Detection of clonal platelet antibodies in immunologically-mediated thrombocytopenias: association with circulating clonal/oligoclonal B cells.
Aware that T and B cells in autoimmune thrombocytopenia are abnormal, including the existence of clonal B cell populations, we sought to characterize this clonal phenomenon in various immunological thrombocytopenias using platelet antibody light chain analysis, flow cytometry, Southern blot analysis, and PCR. Using a monoclonal antibody-antigen capture ELISA, we analysed sera from 21 of 26 patients with autoimmune, alloimmune, or drug-induced immunological thrombocytopenia for the light chain phenotypes of their platelet antibodies. Alloantibodies and drug-dependent antibodies from four and 14 patients, respectively, were found that expressed a predominant type of light chain, suggesting that these platelet-reactive antibodies were monoclonal or oligoclonal in nature. 14 of the 26 patients were available for light chain B cell phenotyping studies. Of these 14 patients, thrombocytopenia was due to autoimmunity in two, drug-induced immunity in four, and alloimmunity in eight. We detected clonal populations of B cells in all 14 patients by flow cytometry. Although six of these latter patients possessed platelet antibodies with clonal characteristics, light chain phenotypes of antibodies in five patients were opposite to those of their B cells. Eight of these patients were further examined for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement using Southern and/or polymerase chain reaction analysis. In all eight patients we detected clonal or oligoclonal B cell populations. Only two of these patients had malignancies (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) that would be expected to have detectable clonal B cells, and thus the mechanism for clonal expansion in the other six patients did not appear to be related to an obvious neoplastic process. Prior to these studies, detection of clonal B cells in thrombocytopenic patients without known malignancies was limited to individuals with autoimmune thrombocytopenia, prompting the speculation that this particular autoimmune disorder arises from B cell dysregulation, rather than from expansion of specific autoantibody producing B cell clones. In contrast, the current studies provide evidence that clonal B cells are common to patients with any form of immunologically-mediated thrombocytopenia. Moreover, the majority of the platelet antibodies (86%) present in these disorders exhibited monoclonal characteristics in that there was an apparent restriction in light chain usage.


A new colorimetric method for the determination of serum enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, cystine aminopeptidase, and leucine aminopeptidase.
A new colorimetric method for the serum enzyme assay was developed, using the color reaction of a ferrous salt complex and a primary aromatic amine. For this method new substrates containing primary aromatic amines were synthesized. The aromatic amine liberated by the enzyme reaction was measured by its color reaction with pentacyanoammineferroate treated with hydrogen peroxide. The determination was made at a wavelength of around 700 nm, at which the assay is not affected by colored substances in serum. Therefore a blank assay was not necessary. This method was applied to the assay of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, cystine aminopeptidase, and leucine aminopeptidase. The results obtained were in good agreement with those of the p-nitroanilide method also used to assay each enzyme. This new method can be used on a Technicon autoanalyzer system.


Ketamine-induced uropathy: A narrative systemic review of surgical outcomes of reconstructive surgery.
Refractory ketamine-induced uropathy (KU) (RKU) has devastating effects on the lower urinary tract leading to ureteral obstruction and even renal failure. The only effective treatment for RKU is major surgical reconstruction or urinary diversion. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of awareness about this destructive condition; the aim of this study is to conduct a narrative systemic review of all surgical outcomes of RKU. This is an English language literature review of surgical outcomes in KU patients who underwent reconstructive lower urinary tract surgery or urinary diversion through 5 August 2022. Two independent researchers assessed the relevance of each paper and disputes were settled by a third party. In-vitro, animal studies, letters to the editor and papers that did not evaluate surgical outcomes were excluded. Of the 50 763 identified articles, 622 were relevant based on title, 150 based on abstract, but only 23 papers were relevant by content. In all, 875 patients were documented as having KU, of whom 193 (22%) underwent reconstructive surgery. The data were disconcerting, as the apparent rapid progression from the beginning of KU to end-stage bladder was only a 1-year difference of ketamine abuse between those patients who required surgery (4.4 years) and those that did not (3.4 years). The data suggest that the time interval from the beginning of ketamine-induced uropathy to the end-stage bladder may be measured in months, confounding decision making. There is a dearth of literature about KU, and more research is needed to better understand this pathology.


The integration of microarray information in the drug development process.
In the past year, microarray technologies have moved beyond the proof-of-principle stage. Microarrays are now being used for genome-wide expression monitoring, large-scale polymorphism screening and mapping, and for the evaluation of drug candidates.


The effects of signal value on short- and long-term habituation.
The present study examined the effects of signal value on short- and long-term habituation of the skin conductance response. Subjects (N = 48) attended the laboratory at the same time of day on two consecutive days. Day 1 comprised pretraining and training phases, and day 2 comprised the test phase. In the pretraining phase subjects received one presentation each of a tone and a vibration stimulus. In the training and test phases subjects received a randomly ordered sequence of 15 tones and 15 vibrations. All stimuli were of 4 s duration. During the training phase Groups E1 and E2 performed a motor response to the offset of one of the stimuli whereas a third group (Group C) did not. Neither Group E1 nor Group C performed the motor task during the pretraining and test phases. Both between- and within-group analyses of the training phase data indicated that responses were larger and habituation was slower to signal stimuli. Analyses of the test phase data and comparison of pretraining and test phase data indicated that long-term habituation occurred only to nonsignal stimuli. The results are discussed in terms of Wagner's (1978) theory of habituation.


Helicobacter pylori in the post-antibiotics era: from virulence factors to new drug targets and therapeutic agents.
Helicobacter pylori is considered one of the most prevalent human pathogenic microbes globally. It is the main cause of a number of gastrointestinal ailments, including peptic and duodenal ulcers, and gastric tumors with high mortality rates. Thus, eradication of H. pylori is necessary to prevent gastric cancer. Still, the rise in antibiotic resistance is the most important challenge for eradication strategies. Better consideration of H. pylori virulence factors, pathogenesis, and resistance is required for better eradication rates and, thus, prevention of gastrointestinal malignancy. This article is aimed to show the role of virulence factors of H. pylori. Some are involved in its survival in the harsh environment of the human gastric lumen, and others are related to pathogenesis and the infection process. Furthermore, this work has highlighted the recent advancement in H. pylori treatment, as well as antibiotic resistance as a main challenge in H. pylori eradication. Also, we tried to provide an updated summary of the evolving H. pylori control strategies and the potential alternative drugs to fight this lethal resistant pathogen. Recent studies have focused on evaluating the efficacy of alternative regimens (such as sequential, hybrid, concomitant treatment, vonoprazan (VPZ)-based triple therapy, high-dose PPI-amoxicillin dual therapy, probiotics augmented triple therapy, or in combination with BQT) in the effective eradication of H. pylori. Thus, innovating new anti-H. pylori drugs and establishing H. pylori databanks are upcoming necessities in the near future.


The SIRAH force field: A suite for simulations of complex biological systems at the coarse-grained and multiscale levels.
The different combinations of molecular dynamics simulations with coarse-grained representations have acquired considerable popularity among the scientific community. Especially in biocomputing, the significant speedup granted by simplified molecular models opened the possibility of increasing the diversity and complexity of macromolecular systems, providing realistic insights on large assemblies for more extended time windows. However, a holistic view of biological ensembles' structural and dynamic features requires a self-consistent force field, namely, a set of equations and parameters that describe the intra and intermolecular interactions among moieties of diverse chemical nature (i.e., nucleic and amino acids, lipids, solvent, ions, etc.). Nevertheless, examples of such force fields are scarce in the literature at the fully atomistic and coarse-grained levels. Moreover, the number of force fields capable of handling simultaneously different scales is restricted to a handful. Among those, the SIRAH force field, developed in our group, furnishes a set of topologies and tools that facilitate the setting up and running of molecular dynamics simulations at the coarse-grained and multiscale levels. SIRAH uses the same classical pairwise Hamiltonian function implemented in the most popular molecular dynamics software. In particular, it runs natively in AMBER and Gromacs engines, and porting it to other simulation packages is straightforward. This review describes the underlying philosophy behind the development of SIRAH over the years and across families of biological molecules, discussing current limitations and future implementations.


Radiocapitellar cartilage injuries associated with tennis elbow syndrome.
A recent anatomical study has suggested that considerable contact between the undersurface of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and the lateral edge of the capitellum is the cause of tendon injury in lateral epicondylosis. We hypothesized that this contact might concurrently induce cartilage injuries of the capitellum. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence, location, and severity of cartilage lesions of the radiocapitellar joint accompanying lateral epicondylosis and to identify their correlation with ECRB status. Arthroscopic assessment of the articular cartilage was performed for 31 elbows in 31 patients with lateral epicondylosis who had surgery. The study group consisted of 18 women and 13 men with a mean age of 50 years (range, 35 to 67 y). The relationship between the presence of the cartilage lesions and patient demographics, preoperative pain visual analog scale score, number of cortisone injections, and surgical findings including ECRB tears were investigated. Cartilage injuries of the capitellum were found in 20 (65%) and cartilage injuries of the radial head were found in 25 (81%) of 31 elbows. Most of the lesions were located on the lateral aspect of the capitellum and radial head. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the absence of ECRB tears was independently associated with a higher risk of cartilage injuries of the capitellum. Cartilage injury was frequently found in the lateral edge of the capitellum and radial head. Lesions of the capitellum were related to the absence of ECRB tears. Prognostic IV.


Mating dynamics in a nematode with three sexes and its evolutionary implications.
Nematodes have diverse reproductive strategies, which make them ideal subjects for comparative studies to address how mating systems evolve. Here we present the sex ratios and mating dynamics of the free-living nematode Rhabditis sp. SB347, in which males, females and hermaphrodites co-exist. The three sexes are produced by both selfing and outcrossing, and females tend to appear early in a mother's progeny. Males prefer mating with females over hermaphrodites, which our results suggest is related to the female-specific production of the sex pheromones ascr#1 and ascr#9. We discuss the parallels between this system and that of parasitic nematodes that exhibit alternation between uniparental and biparental reproduction.


Traumatic radio-ulnar synostosis treated by excision and a free fat transplant. A report of two cases.
The operative technique and result of treatment of traumatic radio-ulnar synostosis in two patients are described. In both, the treatment was excision of the cross-union and interposition of a free non-vascularised fat transplant. The functional result was excellent, and there was no evidence of regrowth of the synostosis at two and three years respectively.


An unusual presentation of acute myeloid leukaemia with pericardial and pleural effusions due to granulocytic sarcoma.
We describe a case of acute myeloid leukaemia (Mo) presenting with pericardial and pleural effusions due to a granulocytic sarcoma adherent to the thymus gland situated in the anterior mediastinum. This has not been described previously in the setting of AML Mo.


Assessment of human locomotion by using an insole measurement system and artificial neural networks.
A new method for measuring and characterizing free-living human locomotion is presented. A portable device was developed to objectively record and measure foot-ground contact information in every step for up to 24h. An artificial neural network (ANN) was developed to identify the type and intensity of locomotion. Forty subjects participated in the study. The subjects performed level walking, running, ascending and descending stairs at slow, normal and fast speeds determined by each subject, respectively. The device correctly identified walking, running, ascending and descending stairs (accuracy 98.78%, 98.33%, 97.33%, and 97.29% respectively) among different types of activities. It was also able to determine the speed of walking and running. The correlation between actual speed and estimated speed is 0.98, p< 0.0001. The average error of walking and running speed estimation is -0.050+/-0.747 km/h (mean +/- standard deviation). The study has shown the measurement of duration, frequency, type, and intensity of locomotion highly accurate using the new device and an ANN. It provides an alternative tool to the use of a gait lab to quantitatively study locomotion with high accuracy via a small, light and portable device, and to do so under free-living conditions for the clinical applications.


Damage characteristics of weak rocks with different dip angles during creep.
To investigate the influence of the weak layer dip angle on the creep rupture of the composite rock mass, this paper conducts a graded loading creep experiment on the composite rock mass with different dip angles using the acoustic emission method to examine the fracture evolution process. With increasing load grade, the cumulative total ring count of the rock mass shows a "U"-shaped trend, and the acoustic emission spatial positioning results show that acoustic emission events in the rock mass fracture process are primarily concentrated in the vicinity of the weak layer, while events in other areas are few and dispersed. For rock masses with weak layer dip angles of 0° and 15°, cracks occur in both soft and hard rocks, where shear cracks are dominant in soft rocks, tensile cracks are dominant in hard rocks, and finally, the rock mass mainly exhibits tensile splitting failure. For rock masses with weak layer dip angles of 30° and 45°, most of the cracks exist in the interior of the soft rock, which is dominated by shear cracks. With increasing graded loads, the shear cracks continue to develop along the direction of the weak layer, the upper rock mass keeps slipping and dislocating, and the final failure mode is mainly shear-slip failure. The damage evolution varies with the inclination angle of the weak layer, which can be divided into three stages: initial damage accumulation, damage acceleration, and damage destruction. This demonstrates the ability to predict, prevent, and control the occurrence of creep disasters in rock masses with weak layers.


Correction: MicroRNA-377-3p released by mesenchymal stem cell exosomes ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by targeting RPTOR to induce autophagy.
This work was supported by National 13th Five-Year Science and Technology Plan Major Projects of China (2017ZX10203205-006-001); National Key R&D Plan (2017YFA0104304); National Natural Science Foundation of China (81770648 81972286); Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (2015A030312013, 2018A0303130305); Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province (2017B020209004, 20169013, 2017B030314027). This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.


Effects of bone-seeking hormones on DNA synthesis, cyclic AMP level, and alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured cells from human posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine.
In a study of the osteogenesis capability of the human posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine, ligament cells were isolated and cultured. The effect of bone-seeking hormones, such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3], on the ligament cells was investigated with respect to DNA synthesis, adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity. Cell lines obtained from nonossified sites in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine (OPLL) were found to have several different phenotypic characteristics for osteoblasts: high ALP activity, PTH- and PGE2-stimulated increases in cAMP, and responses to both CT and 1,25-(OH)2D3. It is clear that proliferation and differentiation in such ligament cells are controlled by various types of bone-seeking hormones, and it was suggested that many cells with osteoblast-like characteristics are present. These results are considered important with respect to the etiology of OPLL, and an experimental system using cultured ligament cells appears to be useful in research on OPLL.


Linking biological integrity and watershed models to assess the impacts of historical land use and climate changes on stream health.
Land use change and other human disturbances have significant impacts on physicochemical and biological conditions of stream systems. Meanwhile, linking these disturbances with hydrology and water quality conditions is challenged due to the lack of high-resolution datasets and the selection of modeling techniques that can adequately deal with the complex and nonlinear relationships of natural systems. This study addresses the above concerns by employing a watershed model to obtain stream flow and water quality data and fill a critical gap in data collection. The data were then used to estimate fish index of biological integrity (IBI) within the Saginaw Bay basin in Michigan. Three methods were used in connecting hydrology and water quality variables to fish measures including stepwise linear regression, partial least squares regression, and fuzzy logic. The IBI predictive model developed using fuzzy logic showed the best performance with the R (2) = 0.48. The variables that identified as most correlated to IBI were average annual flow, average annual organic phosphorus, average seasonal nitrite, average seasonal nitrate, and stream gradient. Next, the predictions were extended to pre-settlement (mid-1800s) land use and climate conditions. Results showed overall significantly higher IBI scores under the pre-settlement land use scenario for the entire watershed. However, at the fish sampling locations, there was no significant difference in IBI. Results also showed that including historical climate data have strong influences on stream flow and water quality measures that interactively affect stream health; therefore, should be considered in developing baseline ecological conditions.


Attitudes towards homeless people among emergency department teachers and learners: a cross-sectional study of medical students and emergency physicians.
Medical students' attitudes and beliefs about homeless people may be shaped by the attitudes of their teachers and one of the most common sites for learning about homeless patients is the emergency department. The objective of this study was to determine if medical students in the preclinical and clinical years and emergency medicine faculty and residents have different attitudes and beliefs about homeless people. The Health Professional Attitudes Toward the Homeless Inventory (HPATHI), was administered to all medical students, and emergency medicine physicians and residents at a large academic health sciences center in Canada. The HPATHI examines attitudes, interest and confidence on a 5-point Likert scale. Differences among groups were examined using the Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test. The HPATHI was completed by 371 individuals, for an overall response rate of 55%. Analysis of dichotomized median and percentage results revealed 5/18 statements were significant by both methods. On the attitudes subscales physicians and residents as a group were more negative for 2/9 statements and on the confidence subscale more positive for 1/4 statements. The interest subscale achieved overall statistical significance with decreased positive responses among physicians and residents compared to medical students in 2/5 statements. This study revealed divergences in attitudes, interests and beliefs among medical students and emergency medicine physicians and residents. We offer strategies for training interventions and systemic support of emergency faculty. Emergency medicine physicians can examine their role in the development of medical students through both formal and informal teaching in the emergency department.


A Golgi-type study of the hypothalamus of the lizard, Calotes versicolor.
The hypothalamus of the garden lizard, Calotes versicolor, was investigated with the use of the rapid Golgi and Golgi-Cox techniques. Individual neurons belonging to different nuclear groups were identified and studied with respect to their position, orientation, nature, pattern of arborization and connections. Magnocellular neurons in the preoptic region (rapid Golgi method) are large, lobular, bipolar or multipolar elements characterized by smooth contours of their somata, and processes of differing caliber and pattern of branching. Parvocellular neurons were found to belong to the primitive and generalized isodendritic type displaying pyriform, fusiform or spindle-shaped somata. Each soma gives rise to two to four straight, sometimes curved processes, which show varying patterns of arborization. The branches extend toward the 'integrative area', comprised of medial and lateral neuropil, or among major hypothalamic tracts; they are suggested to establish extrahypothalamic contacts or to extend to adjoining nuclear zones where they may establish specific intrahypothalamic connections. CSF-contacting processes from some magnocellular and parvocellular neurons were encountered. In addition to drawing correlations between information obtained from Golgi- and Nissl preparations, an attempt has been made to understand the precise organization of neuronal elements and to study the scope and pattern of arborization in the hypothalamus of Calotes versicolor.


Preparation and characterization of herbal creams for improvement of skin viscoelastic properties.
The aim of this study was to formulate and evaluate herbal cosmetic creams for their improvement of skin viscoelastic and hydration properties. The cosmetic cream formulations were designed by using ethanolic extracts of Glycyrriza glabra, Curcuma longa (roots), seeds of Psorolea corlifolia, Cassia tora, Areca catechu, Punica granatum, fruits of Embelica officinale, leaves of Centella asiatica, dried bark of Cinnamon zeylanicum and fresh gel of Aloe vera in varied concentrations (0.12-0.9%w/w) and characterized using physicochemical and physiological measurements. The ethanolic extracts of herbs were incorporated in a cream base that is prepared by a phase inversion emulsification technique. The cream base was prepared by utilizing oil of Prunus amagdalus, Sesamum indicum, honey, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, polysorbate monoleate, sorbitan monostearate, propylene glycol and glycerin. Physicochemical assessments and microbiological testing were completed for all formulations according to the methods of the Indian Standard Bureau. The studies were carried out for 6 weeks on normal subjects (6 males and 12 females, between 22 and 50 years) on the back of their volar forearm for evaluation of viscoelastic properties in terms of extensibility via a suction measurement, firmness using laboratory fabricated instruments such as ball bouncing and skin hydration using electric (resistance) measurement methods. The physicochemical parameters of formulations CAA1-CAA6, i.e. pH, acid value, saponification value, viscosity, spreadability, layer thickness microbial count and skin sensitivity were found to be in the range of 5.01 +/- 0.4-6.07 +/- 0.6, 3.3-5.1 +/- 0.2, 20-32, 5900-6755 cps, 60-99%, 25-50 mum, 31-46 colony-forming units (CFU) and a 0-1 erythema score. The formulations, CAA4 and CAA5, showed an increase in percentage extensibility (32.27 +/- 1.7% and 29.89 +/- 1.64%, respectively), firmness (28.86 +/- 0.86% and 29.89 +/- 2.8%, respectively) and improved skin hydration (15.97 +/- 0.55 and 18.27 +/- 0.99%, respectively) and were found more effective compared with the control product (C7) after the 6- week study.


Application of machine learning algorithms and feature selection in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) breeding for seed yield.
Studying the relationships between rapeseed seed yield (SY) and its yield-related traits can assist rapeseed breeders in the efficient indirect selection of high-yielding varieties. However, since the conventional and linear methods cannot interpret the complicated relations between SY and other traits, employing advanced machine learning algorithms is inevitable. Our main goal was to find the best combination of machine learning algorithms and feature selection methods to maximize the efficiency of indirect selection for rapeseed SY. To achieve that, twenty-five regression-based machine learning algorithms and six feature selection methods were employed. SY and yield-related data from twenty rapeseed genotypes were collected from field experiments over a period of 2 years (2019-2021). Root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and determination coefficient (R2) were used to evaluate the performance of the algorithms. The best performance with all fifteen measured traits as inputs was achieved by the Nu-support vector regression algorithm with quadratic polynomial kernel function (R2 = 0.860, RMSE = 0.266, MAE = 0.210). The multilayer perceptron neural network algorithm with identity activation function (MLPNN-Identity) using three traits obtained from stepwise and backward selection methods appeared to be the most efficient combination of algorithms and feature selection methods (R2 = 0.843, RMSE = 0.283, MAE = 0.224). Feature selection suggested that the set of pods per plant and days to physiological maturity along with plant height or first pod height from the ground are the most influential traits in predicting rapeseed SY. The results of this study showed that MLPNN-Identity along with stepwise and backward selection methods can provide a robust combination to accurately predict the SY using fewer traits and therefore help optimize and accelerate SY breeding programs of rapeseed.


Accessory mitral valve in an elderly man on maintenance hemodialysis.
This report describes a case of accessory mitral valve in an elderly patient on maintenance hemodialysis. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile sac-like structure with size of 12 × 10 mm(2), which attached to the left ventricular surface of base of the anterior mitral valve leaflet. Mobile stick-like structure with diameter of 21 mm was extending from this sac-like structure toward the left ventricular outflow tract and had a floating free edge. Peak pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract was 32 mmHg. There were no other congenital cardiac anomalies. No clinical findings suggestive of bacterial or nonbacterial vegetation were seen. Also other possibilities of mobile thrombus or calcification were unlikely. These abnormal structures were diagnosed as accessory mitral valve with rudimentary chordae.


Very small embryonic-like stem cells are present in adult murine organs: ImageStream-based morphological analysis and distribution studies.
Recently, we purified a population of CXCR4+/Oct-4+/SSEA-1+/Sca-1+/Lin(-)/CD45(-) very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) from adult murine bone marrow (BM). After using flow cytometry, ImageStream analysis, confocal microscopy, and real time RT-PCR, we report that similar cells could be also identified and isolated from several organs in adult mice. The highest total numbers of Oct-4+ VSELs were found in the brain, kidneys, muscles, pancreas, and BM. These observations support our hypothesis that a population of very primitive cells expressing germ line/epiblast markers (Oct-4, SSEA-1) is deposited early during embryogenesis in various organs and survives into adulthood. Further studies are needed to determine whether these cells, after being isolated from various adult human organs similarly to their murine BM-derived counterparts, are endowed with pluripotent stem cell properties.


A case of canine hypoadrenocorticism needing blood transfusion for severe acute anemia due to gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
A 3-year-old male Rottweiler presented with the chief complaint of recurrent vomiting, diarrhea, hypothermia, and lethargy. Hypovolemic shock was noted with abnormal electrolytes (Na/K ratio, 27.9) and anemia (hematocrit, 17.3%). Since the hematocrit was 49.2% four days earlier when the primary veterinarian examined the dog, acute anemia was diagnosed. Melena was observed on the next day. The general condition and hydration improved with treatment, and an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test identified hypoadrenocorticism. However, the hematocrit decreased further to 9%, necessitating blood transfusion. The cause of severe acute anemia was thought to be gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It should be noted that hypoadrenocorticism can lead to potentially fatal anemia with gastrointestinal tract bleeding, and blood transfusion may be required.


Capillary as a communicating medium in the microvasculature.
The preceding study (Dietrich and Tyml, 1992. Microvasc. Res. 43) demonstrated that a local application of norepinephrine (NE) on a capillary in a skeletal muscle produces a temporary reduction in blood flow within this capillary. The reduction is mediated via constriction of the supplying arteriole. The objective of the present study was to address the mechanism by which the local NE stimulus is propagated from the capillary to the arteriole. Using intravital video microscopy we measured red blood cell velocity in capillaries, and diameter of supplying arterioles, in the sartorius muscle in anesthetized frogs. Velocity responses were measured following iontophoretic application of NE (3 mM in the pipette) on the capillary, with or without pretreatment with 0.9 mM tetrodotoxin (nerve-specific sodium channel blocker), 30 mM lidocaine (nonspecific sodium channel blocker), and 30 mM yohimbine (alpha 2-receptor blocker). Diameter responses were measured before and after capillary damage introduced by microcautery. Tetrodotoxin did not block the NE-induced velocity reduction (i.e., from 0.2 to 0.07 mm/sec), while lidocaine attenuated it. Yohimbine blocked it only when applied on the same site as NE. Capillary damage abolished the NE-induced arteriolar constriction (i.e., from 27.8 to 21.5 microns). We conclude that the observed responses were not due to (1) direct diffusion of NE from the capillary to the arteriole, (2) conduction along adrenergic nerves, or (3) venous-arteriolar diffusional cross-talk. We interpret our data to indicate that the capillary itself could function as a communicating medium.


Further proof that (-)deprenyl fails to facilitate mesolimbic dopaminergic activity.
The selective monaminooxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor (-)deprenyl facilitates the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA)-ergic system by a complex mechanism that includes inhibition of DA reuptake and increase of DA turnover. In this study, DA reuptake and DA turnover were measured in the olfactory tubercle of rats treated with 0.25 mg/kg (-)deprenyl for 28 days. There was no difference between these rats and the saline-treated group. In another series of experiments, we analysed how (-)deprenyl influences the action of some indirectly acting DA agonists, such as amphetamine (AM) and phenylethylamine (PEA). The effect on different behavioural patterns related either to the nigrostriatal (stereotyped behaviour) or the mesolimbic (rearing, locomotion) DAergic system was investigated. As expected, the PEA-induced stereotyped behaviour was tremendously potentiated by (-)deprenyl and the AM-induced stereotypy was reduced. At the same time there was no change in locomotion and rearing. The results give further biochemical and behavioural proof that (-)deprenyl enhances the function of the nigrostriatal DAergic system and leaves the mesolimbic DAergic neurons unaffected.


Low-Volume Surgeons Use Allograft in Younger Patients and Show Greater Rates of Revision Following Primary Allograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Compared With High-Volume Surgeons.
To determine whether surgeon volume affects revision rate following primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with allograft and to determine whether surgeon volume impacts allograft tissue type used. All patients aged 14 years or older who underwent primary allograft ACLR at a large hospital system between January 2015 to December 2019 with minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Patients with double-bundle ACLR, multiligament reconstruction, and absent allograft type data were excluded. Surgeon volume was categorized as 35 or more ACLR/year for high-volume surgeons and less than 35 ACLR/year for low-volume surgeons. Revision was defined as subsequent ipsilateral ACLR. Patient characteristics, operative details, allograft type, and revision ACLR rates were retrospectively collected. Revision rate and allograft type were analyzed based on surgeon volume. A total of 457 primary allograft ACLR cases (mean age: 38.8 ± 12.3 years) were included. Low-volume surgeons experienced greater revision rates (10% vs 5%, P = .04) and used allograft in a younger population (37.6 vs 40.0 years old, P = .03) than high-volume surgeons. Subgroup analysis of the total cohort identified a significantly increased failure rate in patients <25 years old compared with ≥25 years old (30% vs 4%, P < .001). Allograft type selection varied significantly between surgeon volume groups, with low-volume surgeons using more bone-patellar tendon-bone (P < .001) and less semitendinosus allograft (P = .01) than high-volume surgeons. No differences in revision rate were observed based on allograft type (P = .71). There was a greater revision rate following primary allograft ACLR among low-volume surgeons compared with high-volume surgeons. Low-volume surgeons also used allograft in a younger population than did high-volume surgeons. Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.


Pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia blast signature and MRD associated immune environment changes defined by single cell transcriptomics analysis.
Different driver mutations and/or chromosomal aberrations and dysregulated signaling interactions between leukemia cells and the immune microenvironment have been implicated in the development of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). To better understand changes in the bone marrow microenvironment and signaling pathways in pediatric T-ALL, bone marrows collected at diagnosis (Dx) and end of induction therapy (EOI) from 11 patients at a single center were profiled by single cell transcriptomics (10 Dx, 5 paired EOI, 1 relapse). T-ALL blasts were identified by comparison with healthy bone marrow cells. T-ALL blast-associated gene signature included SOX4, STMN1, JUN, HES4, CDK6, ARMH1 among the most significantly overexpressed genes, some of which are associated with poor prognosis in children with T-ALL. Transcriptome profiles of the blast cells exhibited significant inter-patient heterogeneity. Post induction therapy expression profiles of the immune cells revealed significant changes. Residual blast cells in MRD+ EOI samples exhibited significant upregulation (P < 0.01) of PD-1 and RhoGDI signaling pathways. Differences in cellular communication were noted in the presence of residual disease in T cell and hematopoietic stem cell compartments in the bone marrow. Together, these studies generate new insights and expand our understanding of the bone marrow landscape in pediatric T-ALL.


Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: a scientific puzzle.
Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder is described as a classic biopsychosocial disorder resulting from complex interactions of biological, psychological, socioeconomic and cultural forces on women. To understand women suffering from the disorder, one must understand how the genetically designed female brain and body influence and are influenced by experience and learning. Each perspective of understanding constitutes one piece of a scientific puzzle. These perspectives are delineated and the conceptual problem of how to measure the outcome of the interactions is described.


Impacts of aquaculture on the area and soil carbon stocks of mangrove: A machine learning study in China.
Mangrove is an important carbon sink, as it can achieve climate regulation by sequestering carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, 50 % of mangrove species are threatened with extinction in China, and the carbon stocks in vegetation has also dropped by 53.1 %. Here, we couple remote sensing data with Random Forests, Support Vector Machines, and XGBoost to analyse mangroves in mainland China from 1986 to 2019. We find that aquaculture has crucial impacts on mangroves and prediction error. Future predictions indicate that the changes of mangroves in different cities range from -5.09E+06 m2 to 2.30E+06 m2, and soil carbon(C) stocks is "-1.90E+05 Mg ~ 8.57E+04 Mg". To protect mangroves, exploring the balance between aquaculture and mangroves and paying attention to the sustainable transformation of aquaculture are urgently required. In this way, mangroves can fully play the role of carbon sequestration and contribute to China's dual carbon goals.


Three-dimensional echocardiography: a new paradigm shift.
Significant advances in three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) have made this modality a powerful diagnostic tool in the cardiology clinic. It can provide accurate and reliable measurements of chamber size and function. In addition, 3DE offers novel views and comprehensive anatomic definition of valvular and congenital abnormalities by rendering 3D contoured images of the structures. It is also useful in monitoring the effectiveness of surgical or percutaneous transcatheter interventions. With demonstrations of efficacy in various clinical settings, 3DE has become a complementary part of the routine diagnostic armamentarium. However, 3DE is regarded as simply a tool for 3D volume or image rendering. If we confine the role of 3DE to this, it will remain a complementary tool to two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in the future. Three-dimensional echocardiography has roles beyond 3D volume or image rendering. Three-dimensional echocardiography can acquire a full volume dataset in a single shot, and with combined use of the multiplanar reconstructive mode, it can provide anatomically well-defined 2D planes from the full volume dataset. Hence, by omitting routine 2DE work, 3DE may save time for image acquisition and allow more precise and reproducible review or measurement. Taking this perspective into account, 3DE can be a suitable modality for use as a substitute for 2DE in daily practice. With further advances of 3DE and development of a unified review system capable of display and geometrical assessment of 2D as well as 3D images, 3DE will represent a new paradigm shift in echocardiographic examination in the future.


The management of symptomatic neonates with suspected congenital heart disease using combined cross-sectional echocardiography and pulsed Doppler flow study as the definitive investigations.
We studied prospectively 140 consecutive symptomatic neonates with suspected congenital heart disease by combined cross-sectional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Using the sequential segmental approach, the anatomy at all cardiovascular junctions was clearly defined in 89 (64%) babies. Based on the non-invasive investigations, 47 went to surgery while 42 babies were treated medically. The other 51 babies underwent further cardiac catheterisation. Of these, only 23 (16%) required diagnostic catheterisation prior to their management decision. The remaining 28 babies were catheterised for (1) angiographic measurement of anatomical structures (n = 12), (2) haemodynamic measurement (n = 1), and (3) balloon atrial septostomy (n = 15). One hundred and two babies had ultimate verification of their echocardiographic diagnoses. A total of 612 cardiovascular segments were identified. There were 33 (5%) echocardiographic errors, 23 of missed or uncertain diagnosis and 10 wrong interpretations. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the combined non-invasive technique were thus 96 and 98%, respectively. Only one death was attributed directly to an echocardiographic error. Hence when the clinical outcome was taken into consideration, 88 of the 89 neonates without an initial catheterisation were judged to be appropriately managed for their presentation.


Patch enlargement of the cardiovascular flow tract with neither flow occlusion nor extracorporeal circulation.
A wire-guided knife has been developed for right ventricular outflow reconstruction without the use of bypass circulation or flow occlusion. The technique has been applied successfully in two patients with tetralogy of Fallot and one patient with coarctation of the aorta.


Electrically tunable multiple Dirac cones in thin films of the (LaO)2(SbSe2)2 family of materials.
Two-dimensional Dirac physics has aroused great interests in condensed matter physics ever since the discovery of graphene and topological insulators. The ability to control the properties of Dirac cones, such as bandgap and Fermi velocity, is essential for various new phenomena and the next-generation electronic devices. On the basis of first-principles calculations and an analytical effective model, we propose a new Dirac system with eight Dirac cones in thin films of the (LaO)2(SbSe2)2 family of materials, which has the advantage in its tunability: the existence of gapless Dirac cones, their positions, Fermi velocities and anisotropy all can be controlled by an experimentally feasible electric field. We identify layer-dependent spin texture induced by spin-orbit coupling as the underlying physical reason for electrical tunability of this system. Furthermore, the electrically tunable quantum anomalous Hall effect with a high Chern number can be realized by introducing magnetization into this system.


Ecological risks assessment and pollution source identification of trace elements in contaminated sediments from the Pearl River Delta, China.
Sediments from 14 stations in the Foshan Waterway, a river crossing the industrial district of Guangdong Province, South China, were sampled and subsequently analyzed. The 14 stations were selected for the pollution discharging features of the river, such as the hydrology, the distribution of pollution sources, and the locations of wastewater outlets. The ecological risks were assessed, and the pollution sources were identified to provide valuable information for environmental impact assessment and pollution control. The spatial variability was high and the range were (in milligrams per kilogram dry weight): Pb, 46.0~382.8; Cu, 33.7~ 482.3; Zn, 62.2~1,568.7; Ni, 28.5~130.7; Cr, 34.7~1,656.1; Cd, 0.50~8.53; Hg, 0.02~8.27; and As, 5.77~66.09. The evaluation results of enrichment factor and potential ecological risk index indicate that the metal pollution in the surface and bottom sediments were severely polluted and could pose serious threat to the ecosystem in most stations. Although the hazard levels of the trace element differed among the stations, Hg was the most serious pollutant in all stations. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) show that the discharge of industrial wastewater is the most important polluting factor whereas domestic sewage, which contains a large amount of organic substances, accelerates metal deposition. And potential pollution sources were identified by the way of integrating the analysis results of PCA and data gained from the local government. Therefore, the conclusion is drawn that Foshan Waterway is seriously polluted with trace elements, both in the surface sediment (0 to 20 cm) and the bottom sediments (21 to 50 cm) are contaminated.


Preconception Periodontitis and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion in a Prospective Cohort Study.
Few studies have evaluated the association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion (SAB), and all had limitations. We used data from the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a prospective preconception cohort study of 3,444 pregnancy planners in the United States and Canada (2019-2022), to address this question. Participants provided self-reported data on periodontitis diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms of severity (i.e., loose teeth) via the enrollment questionnaire. SAB (pregnancy loss at <20 weeks' gestation) was assessed via bimonthly follow-up questionnaires. Participants contributed person-time from the date of a positive pregnancy test to the gestational week of SAB, loss to follow-up, or 20 weeks' gestation, whichever came first. We fitted Cox regression models with weeks of gestation as the time scale to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and we used inverse probability of treatment weighting to account for differential loss to follow-up. We used probabilistic quantitative bias analysis to estimate the magnitude and direction of the effect of exposure misclassification bias on results. In weighted multivariable models, we saw no appreciable association between preconception periodontitis diagnosis (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.76, 1.23) or treatment (HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.27) and SAB. A history of loose teeth was positively associated with SAB (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 0.88, 2.14). Quantitative bias analysis indicated that our findings were biased towards the null but with considerable uncertainty in the bias-adjusted results.


Characterization of selected organic compound classes in secondary organic aerosol from biogenic VOCs by HPLC/MSn.
The formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) has been investigated intensively during the last two decades in numerous field and laboratory studies and a general understanding exists about the major particle-phase products. However, recent studies show that several new product classes, such as esters, peroxides or organosulfates, also have to be considered in order to understand the detailed chemical mechanisms leading to SOA as well as to predict the aerosol mass loadings. For the identification and quantification of these three compound classes as well as for carboxylic SOA compounds, liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry (MS) is the most appropriate analytical method. In this article we try to summarize briefly the work that has been done for the determination of SOA-related carboxylic acids and we present new LC/tandem MS results on the characterization of esters, peroxides and organosulfates. In contrast to earlier work, the mass-spectrometric characterization of the individual compounds is always based on the comparison with authentic reference compounds.


Impact of antimicrobial stewardship program on antimicrobial-resistance and prescribing in nursing homes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The success of the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is more often measured in antimicrobial use in the literature; however, there is limited evidence regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study aims to systematically review the impact of urinary tract infection-targeted ASP on overall AMR, antimicrobial use, and specific to fluoroquinolone (FQ) use in nursing homes (NHs). This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies published in EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Two reviewers independently extracted data in standard forms in "Covidence." The outcome was presented in percent change and rate ratio. Meta-analysis was done using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model with inverse variance weighting. A total of 216 NHs participated in 16 included studies. Most of the ASP was educational, targeted to nurses and physicians. Four studies reported information about uropathogens resistance, 10 FQ-related, 13 antimicrobials prescribed, and 11 urine cultures. ASP had a positive impact on reducing overall and FQ-related AMR. However, fewer studies representation with varying information did not allow us to generalise. ASP performance was impressive in reducing antimicrobial prescribing (pooled rate ratio = 0.69, 95% CI 0.60-0.81, P ≤ 0.001) and urine culture rate (pooled rate ratio = 0.64, 95% CI 0.61-0.67, P ≤ 0.001) in NHs. The findings are encouraging despite the limited studies reported ASP impact on AMR. However, it takes years to see the impact of ASP on AMR. Therefore, future research should allocate a long-term follow-up and at least an outcome related to AMR to generate concrete evidence.


Modelling and optimisation of electrocoagulation/flocculation recovery of effluent from land-based aquaculture by artificial intelligence (AI) approaches.
This study examined the modelling and optimisation of the electrocoagulation-flocculation (ECF) recovery of aquaculture effluent (AQE) using aluminium electrodes. The response surface methodology (RSM), artificial neural network (ANN), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were used for the modelling, while the optimisation tools were the numerical RSM and genetic algorithm (GA). Furthermore, the kinetics of the ECF process was studied to provide insight into the mechanism governing the ECF of AQE. The experimental design was performed using the central composite design (CCD) of the RSM. The ANFIS modelling was accomplished via the Grid Partition (GP) of the data set, while the ANN used the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) based feed-forward system. Statistically, the prediction accuracy of the models followed the order: ANFIS (R2: 0.9990), ANN (R2: 0.9807), and RSM (R2: 0.9790). The process optimisation gave optimal turbidity (TD) removal efficiencies of 98.98, 97.81, and 96.01% for ANFIS-GA, ANN-GA, and RSM optimisation techniques, respectively. The ANFIS-GA gave the best optimization result at optimum conditions of pH 4, current intensity (3 A), electrolysis time (7.2 min), settling time (23 min), and temperature (43.8 °C). In the kinetics study, the experimental data was analysed using pseudo-first-order (0.8787), pseudo-second-order (0.9395), and Elovich (R2: 0.9979) kinetic models; the Elovich model gave the best correlation with the experimental data showing that the process is governed by electrostatic interaction mechanism. This study effectively demonstrated that ECF recovery of AQE can effectively be modelled using RSM, ANN, and ANFIS and be optimised using RSM, ANN-GA, and ANFIS-GA techniques, and the order of performance is ANFIS > ANN > RSM and ANFIS-GA > ANN-GA > RSM, respectively.


Sen34p depletion blocks tRNA splicing in vivo and delays rRNA processing.
Tif6p (eIF6) is necessary for 60S biogenesis, rRNA maturation and must be released from 60S to permit 80S assembly and translation. We characterized Tif6p interactors. Tif6p is mostly on 66S-60S pre-ribosomes, partly free. Tif6p complex(es) contain nucleo-ribosomal factors and Asc1p. Surprisingly, Tif6p particle contains the low-abundance endonuclease Sen34p. We analyzed Sen34p role on rRNA/tRNA synthesis, in vivo. Sen34p depletion impairs tRNA splicing and causes unexpected 80S accumulation. Accordingly, Sen34p overexpression causes 80S decrease and increased polysomes which suggest increased translational efficiency. With delayed kinetics, Sen34p depletion impairs rRNA processing. We conclude that Sen34p is absolutely required for tRNA splicing and that it is a rate-limiting element for efficient translation. Finally, we confirm that Tif6p accompanies 27S pre-rRNA maturation to 25S rRNA and we suggest that Sen34p endonuclease in Tif6p complex may affect also rRNA maturation.


Heteroepitaxial Growth of an Ultrathin β-Ga2O3 Film on a Sapphire Substrate Using Mist CVD with Fluid Flow Modeling.
β-Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) has received intensive attention in the scientific community as a significant high-power switching semiconductor material because of its remarkable intrinsic physical characteristics and growth stability. This work reports the heteroepitaxial growth of the β-Ga2O3 ultrathin film on a sapphire substrate via mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This study used a simple solution-processed and nonvacuum mist CVD method to grow a heteroepitaxial β-Ga2O3 thin film at 700 °C using a Ga precursor and carrier gases such as argon and oxygen. Various characterization techniques were used to determine the properties of the thin film. Additionally, a computational study was performed to study the temperature distribution and different mist velocity profiles of the finite element mist CVD model. This simulation study is essential for investigating low to high mist velocities over the substrate and applying low velocity to carry out experimental work. XRD and AFM results show that the β-Ga2O3 thin film is grown on a sapphire substrate of polycrystalline nature with a smooth surface. HR-TEM measurement and UV-visible transmission spectrometry demonstrated heteroepitaxial β-Ga2O3 in an ultrathin film with a band gap of 4.8 eV.


A new and advantageous model for colorectal cancer: its comparison with previous models for a common human disease.
Weekly subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg body wt. of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP), a pancreatic carcinogen in Syrian golden hamsters, induced colorectal cancer in MRC rats in 67% of all males and 33% of all females that survived beyond 43 and 68 weeks, respectively. Tumors were concentrated in specific segments of the large bowel and not found in the small intestine. Although the distribution of cancer in the cecum, and ascending and descending colon was similar in both sexes, rectal cancer predominated significantly in males. These data and the tumor morphology indicate the present model more closely resembles the corresponding human disease than do models in previous relevant experimental studies.


An economic evaluation of the national schistosomiasis control programme in China from 1992 to 2000.
The World Bank Loan Project, by far the largest effort in China for schistosomiasis control since control activities were initiated in the mid 1950s, was carried out for a 9-year period commencing in 1992 in the 8 provinces where Schistosoma japonicum remained endemic when the project started. To evaluate its impact, a retrospective economic evaluation was done in 2001. Six representative counties, i.e. Huarong in Hunan province, Qianjiang in Hubei province, Yugan in Jiangxi province, Tongling in Anhui province, Xichang in Sichuan province and Dali in Yunnan province, were selected for the study. The total financial input in these counties from 1992 to 2000 was RMB Yuan 90.334 million with the World Bank loan accounting for 40.9%. Control efforts resulted in reduction of human prevalence rates in the six counties from 0.7-9.0% in 1992 to 0.1-2.7% in 2000. With regard to S. japonicum infection in bovines, a high reduction was observed in Qianjiang, and smaller decreases were noted in four counties, while there was an increase in Dali. In general, the areas infested by the intermediate host snail fluctuated around the initial level. The net benefit-cost ratio was 6.20, which means that this project gained US$ 6.20 for every dollar spent. The correlation coefficients of the net benefit-cost ratio to the human and bovine infection rates at the beginning of the project were 0.55 and 0.66, respectively. It is conceivable that further progress in schistosomiasis control is an important feature for sustained growth of the local economy, particularly in areas where control of the disease has been most challenging.


Prophylactic immunization against experimental leishmaniasis. II. Further characterization of the protective immunity against fatal Leishmania tropica infection induced by irradiated promastigotes.
The genetic vulnerability of BALB/c mice to Leishmania tropica (L. major) infection renders them incapable of controlling a primary cutaneous lesion that leads to uniformly fatal visceral disease. Potent, long-lasting protection involving both lesion healing and survival can be induced by repeated prophylactic i.v. immunization with gamma-irradiated (150K rad) L. tropica promastigotes. The effect is not dependent on continuing viability or cellular invasiveness of the irradiated parasites because their effective immunogenicity withstands heating at 56 degrees C for 1 hr. Immunity is not stage specific and encompasses both amastigote and promastigote challenges. Similar prophylaxis can be induced by immunization with heterologous irradiated L. donovani promastigotes. Repeated i.v. immunization with irradiated L. tropica promastigotes induces an antibody response in the isotype sequence M leads to G1/G3 leads to G2a/G2b leads to A with substantially higher titres than are found in response to the infection itself. Splenectomy before immunization drastically reduces this antibody response without incurring any impairment of the extent of protection. Passive transfer of large amounts (up to 10 ml) of hyperimmune serum (or isotype fractions thereof) throughout the first 8 wk of infection fails to arrest disease progression during this period. Despite the previously described lack of any detectable cutaneous DTH reactivity, which has hitherto correlated with protective cell-mediated immunity, the results obtained do not support attribution of an alternative causal role to the humoral response.


Tenapanor: First Approval.
The selective sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitor tenapanor is being developed by Ardelyx Inc. for the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) [under the tradename IBSRELA®] and for hyperphosphataemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis or with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Based on positive results from the phase III T3MPO trial program, tenapanor was recently approved in the USA for the treatment of IBS-C in adults. This article summarises the milestones in the development of tenapanor leading to this first approval.


Diagnostic value of ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy in peripheral tuberculous pulmonary lesions.
To investigate the diagnostic value of bronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (EBUS-TBLB) in tuberculous peripheral pulmonary lesions. A total of 770 patients who completed CT imaging and ultrasound bronchoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent biopsy sampling as well as alveolar lavage under the guidance of ultrasound. Pathological analysis and molecular biological detection of pulmonary tuberculosis were performed in both pathological tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the diagnostic positive rate and diagnostic sensitivity were statistically analyzed. Of the 44 patients who were found to have lesions by EBUS-TBLB, 26 patients were able to achieve a definite diagnosis of PPLs, with an overall diagnostic yield of 59.1%. Of the 33 patients with all diagnosed benign lesions, 22 were diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis with the diagnostic yield of 66.7%. Among above 22 cases, the overall positive rate of BALF diagnosis was as high as 95.6%, and the highest diagnostic rate of a single test was BALF XpertMTB/RIF, 59.1%. Compared with pathological tissues, the diagnostic positive rate of BALF as a diagnostic specimen was higher (p < .05). In addition, the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBLB in pulmonary tuberculosis was not affected by patient's age, lesion extent size, EBUS probe position, presence or tracheal grade, or characteristics of lesions (all p > .05). Transbronchial radial ultrasound-guided lung biopsy of tuberculous PPLs possesses higher diagnostic rate, fewer complications and less interference, exerts potential application value in the diagnosis of tuberculous peripheral pulmonary lesions.


Morphological adaptations of tracheid structure to water stress gradients in the crown of Sequoiadendron giganteum.
Mean radial diameter of tracheids in young branches of a 90 m Sequoiadendron giganteum decreases linearly with height along a gradient correlated linearly with decreasing xylem pressure potential. These smaller tracheid diameters provide strength to resist strong mechanical tensions in the xylem column and hypothetically allow greater efficiencies of water conduction. Tracheid length is not significantly correlated with either water stress or tracheid diameter.


Protein splicing: excision of intervening sequences at the protein level.
Protein splicing is an extraordinary post-translational reaction that removes an intact central "spacer" domain (Sp) from precursor proteins (N-Sp-C) while splicing together the N- and C-domains of the precursor, via a peptide bond, to produce a new protein (N-C). All of the available data on protein splicing fit a model in which these intervening sequences excise at the protein level via a self-splicing mechanism. Several proteins have recently been discovered that undergo protein splicing, and in two such cases, the excised spacer protein is an endonuclease. Such endonucleases are capable of conferring genetic mobility upon the intervening sequences that encodes them. These intervening sequences define a new family of mobile genetic elements that are translated yet remain phenotypically silent by excising at the protein rather than the RNA level.


An evidence-based update on the management of articular cartilage defects in the hip.
Articular cartilage defects in the hip joint pose a significant surgical challenge and remain one of the most important determinants of success following arthroscopic intervention of the hip. The aim of this literature review was to report on the best available evidence on the various treatment options utilised for articular cartilage defects in the hip. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed from its inception to October 2021 using the following search strategy: ((hip) and (cartilage or chondral) and (repair or regeneration or restoration or implantation or chondroplasty or chondrogenic)). Two reviewers (KHSK, MG) independently reviewed titles and abstracts to identify articles for the final analysis. Articles were included if they were original research studies (randomised control trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, or comparative studies) on treatment of hip cartilage defects in humans reporting on a minimum of 5 patients. A total of 1172 articles were identified from the initial literature search. Following a thorough selection process, 35 articles were included in the final analysis to synthesise the evidence. Debridement, microfracture, autologous chondocyte implanatation (ACI) and matrix-induced ACI (MACI) are shown to have good short-to medium-term results. Injectable ACI and MACI have been developed to enable these procedures to be performed via arthroscopic surgery to reduce the post-operative morbidity associated with surgery with promising early results. Large cartilage defects which involved the sub-chondral bone may need the use of osteochondral grafts either autograft or allograft. Newer biological solutions have been developed to potentially deliver a single-stage procedure for hip cartilage injuries but longer-term results are still awaited. Accurate identification of the extent of the injury helps stratify the defect and plan appropriate treatment. Several surgical techniques have shown good short to medium-term outcomes with ACI, AMIC, mosaicplasty and microfracture. Recent advances have enabled the use of injectable MACI and bioscaffolds which show promising results but in the shorter term. However, one needs to be mindful of the techniques which can be used in their surgical setting with the available resources. In order to thoroughly evaluate the benefits of the different surgical techniques for hip cartilage defects, large scale prospective multi-centre studies are necessary. Perhaps inclusion of such procedures in registries may also yield meaningful and pragmatic results.


Ethnopharmacology of ska María Pastora (Salvia divinorum, Epling and Játiva-M.).
Salvia divinorum is a perennial labiate used for curing and divination by the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico. The psychotropic effects the plant produces are compared to those of the other hallucinogens employed by the Mazatecs, the morning glory, Rivea corymbosa L., Hallier f. and the psilocybin-containing mushrooms. A discussion of the role of ska María Pastora in the native "pharmacopeia" is based on previous reports and fieldwork by the authors, with a Mazatec shaman.


Diagnostic aspects of the cytomegalovirus mononucleosis syndrome in previously healthy persons.
The mononucleosis-like syndrome due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) has many clinical features in common with classic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced infectious mononucleosis (IM). The hematologic and hepatic findings in both diseases are identical. Diagnosis of the CMV-IM syndrome usually can be made on the basis of indirect immunofluorescence for CMV macroglobulins (CMV-IgM). EBV virologic tests may also be necessary, as patients with primary EBV infections may have cross-reactions at low titer in the CMV-IgM test.


Back-table arterial reconstructions in liver transplantation: single-center experience.
Anatomic variations of the arterial supply to donor liver grafts often require complex hepatic artery reconstructions on the back table. Therefore, because of the additional anastomoses, there is a greater risk of arterial thrombosis and graft loss. Among the 620 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) in 549 adult and pediatric patients performed from June 1983 through August 2004, the rates and types of donor hepatic artery variations (HAV) and the type of reconstructions were reviewed as well as the 1- and 5-year grafts and patient survival rates after OLT. At least 1 HAV was present in 133 liver grafts (21.4%). The most frequent variations were as follows: right hepatic artery (RHA) from superior mesenteric artery (SMA) (44 cases); RHA from aorta (4 cases); and RHA from SMA, combined with a left hepatic artery (LHA) from left gastric artery (3 cases). No graft was discarded. Fifty-six of 133 (42%) HAV required arterial reconstructions, generally a termino-terminal (TT) anastomosis between RHA and splenic artery (26 cases, 46.4%). Less frequently performed anastomoses were the "fold-over" technique (15 cases, 26.8%) and the anastomosis between the RHA and the gastro-duodenal artery (6 cases, 10.6%); rare reconstructions were performed in 9 cases (16.0%). The rate of hepatic artery thrombosis was 5.4% (3 of 56 OLT) in complex hepatic artery reconstructions and 2.2% in other grafts. One- and 5-years graft and patient actuarial survival rates have been respectively 73.2%- 71.4% in hepatic artery reconstructions and 78.6%-76.8% in the absence of an artery reconstruction, respectively.


Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and resistin are interrelated and related to total antioxidant capacity, free fatty acids and phospholipids in early neonatal life.
The aims of this study were to determine interrelationships between serum leptin, adiponectin and resistin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and phospholipids concentrations in infants. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, IGF-1, TAC, NEFA and phospholipids in 45 breast-fed infants enrolled at 4-30 days after birth. Serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations were positively correlated. Serum resistin concentrations were inversely correlated to serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Serum TAC was positively correlated to serum leptin and adiponectin, and inversely to serum resistin concentrations. Serum adiponectin concentrations were positively related to serum NEFA and phospholipid concentrations. Serum resistin concentrations were inversely related to serum NEFA, and phospholipid concentrations. These data show that circulatory levels of leptin, adiponectin and resistin are interrelated and they apparently interact with the anti-oxidant system of infants.


A possible role of the pleura in lung mechanics.
The pressure-volume behavior of excised visceral pleura is studied. The pleura is modeled as a thin incompressible membrane, and the requisite membrane tension is determined from a pseudostrain-energy function. Results are compared to pressure-volume behavior of saline-filled and air-filled parenchyma and to experimental pleural data from the literature. Results suggest that the pleura may play a role as a volume limiter of lung expansion although the need for more detailed analysis is discussed.


[Deposits of immunoglobulins in the cells of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (author's transl)].
Cristalloid inclusions were demonstrated in the perinuclear space and the ergastoplasm of cells of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These inclusions and the immunoglobulins of the cell membrane consisted of IgG. The leukemic cells were able to synthesize, but not to secrete, monoclonal immunoglobulins.


Cellular and molecular characterization of two novel asparagine synthetase gene mutations linked to asparagine synthetase deficiency.
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) catalyzes synthesis of asparagine (Asn) and Glu from Asp and Gln in an ATP-dependent reaction. Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD) results from biallelic mutations in the ASNS gene. Affected children exhibit congenital microcephaly, continued brain atrophy, seizures, and often premature mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This report describes a compound heterozygotic ASNSD child with two novel mutations in the ASNS gene, c.1118G>T (paternal) and c.1556G>A (maternal), that lead to G373V or R519H ASNS variants. Structural mapping suggested that neither variant participates directly in catalysis. Growth of cultured fibroblasts from either parent was unaffected in Asn-free medium, whereas growth of the child's cells was suppressed by about 50%. Analysis of Asn levels unexpectedly revealed that extracellular rather than intracellular Asn correlated with the reduced proliferation during incubation of the child's cells in Asn-free medium. Our attempts to ectopically express the G373V variant in either HEK293T or JRS cells resulted in minimal protein production, suggesting instability. Protein expression and purification from HEK293T cells revealed reduced activity for the R519H variant relative to WT ASNS. Expression of WT ASNS in ASNS-null JRS cells resulted in nearly complete rescue of growth in Asn-free medium, whereas we observed no proliferation for the cells expressing either the G373V or R519H variant. These results support the conclusion that the coexpression of the G373V and R519H ASNS variants leads to significantly reduced Asn synthesis, which negatively impacts cellular growth. These observations are consistent with the ASNSD phenotype.


Host genotype controls the ability of the ISGF3 complex to activate transcription of IFN-inducible genes.
C57BL/6 mice are unable to express the Ifi 202 type genes upon injection in vivo of multiple dsRNA, poly rl:rC, or IFN-treatment in vitro. For this purpose the 5' terminal flanking region (called the b segment of 804 bp) was linked to a heterologous reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) and transfected into NIH3T3 cells or BLK cells derived from the C57BL/6 strain. IFN-alpha induced strong CAT activity in NIH3T3 but not in BLK cells. This lack of transcription activation was not due to a defect in STAT factor activity, since IFN-alpha treatment in the presence of IFN-gamma priming induced translocation of the ISGF3 into the nucleus, and binding to the ISRE (IFN-Stimulated Response Element) of the 202 gene even in C57BL/6 derived cells. Surprisingly when three tandem copies of the 202 ISRE (42 bp) were linked to a heterologous promoter (c-fos promoter) driving the reporter CAT gene, activation was also observed in C57BL/6 cells upon IFN-treatment. Finally, another IFN-inducible gene, namely the Mx, was activated in C57BL/6 mice. Thus, the primary defect of the C57BL/6 strain leading to an impaired Ifi 202 type gene response to IFN appears to be an inability of the ISGF3 complex to activate the endogenous promoter. Altogether these results suggest that unidentified nuclear factors related to the host genotype control the ability of the STAT factors to activate transcription upon IFN-treatment.


Pulsed electric field assisted modification of octenyl succinylated potato starch and its influence on pasting properties.
The physicochemical properties and structural changes of potato starch esterified with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) assisted with pulsed electric field (PEF) were investigated. Results showed that PEF treatment during esterification resulted in a significant modification of pasting properties. The pasting temperature at 2-6 kV/cm reduced by 7.6-15.1 °C for PEF-assisted OSA starches but only by 3 °C for OSA modified starch without PEF treatment as compared to that of native starch. PEF-assisted esterification could reduce the reaction time and improve the reaction efficiency over the control by 6.1-39.1 %. A novel schematic model on structure-functionality relationship for PEF-assisted OSA modified starch was proposed. Structural disorganizations of starch induced lower pasting temperature and paste viscosity. The results suggest that PEF could be a potential eco-friendly and cost-effective physical technique to prepare starch products with desired paste behaviors and to broaden its application area especially in papermaking and textile industries.


Lactobacillus salivarius strain FDB89 induced longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans by dietary restriction.
In this study, we utilized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to assess potential life-expanding effect of Lactobacillus salivarius strain FDB89 (FDB89) isolated from feces of centenarians in Bama County (Guangxi, China). This study showed that feeding FDB89 extended the mean life span in C. elegans by up to 11.9% compared to that of control nematodes. The reduced reproductive capacities, pharyngeal pumping rate, growth, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and XTT reduction capacity were also observed in FDB89 feeding worms. To probe the anti-aging mechanism further, we incorporated a food gradient feeding assay and assayed the life span of eat-2 mutant. The results demonstrated that the maximal life span of C. elegans fed on FDB89 was achieved at the concentration of 1.0 mg bacterial cells/plate, which was 10-fold greater than that of C. elegans fed on E. coli OP50 (0.1 mg bacterial cells/plate). However, feeding FDB89 could not further extend the life span of eat-2 mutant. These results indicated that FDB89 modulated the longevity of C. elegans in a dietary restriction-dependent manner and expanded the understanding of anti-aging effect of probiotics.


SENTIREC - The sentinel node mapping in women with cervical cancer study - Patient-reported early lymphedema and its impact on quality of life.
To evaluate patient-reported incidence and severity of early lymphedema and its impact on quality of life (QoL) after sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping only and after SLN and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL) in women undergoing surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. In a national prospective multicenter study, we included women with early-stage cervical cancer from March 2017-January 2021 to undergo radical surgery including SLN mapping. Women with tumors >20 mm underwent completion PL. The incidence and severity of early lymphedema and its influence on QoL were evaluated using validated patient-reported outcome measures before surgery and three months postoperative. We investigated changes over time using linear regression. Two hundred of 245 (81.6%) included women completed questionnaires at baseline and three months postoperatively. The incidence of early lymphedema was 5.6% (95% CI 2.1-11.8%) and 32.3% (95% CI 22.9-42.7%) in women who underwent SLN mapping only and SLN + PL, respectively. Lymphedema symptoms in the legs, genitals, and groins increased in both groups postoperatively but three times more in women who underwent PL. Lymphedema symptoms after SLN + PL significantly impaired physical performance (p = 0.001) and appearance (p = 0.007). Reporting lymphedema was significantly associated with impaired body image, physical-, role-, and social functioning, and a high level of fatigue. SLN mapping alone carries a low risk of lymphedema in women undergoing surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. In contrast, completion PL is associated with a high incidence of early lymphedema. Reporting lymphedema is associated with significant impairment of several physical, psychological, and social aspects of QoL.


The movement of muscle precursor cells between adjacent regenerating muscles in the mouse.
Regeneration of mature skeletal muscle fibres involves the formation of new multinucleate muscle fibres by the fusion together of mononucleate muscle precursor cells. Such precursor cells appear to be largely or entirely derived from satellite cells, located between the basement membrane and the sarcolemma of the muscle fibre. We have previously presented evidence that precursor cells which contribute to regenerating muscle in a region of muscle damage are not all locally derived but that some migrate in from exogenous sources. The present study examines the possibility that a regenerating muscle might receive muscle precursor cells from neighbouring muscles. To do this we have made whole muscle allografts in the mouse and used the two murine isoenzyme allotypes of the dimeric enzyme Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase (GPI) as markers to demonstrate whether there is movement of muscle precursor cells between these allografts and adjacent host muscles. In host muscles adjacent to some allografts, a "hybrid" form of GPI was detected, each molecule consisting of one donor and one host GPI subunit. Such heterodimers can form only where host and donor nuclei share a common cytoplasm: in muscles this means that mosaic host/donor muscle fibres are present. The presence of such fibres implies that muscle precursor cells must have migrated into the host muscle from the neighbouring allograft.


Dyslipoproteinemia in patients with ischemic cerebro-vascular disease: a study of stroke before the age of 55.
Serum lipoproteins were determined 8-12 weeks after the onset of ischemic cerebro-vascular disease (ICD) in 61 patients, 38 males and 23 females, before the age of 55. The results were compared with those of a matched control material. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings, CSF spectrophotometry, computer tomography, and angiography. Hyperlipoproteinemia was no common finding in these young and middle-aged patients with ICD. The normal mean total serum cholesterol concentration was the result of a slight increase in VLDL cholesterol and a concomitant HDL cholesterol reduction. In men, the HDL cholesterol concentration was lower than expected for any VLDL-TG concentration. The mean value of the HDL cholesterol concentration in the patients was 18% lower than in the control group. On agarose electrophoresis the lipoprotein variants "late prebeta", "sinking prebeta" and "rapid beta" lipoproteins could be demonstrated in the same frequency as in controls. There was no significant correlation between the degree of atherosclerosis, estimated by angiography, and any serum lipoprotein fraction. Several recent studies have stressed the importance of a low HDL concentration as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. The decreased HDL cholesterol levels found in the present material require further attention to the possible beneficial role of HDL in ICD.


The impact of nutritional and exercise strategies for aging bone and muscle.
This symposium addressed recent evidence suggesting that nutritional intervention and resistance-training strategies may be important for aging bone and muscle. The physiological consequences of aging and the potential mechanistic actions of nutritional aids during resistance training were emphasized.


Lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane 5 ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by promoting the degradation of CDC42 in mice.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has received great attention due to its high incidence. Here, we show that lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane 5 (LAPTM5) is associated with NASH progression through extensive bioinformatical analysis. The protein level of LAPTM5 bears a negative correlation with NAS score. Moreover, LAPTM5 degradation is mediated through its ubiquitination modification by the E3 ubquitin ligase NEDD4L. Discovered by experiments conducted on male mice, hepatocyte-specific depletion of Laptm5 exacerbates mouse NASH symptoms. In contrast, Laptm5 overexpression in hepatocytes exerts diametrically opposite effects. Mechanistically, LAPTM5 interacts with CDC42 and promotes its degradation through a lysosome-dependent manner under the stimulation of palmitic acid, thus inhibiting activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Finally, adenovirus-mediated hepatic Laptm5 overexpression ameliorates aforementioned symptoms in NASH models.


Descending phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase projections to the monkey spinal cord: an immunohistochemical double labeling study.
In the present study, we determined that a population of spinally projecting neurons in the monkey brainstem also contained the enzyme phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT). Following bilateral placements of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the cervical spinal cord, brainstem sections containing retrogradely labeled cells were immunohistochemically stained for PNMT. Single labeled PNMT-positive cells were found in a distinctive pattern in the dorsomedial and ventrolateral medulla. A population of double labeled cells was observed in the latter group only. This population was dispersed among other single labeled HRP and single labeled PNMT neurons. Possible functional roles of descending PNMT cells include involvement in sympathetic control of cardiovascular mechanisms and/or tonic descending inhibition of dorsal horn neurons.


Consistently High Agreement Between Independent Raters of Niemann-Pick Type C1 Clinical Severity Scale in Phase 2/3 Trial.
Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder characterized by impaired intracellular transport of cholesterol and other lipids. The Niemann-Pick Disease, type C1 Severity Scale (NPC-SS) was developed to quantify neurological progression of NPC; it is used to monitor the natural history of disease progression and assess response to treatment. The objective of the study was to examine the interrater reliability of the NPC-SS in a phase 2/3 trial. Study data were from a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind trial of adrabetadex in 56 subjects with NPC1. Clinical data recorded at each study site were distributed to two independent blinded central raters to generate a severity score. A composite four-item score was utilized as the primary clinical study end point, whereas a five-item focused score has been utilized in other NPC1 trials. Interrater reliability was assessed using two-way mixed models for instrument stability, Cohen kappa, weighted kappa, and percent agreement for the four- and five-item scores. The frequency distribution and mean (S.D.) of the NPC-SS domain assessments by the raters were almost identical. Evaluation at the patient visit level showed wide variability between visits; however, weighted kappa calculation provided a lower variability between visits. The average kappa coefficients ranged between 0.69 and 0.89, indicating good to very good agreement between raters. These results support the NPC-SS, including derived four- and five-item composite scores, as reliable measures for use in a clinical trial setting.


Characterization of leukocyte subpopulations in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.
Monoclonal antibodies identifying leukocytes subpopulations were applied to smears of laparoscopically collected peritoneal fluid leukocytes and parallel samples of peripheral blood leukocytes from women with endometriosis (n = 33), those with unexplained infertility (n = 9), and fertile controls (n = 8). Peripheral blood leukocyte profiles in all groups were indistinguishable from reported normal values. Peritoneal fluid leukocyte profiles were observed to be different between groups. The most significant elevations in total leukocytes, macrophages, helper T lymphocytes and natural-killer cells were observed in women with stage I and II endometriosis. Significantly elevated levels of total leukocytes, macrophages, and T lymphocytes were also observed in peritoneal fluid from women with unexplained infertility. The results from this study indicate that the peritoneal environment is immunologically dynamic and suggest that cellular immune mechanisms may contribute to reproductive failure in women with endometriosis and unexplained infertility.


Magnetic resonance imaging and confocal microscopy studies of magnetically labeled endothelial progenitor cells trafficking to sites of tumor angiogenesis.
AC133 cells, a subpopulation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, can transform into endothelial cells that may integrate into the neovasculature of tumors or ischemic tissue. Most current imaging modalities do not allow monitoring of early migration and incorporation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) into tumor neovasculature. The goals of this study were to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track the migration and incorporation of intravenously injected, magnetically labeled EPCs into the blood vessels in a rapidly growing flank tumor model and to determine whether the pattern of EPC incorporation is related to the time of injection or tumor size. EPCs labeled with ferumoxide-protamine sulfate (FePro) complexes were injected into mice bearing xenografted glioma, and MRI was obtained at different stages of tumor development and size. Migration and incorporation of labeled EPCs into tumor neovasculature were detected as low signal intensity on MRI at the tumor periphery as early as 3 days after EPC administration in preformed tumors. However, low signal intensities were not observed in tumors implanted at the time of EPC administration until tumor size reached 1 cm at 12 to 14 days. Prussian blue staining showed iron-positive cells at the sites corresponding to low signal intensity on MRI. Confocal microscopy showed incorporation into the neovasculature, and immunohistochemistry clearly demonstrated the transformation of the administered EPCs into endothelial cells. MRI demonstrated the incorporation of FePro-labeled human CD34+/AC133+ EPCs into the neovasculature of implanted flank tumors.


Effect of co-existing ions during the preparation of alumina by electrolysis with aluminum soluble electrodes: structure and defluoridation activity of electro-synthesized adsorbents.
The electrochemical dissolution of aluminum was carried out to prepare hydrated aluminas which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical titrations and defluoridation activities. Aluminas were obtained at controlled pH depending upon the counter cations of the electrolyte. A boehmite AlOOH phase was isolated mainly in ammonium solution, while aluminas synthesized in the other media contained a mixture of phases, usually both boehmite and bayerite γ-Al(OH)₃. All the boehmite phases contained nano-crystallites of less than 3 nm. Batch defluoridation experiments revealed a second influence of the original electrolyte. Aluminas were very effective in defluoridation with abatement rates of 99.5%, 98.5% and 97.3% from neutral fluoride solution at 10 mgL(-1) when they were prepared in solution of (NH₄)₂SO₄, (NH₄)HCO₂ and NH₄Cl, respectively. The maximum fluoride capacities were 46.94; 10.25 and 12.18 mg g(-1) for aluminas prepared in solution of (NH₄)₂SO₄; (NH₄)HCO₂ and NH₄Cl, respectively. The amount of dissolved Al was found to be less than 0.19 mgL(-1) at neutral pH. These results show that a defluoridation with electro-synthesized aluminas would be more efficient and safe than a direct electrocoagulation.


Domain repeats related to innate immunity in the South African abalone, Haliotis midae.
Molluscs predominately use the cellular defence system as the primary mechanism of defence against pathogenic infection, in which haemocytes play a pivotal role. Haliotis midae is a commercially important South African species that it is susceptible to bacterial pathogens, fungal and yeast infections in the farming environment. The current study aims to enrich the current knowledge regarding H. midae innate immunity by investigating the presence and evolution of domain repeats. The bioinformatics approach used in this study, detected five repeat families in the H. midae transcriptome. These repeats families include mixed alpha and beta (leucine-rich and ankyrin), spectrin repeats, beta-propellers (WD40) and alfa-structure repeat (TPR-like). The expansion of key gene families related to host defence may be important to abalone adaptation to life in a pathogen-rich environment.


Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Disordered Gambling Disorder, and Use of DSM-5 Based Sports Betting Questionnaire, in a Southwest Nigerian Community.
Gambling disorder is rarely diagnosed in Nigeria. The prevalence and factors associated with gambling disorder in many parts of Nigeria are not known. Our study aimed to evaluate psychometric properties of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 for use as a self-report screening instrument for large-scale studies in Nigeria. Cross-sectional surveys were done involving two independent sampled populations from a hospital setting and the surrounding community. Instruments administered included a semistructured sociodemographic questionnaire, South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 11 criteria, and a screening questionnaire based on Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5), which was designed as a self-report measure (Sports betting). The prevalence rate for gambling disorder was 30.5%. The diagnostic accuracy of DSM-5 and ICD-11, and SOGS were comparably similar. Factors associated with gambling disorder (sports betting) were low educational level and poor employment status. The DSM-5-based screening questionnaire showed good psychometric properties, with sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of ICD-11 criteria and SOGS. The study also found a high prevalence of gambling disorder. There is a need to address educational and employment opportunities.


Modeling and simulation of soft sensor design for real-time speed estimation, measurement and control of induction motor.
This paper deals with the design of a speed soft sensor for induction motor. The sensor is based on the physical model of the motor. Because the validation step highlight the fact that the sensor cannot be validated for all the operating points, the model is modified in order to obtain a fully validated sensor in the whole speed range. An original feature of the proposed approach is that the modified model is derived from stability analysis using automatic control theory.


A longitudinal study of work loss related to dental diseases.
This paper analyzes the effects of dental conditions on social functioning by measuring the incidence of work loss days associated with dental problems and treatments in 1 year. A longitudinal study of 1992 employed adults in the Hartford, Conn. area was conducted. Participants were interviewed at baseline to collect data on sociodemographic, health care and health status factors and were followed for 1 year to assess the incidence of dental work loss days. The results showed that 26.4% of the sample reported an episode of dentally-related work, with a mean of 1.26 hours per person per year. The most important predictors of having work loss were high number of dental visits, previously having an episode of work loss, being young and being in the higher social classes. The most important variables explaining total hours of work loss were treatment severity, previous work loss, low income and being non-white. While work loss rates varied by some important treatment and sociodemographic factors, more sensitive outcome indicators are needed to detect individual differences in the effects of dental conditions on social functioning. Yet, the results do suggest that work loss days may be a useful population statistic in measuring oral health status because of the high prevalence of dental disease.


High symptom reporters are less interoceptively accurate in a symptom-related context.
We investigated the role of a symptom interpretation frame on the accuracy of interoception and on retrospective symptom reporting in nonclinical high and low reporters of medically unexplained symptoms. All participants (N=74) went through two subsequent trials of the Rebreathing Test, inducing altered respiration and other physical sensations as a result of a gradually increasing pCO(2) level in the blood. Each trial consisted of a baseline (60 s), a rebreathing phase (150 s), and a recovery phase (150 s). In one trial, the sensations were framed in a neutral way ("the gas mixture might alter breathing behavior and induce respiratory sensations"). In the other trial, a symptom frame was induced ("the gas mixture might alter breathing behavior and induce respiratory symptoms"). Breathing behavior was continuously monitored, subjective sensations were rated every 10 s, and after each trial, participants filled out a symptom checklist. Within-subject correlations between the subjective rating and its physiological referent were calculated for the rebreathing phase and recovery phase of each trial separately. High symptom reporters had more (retrospective) complaints than low symptom reporters, especially in the symptom trial. Only in the symptom frame were high symptom reporters less accurate than low symptom reporters. The reduction in interoceptive accuracy (IA) in high symptom reporters was most striking in the recovery phase of the symptom frame trial. A contextual cue, such as a reference to symptoms, reduced IA in high symptom reporters and this was more so during recovery from the symptom induction.


Surfing USA: an epidemiological study of surfing injuries presenting to US EDs 2002 to 2013.
Surfing is a popular recreational and competitive sport in the United States and worldwide. Previous studies indicate surfers are frequently injured, but most studies are survey based, and little is known about surfing injuries that present to emergency departments (EDs). This study examines the epidemiology of surfing injuries presenting to US EDs. A retrospective analysis was performed using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission from 2002 to 2013. A total of 2072 cases were analyzed, corresponding to a national estimate of 131 494 total injuries over the 12-year period (95% confidence interval, 34 515-228 473). The median age of included cases was 27 years (interquartile range, 19-37). Lower extremity injuries were most common (25.9%), followed by the face (23.1%) and head and neck (22.7%). Lacerations were the most common injury type (40.7%), followed by sprains and strains (14.4%), contusions (12.9%), and fractures (11.9%); 95.7% of cases were treated and released. Patients older than 60 years, those injured to the trunk, and those suffering fractures or internal organ injuries were admitted at a statistically significant increased frequency (P<.05). Surfing injuries are common but rarely serious. The injuries most commonly affect the lower extremity, head, neck, and face and are most frequently lacerations. Age older than 60 years, injuries to the trunk, and internal organ injuries were associated with a statistically significant increased frequency of hospital admission.