Phosphorus-modified copper ferrite (P-CuFe2O4) nanoparticles for photocatalytic ozonation of lomefloxacin.
Phosphorus-modified copper ferrite (P-CuFe2O4) nanoparticles were prepared by a simple sol-gel auto-combustion process and used for the photocatalytic ozonation of lomefloxacin (LOM). The morphology, crystallinity, and structure of the synthesized CuFe2O4 and P-CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were investigated using various techniques. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the degradation of LOM achieved a 99% reduction after a duration of 90 min in the photocatalytic ozonation system. In accordance with the charge-to-mass ratio, four intermediates were proposed with the help of their fragments obtained in LC-MS/MS. The degradation kinetics of lomefloxacin followed a pseudo-first order reaction, and the degradation mechanism was proposed based on the results. P0.035Cu0.965Fe2O4 showed the highest total organic carbon (TOC) removal with 20.15% in 90 min, highest specific surface area and the highest fluoride and ammonium production using the ion chromatography (IC). The experimental results obtained from the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis indicated that the modified P-CuFe2O4 samples exhibited significantly elevated levels of superoxide (.O2-) production compared to the CuFe2O4 samples. The findings of this study demonstrate that the introduction of phosphorus modification into the copper ferrite photocatalyst led to an augmentation of both the specific surface area and the total pore volume. Furthermore, the incorporation of phosphorus served to promote the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs by effectively trapping electrons in the conduction band, hence enhancing the degradation efficiency.


Nanoparticles in practice for molecular-imaging applications: An overview.
Nanoparticles (NPs) are playing a progressively more significant role in multimodal and multifunctional molecular imaging. The agents like Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), manganese oxide (MnO), gold NPs/nanorods and quantum dots (QDs) possess specific properties like paramagnetism, superparamagnetism, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and photoluminescence respectively. These specific properties make them able for single/multi-modal and single/multi-functional molecular imaging. NPs generally have nanomolar or micromolar sensitivity range and can be detected via imaging instrumentation. The distinctive characteristics of these NPs make them suitable for imaging, therapy and delivery of drugs. Multifunctional nanoparticles (MNPs) can be produced through either modification of shell or surface or by attaching an affinity ligand to the nanoparticles. They are utilized for targeted imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), photo acoustic imaging (PAI), two photon or fluorescent imaging and ultra sound etc. Toxicity factor of NPs is also a very important concern and toxic effect should be eliminated. First generation NPs have been designed, developed and tested in living subjects and few of them are already in clinical use. In near future, molecular imaging will get advanced with multimodality and multifunctionality to detect diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac diseases, inflammation, stroke, atherosclerosis and many others in their early stages. In the current review, we discussed single/multifunctional nanoparticles along with molecular imaging modalities. The present article intends to reveal recent avenues for nanomaterials in multimodal and multifunctional molecular imaging through a review of pertinent literatures. The topic emphasises on the distinctive characteristics of nanomaterial which makes them, suitable for biomedical imaging, therapy and delivery of drugs. This review is more informative of indicative technologies which will be helpful in a way to plan, understand and lead the nanotechnology related work.


The Cancer Genome Anatomy Project: EST sequencing and the genetics of cancer progression.
As the process of tumor progression proceeds from the normal cellular state to a preneoplastic condition and finally to the fully invasive form, the molecular characteristics of the cell change as well. These characteristics can be considered a molecular fingerprint of the cell at each stage of progression and, analogous to fingerprinting a criminal, can be used as markers of the progression process. Based on this premise, the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project was initiated with the broad goal of determining the comprehensive molecular characterization of normal, premalignant, and malignant tumor cells, thus making a reality the identification of all major cellular mechanisms leading to tumor initiation and progression ([Strausberg, R.L., Dahl, C.A., and Klausner, R.D. (1997). "New opportunities for uncovering the molecular basis of cancer." Nat. Genet., 16: 415-516.], www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ncicgap/). The expectation of determining the genetic fingerprints of cancer progression will allow for 1) correlation of disease progression with therapeutic outcome; 2) improved evaluation of disease treatment; 3) stimulation of novel approaches to prevention, detection, and therapy; and 4) enhanced diagnostic tools for clinical applications. Whereas acquiring the comprehensive molecular analysis of cancer progression may take years, results from initial, short-term goals are currently being realized and are proving very fruitful.


Mesenteric lymph node abscesses due to Escherichia coli in a cat.
A 3-year-old, castrated male mixed-breed cat presented with an almost 2-year history of chronic loose stools. On radiography and ultrasound examination, there were two masses in the centre of the abdomen. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed that the masses were enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes with fluid accumulation. Percutaneous lesion drainage yielded pus-like fluid. Fluid cytology revealed numerous neutrophils and Gram-negative rods. Pus culture identified Escherichia coli as the causative organism. Consequently, mesenteric lymph node abscesses were definitively diagnosed. Since computed tomography showed that the abscesses adhered to the surrounding tissues, it was difficult to remove them surgically. With drainage and antimicrobial therapy, the mesenteric lymph nodes gradually decreased in size. However, loose stools persisted. The cat's diet was changed to a hydrolysed diet, and the clinical symptoms improved, suggesting food-responsive enteropathy. This may be an underlying disease of lymph node abscesses. Lymph node abscesses limited to the mesenteric lymph nodes rarely occur in veterinary medicine, and this is the first report in cats.


Perioperative and postoperative complications from bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy.
The complications experienced by 692 consecutive patients who underwent bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy from 1978 through 1984 were analyzed. Four patients (0.6 per cent) died in the perioperative or early postoperative period. Pulmonary embolus developed in 19 patients (2.7 per cent) and severe to total urinary incontinence occurred in 34 (5 per cent). Our large series suggests that radical retropubic prostatectomy with staging bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy can be performed in a safe manner with minimal postoperative morbidity.


Articulation training of profoundly hearing-impaired children: a distinctive feature approach.
Three profoundly hearing-impaired children were trained to articulate stop consonants /b,p,d,t,g,k/ in words. As training progressed, generalization of correct production across positional and phonemic boundaries was assessed. Results indicate that hearing-impaired children can use distinctive feature similarities to improve their articulation.


Prognostic factors and outcome of undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma treated by multimodal therapy.
To describe the natural history, prognostic factors, and optimal treatment modalities of undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma (UES). A retrospective review was conducted of 30 patients with UES treated at Institut Gustave-Roussy, France, between January 1978 and December 2008. Clinical and pathologic variables, treatment modalities, and outcomes were assessed. Disease was advanced in most cases: FIGO stage III-IV in 70% of patients. Overall, 29 patients (96.7%) underwent hysterectomy as part of the initial surgical treatment; however, only 18 (60.0%) attained complete macroscopic resection. The incidence of pelvic and/or para-aortic lymph-node involvement at primary surgery or first recurrence was 44.4%. Median postoperative follow-up was 5 years; progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.7 and 23 months, respectively. No differences in OS and PFS were observed by staging subgroup (FIGO vs the American Joint Committee on Cancer). Only postoperative pelvic radiotherapy with or without brachytherapy correlated with improved PFS (19.1 vs 6.5 months; P=0.04) and OS (54.5 vs 16.7 months; P=0.01) in a univariate analysis. Neither staging system was optimal for risk stratification. Multimodal therapy was recommended after surgery.


Assessment of subclinical symptoms and psychological well-being in depression.
A substantial body of research suggests that subclinical symptoms characterize the longitudinal course of major depression and have important pathophysiological and treatment implications. Specific treatment of residual symptoms may in fact improve longterm outcome, by acting on those residual symptoms that progress to become prodromes of relapse. The assessment of psychological well-being is also important, since its absence may create conditions of vulnerability to possible adversities. The route of recovery, thus, lies not exclusively in alleviating the negative, but in engendering the positive.


Dental Medicine and Engineering Unite to Transform Oral Health Innovations.
This perspective article urges the academic community to adopt a coordinated approach uniting dental medicine and engineering to support research, training, and entrepreneurship to address the unmet needs and spur oral health care innovations. We describe a new interschool institute that brings together dentists, scientists and engineers, resources, and a training program dedicated for affordable oral health care innovations, which may serve as a template for dental medicine-engineering integration.


Identification, classification, and functional characterization of novel sponge-associated acidimicrobiial species.
Sponges are known to harbour an exceptional diversity of uncultured microorganisms, including members of the phylum Actinobacteriota. While members of the actinobacteriotal class Actinomycetia have been studied intensively due to their potential for secondary metabolite production, the sister class of Acidimicrobiia is often more abundant in sponges. However, the taxonomy, functions, and ecological roles of sponge-associated Acidimicrobiia are largely unknown. Here, we reconstructed and characterized 22 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Acidimicrobiia from three sponge species. These MAGs represented six novel species, belonging to five genera, four families, and two orders, which are all uncharacterized (except the order Acidimicrobiales) and for which we propose nomenclature. These six uncultured species have either only been found in sponges and/or corals and have varying degrees of specificity to their host species. Functional gene profiling indicated that these six species shared a similar potential to non-symbiotic Acidimicrobiia with respect to amino acid biosynthesis and utilization of sulfur compounds. However, sponge-associated Acidimicrobiia differed from their non-symbiotic counterparts by relying predominantly on organic rather than inorganic sources of energy, and their predicted capacity to synthesise bioactive compounds or their precursors implicated in host defence. Additionally, the species possess the genetic capacity to degrade aromatic compounds that are frequently found in sponges. The novel Acidimicrobiia may also potentially mediate host development by modulating Hedgehog signalling and by the production of serotonin, which can affect host body contractions and digestion. These results highlight unique genomic and metabolic features of six new acidimicrobiial species that potentially support a sponge-associated lifestyle.


Certolizumab treatment during late pregnancy in patients with rheumatic diseases: Low drug levels in cord blood but possible risk for maternal infections. A case series of 13 patients.
Due to reduction of immune-suppressive drugs, patients with rheumatic diseases can experience an increase in disease activity during pregnancy. In such cases, TNF-inhibitors may be prescribed. However, monoclonal antibodies with the Fc moiety are actively transported across the placenta, resulting in therapeutic drug levels in the newborn. As certolizumab (CZP) lacks the Fc moiety, it may bear a lower risk for the child. We report a case series of thirteen patients (5 with rheumatoid arthritis and 8 with spondyloarthritis) treated with CZP during late pregnancy to control disease activity. CZP measured in cord blood of eleven infants ranged between undetectable levels and 1μg/mL whereas the median CZP level of maternal plasma was 32.97μg/mL. Three women developed an infection during the third trimester, of whom one had a severe infection and one had an infection that resulted in a pre-term delivery. During the postpartum period, 6 patients remained on CZP while breastfeeding. CZP levels in the breast milk of two breastfeeding patients were undetectable. The lack of the active transplacental transfer of CZP gives the possibility to treat inflammatory arthritis during late gestation without potential harm to the newborn. However, in pregnant women treated with TNF-inhibitors and prednisone, attention should be given to the increased susceptibility to infections, which might cause prematurity. CZP treatment can be continued while breastfeeding.


International versions of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS).
Symptom scales for aging women have clinically been used for years and the interest in measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has increased in recent years. The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) is a formally validated scale according to the requirements for quality of life instruments. The aim of this paper is to review the current state of the instrument particularly concerning versions of the scale in different languages. The translations were performed following international methodological recommendations for the linguistic & cultural adaptation of HRQoL instruments. The first translation was done from the German original scale into English (UK & USA). The English version was used as the source language for the translations into French, Spanish, Swedish, Mexican/Argentine, Brazilian, Turkish, and Indonesian languages (attached as additional PDF files). The MRS scale is obviously a valuable tool for assessing health related quality of life of women in the menopausal transition and is used worldwide. The currently available 9 language versions have been translated following international standards for the linguistic and cultural translation of quality of life scales. Assistance is offered to help interested parties in the translation process.


Transport and transformation of sulfadiazine in soil columns packed with a silty loam and a loamy sand.
Concerning the transport of the veterinary antibiotic sulfadiazine (SDZ) little is known about its possible degradation during transport. Also its sorption behaviour is not yet completely understood. We investigated the transport of SDZ in soil columns with a special emphasis on the detection of transformation products in the outflow of the soil columns and on modelling of the concentration distribution in the soil columns afterwards. We used disturbed soil columns near saturation, packed with a loamy sand and a silty loam. SDZ was applied as a 0.57 mg L(-1) solution at a constant flow rate of 0.25 cm h(-1) for 68 h. Breakthrough curves (BTC) of SDZ and its transformation products 4-(2-iminopyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)aniline and 4-hydroxy-SDZ were measured for both soils. For the silty loam we additionally measured a BTC for an unknown transformation product which we only detected in the outflow samples of this soil. After the leaching experiments the (14)C-concentration was quantified in different layers of the soil columns. The transformation rates were low with mean SDZ mass fractions in the outflow samples of 95% for the loamy sand compared to 97% for the silty loam. The formation of 4-(2-iminopyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)aniline appears to be light dependent and did probably not occur in the soils, but afterwards. In the soil columns most of the (14)C was found near the soil surface. The BTCs in both soils were described well by a model with one reversible (kinetic) and one irreversible sorption site. Sorption kinetics played a more prominent role than sorption capacity. The prediction of the (14)C -concentration profiles was improved by applying two empirical models other than first order to predict irreversible sorption, but also these models were not able to describe the (14)C concentration profiles correctly. Irreversible sorption of sulfadiazine still is not well understood.


Determination of insulin in innovative formulations by means of LC coupled to fluorescence detection.
A fast and simple method based on LC with fluorescence detection has been developed for the determination of insulin in innovative formulations consisting of microparticles and inserts for oral and nasal drug administration, respectively. A reverse-phase C8 column and a mobile phase composed of pH 3.7, 40 mM sodium sulphate solution and acetonitrile (24%, v/v) were employed. Using isocratic elution at 1.0 mL/min flow, analysis is completed within 7 min. Three different kinds of spray-dried microparticles were analysed, consisting of an insulin loaded core composed of chitosan salts (chitosan succinate, chitosan adipate or chitosan suberate) coated with stearic acid. Nasal inserts consisted of chitosan/hyaluronate polyelectrolyte complexes which were loaded with insulin and freeze-dried. Insulin was extracted from both the oral and nasal formulations using pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. The employment of fluorescence detection (lambda(exc) = 276 nm, lambda(em) = 306 nm) granted high selectivity, with no interference from the matrix. Full method validation was performed with good results in terms of linearity (insulin concentration range 0.10-30.0 microg/mL), LOD (0.03 microg/mL) and LOQ (0.10 microg/mL), precision (R.S.D.%<3.6) and accuracy (recovery percentage>90.0%). Insulin content in innovative formulations, expressed as percentage w/w, resulted to be between 0.90 and 0.97 for oral innovative formulations, while an average value of 342 microg of insulin was found in a single nasal insert, in good agreement with preparative protocols.


The application of 3D-printed auto-stable artificial vertebral body in en bloc resection and reconstruction of thoracolumbar metastases.
Nerve compression symptoms and spinal instability, resulting from spinal metastases, significantly impact the quality of life for patients. A 3D-printed vertebral body is considered an effective approach to reconstruct bone defects following en bloc resection of spinal tumors. The advantage of this method lies in its customized shape and innermost porous structure, which promotes bone ingrowth and leads to reduced postoperative complications. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of 3D-printed auto-stable artificial vertebrae in the en bloc resection and reconstruction of thoracolumbar metastases. This study included patients who underwent en bloc resection of thoracolumbar metastases based on the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini surgical staging system, between January 2019 and April 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: the observation group, which was reconstructed using 3D-printed auto-stable vertebral bodies, and the control group, treated with titanium cages and allograft bone. Evaluation criteria for the patients included assessment of implant subsidence, instrumentation-related complications, VAS score, and Frankel grading of spinal cord injury. The median follow-up period was 21.8 months (range 12-38 months). Among the patients, 10 received a customized 3D-printed artificial vertebral body, while the remaining 10 received a titanium cage. The observation group showed significantly lower operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage compared to the control group (P < 0.05). At the final follow-up, the average implant subsidence was 1.8 ± 2.1 mm for the observation group and 5.2 ± 5.1 mm for the control group (P < 0.05). The visual analog scale (VAS) scores were not statistically different between the two groups at preoperative, 24 h, 3 months, and 1 year after the operation (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the improvements of spinal cord functions between the two groups. The utilization of a 3D-printed auto-stable artificial vertebra for reconstruction following en bloc resection of thoracolumbar metastases appears to be a viable and dependable choice. The low occurrence of prosthesis subsidence with 3D-printed prostheses can offer immediate and robust stability.


Parthenolide repressed endometriosis induced surgically in rats: Role of PTEN/PI3Kinase/AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling in inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition.
PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway is a triggering factor for epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) which plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Parthenolide is a sesquiterpene lactone extract that has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticancer properties. Hence, we investigated the effect of parthenolide against EMT in the endometrial tissue implants and immortalized epithelial endometriotic cell lines 12Z. Twenty- four female Rats with surgically induced endometriosis were treated with parthenolide (2, 4 mg/kg), for 4 weeks. Endometriotic cell line 12Z was used to identify the effect of parthenolide on the wound healing, cellular migration and invasion properties of endometriotic cells. Parthenolide decreased the endometriotic implant tissue expression of total PI3K, PI3K-p85, p-AKT, p/total AKT, p-GSK-3β, P/total GSK-3β, and nβ-catenin, as well as increased E-cadherin and decreased vimentin mRNA expression. Parthenolide upregulated PTEN immunoreactivity as well as the endometriotic tissue caspase-3, caspase-9, BAX levels while reducing Bcl2 level. Additionally, parthenolide decreased endometriotic tissue implants surface area and histopathological score of the epithelial growth. Our findings showed that parthenolide in a dose dependent manner inhibited PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/nβ-catenin cascade via enhancement of PTEN with subsequent inhibition of EMT evidenced by elevation of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin and reduction of mesenchymal marker, vimentin, of the endometriotic implants in addition to reversal of invasion and migration properties of epithelial endometriotic cell lines. These findings provide a valuable therapeutic approach for treatment of endometriosis.


Electroconvulsive therapy for affective disorders in persons with mental retardation.
Despite the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy for the treatment of affective disorders there are no systematic studies of its effectiveness or safety in the mentally retarded population. A literature search revealed 16 case reports that suggests that it is both as effective and safe with mentally retarded persons as in the general population. Four additional clinical vignettes, with extensive follow-up observation from four to eleven years, are presented in an effort to enrich the literature on this subject. They include patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, bipolar disorder, manic phase, major depression with psychotic features and schizoaffective disorder. Issues of diagnostic difficulty and pharmacologic prophylaxis are addressed.


Reproductive, endocrine and metabolic feto-maternal features and placental gene expression in a swine breed with obesity/leptin resistance.
The current study was conducted in a swine breed (Iberian pig) with a genotype that predisposed the pig to obesity. The aim of the study was to determine the morphological, metabolomic and endocrine features of early conceptuses and to elucidate how placental gene expression (related to placentation, angiogenesis and fetal nutrition), maternal hormones and the metabolome affect the fetal environment and fetal growth. Conceptus viability and growth were found to be related to maternal endocrine (plasma progesterone levels) and metabolic features (plasma levels of leptin, cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and triglycerides). These features were related to the placental expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and leptin (LEP) genes, the placental efficiency and, thus, the nutrition and the metabolism of the fetus (availability of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol, as HDL-c). Viability of conceptuses in females with evidence of dyslipidemia (low plasma levels of total cholesterol due to low HDL-c concentration but high levels of triglycerides) was diminished. The availability of nutrients and metabolic substrates to the conceptus was also affected in females with higher fat deposition and evidence of dyslipidemia. In conclusion, the conceptus viability and growth appear to be strongly related to maternal metabolic features and, thus, affected in females with alterations in lipid metabolism.


Restoring lens capsule integrity enhances lens regeneration in New Zealand albino rabbits and cats.
In studies conducted by numerous investigators for 150 years, lenses regenerated following endocapsular lens extraction in New Zealand albino rabbits have been irregular in shape, appearing primarily doughnut-shaped as a result of lack of lens growth at the site of the anterior capsulotomy and its adhesion to the posterior capsule. In the present study, we restored the lens capsule integrity by inserting a collagen patch at the time of surgery to seal the anterior capsulotomy and to improve the shape and structure of the regenerated lenses. We then filled the capsule bag with air to prevent adhesions between the anterior and posterior capsule and maintain capsule tautness and shape. Lens regeneration was first noted as early as one to two weeks. Regenerated lens filled approximately 50% of the capsule bag at two weeks and 100% by five weeks. Subsequent growth was in the anterior-posterior direction and measured by A-scan biometry. Lens thickness increased by 0.3 mm per month. The regenerated lenses were spherical with normal cortical structure and a nuclear opacity. In conclusion, restoration of lens capsular integrity with a collagen patch following endocapsular lens extraction enhanced the shape, structure, and growth rate of the regenerated lenses. In addition, lens regeneration was shown to occur in two cats.


Use of a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Hangar as a Staging Care Unit in a Disaster-Affected Area.
There are a few reports regarding the use of a hangar as a temporal medical facility (staging care unit [SCU]) during large-scale disasters. The aim of this study was to describe the activities performed by disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) at the hangar of the eastern Shizuoka physician-staffed helicopter as an SCU in the 2022 Shizuoka Prefecture disaster drill. We selected the narrative method for this study. Four DMATs helped manage the SCU at the hangar. During the training period, there were 3 instances of a mock doctor helicopter landing and takeoff and 1 actual eastern Shizuoka doctor helicopter landing and takeoff while transporting a mock burn patient. Four DMATs treated 3 mock patients in addition to receiving training regarding medical materials. Such an SCU was able to reduce the burden on the disaster base hospital because many severely ill or traumatized mock patients were transported to the hospital. However, an evaluation meeting held after the drill revealed problems with lifelines, safety management, stock, and quality management of materials in an actual disaster situation. We reported our experience with a training exercise using a hangar of the eastern Shizuoka doctor helicopter as an SCU in the 2022 Shizuoka Prefecture disaster drill. There are advantages and disadvantages to using the hangar of a doctor helicopter in this way, so further investigation will be necessary.


Redox events in interleukin-1 signaling.
There is increasing evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are mediators in growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways. Mechanisms by which ROS can interfere with signaling cascades may include regulation of protein activities by the modification of essential cysteines. Modification can be performed chemically or enzyme-catalyzed. Enzymes catalyzing a reversible thiol modification within proteins are to be able to react with both, ROS and protein thiols. If hydroperoxides are involved, promising candidates are peroxiredoxins and glutathione peroxidases (GPx), especially the phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx. Interleukin-1, one of the key players in inflammatory response, stimulates the production of ROS itself, but its signaling cascade can also be influenced by ROS and by thiol modifying agents. Targets are located in early, intermediate, and late events in the signaling cascade. We here summarize what is known about the effects of thiol modifying agents, selenium and glutathione peroxidases, on the assembly of the IL-1 receptor signaling complex as an early event, on the activation of NF-kappa B as an intermediate event, and on the expression of cell adhesion molecules as a late event in IL-1 signaling.


Higher Analogues of Resorcinarenes and Pyrogallolarenes: Bricks for Supramolecular Chemistry.
Easy scalable and eco-friendly syntheses of resorcin[5]arene, pyrogallol[5]arene, (2-nitro)resorcin[5]arene, (2-carboxyl)resorcin[5]arene, and resorcin[7]arene are presented and a wide range of upper-rim modifications is demonstrated. The macrocycles open the door toward expanding the rich covalent and supramolecular chemistry of [4]arenes with analogues having unique 5-fold and 7-fold symmetry.


Elevated interleukin 31 serum levels in hemodialysis patients are associated with uremic pruritus.
Uremic pruritus is a multifactorial devastating complication of renal failure, which has a significant negative impact on patients' quality of life including medical, psychological, as well as social aspects. It is also associated with an increased mortality in dialysis patients. A cross sectional study evaluating the traditional risk factors for uremic pruritus (UP) - using pruritus grading system (PGS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) - as well as measuring the serum levels of different inflammatory cytokines (ILs 13, 31 and 33) in chronic hemodialysis and healthy controls, in a tertiary referral hospital. 65 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 49 heathy controls were enrolled in the study. The mean age for the HD patients was 43.4 years (SD ± 21.3), and 31.5 years (SD ± 11.1) for the control group. The most common cause for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) was diabetes mellitus (DM) 27.7%. The mean PGS score in HD patients was 5.92 (SD ± 2.9); 50% had mild itch, 43.8% moderate itch and 6.2% had severe itch. The mean serum levels for IL-13 was 8674.3 pg/ml (SD ± 4353.9), serum levels of IL-31 were 150.7 pg/ml (SD ± 178.2) and for IL-33 it was 42850.5 pg/ml (SD ± 11370.7) in hemodialysis patients; in comparison to serum levels of 7913.4 pg/ml (SD ± 3454.1), 67.1 pg/ml (SD ± 71.9) and 44875.9 pg/ml (SD ± 12114.6), respectively in the control group. IL-31 level was significantly higher in HD patients than in the control group (P = 0.0001), while the difference in the levels of IL-13 and IL-33 between the two groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.41 and 0.18, respectively). IL-13 had a statistically significant relationship with the itch score (P = 0.014) and the severity of itch (P = 0.03), while IL-31 and IL-33 were not statistically significant. UP is a complex and multifactorial problem. In patients with UP the high levels of IL-31 indicates a possible role in pathogenesis. IL-13 serum level on the other hand may be related to the severity of itch in these patients. Optimizing dialysis and targeting these cytokines may provide a potential therapeutic option especially in refractory UP. Further studies addressing these cytokines and their levels in response to various treatments may provide additional information on UP.


The effect of alignment uncertainty, substitution models and priors in building and dating the mammal tree of life.
The flood of genomic data to help build and date the tree of life requires automation at several critical junctures, most importantly during sequence assembly and alignment. It is widely appreciated that automated alignment protocols can yield inaccuracies, but the relative impact of various sources error on phylogenomic analysis is not yet known. This study employs an updated mammal data set of 5162 coding loci sampled from 90 species to evaluate the effects of alignment uncertainty, substitution models, and fossil priors on gene tree, species tree, and divergence time estimation. Additionally, a novel coalescent likelihood ratio test is introduced for comparing competing species trees against a given set of gene trees. The aligned DNA sequences of 5162 loci from 90 species were trimmed and filtered using trimAL and two filtering protocols. The final dataset contains 4 sets of alignments - before trimming, after trimming, filtered by a recently proposed pipeline, and further filtered by comparing ML gene trees for each locus with the concatenation tree. Our analyses suggest that the average discordance among the coalescent trees is significantly smaller than that among the concatenation trees estimated from the 4 sets of alignments or with different substitution models. There is no significant difference among the divergence times estimated with different substitution models. However, the divergence dates estimated from the alignments after trimming are more recent than those estimated from the alignments before trimming. Our results highlight that alignment uncertainty of the updated mammal data set and the choice of substitution models have little impact on tree topologies yielded by coalescent methods for species tree estimation, whereas they are more influential on the trees made by concatenation. Given the choice of calibration scheme and clock models, divergence time estimates are robust to the choice of substitution models, but removing alignments deemed problematic by trimming algorithms can lead to more recent dates. Although the fossil prior is important in divergence time estimation, Bayesian estimates of divergence times in this data set are driven primarily by the sequence data.


The typing of group-specific component (Gc protein) in human blood stains.
It is known that the typing of group-specific component (Gc protein) in human blood stains is difficult since Gc protein of the extracts of blood stains migrates more anodally to the alpha 1-globulin region in agar-gel immunoelectrophoresis, while Gc protein in liquid blood normally migrates to the alpha 2-globulin region. We have reported that the Gc protein found in the alpha 1-region is the result of binding of actin to Gc protein (Shinomiya, K., Kimura, H., Yoshida, K., and Shinomiya, T., J. Biochem., 92 (1982) 1163-1171, which renders it difficult to determine the Gc-phenotypes in the blood stains. On the basis of the above findings, we developed the method of phenotyping the Gc protein of human blood stains by agar-gel immunoelectrophoresis. Since the binding activity of actin to Gc protein is lost after treatment with a high concentration of guanidine HCl, the extracts of blood stains were treated with 4 M guanidine HCl to dissociate Gc protein and actin and then dialyzed to remove guanidine HCl. By this method we are able to determine the phenotypes of Gc protein in blood stains. The method we have developed is a useful tool in the forensic laboratory.


Angiography of the external carotid to internal carotid anastomosis.
The EC/IC bypass is being performed more and more, and angiography is essential as part of the postoperative evaluation. This review of 41 patients points out the need for selective external carotid angiography in those cases where intracranial vessels fill spontaneously at the same time as the shunt. However, 8 of 11 cases showed the superficial temporal artery to be larger on the selective external carotid angiogram than in the common carotid study done during the same session. In two cases undergoing staged occlusive procedures as treatment for giant aneurysm, the external carotid artery leading to an EC/IC was occluded as an angiographic complication without neurologic sequelae.


Function of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Iranian University Students: A Factor Structure Analysis.
Emerging non-Western studies indicate new patterns in the functionality of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) warranting further investigation in different cultures. The current study aims to investigate the function (etiology and underlying mechanism) of NSSI among a sample of university students in Tehran, Iran, using the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS). The ISAS was administered to 63 students who self-injured (52.4% female; Mage = 22.15). An exploratory factor analysis using the Bayesian estimation method was conducted. A three-factor model of NSSI functions emerged including an intrapersonal factor representing within-self functions (e.g., self-punishment); a social identification factor consisting of functions establishing a sense of self/identity (e.g., peer bonding); and a communication factor representing an influencing/communicating functionality (e.g., marking distress). Intrapersonal and social identification factors were associated with greater severity of NSSI method and increased anxiety. Findings support the use of the ISAS among an Iranian sample and revealed additional patterns beyond the commonly referenced two-factor model (intrapersonal and interpersonal functions) in a culturally novel sample. The results are situated within the sample's sociocultural context.


The protective effect of grape seed procyanidin extract against cadmium-induced renal oxidative damage in mice.
As an important environmental pollutant, cadmium (Cd) can lead to serious renal damage. Grape seed procyanidins extract (GSPE), a biological active component of grape seed, has been shown to possess antioxidative effects. Here, we assessed the protective effect of GSPE on Cd-induced renal damage using animal experiment. After 30 days, the oxidative damage of kidney was evaluated through measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidation (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Since, oxidative stress could lead to apoptosis, the renal apoptosis was measured using flow cytometer. Moreover, the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax and Bcl-2 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that Cd led to the decrease of SOD and GSH-Px activities, and the increase of MDA level, induced renal apoptosis. However, the coadministration of GSPE attenuated Cd-induced lipid peroxidation, and antagonized renal apoptosis, probably associated with the expression of Bax and Bcl-2. These data suggested that GSPE has protective effect against renal oxidative damage induced by Cd, which provide a potential natural chemopreventive agent against Cd-poisoning.


[Complex assessment of the electrophysiological changes in patients with right-ventricular cardiac loading].
In 216 patients with right ventricular cardiac overload the changes of 76 electrophysiological indices were studied--indices of the corrected orthogonal electrocardiogram after Frank, corrected orthogonal vectorcardiogram, spatial electrocardiogram and high-speed spatial electrocardiogram. The patients with right ventricular cardiac overload are divided into two basic groups--patients with systolic and patients with diastolic overload. The indices are assessed on the basic criteria of sensitivity, specificity and realization. Variation analysis as well as statistical comparison with 119 healthy persons are performed. On the basis of the results of the study "sets" of 4 indices each with 97-98% sensitivity are determined, indices from all methods used are included in the "sets". The conclusion is reached of the good possibilities of the electrophysiological methods when a combination of indices with the help of a computer is made.


The pregnant woman's eye.
The effects of pregnancy on the eye fall into three categories. Nonpathological physiologic changes in pressures, corneal sensitivity and thickness, and visual function can occur. Pathologic conditions reported to develop during pregnancy include central serous chorioretinopathy, hypertensive and vascular disorders, and uveal melanoma. Pregnancy also can affect pre-existing ocular conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, tumors, and a variety of immunological disorders and can have beneficial effects on such pre-existing conditions as glaucoma. This review covers ocular disorders in these three categories, and summarizes the systemic changes of pregnancy and the effects of ocular medications on the fetus.


Immunohistochemical detection of chlamydia trachomatis in sexually transmitted infectious proctitis.
Since 2003, a progressive increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI), presented as proctitis, has been described in homosexual men. In 2013 Arnold et al. described microscopic features that enable pathologists to formulate a histological diagnosis of STI related proctitis. The aim of this study is to identify the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis by immunohistochemistry in a group of patients with male to male sexual activity and pathology compatible with STI proctitis. Cross-sectional study. The study included 54 patients with risky sexual activity and histopathology compatible with STI-proctitis according to Arnold´s recommendations. The Chlamydia trachomatis identification was carried out retrospectively on paraffin blocks using mouse monoclonal antibodies from Santa Cruz biotechnology. all patients were young men with male to male sexual activity, 69% were positive for HIV. The most common endoscopic presentation was rectal ulcer (61%). Basal lymphoplasmacytic inflammation and mild crypt distortion were the most common histological findings. The immunohistochemical study identified positivity for Chlamydia trachomatis in 40% (18 of 45 tested) of STI proctitis cases. The epidemiological and endoscopic characteristics of the patients studied are similar to those previously reported. In accordance with Arnold et al., the most common histological findings were (a) mild distortion of the crypts; (b) dense and basal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and (c) scarcity of eosinophils. The positivity of chlamydia trachomatis in immunohistochemistry was lower than others studies that used PCR for this purpose. We did not find similar published studies to compare our results. In summary, 54 cases of patients with STI related proctitis are presented, all of them with distinctive histological characteristics and third of the cases tested positive by IHC for Chlamydia trachomatis.


Intraosseous and extraosseous calcifying odontogenic cyst (Gorlin cyst).
This retrospective study of 15 central and five peripheral calcifying odontogenic cysts (COCs) was undertaken to compare the characteristics of these two lesions. The data reveal that the central COCs were more common than peripheral lesions by a 3:1 ratio and that they were usually diagnosed in the second decade of life, whereas the peripheral ones were usually noted after the age of 50. Seven of the 15 central COCs (47%) were associated with odontomas, and three (20%) with dentigerous cysts. Conservative enucleation or excision was the treatment of choice.


Quantification of mitochondrial S-nitrosylation by CysTMT⁶ switch assay.
S-nitrosylation (SNO) is an important oxidative posttranslational modification in the regulation of cardiac mitochondria. SNO modification of several mitochondrial proteins has been associated with cardiac preconditioning and improved cell survival following ischemia/reperfusion injury. Due to their labile nature, SNO modifications are challenging to study using traditional biochemical techniques; particularly, the identification of individual modified cysteine residues. Here, we describe the details of the cysTMT(6) switch assay, a variation of the classic biotin switch protocol. The cysTMT(6) reagent provides a simplified and powerful approach to SNO detection by combining unambiguous identification of the modified cysteine residue and relative quantification of up to six samples by mass spectrometry analysis.


[Orphan diseases in rheumatology. Exemplified by polyarteritis nodosa].
The term orphan disease is used for those diseases which are diagnosed in less than 5 out of 10,000 persons. An example of an orphan disease in rheumatology is panarteritis nodosa (PAN), the clinical manifestation of which ranges from mild forms to life-threatening situations. The scientific publications on the diagnosis and therapy of PAN are usually limited to casuistics and small case studies. Treatment of this disease is usually carried out analogue to other forms of vasculitis but the therapeutics used are not formally approved for PAN. With this in mind it is much more realistic to treat such patients in specialized centers or at least to allow an evidence-based medical treatment in, for example network associations, using the targeted documentation of patients.


Early postoperative enteral feeding increases anastomotic strength in a peritonitis model.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) has been shown to decrease collagen synthesis and increase collagenase activity leading to impaired wound healing. Our hypothesis was that immediate postoperative feeding would decrease TNF-alpha, therefore increasing anastomotic healing in a peritonitis model. Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture to induce peritonitis. Six hours after induction of peritonitis an ileocecectomy and ileocolostomy was performed. Group 1 animals (n = 6) had immediate access to food and water, whereas group 2 (n = 6) had free access to water only. At 48 hours, weight loss, nitrogen loss, anastamotic bursting strength (ABS), TNF-alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10 were measured. Weight loss was similar in the two groups. Group 1 rats had a significantly lower mean TNF-alpha level (17.3 +/- 10 versus 17.3 +/- 10 mcg/Dl, P = 0.05). ABS was also significantly higher in group 1 rats when compared with group 2 rats (81 +/- 34 versus 39 +/- 13 mm HG, P = 0.03). These data suggest that immediate postoperative feeding results in a beneficial change in the cytokine profile.


An attempt to generate neurons from an astrocyte progenitor cell line FBD-104.
In the present study, a clonal astrocyte progenitor cell line derived from p53-deficient fetal brains, named FBD-104, was characterized in monolayer and suspension culture. In monolayer culture with medium containing 10% serum, FBD-104 cells expressed some markers of astrocytes, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S100beta, and glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST). They never expressed any markers of neurons or oligodendrocytes. Thus the cell line appears to be restricted to the astroglial lineage. However, in suspension culture in serum-free medium supplemented with EGF and FGF2, FBD-104 cells proliferated and formed neurospheres expressing mRNAs for Mash1 and Math3, generating cells expressing neuron specific beta-III tubulin. Re-plating the spheres onto an adhesive substrate and withdrawal of the growth factors induced the expression of mRNAs for NeuroD and Olig2 and generated more beta-III tubulin-positive cells. The present study demonstrated that neurosphere culture is an efficient method to induce neurogenesis from the astrocyte progenitor cell line FBD-104. We also determined that pretreatment with FGF2 caused a significant increase in yield of neurospheres. Thus, the FBD-104 line is an interesting in vitro model to study effect of trophic factors and adhesive substrates on lineage determination of neural progenitor cells.


Experimental and numerical studies of two arterial wall delamination modes.
Arterial wall dissection, which results from various pathophysiological processes, can lead to the occurrence of large area delamination in the aortic wall that can potentially block blood flow and lead to deleterious clinical conditions. Despite its critical clinical relevance, few studies have focused on investigating the failure mode of delamination in the arterial wall. In this study, we quantify the energy release rate of the medial layer of a porcine abdominal aorta via two delamination experiments: the mixed-mode delamination experiment and the "T"-shaped delamination experiment. A cohesive zone model (CZM) is applied to simulate the arterial wall delamination and Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden (HGO) material model is used to capture the bulk arterial material behavior. A set of parameter values for the HGO and CZM models are identified through matching simulation predictions of the load vs. load-point displacement curve with experimental measurements. Then the parameter values and critical energy release rates obtained from experiments are used as input data for simulation predictions for two arterial wall delamination experiments. The simulation predictions show that the delamination front matches well with experimental measurements. Moreover, the mixed-mode delamination experiment reveals a shear mode-dominated failure event, whereas the "T"-shaped delamination experiment is an opening failure process. The integration of experimental data and numerical predictions of arterial delamination events provides a comprehensive description of distinct failure modes and aids in the prediction of aortic dissection.