describes the patient factors (e.g. language, mobility, size) that make patient handling more difficult; 'Staff knowledge' of policy and procedure; and 'Inadequate resources' which describes the physical and human resource limitations that made patient handling more difficult. Issues with equipment, education and patient handling culture are widespread, and this study reaffirms the importance of considering context in developing interventions to improve practice. Introduction of a Safe Patient Handling Program in the ED, that addresses multiple barriers simultaneously, may improve adherence to policy, and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury in emergency nurses.


[Long-term outcome of dentoalveolar trauma in relation to post-traumatic instability].
The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the long-term outcomes of dental injuries. Subluxated and laterally luxated teeth were evaluated according to the findings of CO2 sensitivity, obliteration, pulpal sclerosis, and the duration of post-traumatic fixation of the injured teeth. The data of 725 patients were analyzed retrospectively over a period of 14 years. Of these, 108 patients could be investigated for a long-term follow-up. Dental trauma was classified according to the degree of luxation (I-III). There was a significant correlation between the degree of luxation and the post-traumatic findings of CO2 sensitivity. There was no significant correlation between the degree of luxation and the post-traumatic findings of apical inflammation, pulpal sclerosis, and/or obliteration. Long-term fixation of injured teeth had no effect on the short- and long-term occurrence of pathologic processes at the root such as root resorption. The post-traumatic finding of CO2 sensitivity was related to the degree of luxation of the injured teeth. Apical inflammation, pulpal sclerosis, and obliteration were not related to the degree of luxation. The results suggest that long-term fixation of injured teeth has no negative effects on the long-term outcomes of subluxated and laterally luxated teeth.


Type C coping, alexithymia, and heart rate reactivity are associated independently and differentially with specific immune mechanisms linked to HIV progression.
The maladaptive Type C coping style has been linked to disease progression in HIV and other immunologically mediated disorders. We hypothesized that strong Type C coping, higher levels of alexithymia, and greater cardiovascular (particularly heart rate) responses to, and prolonged recovery from stress would be associated with poorer functioning of immune parameters previously linked to HIV pathogenesis and progression: (1) antigen-stimulated production of the beta (beta)-chemokines MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta, which bind to the HIV co-receptor CCR5 and block HIV entry into CD4(+) lymphocytes; and (2) antigen-stimulated production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), which synergizes immune activation associated with HIV replication. We examined relations among psychological, cardiovascular, and immune variables in a baseline sample of 200 HIV-infected, predominantly African American outpatients attending an HIV primary care clinic in inner-city Baltimore. In regression analyses adjusted for CD4(+) count and age, strong Type C coping was associated with significantly higher IL-6 production, as predicted. The theoretically related construct of alexithymia was correlated with significantly lower stimulated production of HIV-inhibiting MIP-1 alpha. Independent of alexithymia, greater heart rate reactivity, and poorer heart rate recovery in response to experimental stressors were also significantly associated with lower production of MIP-1 alpha, adjusted for cardiovascular medications, methadone use, CD4(+) count, and age. These findings support our primary set of hypotheses that maladaptive Type C coping, alexithymia, and heart rate reactivity/recovery are associated with disturbances in two key immune parameters implicated in HIV pathogenesis. Our secondary hypothesis, that dysregulated heart rate reactivity may mediate the connections between Type C coping and/or alexithymia and IL-6/ MIP-1 alpha was not confirmed. The finding that Type C coping, alexithymia, and heart rate reactivity/recovery are associated independently and differentially with specific aspects of relevant immune functioning may reflect distinct biobehavioral pathways that contribute to HIV progression.


[Value of a kinetic study of intraerythrocyte lithium in research on bioclinical correlations in intolerant subjects].
From the plasma and red cell kinetics of lithium in 43 patients having received lithium therapy for at least 15 days, the authors try to establish a correlation between intolerance and a variety of parameters examined. Statistical analysis reveals that: intra-erythrocytic concentration is a more reliable biological index than the lithium level; it can be modified by associated drug therapy; measuring the erythroplasmic ratio at different times of the day shows important variation within individuals. This type of kinetic study can identify biologically the 2 sub-groups distinguished by clinical examination: tolerant subjects (those on lithium therapy without any neurological signs) and poorly tolerant subjects.


Caspofungin susceptibility testing of Candida inconspicua: correlation of different methods with the minimal fungicidal concentration.
Minimal inhibitory and minimal fungicidal concentrations of caspofungin were determined for 48 Candida inconspicua isolates. By using CLSI (formerly NCCLS) methodology with the partial inhibition endpoint criterion, caspofungin exhibited a good fungicidal effect against C. inconspicua (the MIC(90) was 0.25 microg/ml and the minimum fungicidal concentration [MFC] was 0.5 microg/ml after 24 h). Total inhibition yielded falsely elevated MICs, exceeding even the respective MFCs.


Organ dose reconstruction for the radiation epidemiological study of Korean radiation workers: the first dose evaluation for the Korean Radiation Worker Study (KRWS).
The Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences has started a radiation epidemiological study, titled "Korean Radiation Worker Study," to evaluate the health effects of occupational exposure to radiation. As a part of this study, we investigated the methodologies and results of reconstructing organ-specific absorbed doses based on personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), reported from 1984 to 2019 for 20,605 Korean radiation workers. For the organ dose reconstruction, representative exposure scenarios (i.e., radiation energy and exposure geometry) were first determined according to occupational groups, and dose coefficients for converting Hp(10) to organ absorbed doses were then appropriately taken based on the exposure scenarios. Individual annual doses and individual cumulative doses were reconstructed for 27 organs, and the highest values were observed in the thyroid doses (on average 0.77 mGy/y and 10.47 mGy, respectively). Mean values of individual cumulative absorbed doses for the red bone marrow, colon, and lungs were 7.83, 8.78, and 8.43 mSv, respectively. Most of the organ doses were maximum for industrial radiographers, followed by nuclear power plant workers, medical workers, and other facility workers. The organ dose database established in this study will be utilized for organ-specific risk estimation in the Korean Radiation Worker Study.


Increased circulating CD31+/CD42b-EMPs in Perthes disease and inhibit HUVECs angiogenesis via endothelial dysfunction.
Endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are extracellular vesicles secreted by endothelial cells. The purpose of this research is to explore that the clinical significance and roles in angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction of circulating microparticles in Perthes disease. We collected platelet-poor plasma (PPP) from patients and controls, then microparticles (MPs) were extracted. Flow cytometry was performed to calculate the concentrations of CD31+/CD42b-, CD62E+ and CD31+/CD42b+ MPs. ELISA was performed to detect the expression level of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory factors in plasma. In vitro experiments to evaluate the effect of circulating MPs and EMPs derived from IL-6-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction. Our results revealed that the CD31+/CD42b- EMPs were significantly higher in Perthes disease group than in the control group. The Perthes-MPs being taken up by HUVECs promoted endothelial cell apoptosis, endothelial dysfunction and inhibited angiogenesis in vitro. Moreover, the level of IL-6 in plasma significantly increased in patients with Perthes, which was tightly correlated with the elevated level of circulating CD31+/CD42b- EMPs. IL-6 promoted HUVECs to secrete CD31+/CD42b- MPs, and EMPs derived from high concentration IL-6-stimulated (100 and 1000 pg/mL) HUVECs promoted endothelial cell apoptosis, endothelial dysfunction and inhibited angiogenesis. In summary, our study suggests that circulating EMPs in the phenotypic spectrum revealed unique phenotypes of endothelial dysfunction, showing close correlation with the secretion of IL-6. These circulating EMPs may give rise to endothelial cell apoptosis, endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis in Perthes disease.


Risk for occupational transmission of HIV infection among health care workers. Study in a Spanish hospital.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the HIV seroconversion rate associated with different types of occupational exposures in health care workers. A longitudinal study was conducted from January 1986 to October 1992 in a teaching hospital in Spain, where HIV infection is prevalent among patients. Each health care worker was asked to complete a questionnaire regarding age, sex, staff category, lace of exposure, other exposures, type of exposure, body fluid, infected material and HIV status of source patient. These health care workers were then followed up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months with repeated test for HIV antibody. Four hundred twenty three reports of occupational exposure were analysed. Nursing was the profession with more exposures (42.8%). Ninety five percent of total exposures were percutaneous, 4% mucous membrane contacts and 1% skin contacts, 88.3% were described as blood contact and 71.8% had resulted from needlestick and suture needles. Exposures from HIV-positive patients comprised 23.2% of occupational exposures. There was a significant difference in the length of follow-up in physicians (p = 0.00009) and nurses (p = 0.00001), when we compared HIV-positive patients with patients in whom the HIV status was unknown or negative. The HIV seroconversion rate was 0.00%. We consider that the risk of acquiring HIV infection via contact with a patient is low, but not zero. Well documented cases of seroconversion have been published.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Experimental study on mechanism of absorption of cryonecrotized tumor antigens.
On Day 7 of subcutaneous MRMT-1 tumor inoculation in the thigh of Sprague-Dawley rats, the tumor was treated cryosurgically by contact method. Postoperative changes in local blood circulation were observed by colloidal carbon perfusion and hydrogen-clearance methods, and the pathway and time course of tumor antigen absorption were observed by measuring uptake in serum and lymph nodes of [3H]thymidine injected intratumorally. Results were: At 0.5 to 1 hr after cryosurgery, vascular stasis, dilatation, and tortuosity were observed. There was no inflow of carbon and almost no uptake of [3H]thymidine. At 6 hr, vascular stasis and sludging become more marked. There was no inflow of carbon, while uptake of [3H]thymidine markedly increased. At 24 hr, some carbon inflow in fin vessels and partial recovery of blood circulation in the peritumoral region were observed. Rate of [3H]thymidine uptake was further increased. At 72 hr, carbon inflow and blood circulation increased further, while the cryonecrotized tumor showed hyaline degeneration. At 168 hr, increase of newly formed vessels and recovery of blood circulation were remarkable, but uptake of [3H]thymidine was decreased in parallel with increased demarcation of the cryonecrotized tumor. From these results, it was suggested that the absorption of cryonecrotized tumor antigens started through lymphatic channels in the early period and then took place also through newly formed capillaries surrounding the tumor at 24 hr after cryosurgery and continued until 72 hr after cryosurgery.


Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers.
Alpha-gal is an oligosaccharide implicated in delayed anaphylaxis following red meat consumption. Exposure to tick bites has been correlated with development of an allergic response to alpha-gal. However, evidence prospectively linking exposure to a single tick species and an immune response to alpha-gal is lacking. We used serum samples from a prior study cohort of outdoor workers in North Carolina, USA, with high exposure to the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, to prospectively evaluate the relationship between tick bites and anti-alpha-gal IgE antibodies. Individuals who reported exposure to one or more tick bites were significantly more likely to have a positive change in anti-alpha-gal IgE compared to individuals with no reported tick bites. This relationship was not dependent on time. A trend toward increasing number of tick bites and increased anti-alpha-gal IgE levels was observed but not statistically significant. To our knowledge, this is the first study to prospectively link documented exposure to A. americanum bites and increased sensitization to alpha-gal in a cohort of outdoor workers. Our results support the role of A. americanum as likely agents for eliciting an allergic response to red meat, and highlight the importance of preventing tick bites.


Neuronal uptake and propagation of a rare phosphorylated high-molecular-weight tau derived from Alzheimer's disease brain.
Tau pathology is known to spread in a hierarchical pattern in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain during disease progression, likely by trans-synaptic tau transfer between neurons. However, the tau species involved in inter-neuron propagation remains unclear. To identify tau species responsible for propagation, we examined uptake and propagation properties of different tau species derived from postmortem cortical extracts and brain interstitial fluid of tau-transgenic mice, as well as human AD cortices. Here we show that PBS-soluble phosphorylated high-molecular-weight (HMW) tau, though very low in abundance, is taken up, axonally transported, and passed on to synaptically connected neurons. Our findings suggest that a rare species of soluble phosphorylated HMW tau is the endogenous form of tau involved in propagation and could be a target for therapeutic intervention and biomarker development.


Effect of copper on immune function and disease resistance.
Recent evidence suggests that copper exacts an important role in the maintenance of immunocompetence. Copper deficiency results in decreased humoral and cell-mediated, as well as nonspecific immune function. Impairment of immune function may be highly correlated with an increased incidence of infection and higher mortality rates observed in copper-deficient animals. The actual mechanisms by which copper is involved in immune processes are not well defined. This review addresses the copper-immune function interaction and discusses possible immunomodulatory roles for copper.


Hematuria due to congenital arteriovenous fistula treated with embolization.
To report a rare case that supposed an emergency. It is a case of hematuria caused by an arteriovenous fistula. We describe the background, clinical exploration, complementary exams and their results, as well as the treatment applied in an adolescent with hematuria. Congenital arteriovenous fistula was diagnosed and treated by percutaneous embolization, with immediate stop of the hematuria. Non-traumatic renal arteriovenous fistulae are infrequent and even more if they appear with gross hematuria. We present the case of an emergency caused by one of them which was treated by percutaneous embolization, avoiding surgery.


Diagnostic value of Hoover sign and motor-evoked potentials in acute somatoform unilateral weakness and sensory impairment mimicking vascular stroke.
Acute unilateral weakness along with sensory impairment is commonly caused by obstruction of major cortical arteries in either adults or children. A somatoform presentation mimicking acute vascular stroke is very rare, especially in the pediatric age group. Here we report three adolescents presenting with acute unilateral weakness and sensory impairment along with diminished tendon reflexes who were suspected to have an acute stroke but who had developed a somatoform psychogenic disorder. Two adolescents had complete hemiplegia and one had weakness of the left leg - two had moved the alleged paralytic limbs during sleep. A normal Hoover sign was suggestive of a somatoform psychogenic etiology rather than true vascular stroke. Cortical and spinal MRI, motor-evoked potentials (MEP) and somatosensory-evoked potentials were normal. All adolescents recovered completely. Therefore, a somatoform conversion reaction should be considered in children presenting with acute unilateral weakness and sensory alterations, which is corroborated by a normal Hoover sign and intact MEP.


[Epidemiologic investigation into characteristics of canine and feline population in a district close to a rural area in Cuiabá-MT, with a view to control of animal rabies].
Questionnaires answered by 476 students (age 15-20 yrs) attending a local school in the neighborhood of Pedra 90 in Cuiabá -MT were analyzed in order to study the characteristics of feline and canine populations in the region. The results showed that 371 (78%) of the 476 families kept 513 dogs and 307 cats. Of 573 dogs, 289 (56.3%) were male and 224 (43.7%) were female. Of 307 cats, 182 (59.28%) were male and 125 (40.72%) were female. The owners of 474 (92.4%) dogs and 267 (86.9%) cats reported that their pets had been vaccinated against rabies.


Torsade de pointes and ventricular flutter-fibrillation following spontaneous cerebral subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Five cases (3.8%) in a series of 132 patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage, studied by 24-hour Holter monitoring, presented with ventricular tachycardia of torsade de pointes variety. In all cases, the arrhythmias were observed within 24 hours after the bleeding. The QTc interval was prolonged more than 0.55 sec, and hypokalemia of less than 3.5 mEq/liter was present in all patients. The clinical status was not significant. Torsade de pointes occurred in comatose patients (3 cases) as well as in alert patients (2 cases). The arrhythmia was reversed by therapy in 3 patients, one of whom survived while 2 died due to cerebral damage. Our observations confirm the presence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring is therefore advisable in view of its potential role in alerting to the need for treatment.


Kidney Disease and Sars-coV-2 Infection: Challenges and Considerations for Nursing.
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected individuals with kidney disease causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Sars-coV-2 infection has been linked to the development of acute kidney injury and worsening of underlying kidney function. Multiple challenges were encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in valuable lessons learned for future pandemics, public health emergencies, and disasters related to the care of individuals with kidney disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the extensive need for more nurses to be knowledgeable about the care of kidney disease and able to provide specialized nephrology care.


The use of ketamine for the emergency intubation of patients with status asthmaticus.
We describe five patients with status asthmaticus whose respiratory acidosis persisted despite conventional treatment. Four were intubated with ketamine and succinylcholine and mechanically ventilated with immediate improvement of respiratory acidosis. One patient had been intubated previously with diazepam and succinylocholine and had a rise in pCO2 to 97. Ketamine was given IV with a rapid fall in pCO2. This improvement immediately after intubation is in contrast to previous reports of asthmatics whose respiratory acidosis and bronchospasm worsened immediately after intubation.


Mitral valve endocarditis in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
We report a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and mitral valve endocarditis. The case was complicated due to the initial septic status of the patient and the fragility of the mitral valve both of which required further early operative intervention. The patient also had pre-existing pulmonary septic emboli, the significance of which was missed prior to the admission to our Unit. Two peripheral arterial aneurysms were identified and corrected surgically on same admission. Possible complications of the syndrome and surgical implications are discussed along with review of the literature.


The effect of age on serum proteins in mice.
The relation of serum protein levels to age was investigated in the Swiss mouse. The present study demonstrates for the first time a dynamic age-dependent relationship between the various serum proteins. Total serum protein displayed a nonlinear change, decreasing from 10 to 136 days of age and thereafter increasing with advancing age with a peak at 465 days of age. Globulin concentration increased throughout the life span while albumin decreased for the first 136 days, after which it rose and peaked at 465 days of age. The relative percentage of each serum protein undergoes a significant non-constant, non-linear and non-quadratic change with increasing age. The patterns displayed by the various globulin fractions are strikingly similar to each other and tend to be inversely related to the pattern displayed by albumin. The relative percentage of each globulin fraction displayed a biphasic change with a peak at 200 days and a trough at 500 days of age.


Anti-inflammatory and modulatory effects of steroidal saponins and sapogenins on cytokines: A review of pre-clinical research.
Saponins are glycosides which, after acid hydrolysis, liberate sugar(s) and an aglycone (sapogenin) which can be triterpenoid or steroidal in nature. Steroidal saponins and sapogenins have attracted significant attention as important natural anti-inflammatory compounds capable of acting on the activity of several inflammatory cytokines in various inflammatory models. The aim of this review is to collect preclinical in vivo studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of steroidal saponins through the modulation of inflammatory cytokines. This review was carried out through a specialized search in three databases, that were accessed between September and October, 2021, and the publication period of the articles was not limited. Information about the name of the steroidal saponins, the animals used, the dose and route of administration, the model of pain or inflammation used, the tissue and experimental method used in the measurement of the cytokines, and the results observed on the levels of cytokines was retrieved. Forty-five (45) articles met the inclusion criteria, involving the saponins cantalasaponin-1, α-chaconine, dioscin, DT-13, lycoperoside H, protodioscin, α-solanine, timosaponin AIII and BII, trillin, and the sapogenins diosgenin, hecogenin, and ruscogenin. The surveys were carried out in seven different countries and only articles between 2007 and 2021 were found. The studies included in the review showed that the saponins and sapogenins were anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant and they modulate inflammatory cytokines mainly through the Nf-κB, TLR4 and MAPKs pathways. Steroidal saponins and sapogenins are promising compounds in handling of pain and inflammation for the development of natural product-derived drugs. However, it is necessary to increase the methodological quality of preclinical studies, mainly blinding and sample size calculation.


Individual- and area-level disparities in access to the road network, subway system and a public bicycle share program on the Island of Montreal, Canada.
Few studies have examined potential disparities in access to transportation infrastructures, an important determinant of population health. To examine individual- and area-level disparities in access to the road network, public transportation system, and a public bicycle share program in Montreal, Canada. Examining associations between sociodemographic variables and access to the road network, public transportation system, and a public bicycle share program, 6,495 adult respondents (mean age, 48.7 years; 59.0 % female) nested in 33 areas were included in a multilevel analysis. Individuals with lower incomes lived significantly closer to public transportation and the bicycle share program. At the area level, the interaction between low-education and low-income neighborhoods showed that these areas were significantly closer to public transportation and the bicycle share program controlling for individual and urbanicity variables. More deprived areas of the Island of Montreal have better access to transportation infrastructure than less-deprived areas.


Diagnostic Utility of Human Leukocyte Antigen B*15:02 Screening in Severe Carbamazepine Hypersensitivity Syndrome.
Despite many studies suggesting an association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*15:02 and carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions essentially toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), the evidence of association in different populations and the degree of association remain uncertain. The primary analysis was based on population control studies. Data were pooled by means of a random-effects model, and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), diagnostic odds ratios (DOR), and areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated. In 23 population control studies, HLA-B*15:02 was measured in 373 patients with CBZ-induced TEN/SJS and 3452 patients without CBZ-induced TEN/SJS. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, LR+, LR-, DOR, and AUC were 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.63-0.72), 0.98 (95% CI = 0.98-0.99), 19.73 (95% CI = 10.54-36.92), 0.34 (95% CI = 0.23-0.49), 71.38 (95% CI = 34.89-146.05), and 0.96 (95% CI = 0.92-0.98), respectively. Subgroup analyses for Han Chinese, Thai, and Malaysian populations yielded similar findings. Specifically, racial/ethnic subgroup analyses revealed similar findings with respect to DOR for Han Chinese (99.28; 95% CI = 22.20-443.88), Thai (61.01; 95% CI = 23.05-161.44), and Malaysian (30; 95% CI = 7.08-126.68) populations, which are similar to the pooled DOR for the relationship between the HLA-B*15:02 allele and CBZ-induced TEN/SJS across all populations (71.38; 95% CI = 34.89-146.05). The present study reveals that CBZ is the leading cause of TEN/SJS in many countries. Screening of HLA-B*15:02 may help patients to prevent the occurrence of CBZ-induced TEN/SJS, especially in populations with a higher (≥5%) risk allele frequency.


The fate and supply capacity of potassium in biochar used in agriculture.
We used chemical extraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to study the potassium (K) in biochar prepared from corn straw at different temperatures (300 °C, 500 °C, 700 °C and 900 °C). The characteristics of biochar were analyzed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and specific surface area analysis. We found that the potassium in biochar can be divided into water soluble potassium, exchangeable potassium, non-exchangeable potassium, and insoluble potassium according to the availability of agricultural potassium. The fate of potassium in straw changed as follows: with increasing pyrolysis temperature, the proportion of the sum of exchangeable and non-exchangeable potassium decreased, and the proportions of insoluble and lost potassium increased. The total, water soluble and exchangeable potassium contents in biochar were highest at 700 °C. The non-exchangeable and insoluble potassium contents were highest at 300 °C and 900 °C, respectively. Kinetics experiments were conducted to determine the different fates of potassium released from biochar at different temperatures; pot experiments were also undertaken. The release of different forms of potassium in biochar at different temperatures is mainly dominated by heterogeneous diffusion. Biochar increased not only the content of different forms of potassium in soil but also the potassium content of soybean stems and leaves. We calculated the potassium supply capacity of biochar by two strategies, measurements of the potassium content in biochar and the conversion rate of potassium in straw during pyrolysis. The most active and efficient potassium supply capacities were 33.60 g·kg-1 and 9.53 g·kg-1 at 700 °C and 300 °C, respectively. Biochar provides readily available (water soluble and exchangeable) potassium and a long-term (non-exchangeable) potassium supply to soil.


Overexpression of CLC-3 is regulated by XRCC5 and is a poor prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.
Recently, many potential prognostic biomarkers for gastric cancer (GC) have been identified, but the prognosis of advanced GC patients remains poor. Chloride channels are promising cancer biomarkers, and their family member chloride channel-3 (CLC-3) is involved in multiple biological behaviors. However, whether CLC-3 is a prognostic biomarker for GC patients is rarely reported. The molecular mechanisms by which CLC-3 is regulated in GC are unclear. The expression of CLC-3 and XRCC5 in human specimens was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The primary biological functions and pathways related to CLC-3 were enriched by RNA sequencing. A 5'-biotin-labeled DNA probe with a promoter region between - 248 and + 226 was synthesized to pull down CLC-3 promoter-binding proteins. Functional studies were detected by MTS, clone formation, wound scratch, transwell, and xenograft mice model. Mechanistic studies were investigated by streptavidin-agarose-mediated DNA pull-down, mass spectrometry, ChIP, dual-luciferase reporter assay system, Co-IP, and immunofluorescence. The results showed that CLC-3 was overexpressed in human GC tissues and that overexpression of CLC-3 was a poor prognostic biomarker for GC patients (P = 0.012). Furthermore, higher expression of CLC-3 was correlated with deeper tumor invasion (P = 0.006) and increased lymph node metastasis (P = 0.016), and knockdown of CLC-3 inhibited cell proliferation and migration in vitro. In addition, X-ray repair cross-complementing 5 (XRCC5) was identified as a CLC-3 promoter-binding protein, and both CLC-3 (HR 1.671; 95% CI 1.012-2.758; P = 0.045) and XRCC5 (HR 1.795; 95% CI 1.076-2.994; P = 0.025) were prognostic factors of overall survival in GC patients. The in vitro and in vivo results showed that the expression and function of CLC-3 were inhibited after XRCC5 knockdown, and the inhibition effects were rescued by CLC-3 overexpression. Meanwhile, the expression and function of CLC-3 were promoted after XRCC5 overexpression, and the promotion effects were reversed by the CLC-3 knockdown. The mechanistic study revealed that knockdown of XRCC5 suppressed the binding of XRCC5 to the CLC-3 promoter and subsequent promoter activity, thus regulating CLC-3 expression at the transcriptional level by interacting with PARP1. Our findings indicate that overexpression of CLC-3 is regulated by XRCC5 and is a poor prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer. Double targeting CLC-3 and XRCC5 may provide the promising therapeutic potential for GC treatment.


[Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma after failure of second-line EGFR-TKIs therapy].
The prognostic factors and salvage therapy after the failure of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) therapy have brought concerns. This study aims to analyze retrospectively the clinical data of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and explore their prognostic factors. Patients with integral clinic dates and staged IV lung adenocarcinoma with performance status (PS) scores from 0 to 2 were enrolled between January 2009 and February 2012 and followed up until death. The primary endpoint was survival time after the failure of EGFR-TKI therapy. A total of 81 patients were enrolled into the study, and the median overall survival time was 9.6 months (QL-QU: 5.4-19.2). Univariate analysis showed that PS score, metastatic status, and the presence of plural effusion were significantly correlated with patient survival time (P<0.05), whereas normal levels of carcinoembryonic antigen after EGFR-TKI therapy and history of operation showed a trend towards longer survival time. Multivariate analysis showed that the PS score, metastatic status, and plural effusion are independent prognostic factors for advanced adenocarcinoma after the failure of targeted therapy (P<0.05). A PS score from 0 to 1, single metastasis, and none or less plural effusion may attribute to the good outcome of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma and should further undergo chemotherapy.


Metastatic Angiosarcoma Presenting as Ischemic Anterior Circulation Stroke.
Angiosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that can arise from vascular endothelium. We report a case of angiosarcoma that presented as thromboembolic stroke, review the current literature, and discuss the management challenges. A 77-year-old man presented with a right anterior circulation stroke with a history of multiple, recent transient ischemic attacks. The diagnosis was confirmed on computed tomography and subsequent investigation revealed thrombus within the distal common carotid artery, with an atherosclerotic plaque causing a significant stenosis of the origin of the internal carotid artery above this. In the context of the presentation with recurrent events, carotid endarterectomy was recommended and subsequently performed. At the time of surgery, the common, internal, and external carotid arteries had macroscopic evidence of atherosclerotic disease but appeared otherwise normal. Intraoperatively friable thrombus adherent to the common carotid endothelium was retrieved and sent for histologic assessment. Subsequent immunohistochemistry evaluation revealed changes pathognomic with angiosarcoma. It is unclear in this case whether the pathology originated in the carotid artery or was the result of embolization from a proximal source. There was no extraluminal carotid pathology identified at the time of surgery, and no abnormalities identified on cross-sectional imaging. Similarly, there was no evidence of a proximal source that may have resulted in tumor embolization. As such, it has proved impossible to define an optimal therapeutic pathway for this patient.


Pharmacology of (+)- and (-)-baclofen: GABA-dependant rotational behaviour and [3H]GABA receptor binding studies.
(+)- and (-)-baclofen were equiactive in inducing contralateral rotational behaviour following their unilateral injection into the zona reticulata of the rat substantia nigra, a proposed GABA-dependent rotational behaviour model, and in displacing the specific binding of [3H]GABA to frozen and thawed membrane preparations of rat brain. These non-stereospecific actions of baclofen at a population of cerebral GABA receptors contrast with stereospecific neuronal depressant effects probably mediated via presynaptic inhibition of the release of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters. The present results indicate that baclofen may have two distinct mechanisms of action and this may account for the debate on the pharmacology of this compound.


Dietary palygorskite-based antibacterial agent supplementation as an alternative to antibiotic improves growth performance, intestinal mucosal barrier function, and immunity in broiler chickens.
The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of palygorskite-based antibacterial agent (PAA) as an alternative to antibiotic on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and immunity in broilers. Three hundred and eighty-four mixed-sex 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated into 6 groups of 8 replicates with 8 birds each. Birds were given a basal diet, an antibiotic diet (50 mg/kg chlortetracycline), and the basal diet supplemented with 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg PAA for 42 d, respectively. Compared with control group, supplementing 1,000 mg/kg PAA reduced overall feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), with its value being similar to that of antibiotic group (P > 0.05). However, a higher level of PAA (2,000 mg/kg) increased feed conversion ratio during the late period (P < 0.05). The 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg PAA decreased plasma endotoxin and D-lactate levels at 42 d (P < 0.05) to comparable values (P > 0.05). The 1,000 mg/kg PAA decreased jejunal crypt depth, while 500 and 1,000 mg/kg PAA increased the ratio between jejunal villus height and crypt depth at 42 d (P < 0.05), with their values being similar to antibiotic group (P > 0.05). The highest level of PAA increased 42-d jejunal mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M concentrations (P < 0.05). The 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg PAA reduced 21-d interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in serum and ileal mucosa and 42-d interferon-γ level in serum and jejunal mucosa (P < 0.05), which did not differ from antibiotic group (P > 0.05). Moreover, PAA administration, regardless of its dosage, reduced 42-d serum TNF-α concentration, and 500 to 2,000 mg/kg PAA decreased 21-d and 42-d jejunal and 42-d ileal mucosal TNF-α levels (P < 0.05), with their values being comparable with antibiotic group (P > 0.05). The results suggested that PAA as an alternative to antibiotic could improve growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and immunity of broilers, and its optimal dosage was 1,000 mg/kg.


Structural modification of nanohydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 related to Eu3+ and Sr2+ ions doping and its spectroscopic and antimicrobial properties.
The Eu3+ and Sr2+ ions co-doped hydroxyapatite nanopowders (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) were synthesized via a precipitation method and post heat-treated at 500 °C. The concentration of Eu3+ ions was established in the range of 0.5-5 mol% to investigate the site occupancy preference. The concentration of Sr2+ ions was set at 5 mol%. The structural and morphological properties of the obtained materials were studied by an X-ray powder diffraction, a transmission electron microscopy techniques and infrared spectroscopy. As synthesized nanoparticles were in the range of 11-17 nm and annealed particles were in the range of 20-26 nm. The luminescence properties in dependence of the dopant concentration and applied temperature were investigated. The 5D0 → 7F0 transition shown the abnormally strong intensity for annealed materials connected with the increase of covalency character of Eu3+-O2- bond, which arise as an effect of charge compensation mechanism. The Eu3+ ions occupied three possible crystallographic sites in these materials revealed in emission spectra: one Ca(1) site with C3 symmetry and two Ca(2) sites with Cs symmetry arranged as cis and trans symmetry. The antibacterial properties of Eu3+ and Sr2+ ions doped and co-doped hydroxyapatite nanopowders were also determined against Gram-negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Obtained results suggest that both europium and strontium ions may implement antibacterial properties for hydroxyapatites. In the most cases, better antibacterial effect we noticed for dopants at 5 mol% ratio. However, the effect is strongly species- and strain-dependent feature.


The role of nutrition in canine idiopathic epilepsy management: Fact or fiction?
In the last decade, nutrition has gained interest in the management of canine idiopathic epilepsy (IE) based on growing scientific evidence. Diets can serve their functions through many pathways. One potential pathway includes the microbiota-gut-brain axis, which highlights the relationship between the brain and the intestines. Changing the brain's energy source and a number of dietary sourced anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective factors appears to be the basis for improved outcomes in IE. Selecting a diet with anti-seizure effects and avoiding risks of proconvulsant mediators as well as interference with anti-seizure drugs should all be considered in canine IE. This literature review provides information about preclinical and clinical evidence, including a systematic evaluation of the level of evidence, suggested mechanism of action and interaction with anti-seizure drugs as well as pros and cons of each potential dietary adaptation in canine IE.


[A new isoflavone from Huoxue Yiqi Tang].
To study the chemical constituents in the active parts of Huoxue Yiqi Tang. The silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 were used to isolate the compounds, El, FAB-MS and 1D, 2D-NMR were used to identify the obtained compounds. 14 compounds were obtained from the prescription. They were all first time obtained from the prescription. Among them, 7, 3'-dihydroxyl-5'-methoxyisoflavone is new.


Cystic schwannoma of a seminal vesicle.
We present a case of a cystic schwannoma of the seminal vesicle that occurred in a 50-year-old man who presented asymptomatic. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic mass within the left seminal vesicle. A laparoscopic surgery was performed to remove the mass on request. Histopathological examination finally confirmed a schwannoma of the seminal vesicle. The patient was free of disease 3 months postoperatively.


Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by a right coronary cusp prolapse: An unusual finding.
Patients with large sub-pulmonic ventricular septal defect (VSD) present early as a results of their complications. Some present late, due to the restriction of VSD by the right coronary cusp (RCC) due to its prolapse. In this report, we present a rare case of sub-pulmonic VSD in a 33-year-old man who developed a sub-pulmonic stenosis due to the prolapse of the RCC into the right ventricular outflow tract.


Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitors Did Not Influence Postoperative Morbidity After Elective Surgical Resections in Crohn's Disease.
The real impact of anti-tumor necrosis alpha (TNF) therapy in postoperative complications after intestinal resections in Crohn's disease (CD) still needs to be determined. To compare the postoperative complication rates after elective intestinal resections in CD patients, with or without previous exposure to anti-TNF therapy. This was a retrospective and observational study, with elective intestinal resections for CD (emergency procedures were excluded). Patients were allocated in two groups according to preoperative anti-TNF status. Surgical and medical complications were analyzed and subsequently compared between the groups. A total of 123 patients were included (71 with and 52 without preoperative anti-TNF). The groups were considered homogeneous, except for perianal CD, previous azathioprine, and stomas. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding overall surgical complications (32.69% in anti-TNF- vs. 39.44% in anti-TNF+ patients, p = 0.457) or overall medical complications (21.15 vs. 21.13%, respectively, p = 1.000). In univariate analysis, previous steroids, perianal CD, and stomas were considered risk factors for surgical complications, and previous steroids and hypoalbuminemia for medical complications. In multivariate analysis, previous steroids were associated with higher rates of surgical and medical complications, while hypoalbuminemia was associated with higher medical complication rates. There was no influence of the previous use of anti-TNF agents in postoperative surgical and medical complication rates in elective intestinal resections for CD. Previous steroids and hypoalbuminemia were associated with higher complication rates. This was the first case series of the literature describing outcomes in exclusively elective operations.


Liver fat accumulation more than fibrosis causes early liver dynamic dysfunction in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), events driving early hepatic dysfunction with respect to specific metabolic pathways are still poorly known. We enrolled 84 subjects with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes (T2D). FibroScan® served to assess NAFLD by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and fibrosis by liver stiffness (LS). Patients with LS above 7 kPa were excluded. APRI and FIB-4 were used as additional serum biomarkers of fibrosis. The stable-isotope dynamic breath test was used to assess the hepatic efficiency of portal extraction (as DOB15) and microsomal metabolization (as cPDR30) of orally-administered (13C)-methacetin. NAFLD occurred in 45%, 65.9%, and 91.3% of normal weight, overweight, and obese subjects, respectively. Biomarkers of liver fibrosis were comparable across subgroups, and LS was higher in obese, than in normal weight subjects. DOB15 was 23.2 ± 1.5‰ in normal weight subjects, tended to decrease in overweight (19.9 ± 1.0‰) and decreased significantly in obese subjects (16.9 ± 1.3, P = 0.008 vs. normal weight). Subjects with NAFLD had lower DOB15 (18.7 ± 0.9 vs. 22.1 ± 1.2, P = 0.03) but higher LS (4.7 ± 0.1 vs. 4.0 ± 0.2 kPa, P = 0.0003) than subjects without NAFLD, irrespective of fibrosis. DOB15 (but not cPDR30) decreased with increasing degree of NAFLD (R = -0.26; P = 0.01) and LS (R = -0.23, P = 0.03). Patients with T2D showed increased rate of NAFLD than those without T2D but similar LS, DOB15 and cPDR30. Overweight, obesity and liver fat accumulation manifest with deranged portal extraction efficiency of methacetin into the steatotic hepatocyte. This functional alteration occurs early, and irrespective of significant fibrosis and presence of T2D.


Tracing the synergistic migration of biochar and heavy metals based on 13C isotope signature technique: Effect of ionic strength and flow rate.
Understanding the transport of biochar and heavy metals is important for evaluation of the long-term stability and ecotoxicity of heavy metals after biochar remediation. In this study, 13C-labelled biochar was prepared to investigate the synergistic down migration of biochar and heavy metals in the soil profile, and the effect of ionic strength (IS) and flow rate was examined. Results showed that the 13C-labelled biochar with high δ13C (249.3 ‰) was suitable for tracing the migration of biochar without influencing its adsorption for heavy metals (i.e., Cu2+ and Cd2+). Both higher IS and flow rate were favorable for the release of biochar, but higher IS inhibited the transport of biochar in soil profile, which was attributed to the enhanced primary- and secondary-minimum deposition based on the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) analysis. The transport of Cu2+ and Cd2+ was facilitated by high IS and flow rate. The release of Cd from biochar was mainly affected by IS, due to ion exchange and a weaker electrostatic attraction to biochar at higher IS, while that of Cu was mainly affected by flow rate related to co-migration of metal with biochar. Metal-biochar particle was the dominant form to migrate in upper soil layer, whereas, soluble Cd2+ and Cu2+ desorbed from biochar were the dominant forms that migrated to the deeper soil. The synergistic down migration of biochar and heavy metals might pose less risks than the sole migration of soluble metals. That is, high IS might cause higher risks than high flow rate even though biochar and metals might transport further with high flow rate. These findings will advance the current knowledge on the migration risk involved in the in-situ remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils by biochar.


[The expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor in urinary transitional cell carcinoma].
To probe into the expression and clinical significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) in urinary transitional cell carcinoma. Expression of uPA and uPAR were detected in 50 cases of renal pelvis and ureter carcinoma and 40 cases of bladder cancer immunohistochemically. The positive rates of uPA and uPAR were closely correlated to the grade and the stage of urinary transitional cell carcinoma (r = 0.979, P < 0.01), whereas uPA and uPAR were not detected in normal kidney, ureter and bladder tissue. uPA and uPAR are highly expressed in urinary transitional cell carcinoma and they may be responsible for the tumor invasion and metastasis.


Facile synthesis of Ag/GNS-g-PAA nanohybrids for antimicrobial applications.
A facile and efficient aqueous phase-based strategy to synthesize silver nanocrystal/graphene nanosheet (GNS) nanohybrids at room temperature, via in situ poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) grafting followed by attachment of Ag nanocrystals, was reported. In the presence of PAA-grafted GNSs, Ag nanoparticles were in situ generated from AgNO(3) aqueous solution without any additional reducing agent or complicated treatment. They readily attached to the GNS surfaces, leading to Ag/GNS-g-PAA nanohybrids. The products of the Ag/GNS-g-PAA nanohybrids were examined by transmission electron microscope, thermogravimetric analyzer, X-ray powder diffraction analyzer, and energy disperse spectroscopy. The Ag nanoparticles can be uniformly deposited on the surfaces of functionalized GNSs with a controlled size distribution of 4-8 nm. Furthermore, the Ag/GNS-g-PAA nanohybrids exhibit good antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli. The mean diameters of the zones of inhibition are 11.4 mm and 9.9 mm, respectively, for S. aureus and E. coli. The simplicity, efficiency and large-scale availability of nanohybrids combined with good antimicrobial activity make them attractive for graphene-based biomaterials.


Dorothy Schafer: Sculpting the next generation of microglia researchers.
Dorothy Schafer investigates the role of microglia in neural circuit development and plasticity with a special focus on neurological disorders.


Ibn Imran's 10th century Treatise on Melancholy.
Some see current views of mental illness, such as depression, as merely contemporary social constructions, with madness seen as a modernist break from medieval and ancient concepts. In contrast to these assumptions, here we describe one of the earliest texts on melancholia and mania, by Ibn Imran, an Arab physician of the 10th century.


The neglected effects of polysaccharide transformation on sludge humification during anaerobic digestion with thermal hydrolysis pretreatment.
Humus accumulation during sludge stabilization is attracting increasing attention because of its land use potential. This study investigated the effects of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) on sludge humification and the related regulatory mechanisms during anaerobic digestion (AD). The sludge subjected to AD with THP at 160 °C (AnD-160) exhibited 7.3% and 8.5% higher total extractable carbon (TEC) and humic acid carbon (HAC) concentrations than the unpretreated sludge, respectively, while the sludge subjected to AD with THP at 180 °C (AnD-180) exhibited 1.4% and 7.0% lower concentrations. Humification of AnD-160 and AnD-180 were enhanced and inhibited, respectively. THP influenced sludge humification during AD through both intracellular polyphenol synthesis and extracellular humus condensation pathways related to polysaccharide metabolism. The 160 °C-pretreated sludge exhibited higher polysaccharide availability (more soluble polysaccharides and reducing sugars) than the other samples and thus had more active intracellular polyphenol metabolism during AD. The polyphenol accumulation stimulated the synthesis of related condensation enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and quinone oxidoreductases), facilitating extracellular HA production during AD. However, THP at 180 °C resulted in the highest production of melanoidins with CO-C heterocycles through C = O and CH sites of polysaccharides (778.46 vs. 193.87 R.U. nm2-mL/g for the unpretreated sample). This heterocyclization decreased the polysaccharide availability and inhibited intracellular polyphenol synthesis, consequently inhibiting condensation enzymes supply and extracellular HA production during AD. Overall, this study highlights the crucial but neglected role of polysaccharides in sludge humification during AD: the availability of polysaccharides affected by their occurrence state and molecular structure could determine the humification, which can be regulated by THP at different temperature.


Soliton topology versus discrete symmetry in optical lattices.
We address the existence of vortex solitons supported by azimuthally modulated lattices and reveal how the global lattice discrete symmetry has fundamental implications on the possible topological charges of solitons. We set a general "charge rule" using group-theory techniques, which holds for all lattices belonging to a given symmetry group. Focusing on the case of Bessel lattices allows us to derive also an overall stability rule for the allowed vortex solitons.