[Implementation of morbidity and mortality conferences in French intensive care units: a survey].
A national survey was conducted by the "Collège français d'anesthésie et de réanimation (CFAR)" and the "Collège des bonnes pratiques en réanimation (CBPR)", to analyze the implementation of morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) in French intensive care units (ICUs). An electronic questionnaire was set up. We directed the survey at French ICUs physicians registered in the two Colleges directories, only one form was filled in by each participating unit. From December 2009 to February 2010, Among the 170 replies, 120 ICUs (71%) practiced MMC. No difference in the typology of the two groups was found. The median annual number of MMCs was 4 per year (1-15). The perimeter of the MMCs concerned only the ICU unit in 70 cases (58%), more than one ICU unit in the same department in 11 cases (9.8%), more than one department of ICU in 16 cases (13%) and other departments in 57 cases (48%). The events analyzed were: all deaths in 45 cases (37.5%), unexpected deaths in 50 cases (41.7%), severe adverse events in 67 cases (55.8%) and other events in 19 cases (15.8%). At least one adverse event defined by the two colleges in the process of "accreditation" was analyzed in 86 cases (72%). Participation of a physician of at least one other unit was reported in 56 cases (47%) and of medical students in 62 cases (52%). The low rate of participation of ICU nurses was reported in 62 cases (69.2%) and their absence in 35 cases (29%). MMCs consequences were drafting of new procedure in 99 cases (83%), changes in procedures in 75 cases (63%), conducting training programs in 60 cases (50%), organizational changes in 86 cases (72%), adverse event declaration in 21 cases (18%) and monitoring indicators in 40 cases (33%). Among units which did not practice MMCs, Identified obstacles were organizational causes in 25 cases (50%), inexperience in seven cases (14%), lack of methodology in 4 cases (8%), realization of other methods of formative assessment in 4 cases (8%) and physician's refusal in three cases (6%). The fear of medico-legal problem was never reported as a barrier to MMCs practice. Forty-five units (90%) projected to practice MMR. This survey showed that the practice of MMR is common in French ICUs, allowing the identification of organizational problems, but also of training needs, joining one of the initial concerns that have led to their implementation. Expanding the participation to non-physician members of the units should be encouraged, without underestimating the difficulties particularly in the organizational domains that represent an obstacle to development of MMCs.


Benign ovarian thecoma with markedly elevated serum inhibin B levels mimicking adult granulosa cell tumor.
Elevated serum inhibin B is a classic marker of adult granulosa cell tumors. Here we discuss an extremely rare and informative case of elevated inhibin B associated with an ovarian thecoma. A 57 year-old postmenopausal female presented with recurrent bleeding and was found to have an adnexal mass with an elevated serum inhibin B level of 1,915 pg/mL (normal range 10-200 pg/mL). With a preoperative diagnosis of adult granulosa cell tumor, she underwent surgical management for what was ultimately a benign ovarian thecoma. The diagnosis of thecoma was confirmed by a pericellular pattern of reticulin staining and the lack of a FOXL2 mutation by molecular testing. This case demonstrates that inhibin B lacks specificity as a tumor marker for adult granulosa cell tumor, even at very high levels. Knowledge of benign alternative explanations for this finding can facilitate improved preoperative patient counseling. Pertinent literature is reviewed, with an emphasis on proposed hypotheses for inhibin overproduction.


Anti-IgE Monoclonal Antibody (Omalizumab) in Refractory and Relapsing Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss): Data on Seventeen Patients.
To describe the efficacy and safety of omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, in patients with refractory and/or relapsing eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) (EGPA). We conducted a nationwide retrospective study including EGPA patients who received omalizumab. Response was defined as the absence of asthma and/or sinonasal exacerbations with a prednisone dosage of ≤7.5 mg/day (complete response) or >7.5 mg/day (partial response). Seventeen patients (median age 45 years) received omalizumab for severe steroid-dependent asthma (88%) and/or sinonasal involvement (18%). After a median follow-up of 22 months, 6 patients (35%) achieved a complete response, 5 patients (30%) achieved a partial response, and 6 patients (35%) had no improvement. The median Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score decreased from 2.5 at baseline to 0.5 at 12 months. The median number of exacerbations per month decreased from 1 at baseline to 0 at 12 months, and the median forced expiratory volume in 1 second increased from 63% of the percent predicted at baseline to 85% of the percent predicted at 12 months. The median prednisone dosage decreased from 16 mg/day at baseline to 11 mg/day at 6 months and 9 mg/day at 12 months. Omalizumab was discontinued in 8 patients (47%) during follow-up, because of remission (12.5%), adverse event despite disease remission (12.5%), refractory disease (25%), or relapse (50%). Relapses included retrobulbar optic neuritis attributable to EGPA in 2 patients and severe asthma flare in 2 others. The results of this study suggest that omalizumab may have a corticosteroid-sparing effect in EGPA patients with asthmatic and/or sinonasal manifestations, but reducing the corticosteroid dose may also increase the risk of severe EGPA flares, which raises the question of the safety of omalizumab in patients with EGPA.


Survival and growth of enterotoxin-positive and enterotoxin-negative Clostridium perfringens in laboratory media.
The survival and growth characteristics of enterotoxin-positive and enterotoxin-negative Clostridium perfringens were compared. Spores of C. perfringens were heated and incubated in laboratory media to simulate the cooking and inadequate storage of cooked food. In our experiment, enterotoxin-positive and enterotoxin-negative spores were heated and incubated individually and it was found that spores of enterotoxin-positive strains were more heat-resistant than spores of the enterotoxin-negative strains. In another experiment, cocktails of enterotoxin-positive and enterotoxin-negative spores were heated and incubated. At the time of inoculation, the ratio of enterotoxin-positive spores to enterotoxin-negative spores was about 1:100. In the case of high-temperature heat treatment, the number of enterotoxin-negative spores decreased to below that of enterotoxin-positive spores after heating, and enterotoxin-positive strains grew to high levels during incubation. In the case of low-temperature heat treatment, the number of enterotoxin-negative spores remained almost unchanged after heating and enterotoxin-positive strains did not grow to high CFU levels during incubation.


Selective effect of fentanyl on group III and IV somatosympathetic reflexes.
The effect of fentanyl on sympathetic reflexes evoked by supramaximal electrical stimulation of the radial nerve, and the subsequent reversal of its effects by naloxone, have been observed in 10 dogs anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose, paralysed with suxamethonium and artificially ventilated. During infusions of 5 micrograms kg-1 min-1 the late, long-latency, sympathetic response evoked by unmyelinated fibres was abolished at a mean dose of 27 micrograms kg-1 (SD 12.6 micrograms kg-1) after which the early, short-latency response evoked by small myelinated fibres was eliminated at a mean dose of 90.3 micrograms kg-1 (SD 54.6 micrograms kg-1) so that there was no longer any response to stimulation of the radial nerve. During a subsequent infusion of naloxone (200 micrograms min-1) the late response returned to control values at a mean dose of 0.5 mg and subsequently the early response reappeared to return to control values at a total dose of 1.6 mg. In 2 preparations phrenic nerve activity was abolished after 6.1 and 17.4 micrograms kg-1 of fentanyl and returned immediately before the late response, during the infusion of naloxone. In 2 preparations, induced tolerance occurred so that the early response could not be eliminated.


Effects of influent DO/COD ratio on the performance of an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor fed low-strength synthetic wastewater.
The effect of influent DO/COD (dissolved oxygen/chemical oxygen demand) ratio on the performance of an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) containing GAC was studied. A high influent DO concentration was found to have adverse impacts on organic removal efficiency, methane production, and effluent suspended solids (SS) concentration. These problems resulted with a DO/COD ratio of 0.12, but not at a lower ratio of 0.05. At first organic removal appeared satisfactory at the higher DO/COD ratio at a hydraulic retention time of 0.30 h, but soon a rapid growth of oxygen-consuming zoogloeal-like organisms resulted, eventually causing high effluent SS concentrations. The influent DO also had an inhibitory effect, resulting in a long recovery time for adequate methanogenic activity to return after influent DO removal began. With the growing interest in anaerobic treatment of low COD wastewaters, the increased possibility of similar adverse DO effects occurring needs consideration.


White spot lesions, plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria in clear aligners compared to fixed orthodontic treatment. A systematic review and meta- analysis.
To analyse the available evidence regarding the incidence and severity of white spot lesions (WSLs), plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria(SCB) in clear aligners (CA) verses conventional fixed (CF) orthodontic appliances. Electronic searches of MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, Clinical trial registry, OpenGrey and ProQuest were done for all relevant studies. Eligibility criteria were; Randomized Controlled Trials and Non-Randomized Studies that compared the incidence and severity of WSLs, plaque accumulation and SCB between CA and CF appliances in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. The risk of bias(ROB) and certainty of evidence was assessed independently by two reviewers using Cochrane's ROB and GRADEpro, respectively. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to estimate the effect size using STATA 17 software. A total of 14 studies met the eligibility criteria, and eight were suitable for meta-analysis. The qualitative results showed lower incidence and severity of WSLs, plaque accumulation, and SCB in CA group compared to CF appliances. The pooled results showed significantly lower plaque accumulation(SMD - 1.58;95%CI:-2.57,0.58;p = 0.002) in CA compared to CF appliances. A moderate-quality evidence reveals less plaque accumulation and less SCB in CA, which might be related to the reduced incidence and severity of WSLs associated with CA when compared with CF appliances. However, the results of the present study should be interpreted with caution given the high ROB among some of the included studies as well as the marked heterogeneity across the studies. For patients who can be treated with either CA or CF appliances, CA may be a better choice concerning oral health. Open Science Framework (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/kcpvb ).


The larval electric organ of the weakly electric fish Pollimyrus (Marcusenius) isidori (Mormyridae, Teleostei).
The larval electric organ of Pollimyrus isidori consists of four longitudinal tubes, a dorsal and a ventral pair, which begin behind the skull, end at the beginning of the caudal peduncle and show myotomic segmentation. The elementary units are, apparently, transformed muscle fibres called electrocytes. They are shorter and thicker than muscle fibres, with long stalks and are found in the medial part of the deep lateral muscle. Electron microscopy reveals a clear difference between the anterior and posterior face of the electrocyte. Anteriorly, deep linear invaginations of the surface membrane together with many small vesicles of about 100 nm diameter can be seen. Posteriorly, many plasma membrane invaginations and vacuoles are found together with numerous cytoplasmic organelles--pleiomorphic nuclei, Golgi apparatus, oblong mitochondria and multivesicular bodies. The stalk originates at the posterior face and the nerve terminals are situated at the distal end of the stalk. In the electrocyte, myofibrils, similar to those found in muscle fibres, can be detected with clearly visible Z lines but with only a suggestion of H zones. Two bundles of myofibrils can be seen arranged orthogonally in the electrocyte. Strong acetylcholinesterase activity was found on the anterior face and on the innervated stalk. Under the given recording conditions the overall discharge amplitude of the larval electric organ reaches a maximum of about 100 mV peak to peak. The pulse duration is 1 millisecond and the main phase is head-positive.


Effusive--constrictive epicarditis that developed more than 5 years after ventricular septal defect closure: two cases relieved by epicardiectomy.
We describe two children diagnosed with effusive-constrictive epicarditis that developed more than 5 years after ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure. Constrictive epicarditis is extremely rare in children and there are few reports of infants with effusive-constrictive epicarditis associated with congenital heart disease surgery. This is the first pediatric case report of effusive-constrictive epicarditis occurring after VSD closure that was relieved by epicardiectomy.


Digital subtraction angiography: technology, equipment, and techniques.
The equipment used in digital subtraction angiography is a combination of x-ray equipment and high-speed image-processing equipment. In this article, the components of a DSA system are described, including the x-ray generator, x-ray tube, image intensifier, television system, analog-to-digital (A-D) convertor, image processor, and image acquisition console, as well as available commercial equipment. Techniques for DSA examination are also discussed.


Hearing Improvement in Interposition Ossiculoplasty and Myringostapediopexy.
Chronic otitis media (COM) may lead to partial or complete loss of tympanic membrane and erosion of the ossicles. Ossicular chain reconstruction may be done by interposition ossiculoplasty or myringostapediopexy. The aim of our study was to determine the hearing outcome in interposition ossiculoplasty and myringostapediopexy using autologous incus or cortical bone graft in intact canal wall tympanoplasty. 64 patients with COM, who underwent interposition ossiculoplasty or myringostapediopexy were included in the study. Audiometric evaluation was done after 3 months after surgery and all patients were followed up for a period of 1 year. The hearing results were compared in terms of mean pre-op and post-op Air conduction thresholds, Air-Bone gap (ABG) and hearing gain or ABG closure. In this study the mean ABG closure for interposition ossiculoplasty and myringostapediopexy was 15.4 dB and 21.8 dB, respectively. Hearing gain with cortical bone graft was higher than hearing gains with incus in both the groups, but not statistically significant. Myringostapediopexy provides marginally better hearing gain compared to interposition ossiculoplasty. Aulogous incus, and cortical bone graft are suitable autologous materials for ossicular reconstruction and provide similar hearing outcome.


Training and exercise change respiratory properties of blood in race horses.
Effects of training and exercise on blood respiratory properties were investigated in standard-bred race horses. Training caused an increase in the circulating O2 capacity at rest from 18.4 to 21.0 vol%, and in the O2 capacity during exercise from 24.9 to 30.3 vol%. An increase in the in vitro oxygen affinity [P50(PH 7.4, 37.9 degrees C)] of about 2 mm Hg correlated with a decrease in the red cell concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) from 6.35 mM-1-1(E), erythrocytes. Trained horses also showed an acute lowering of the red cell DPG concentration after maximal exercise. The physiological significance of the increases in O2 capacity and O2 affinity are discussed and a hypothesis presented to explain the possible relationship between changes in spleenic size, total red cell volume and red cell DPG concentration.


Evaluation of indirect hemagglutination and its inhibition in the differentiation between antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 for seroepidemiologic studies: use of a II/I index threshold of 85 and an assay of type-specific antibodies.
Two parameters, a II/I index threshold value of 85 and an assay of type-specific antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), were assessed, for seroepidemiologic purposes, for their efficacy in the establishment of past infections with HSV-1 and HSV-2 as indicated by the results of tests for indirect hemagglutination and its inhibition. Neither criterion alone established past infection with either HSV-1 or HSV-2. However, by combination of the two parameters, antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2 could be differentiated for seroepidemiologic studies.


Variations in posteroanterior stiffness in the thoracolumbar spine: preliminary observations and proposed mechanisms.
Evaluation of posteroanterior (PA) movement in the spine is commonly used in the clinic, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. The purposes of this study were to examine variations in PA stiffness along the thoracolumbar spine and to investigate possible factors that might determine the pattern of stiffness. Twenty-one pain-free volunteers (10 male, 11 female), aged 18 to 41 years (mean age=26.6, SD=7.5), participated. Posteroanterior stiffness was measured at 5 locations (L4, L1, T10, T7, T4), together with various subject characteristics. Mean PA stiffness varied among locations, with the greatest stiffness at L4 (13.3 N/mm) and the lowest stiffness at L1 (10.4 N/mm). A relatively small, but important, proportion (22% or less) of the variance in stiffness data at some vertebral levels was accounted for by the variables describing subject characteristics. Posteroanterior stiffness varies along the spine in a manner consistent with the nature of support for the spine. The observed pattern of variation of PA stiffness along the spine appears to be influenced by some factors other than those relating to the spine.


Client experiences of expertise in midwifery care in New Brunswick, Canada.
This study contextualizes client experiences of midwifery in New Brunswick within the broader literature on midwifery in Canada and contributes to understandings of how midwifery care fits into the landscape of reproductive healthcare in the province. Semi structured interviews with 32 clients and supportive others of the New Brunswick midwifery program were carried out in 2019 and 2020, and transcripts were analysed using general thematic analysis. N New Brunswick, Canada PARTICIPANTS: Clients of midwifery care provided by the Fredericton Midwifery Centre, as well as their supportive others (partners and spouses, family members, friends) FINDINGS: Participants in this study reported a high degree of satisfaction with midwifery services and identified several approaches to practice that they felt contributed to high quality midwifery care. These include competence and expertise, time and access as abundance rather than scarcity, attention to the familial context, trauma informed care and attention to mental and emotional health, postpartum care, and supporting agency and autonomy. In short, participants' responses indicate that midwifery care in New Brunswick meets the criteria for respectful maternity care, as outlined by Shakibazadeh et al. (Shakibazadeh et al., 2018) and Butler et al. (Butler et al., 2020). Our findings are in line with research on midwifery care in other settings, although there is a significant emphasis on the medical expertise and training of midwives amongst our participants which is less evident in the scholarly literature. In a province where reproductive health care has been systematically underfunded, clients celebrate the expertise and competence of midwives, challenging the narrative which constructs midwifery as 'traditional' care, and hospital-based obstetrics as expert care. Instead, midwives are recognized as highly specialized evidence-based practitioners, and this is particularly prized by clients in relation to processes of information sharing.


Specific mass fragmentographic assay for 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D in human plasma using a deuterated internal standard.
A specific mass fragmentographic assay for the measurement of 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [25,26(OH)2D3] in human plasma, using a stable isotope labelled internal standard ([26,27-2H5]25,26(OH)2D3), is described. Plasma samples (5 ml) were extracted with acetonitrile and applied to a C18 Sep-Pak cartridge, from which the vitamin D metabolites were eluted with methanol. The metabolites were then applied to a Sep-Pak SIL cartridge and three fractions were collected. The most polar fraction, containing the polyhydroxylated metabolites, was further purified by high-performance liquid chromatography on Zorbax SIL. The eluent containing 25,26(OH)2D3 was collected, and the 25,26-n-butylboronate cyclic ester 3-trimethylsilyl ether derivative was formed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was carried out, monitoring the intensities of the ions at m/z 449 and m/z 454 (for the internal standard). These ions represent the loss of a methyl group and the 3-silanol group, (M-90-15)+. The minimum limit of detection of the assay was estimated to be approximately 0.05 microgram/l. Inter-assay (3.7%) and intra-assay (8.0%) precision was acceptable and added 25,26(OH)2D3, over the concentration range 0.5-1.5 microgram/l, was recovered quantitatively. The plasma 25,26(OH)2D3 level was estimated in 26 healthy volunteers and ranged from 0.05 to 1.30 microgram/l, with a mean value of 0.54 microgram/l.


Relationship between Red Blood Cell Indices (MCV, MCH, and MCHC) and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Anemic and Nonanemic Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Previous studies have shown that increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is an independent predictor for worse outcomes in coronary artery disease. However, as parameters to classify different types of anemia together with MCV, the relationship between mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and long-term outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains obscure. Moreover, few studies have compared the prognostic value of these red blood cell indices in anemic and nonanemic patients with ACS. In this single-center observational cohort study, we enrolled 393 patients diagnosed with ACS, including 75 anemic and 318 nonanemic patients. The composite end points were defined as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). After a median follow-up of 31.24 months, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that higher MCV and MCH but not MCHC were significantly associated with increased MACEs in nonanemic ACS patients. Among the enrolled ACS patients without anemia, Cox regression analysis revealed that high MCV and MCH were correlated with increased MACEs after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis further confirmed the predictive value of high MCV and MCH. In bivariate correlation and linear regression analysis, plasma homocysteine was positively correlated with MCV and MCH but not MCHC in the nonanemic group even after adjusting for age, male sex, BMI, SBP, DBP, smoking, and diabetes. However, MCV, MCH, and MCHC showed no predictive value for MACEs, and no correlation was found between these red blood cell indices and homocysteine in ACS patients with anemia. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, this study showed that higher admission MCV and MCH but not MCHC were independent predictors for long-term MACEs and positively correlated with homocysteine levels in the blood among the nonanemic but not anemic patients with ACS in China.


Results of computed tomography in "neurologically normal" children after initial onset of seizures.
A combined retrospective and prospective study assessed the results of computed tomographic (CT) scans in infants and children without neurologic deficit who presented with initial onset of seizures. Of 101 pediatric patients, 81 had afebrile seizures and 20 had complicated febrile seizures (i.e., focal, multiple, or prolonged). Seven children (7%), 6 with afebrile and 1 with a febrile seizure, had CT abnormalities. Four patients (4%) required further diagnostic workup including angiography and/or surgery. Children with afebrile focal seizures were more likely to have an abnormality than those with afebrile generalized seizures without focal components (13% and 4.9%, respectively). This study demonstrated a lower percentage of overall CT abnormalities, yet a similar percentage of "therapeutically important" abnormalities, in neurologically normal children with new onset of seizures when compared to previous reports of children with chronic seizures. Although an abnormal CT was more likely to be associated with an abnormal electroencephalogram, a normal result did not eliminate the possibility of an abnormal CT.


Oxidative stress status, clinical outcome, and β-globin gene cluster haplotypes in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.
To correlate the clinical and hematological features of β-globin gene haplotypes with the oxidative stress status in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). A total of 95 patients with SCD and 40 healthy children were studied. The β-globin cluster, plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO) and plasma nitrite plus nitrate (NOx), and erythrocyte content of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reductase (GRd), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured. Plasma LPO (P < 0.001) and NOx (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in patients than in controls. In erythrocytes of patients with SCD, the activities of GRd (P < 0.001) and SOD (P < 0.05) were lower, and the GSSG/GSH ratio (P < 0.001) and GPx activity (P < 0.001) were higher than in controls. High LPO levels and low SOD plus GRd activities were associated with increased severity of clinical manifestations, which correspond mainly to patients with Bantu and Benin haplotypes. LPO levels were reduced in patients with high fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels, whereas the NOx levels and GRd activity tended to increase in this group. Our results detected an important oxidative stress in patients with SCD and suggest that at least three redox markers, i.e., LPO, GRd, and SOD, were related with their clinical outcomes. Moreover, a relationship between high HbF and low LPO, and high HbF and high GRd activity and NOx levels were found.


Early Growth Response Genes Increases Rapidly After Mechanical Overloading and Unloading in Tendon Constructs.
Tendon cells exist in a dense extracellular matrix and mechanical loading is important for the strength development of this matrix. We therefore use a three-dimensional (3D) culture system for tendon formation in vitro. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the temporal expression of tendon-related genes during the formation of artificial tendons in vitro and to investigate if early growth response-1 (EGR1), EGR2, FOS, and cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (PTGS1 and PTGS2) are sensitive to mechanical loading. First, we studied messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of several tendon-related genes during formation of tendon constructs. Second, we studied the mRNA levels of, for example, EGR1 and EGR2 after different degrees of loading; dynamic physiologic-range loading (2.5% strain), dynamic overloading (approximately 10% strain), or tension release. The gene expression for tendon-related genes (i.e., EGR2, MKX, TNMD, COL3A1) increased with time after seeding into this 3D model. EGR1, EGR2, FOS, PTGS1, and PTGS2 did not respond to physiologic-range loading. But overloading (and tension release) lead to elevated levels of EGR1 and EGR2 (p ≤ 0.006). FOS and PTGS2 were increased after overloading (both p < 0.007) but not after tension release (p = 0.06 and 0.08). In conclusion, the expression of tendon-related genes increases during the formation of artificial tendons in vitro, including EGR2. Furthermore, the gene expression of EGR1 and EGR2 in human tendon cells appear to be sensitive to overloading and unloading but did not respond to the single episode of physiologic-range loading. These findings could be helpful for the understanding of tendon tensional homeostasis. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:173-181, 2020.


Medical nutrition therapy for gestational diabetes mellitus in Australia: What has changed in 10 years and how does current practice compare with best practice?
The present study aimed to report Australian dietetic practice regarding management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to make comparisons with the findings from a 2009 survey of dietitians and with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence-Based Nutrition Practice Guidelines (NPG). Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2019 and 2009 of dietitians providing medical nutrition therapy (MNT) to women with GDM in Australia. The present study compares responses on demographics, dietetic assessment and interventions, and guideline use in 2019 vs. 2009. In total, 149 dietitians (2019) and 220 (2009) met survey inclusion criteria. In both surveys >60% of respondents reported dietary interventions aiming for >45% energy from carbohydrate, 15%-25% energy from protein and 15%-30% energy from fat. Many variations in MNT found in 2009 continued to be evident in 2019, including the percentage of energy from carbohydrate aimed for (30%-65% in 2019 vs. 20%-75% in 2009) and the wide range in the recommended minimum daily carbohydrate intake (40-220 and 60-300 g). Few dietitians reported aiming for the NPG minimum of 175 g of carbohydrate daily in both surveys (32% in 2019 vs. 26% in 2009). There were, however, some significant increases in MNT consistent with NPG recommendations in 2019 vs. 2009, including the minimum frequency of visits provided (49%, n = 61 vs. 33%, n = 69; p < 0.001) and provision of gestational weight gain advice (59%, n = 95 vs. 40%, n = 195; p < 0.05). Although many dietitians continue to provide MNT consistent with existing NPG, there is a need to support greater uptake, especially for recommendations regarding carbohydrate intake.


Pelvic tamponade in puerperal hemorrhage. A case report.
A case of puerperal hemorrhage was associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation following hysterectomy. Following unsuccessful surgical intervention, pelvic tamponade was accomplished via use of the Logothetopulos pack.


Local coherence oscillations in the EEG during development in the fetal baboon.
To test the hypothesis that local coherence in extra-dural EEG recordings, a direct measure of synchronous cortical network activity, oscillates with the same periodicity as EEG power cycling and follows a similar developmental trajectory. Local coherence was derived from continuous EEG recordings from closely spaced (1 cm) chronically implanted extra-dural electrodes over the right hemisphere in five fetal baboons (Papio sp.). A ratio of high to low frequency EEG band power (14-18 Hz to 4-7 Hz), was used to characterize EEG power cycling. Data were obtained within a developmental window (137-151 days; term approximately 175 days) during which fetal EEG power cycling becomes increasingly well-organized. During this period ultradian oscillations in local coherence with periods of approximately 1h developed in parallel with EEG power cycling of approximately the same periods. However, the cross-correlation and phase relationship between local coherence and power oscillations were variable. These findings suggest that cycles in cortical synchrony develop in parallel with fetal power cycles, but are not tightly coupled to them. Coherence provides a direct measure of cortical network dynamics not possible with univariate EEG measures such as spectral power. Reported here are the first measurements of local coherence in the developing fetal brain. Local coherence is studied with the long-term goal of monitoring the development of cortical network activity.


Acute fatal posthypoxic leukoencephalopathy following benzodiazepine overdose: a case report and review of the literature.
Among the rare neurological complications of substances of abuse is the selective cerebral white matter injury (leukoencephalopathy). Of which, the syndrome of delayed post hypoxic encephalopathy (DPHL) that follows an acute drug overdose, in addition to "chasing the dragon" toxicity which results from chronic heroin vapor inhalation remain the most commonly described syndromes of toxic leukoencephalopathy. These syndromes are reported in association with opioid use. There are very few cases in the literature that described leukoencephalopathy following benzodiazepines, especially with an acute and progressive course. In this paper, we present a patient who developed an acute severe fatal leukoencephalopathy following hypoxic coma and systemic shock induced by benzodiazepine overdose. A 19-year-old male was found comatose at home and brought to hospital in a deep coma, shock, hypoxia, and acidosis. Brain magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) revealed a strikingly selective white matter injury early in the course of the disease. The patient remained in a comatose state with no signs of neurologic recovery until he died few weeks later following an increase in the brain edema and herniation. Toxic leukoencephalopathy can occur acutely following an overdose of benzodiazepine and respiratory failure. This is unlike the usual cases of toxic leukoencephalopathy where there is a period of lucidity between the overdose and the development of white matter disease. Unfortunately, this syndrome remains of an unclear pathophysiology and with no successful treatment.


Effect of isoproterenol on tissue defense enzymes, hemodynamic and left ventricular contractile function in rats.
Present study investigated the effects of isoproterenol-induced oxidative stress on hemodynamic and ventricular functions in rats. Subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (85 mg/kg for two consecutive days at 24 h interval) significantly decreased myocardial antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in heart. Isoproterenol-induced oxidative stress was also evidenced by significant depletion of reduced glutathione and increased formation of lipid peroxidation product, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances along with depletion of myocyte injury specific marker enzymes; creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase. The deleterious outcome of oxidative stress on hemodyanmic parameters and ventricular function were further evidenced by decreased systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, ventricular contractility; [(+)LVdP/dt] and relaxation; [(-)LVdP/dt], along with an increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Subsequent to changes in heart rate and arterial pressure, isoproterenol also decreased rate pressure product. Present study findings clearly demonstrate the detrimental outcome of isoproterenol induced-oxidative stress on cardiac function and tissue antioxidant defense and substantiate its suitability as an animal model for the evaluation of cardioprotective agents.


Comparative Toxicity of Two Different Dimethoate Formulations in the Common Toad (Rhinella arenarum) Tadpoles.
Dimethoate (D) are among the most commonly used organophosphates insecticides in the world. To evaluate the toxicity of two D formulations were selected as test organisms tadpoles of Rhinella arenarum. This toad species has an extensive neotropical distribution and is easy to handle and acclimate to laboratory conditions. The tadpoles were exposed in an acute assay for 48 h to D soluble concentrates (DSC) and emulsifiable concentrates (DEC). The 48 h-LC50 (95% confidence limits) value of DSC was 57.46 mg L-1 (40.52-81.43) and to DEC was 12.76 mg L-1 (10.39-15.68). These differences in toxicity were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In both formulations, acetylcholinesterase), carboxylesterase, and glutathione-S-transferases enzyme activities varied significantly respect to those of control group (p < 0.05). The DEC formulation was the most toxic. These results would allow the assessment and characterization of potential ecological risks following the application of those formulations.


Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 overexpression is associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) is the key enzyme in the transformation of folic acid metabolites. MTHFD2 overexpression plays a key role in the progression of human cancers, and depletion of MTHFD2 has shown potential antitumor activities in several types of cancer. However, the role of MTHFD2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been investigated. To investigate the expression of MTHFD2 in HCC patients, and its associated clinical implications and possible functions in HCC. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect MTHFD2 expression in liver tissues from HCC patients, then associations of MTHFD2 expression with demographic and clinicopathologic features were analysed. The effects of siRNA interference of MTHFD2 on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and migration were investigated in HCC cell lines. Significant overexpression of MTHFD2 was observed in HCC tissues, and overexpression of MTHFD2 was correlated with TNM stage, tumor microembolus, tumor metastasis, recurrence and the time of recurrence (P<0.05) in HCC patients. siRNA-mediated silencing of MTHFD2 inhibited migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition progression in HCC cell lines, but no obvious effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis or cell cycle distribution were detected. MTHFD2 is overexpressed in HCC, and is associated with poor prognosis and cellular features connected to metastatic disease.


Uroflowmetry combined with simultaneous measurement of abdominal pressure by tocodynamometer.
We used a guard-ring tocodynamometer to detect abdominal straining simultaneously with uroflowmetry in 19 normal volunteers, 63 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 25 with a neurogenic bladder. The pressure curves obtained by the tocodynamometer were similar to the intrarectal pressure curves simultaneously measured by an intrarectal balloon. The frequency of straining in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia did not differ significantly from that in normal volunteers and did not decrease postoperatively. In these patients abdominal straining did not produce a synchronously increased flow rate. Patients with a neurogenic bladder frequently voided with straining. Abdominal straining tended to produce a synchronously increased flow rate in patients with lesions in the sacral cord or peripheral nerves but not in patients with neural lesions above the sacral cord. The presence of urinary flow without straining was considered to signify an intact voiding reflex. We believe that this method is simple and provides much more information than uroflowmetry alone to evaluate voiding dysfunctions.


Chromosomal aberrations and aneuploidies of spermatozoa.
Chromosomal abnormalities are relevant causes of human infertility, affecting 2 -14 % of infertile males. Patients with seminal anomalies could be affected by improper meiotic recombination and increased sperm chromosome aneuploidy. Since the transmission of a haploid chromosomal asset is fundamental for embryo vitality and development, the study of sperm chromosomes has become fundamental because intracytoplasmic sperm injection allows fertilization in cases of severe male infertility.In this chapter we summarize the data on the incidence of sperm aneuploidy, detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), in infertile men with normal or abnormal karyotype. The possibility of reducing sperm chromosomal imbalance is also reported.Among control males, the lowest aneuploidy rate was detected (range: 0.09 -0.14 % for autosomes; 0.04 -0.10 % for gonosomes). In infertile patients with normal karyotype, the severity of semen alteration is correlated with the frequency of aneuploidy, particularly for X and Y chromosomes. Among patients with abnormal karyotype, 47,XXY and 47,XYY carriers showed a high variability of sperm aneuploidy both for gonosomes and autosomes. In Robertsonian translocation carriers, the increase in aneuploidy rate was particularly evident for total sex disomy, and resulted mainly from interchromosomal effect (ICE). In reciprocal translocation carriers, a high percentage of unbalanced sperm (approximately 50 %) was detected, perhaps mostly related to ICE.Sperm chromosomal constitution could be analyzed to obtain more accurate information about the causes of male infertility. It would be worthwhile to evaluate the benefits of a therapy with recombinant Follicle Stimulating Hormone (rFSH) on sperm chromosome segregation in selected infertile males.


Histopathology, parasite density and cell phenotypes of the popliteal lymph node in canine visceral leishmaniasis.
While enlargement of popliteal lymph nodes (LN) is frequently described in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), there are few histopathologic studies of lymph nodes during this chronic immunopathological condition. Besides a detailed histopathologic analysis, we have characterized the parasite load and major immunophenotypic features of the LN in Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi-infected dogs. Our major histopathological findings highlight that hypertrophy/hyperplasia of LN cortical and medullary zones was the principal characteristic observed in asymptomatic dogs (AD), whereas atrophy of LN cortical zone was predominant in symptomatic animals (SD). The LN parasite density detected by anti-Leishmania immunohistochemical assay or expressed as Leishman Donovan Units was also highly correlated with the skin parasitism, the most reliable parameter to decode the clinical status of CVL. The major LN immunophenotypic changes during ongoing CVL were an increased frequency of T-lymphocytes, particularly CD8+ T-cells, up-regulation of MHC-II expression by lymphocytes and decreased levels of CD21+ B-cells. Our findings further demonstrated that changes in the LN B-lymphocyte compartment exhibited a negative correlation with the skin parasite load. Conversely, we also showed evidence for a positive association between skin parasitism and LN T-cell-mediated immunity, suggesting that T-cells, especially CD8+ lymphocytes, may have a Type-2 immunological profile in this lymphoid tissue in response to CVL.


Coronary angioplasty, bypass surgery, and retransplantation in cardiac transplant patients with graft coronary disease.
Graft coronary disease (GCD) remains the single greatest limitation to long-term survival of heart transplant recipients. Therapeutic strategies for the prevention or retardation of GCD in the cardiac allograft are limited; palliative coronary revascularization has been attempted. Because of the high mortality rate associated with advanced forms of GCD our institution offers the option of retransplantation in selected cases. The aim of this study was by analyzing retrospectively the outcomes of angioplasty, coronary bypass grafting, and retransplantation in cardiac transplant patients to attempt to identify subgroups of transplant recipients with graft coronary disease who may profit from myocardial revascularization. Of the 989 patients undergoing 1016 heart transplantations (HTx) at our institution between 10/86 and 12/97, all were screened for the development of GCD. Analyzing routinely annual angiography, intracoronary ultrasound in defined study patients, and autopsy findings, GCD was diagnosed in 124 patients (110 male, 14 female) 2 to 107 months after HTx (mean 30 months). PTCA: Fourty-six out of 124 patients underwent 76 angioplasties at a mean of 50 +/- 30 months (range 4-91 mo) following cardiac transplantation. The primary success rate was 96% (73/76). The reason for the unsuccessful angioplasty attempts (n = 3) was failure to completely penetrate a stenosis of LAD in 2 patients and severe dissection of RCA, which required emergency surgery, in one. Angiographic restenosis occurred in 42% (31 of 76 lesions) and was diagnosed 11 +/- 11 months after the first angioplasty. There was no procedure-related death. CABG: Seven patients underwent bypass surgery at a mean of 67 months (range 6-128 months) after HTx. Elective surgery was performed in 2 patients with proximal severe triple-vessel disease (Type A lesion) and in 1 patient with severe tricuspid regurgitation who received a tricuspid valve replacement and concomitant single-vessel bypass surgery for proximal GCD (Type A lesion). One patient with combined Type A and B/C lesions required emergency surgery for dissection of RCA after an angioplasty procedure. Three patients with post-infarction unstable angina developed worsening congestive heart failure which required emergency surgery. Angiographically all these patients showed diffuse, distal arteriopathy (combined Type B/C lesions). The electively operated patients and the patient with dissection of RCA were successfully treated and survived beyond hospital discharge (overall survival for CABG in GCD patients 4/7 = 57%). After a mean follow-up of 10 months (range 2-32 months) all are in good clinical condition. All 3 patients with distal arteriopathy and emergency surgery died in hospital of left-ventricular failure (43%). Retransplantation: Eight patients underwent retransplantation at a mean of 54 months (range 6-96 months) after HTx. Six of 8 patients had successful operations and survived beyond hospital discharge with a one-year-survival rate of 75%. In a mean follow-up of 31 months (5-68 months) 3 of 6 retransplant recipients developed a recurrence of GCD. The presence of angiographic distal arteriopathy should be considered a significant factor in patient selection for coronary revascularization procedure. Coronary angioplasty is to be considered as a method of treatment for severe, local stenoses (Type A lesion). PTCA may be applied in these selected cardiac transplant recipients with primary success and complication rates comparable to routine angioplasty but with an increased rate of restenosis especially in small vessels (diameter < 2.5 mm). The distinction between Type A lesions in large (diameter > or = 2.5 mm) and small vessels may be important not only with respect to restenosis but also with respect to long-term benefit. The overall survival did not differ between GCD patients with and without PTCA, suggesting this treatment to be largely palliative. (ABSTR


Quantitative Analysis of Components in Ganoderma.
The components in Ganoderma, including triterpenes, polysaccharides, nucleosides or nucleobases, steroids, and ergothioneine, were quantitatively analyzed. Among them, the quantitative analysis of triterpenes and polysaccharides were recorded in US Pharmacopeia. HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS are the most popular quantitative methods for all of these compounds.


Comparative toxicity of alkyltin and estertin stabilizers.
In a 2-wk feeding study the oral toxicities of the estertin compounds bis-(beta-carbobutoxyethyl)-tin dichloride (CBETC) and bis-(beta-carbomethoxyethyl)tin dichloride (CMETC) and their hydrolysis products bis-(beta-carboxyethyl)tin dichloride (CETC) were compared with those of the dialkyltin compounds di-n-octyltin dichloride (DOTC) and di-n-butyltin dichloride (DBTC). At a dietary level of 450 ppm the estertins did not affect weights, but at the relatively high level of 1350 ppm both caused growth retardation and a statistically significant decrease in the relative weight of the liver, while CBETC also reduced the relative weights of the thymus and spleen. A diminished amount of liver glycogen was the only treatment-related histopathological change observed in these organs. CETC caused no signs of toxicity up to a level of 1350 ppm. Slightly decreased body-weight gains were recorded in rats fed 50 ppm DBTC or 150 ppm DBTC or DOTC, but the main effect in dialkyltin-fed rats was a decrease in lymphoid-organ weights. In rats fed 150 ppm DBTC or DOTC for 2 wk, the relative thymus weight was decreased by more than 70% compared with the control value and there was lymphocyte depletion in the thymus, especially the thymic cortex, and in thymus-dependent lymphoid areas of the spleen. Parenteral exposure demonstrated a similar difference in toxicity between these groups; a single ip or iv injection of 2.5 mg DBTC/kg body weight caused a slight reduction in body-weight gain and severe thymic atrophy, whereas CBETC and CETC had no such effects even at 10 mg/kg. However, in vitro the activities of the esterins were similar to those of the dialkyltins. In lymphocyte metabolism studies, all these compounds induced a dose-dependent stimulation of glucose consumption, with maximum stimulation occurring at a level of 5 microM with DBTC and CBETC and at 120 microM with DOTC and CMETC. At higher exposure levels, glucose consumption fell sharply, oxygen consumption was reduced and lymphocyte viability was impaired. Since the dicarboxyltin compound CETC induced no signs of lymphocytotoxicity in the in vitro cell-metabolism, cell-viability or blast-transformation studies, hydrolysis of CBETC and CMETC to CETC in the rat is suggested as a possible explanation for the discrepancy between the lymphocytotoxic activity of the estertin compounds in vitro and the absence of lymphoid atrophy following in vivo exposure, and for the finding that in the rat CMETC and CBETC are much less toxic than the dialkyltin compounds DBTC and DOTC, which induce lymphocytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo.


Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.
A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger Oesopha-gostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.


The human body burden of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their relationships with thyroid hormones in the general population in Northern China.
This study was conducted to determine the human body burden of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and then clarify the relationships between that and the disruption of thyroid hormones in the general population in Northern China. Between November 2010 and May 2011, 124 serum samples were obtained from volunteers from the provinces of Shanxi and Liaoning. Serum samples were prepared by solid-phase extraction and analyzed for BDE-17, 28, 47, 66, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209 by gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The median concentration of the total PBDEs was 7.2 ng/g lipid weights (lw); concentrations ranged from 2.1 to 160.3 ng/glw. The PBDE profiles in this study differed from those of other general populations. BDE-209 was the most abundant congener (median, 5.0 ng/glw; range, non-detected - 157.1 ng/glw), accounting for more than 75% of the total PBDEs, followed by BDE-153. The total PBDE concentrations in men were significantly higher as compared to women. The donors' age was correlated with a few PBDE congeners, but was not correlated with the total PBDE concentrations. The overall level of PBDEs in this study was lower than that observed in general populations in Southern China, Europe, and North America. There were apparent correlations between concentrations of several PBDE congeners and thyroid hormones. Triiodothyronine (T₃) was correlated with BDE-99 and 209 and inversely correlated with BDE-17, 28, 47, 153, 183, and the summed tri- to hepta-PBDE congeners (∑₃₋₇PBDEs). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was correlated with BDE-17, 28, 47, and 183 and inversely correlated with BDE-99. No correlation between free tetraidothyronine (FT₄) and PBDEs was observed. Logistic regression analysis results indicated that those with higher levels of BDE-17 or BDE-153 had significantly lower odds of having T₃ levels above the normal range compared to those with lower levels of BDE-17 or BDE-153. Association between FT₄ and BDE-153 disappeared after controlling for sex and age. However, there was no significant association between TSH and PBDEs. The results of the present study showed that even at a relatively low level, PBDEs might interfere with the thyroid hormone levels in the general population.


Novel lithium-nitrogen compounds at ambient and high pressures.
Using ab initio evolutionary simulations, we predict the existence of five novel stable Li-N compounds at pressures from 0 to 100 GPa (Li13N, Li5N, Li3N2, LiN2, and LiN5). Structures of these compounds contain isolated N atoms, N2 dimers, polyacetylene-like N chains and N5 rings, respectively. The structure of Li13N consists of Li atoms and Li12N icosahedra (with N atom in the center of the Li12 icosahedron) - such icosahedra are not described by Wade-Jemmis electron counting rules and are unique. Electronic structure of Li-N compounds is found to dramatically depend on composition and pressure, making this system ideal for studying metal-insulator transitions. For example, the sequence of lowest-enthalpy structures of LiN3 shows peculiar electronic structure changes with increasing pressure: metal-insulator-metal-insulator. This work also resolves the previous controversies of theory and experiment on Li2N2.


Morphological effects of sympathetic nerve stimulation on rat parotid glands 3-4 weeks after the induction of streptozotocin diabetes.
Male Wistar rats were fasted overnight and anaesthetized 3-4 weeks after the induction of streptozotocin diabetes. The right parotid ducts were cannulated, and parotid salivary flow was induced by stimulating the sympathetic trunk in bursts (50 Hz, 1:10). Stimulated and unstimulated glands were weighed, fixed for morphometric analysis, and assayed for total protein and amylase. Gland weights did not differ between diabetic and control rats. Nevertheless, total protein (6.17 +/- 5.40 mg) and amylase (1.32 +/- 0.49 mg) output from the gland were reduced in diabetic animals compared with controls (13.73 +/- 2.81 and 3.41 +/- 0.51 mg, respectively). Morphometric analysis of unstimulated glands showed no differences in either acinar cell profile area, or in the number of secretory granule profiles/cell in unstimulated glands. Upon sympathetic stimulation, however, the depletion of granule profiles was significantly less in diabetic than in control rats. Finally, the mean diameter of secretory granules was significantly less in diabetic (0.89 +/- 0.05 microM) than in control (1.04 +/- 0.06 microM) glands.


Comparison of Caffeoylquinic Acids and Functional Properties of Domestic Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) Storage Roots with Established Overseas Varieties.
Root samples of sweet potato varieties originating from South Africa ('Ndou', 'Bophelo', 'Monate', and 'Blesbok'), the USA ('Beauregard'), and Peru ('199062.1') were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/QTOF/MS) and chemometrics to characterize and compare the locally developed varieties with well-known established overseas varieties. The highest total phenol content was detected in 'Bophelo', followed by 'Beauregard' and Peruvian variety '199062.1'. The Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) model classified the storage roots of six sweet potato varieties into two clusters. In the OPLS-DA scatter plot, one cluster, which included Peruvian variety '199062.1', was separated from the others. L-tryptophan and 3-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) showed variable importance in projection (VIP) scores greater than 1.5. Based on the OPLS-DA-S-plot, L-tryptophan separated the other varieties from Peruvian variety '199062.1'. Peruvian variety '199062.1' contained higher concentrations of CQA (1,3-diCQA, 1,4-diCQA, 3,5-diCQA, 4,5-diCQA, 3-CQA, and 5-CQA) and 5-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin 7-glucoside than other varieties. Among all sweet potato varieties analyzed, Peruvian variety '199062.1' showed the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radical scavenging activity, and [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)] scavenging activity. Among the local sweet potato varieties, 'Bophelo' has the greatest potential for commercialization as it is the richest source of CQA.


Differentiation of severe bilateral panuveitis following phacoemulsification: a case report.
Cataract surgery typically offers instant visual rehabilitation with rare postoperative complications. However, if complications occur, these complications may be confusing and threatening. We present a case of severe bilateral panuveitis following phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation and discuss the importance of a correct diagnosis and management. A 75-year-old Asian male with bilateral phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation developed severe inflammation with sharp vision loss in both eyes after the surgeries. Physical examination indicated bilateral panuveitis. With a presumptive diagnosis of suppurative endophthalmitis and a history of effective treatment with intravenous antibiotics plus ofloxacin and steroid drops, intravenous ceftazidime and vancomycin were administered. However, the effects were minimal. With a supplemental history of recurrent oral, perineal, and gastrointestinal ulcers, a diagnosis of Behcet's disease was made, and systemic immune inhibitors were prescribed instead of invasive treatments, which might exacerbate the condition. After 5 days of medication, the inflammation was markedly relieved, and no recurrence was observed 2 weeks later. Correct differentiation of confusing conditions is crucial to implement appropriate management. Postoperative complications of cataract surgery should be differentiated carefully, and perioperative management in patients with autoimmune uveitis should be provided with caution.


A Nonparametric Alternative to Modeling Population Pharmacokinetics in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: Comparison with the Standard Two-Stage Method.
The estimation of population-specific pharmacokinetic parameters from sparse of fragmentary data obtained during routine patient care is a powerful analytical tool in drug development and therapeutic drug monitoring. The Nonparametric Expectation Maximization program (NPEM) performs this function and generates robust parameter estimates which are distribution-free and unconstrained by assumption-rich parametric, for example, Gaussian, analyses. We compared standard two-stage method (STS) estimates of amikacin pharmacokinetic parameters (V, CL) derived from a sampling rich strategy (11 patients with spinal cord injury, SCI; 7 able-bodied controls) to estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from an NPEM one-compartment analysis incorporating the 11 optimally sampled SCI patients and 8 sparse data sets (19 patients with SCI; 7 controls). The STS (n = 11) and NPEM (n = 19) analyses provided similar V and CL parameter estimates in patients with SCI: 0.20 plus minus 0.04 L kg(minus sign1), 0.93 plus minus 0.24 ml min(minus sign1) kg(minus sign1) and 0.20 plus minus 0.06 L kg(minus sign1), 1.12 plus minus 0.26 ml min(minus sign1) kg(minus sign1), respectively. NPEM is a useful, user-friendly, distribution-free computational program for estimating the central tendency and interindividual variability of amikacin pharmacokinetic parameters in spinal cord injured humans.


Intracorporeal or extracorporeal anastomosis after minimally invasive right colectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
As part of the wide adoption of minimally invasive surgery, intracorporeal anastomosis is becoming increasingly common. The benefits of minimally invasive versus open right colectomy are well known although the additional benefits of an intracorporeal anastomosis, performed laparoscopically or robotically, are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the current literature comparing intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis in the setting of laparoscopic and robotic-assisted right colectomy. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA and AMSTAR methods. Studies included were randomized controlled trials and prospective or retrospective cohort studies, between January 1 2010 and July 1 2021, comparing intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis with laparoscopic and robotic approaches. Four groups were identified: laparoscopic extracorporeal anastomosis (L-ECA), laparoscopic intracorporeal anastomosis (L-ICA), robotic extracorporeal anastomosis (R-ECA), and robotic intracorporeal anastomosis (R-ICA). Operative time, rate of conversion to an open procedure, surgical site infection, reoperation within 30 days, postoperative complications within 30 days, and length of hospital stay were assessed. Twenty-one retrospective cohort studies were included in the final analysis. R-ICA and R-ECA had comparable operative times, but a robotic approach required more time than laparoscopic (68 min longer, p < 0.00001). Conversion to open surgery was 55% less likely in the R-ICA group vs. L-ICA, and up to 94% less likely in the R-ICA group in comparison to the R-ECA group. Length of hospital stay was shorter for R-ICA by a half day vs. R-ECA, and up to 1 day less vs. L-ECA. There were no differences in postoperative complications, reoperations, or surgical site infections, regardless of approach. However, the included studies all had high risks of bias due to confounding variables and patient selection. Robotic-assisted right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis was associated with shorter length of hospitalization and decreased rate of conversion to open surgery, compared to either laparoscopic or extracorporeal robotic approaches. Prospective studies are needed to better understand the true impact of robotic approach and intracorporeal anastomosis in right colectomy.


Current smoking rate in patients with psychiatric disorders in Japan: questionnaire survey.
The association between smoking and psychiatric disorders (PD) has been known for many years. Support for smoking cessation among patients with PD is provided in advanced nations, but there is a little support for smoking cessation among patients with PD in Japan, where few studies have investigated the smoking rate. The aim of the present study is to determine the smoking rate and smoking habits of Japanese patients with PD. The subjects included outpatients who visited the outpatient psychiatric clinic at a University hospital between January and March of 2011. They answered a questionnaire consisting of questions about their sociodemographic background and smoking habits. In an analysis of 733 subjects, the overall smoking rate was 25.1%. The smoking rates among the patients with schizophrenia and depression were 17.3% and 23.9%, respectively, and these rates were lower than the results of previous studies. Among the current smokers, 43.4% had experienced smoking cessation, and only 26.1% were not interested in smoking cessation. Of the current smokers, 37.5% spent between US$128.88 and US$257 per month on cigarettes.


Fixed combination of manidipine and delapril in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension: evaluation by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
This present study assessed the antihypertensive efficacy of the fixed combination of manidipine and delapril by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in patients with hypertension inadequately controlled by monotherapy with either component. After a 2-week placebo period, 55 mild to moderate hypertensive patients were randomized to manidipine 20 mg o.d. or delapril 30 mg b.i.d. for 4 weeks. After this period, 30 patients, aged 30-76 years (18 males and 12 females) whose diastolic blood pressure was not adequately controlled (> or = 90 mmHg) by monotherapy were treated with the fixed combination of manidipine 10 mg plus delapril 30 mg o.d. for 8 weeks. A 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recording was performed at the end of the placebo washout, of the monotherapy and of the combination therapy. Blood pressure control over the 24 h was quantified by the trough-to-peak ratio and the smoothness index. As compared to placebo, the fixed combination of manidipine and delapril produced a statistically significant (p<0.01) decrease in sitting clinic (18 +/- 9/14 +/- 5 mmHg) and 24-h blood pressure (12 +/- 7/10 +/- 5 mmHg) without affecting heart rate. This reduction was greater than that observed with single components. At the end of the 8-week combination treatment period, the rate of normalilized patients was 73%. Treatment with the fixed combination was associated with a positively high smoothness index (1.2 +/- 0.7/13.8 +/- 0.8) and with a relatively good trough-to-peak ratio (0.46/0.60). The combination of manidipine and delapril produced significant and smooth reductions in blood pressure values, which persisted over the 24-h dosing interval. These results support the use of fixed manidipine-delapril combination in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertensive patients inadequately controlled by monotherapy.


CRISPR‑based diagnostic approaches: Implications for rapid management of future pandemics (Review).
Sudden viral outbreaks have increased in the early part of the 21st century, such as those of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‑CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus, and SARS‑CoV‑2, owing to increased human access to wildlife habitats. Therefore, the likelihood of zoonotic transmission of human‑associated viruses has increased. The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in China and its spread worldwide within months have highlighted the need to be ready with advanced diagnostic and antiviral approaches to treat newly emerging diseases with minimal harm to human health. The gold‑standard molecular diagnostic approaches currently used are time‑consuming, require trained personnel and sophisticated equipment, and therefore cannot be used as point‑of‑care devices for widespread monitoring and surveillance. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‑associated (Cas) systems are widespread and have been reported in bacteria, archaea and bacteriophages. CRISPR‑Cas systems are organized into CRISPR arrays and adjacent Cas proteins. The detection and in‑depth biochemical characterization of class 2 type V and VI CRISPR‑Cas systems and orthologous proteins such as Cas12 and Cas13 have led to the development of CRISPR‑based diagnostic approaches, which have been used to detect viral diseases and distinguish between serotypes and subtypes. CRISPR‑based diagnostic approaches detect human single nucleotide polymorphisms in samples from patients with cancer and are used as antiviral agents to detect and destroy viruses that contain RNA as a genome. CRISPR‑based diagnostic approaches are likely to improve disease detection methods in the 21st century owing to their ease of development, low cost, reduced turnaround time, multiplexing and ease of deployment. The present review discusses the biochemical properties of Cas12 and Cas13 orthologs in viral disease detection and other applications. The present review expands the scope of CRISPR‑based diagnostic approaches to detect diseases and fight viruses as antivirals.


A model: systems management of life threatening injuries in children for the state of Maryland, USA.
In the past two years several guidelines for suggested components of emergency medical systems for children have been suggested, and for the first time, specific standards of pediatric trauma care have also been formulated. The American Academy of Pediatrics new Provisional Committee on Emergency Medicine has been charged with the responsibility of developing national standards of emergency care for children and are currently at work on such a landmark document. We have had a functioning statewide system for the management of life threatening injuries in children for the past 10 years. In 1985, 320 children were admitted to our trauma center. The evolution, organization, and current status of the Maryland system is described in this report. Hopefully it may serve as one successful model which could be modified for use in other regions of the country.


Functional analysis of autophagy genes via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in the vascular Wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae.
Autophagy is a widely conserved intracellular process for degradation and recycling of proteins, organelles and cytoplasm in eukaryotic organisms and is now emerging as an important process in foliar infection by many plant pathogenic fungi. However, the role of autophagy in soil-borne fungal physiology and infection biology is poorly understood. Here, we report the establishment of an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system and its application to investigate two autophagy genes, VdATG8 and VdATG12, by means of targeted gene replacement and complementation. Transformation of a cotton-infecting Verticillium dahliae strain Vd8 with a novel binary vector pCOM led to the production of 384 geneticin-resistant transformants per 1 × 10(6) conidia. V. dahliae mutants lacking either VdATG8 or VdATG12 exhibited reduced conidiation and impaired aerial hyphae production. Disease development on Arabidopsis plants was slightly delayed when inoculated with VdATG8 or VdATG12 gene deletion mutants, compared with the wild-type and gene complemented strains. Surprisingly, in vitro inoculation with unimpaired roots revealed that the abilities of root invasion were not affected in gene deletion mutants. These results indicate that autophagy is necessary for aerial hyphae development and plant colonization but not for root infection in V. dahliae.


Time-Course Changes and New Expressions of MIP-3α and Its Receptor, CCR6, in the Gerbil Hippocampal CA1 Area Following Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia.
Macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α) and its sole receptor, CCR6, play pivotal roles in neuroinflammatory processes induced by brain ischemic insults. In this study, we investigated transient ischemia-induced changes in MIP-3α and CCR6 protein expressions in the hippocampal CA1 area following 5 min of transient global cerebral ischemia (tgCI) in gerbils. Both MIP-3α and CCR6 immunoreactivities were very strongly expressed in pyramidal neurons of the CA1 area from 6 h to 1 day after tgCI and were hardly shown 4 days after tgCI. In addition, strong MIP-3α immunoreactivity was newly expressed in astrocytes 6 h after tgCI. These results indicate that tgCI causes apparent changes in MIP-3α and CCR6 expressions in pyramidal neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampal CA1 area and suggest that tgCI-induced changes in MIP-3α and CCR6 expressions might be closely associated with neuroinflammatory processes in brain ischemic regions.


The ethics of the Global Kidney Exchange programme.
The Global Kidney Exchange (GKE) programme seeks to facilitate kidney transplants by matching donor-recipient pairs across high-income, medium-income, and low-income countries. The GKE programme pays the medical expenses of people in medium-income and low-income countries, thus enabling them to receive a kidney transplantation they otherwise could not afford. In doing so, the programme increases the global donor pool, and so benefits people in high-income countries by improving their chances of finding a donor match. Nevertheless, the GKE has been accused of being a form of organ trafficking, exploiting the poor, and involving coercion and commodification of donors. We refute these claims, arguing that the GKE promotes global justice and reduces the potential for people in need of kidneys in low-income and medium-income countries to be exploited. Misguided objections should not be allowed to prevent the GKE from realising its potential to reduce suffering and save the lives of rich and poor patients alike.


The role of nuclear medicine in diagnosis of catheter-related infections.
Infections represent a complication after transient or permanent implantation of medical devices (e.g. catheters or pacemaker systems), leading in many cases to therapeutic consequences such as the removal of the implanted system. Diagnosis of foreign body infections is difficult and mainly based on clinical findings rather than laboratory methods or modern morphological imaging tools. Two-dimensional echocardiography by transthoracic and transesophageal approach may be helpful in the detection of vegetations, but is not very sensitive for infections. Most methods in nuclear medicine, however, are based on function and not on form: some methods for the detection of an infection are unspecific like the use of labelled nanocolloids or Ga-67-citrate, or they need time-consuming and susceptible techniques for the labelling of autologous leukocytes. Monoclonal antibodies against epitopes on granulocytes, however, offer a fast and reliable in-vivo labelling technique. It has been demonstrated in a group of four patients that scintigraphic detection of pacemaker infections by immunoscintigraphy may represent a valuable diagnostic tool.


Distinguishing removal and regrowth potential of antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria on microplastics and in leachate after chlorination or Fenton oxidation.
The prevalence of antibiotic resistance, as well as microplastics (MPs) as vectors for antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has attracting growing attention. However, the fate of ARB/ARGs on MPs treated by chlorination and Fenton oxidation were poorly understood. Herein, the removal and regrowth of ARGs/ARB on MPs and in MPs-surrounding landfill leachate (an important reservoir of MPs and ARGs) after chlorination and Fenton oxidation were comparatively analyzed. Target ARGs on MPs were reduced obviously less than that in leachate, with the largest percentages reduction of 34.0-46.3% vs. 54.3-77.6% after chlorination and 92.1-97.3% vs. > 99.9% after Fenton oxidation, and similar removal patterns were observed for ARB. Moreover, a considerable regrowth of ARGs/ARB in leachate were found after 48 h of storage at the end of chlorination (5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/L), and a greater regrowth of ARGs and ARB occurred on MPs with up to 17 and 139 fold, respectively. In contrast, Fenton oxidation achieved a reduced regrowth of target ARGs/ARB. These findings indicated that the removal of ARGs/ARB on MPs were more difficult than that in leachate, and ARGs/ARB in leachate and especially on MPs exhibited a considerable potential for rapid regrowth after chlorination.


[Improvement in quality of medical care--the strategy of public health care in Ukraine].
The article presents results of the analysis of literature on Quality enhancement of medical rendering in order to use advanced experience in the system of medical care addressed to military staff of State Frontier Troops of Ukraine.


A surgical technic for high (cardial or juxtacardial) benign chronic gastric ulcer.
A surgical technic for cardial or juxtacardial ulcers is presented. The surgical principle consists of resection of the distal stomach including the ulcer in a way that the esophageal mucosa remains intact. Reconstruction of the transit is accomplished by a Roux-en-Y esophagogastrojejunostomy in one layer. A variable portion of gastric reservoir is preserved, and alkaline reflux is highly improbable due to the long intestinal loop. This technic has been performed in six patients with excellent postoperative results. Clinical and radiologic follow-up to three years has shown no esophagitis or strictures of afferent loop syndrome.


Experimental study on the segmental perfusion and preservation of spleen.
Spleen transplanlation has developed to be an effective strategy for hemophilia A. But it has not been reported up to date that which kind of established solutions is most suitable for perfusion and preservation of spleen. This study aimed to establish some experiences with the comparison among Hartmann's solution, Collins' solution and WMO-I solution, in order to instruct the clinical spleen transplantation. After the splenic artery and vein were dissociated clearly, three kinds of perfusion solutions began to perfuse the corresponding segments of spleen with a randomized sequence. When the efferent fluids from the splenic vein became clear, the perfused spleen segments were preserved for different durations with the same perfusing solution to calculate the survival rate of splencocyte (SRS) and were examined with light and electron microscopy. Among the three solutions, SRS with WMO-I solution was significantly higher than those of the other two (P<0.001). The perfused spleen with WMO-I solution showed the slightest morphological changes and a significant longer preservation duration than those with the other two (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Among the three solutions, WMO-I solution was most suitable for perfusion and preservation of spleen.


Brevetoxin binding: molecular pharmacology versus immunoassay.
Brevetoxin PbTx-3 isolated from Florida's red tide dinoflagellate Ptychodiscus brevis has been produced recently in tritiated form by reductive tritiation of brevetoxin PbTx-2. Tritiated PbTx-3 has been used as a specific probe in competitive radioimmunoassays developed to detect brevetoxins in food sources, and this probe has also been utilized to characterize the brevetoxin binding component in rat brain synaptosomes. Brevetoxins PbTx-2 and PbTx-3, possessing the same structural backbone (type-1) as the tritiated probe, and PbTx-1 and PbTx-7, possessing a second structural backbone (type-2), have been compared quantitatively in their individual abilities to competitively displace tritiated PbTx-3 from its specific binding site in each assay. Type-1 toxins displaced labeled probe with ED50 values of 20-22 nM and 12-17 nM in radioimmunoassay and synaptosomes, respectively. Type-2 toxins displaced labeled probe with ED50 values of 92-93 nM and 3.5-4.1 nM in RIA and synaptosomes, respectively. Synaptosome assays reflect potency of each toxin examined, while radioimmunoassay reflects structural similarities to the immunizing toxin PbTx-3.


Corrigendum to: Oleic Acid Vesicles as a New Approach for Transdermal Delivery of Econazole Nitrate: Development, Characterization, and In-vivo Evaluation in Wistar Rats.
The authors wish to add words "Research Scholar" and "Research Supervisor" to their affiliations [1]. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.2174/1574891X15999201110212725 The corrected affiliation is: 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Rayat-Bahra College of Pharmacy, Hoshiarpur, Punjab 146001, India; 2Faculty of Pharma-ceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, PCTE Group of Institutes, Ludhiana, Punjab 142021, India; 3Research Scholar, I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Punjab 144601, India; 4Research Supervisor, I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Punjab 144601, India.


The use of a spreadsheet computer program to expedite TLD reporting.
A method has been devised using an electronic spread sheet that will shorten the data processing time and give a printed report of the results. Lithium Fluoride chips are used in pairs so as to produce the same average response. The raw TL readings along with descriptive comments are entered into the computer. The program then computes the single chip dose, the average dose for each chip pair, applies a non-linearity correction factor and prints out a report with comments and patient data. The program offers several advantages: It is much faster than hand calculations, it provides a precise and accurate conversion of raw data to final data, and outputs an organized display of calibration factors, input data, dosimetry data, patient data and listing of involved personnel. The program is easy to use and can be run on any computer that can support a spreadsheet program.


(-)-Loliolide, the most ubiquitous lactone, is involved in barnyardgrass-induced rice allelopathy.
Neighbor detection and allelochemical response are important mediators in plant-plant interactions. Although there is increasing knowledge about plant allelochemicals released in response to the presence of competitors and involved in neighbor-derived signaling, less is known about which signaling chemicals are responsible for the neighbor-induced allelochemical response. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that (-)-loliolide, a carotenoid metabolite, acts as a signaling chemical in barnyardgrass-rice allelopathic interactions. The production of the rice allelochemicals momilactone B and tricin was increased in the presence of five biotypes of barnyardgrass. (-)-Loliolide was found in all the biotypes of barnyardgrass and their root exudates and rhizosphere soils. There were significant positive relationships between rice allelochemicals and (-)-loliolide concentrations across the biotypes of barnyardgrass. Furthermore, (-)-loliolide elicited the production of momilactone B and tricin. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed regulatory activity of (-)-loliolide on the diterpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. The expression of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of momilactone B (CPS4, KSL4, and MAS) and tricin (CYP75B3 and CYP75B4) was up-regulated by (-)-loliolide. These findings suggest that (-)-loliolide acts as a signaling chemical and participates in barnyardgrass-rice allelopathic interactions. Allelopathic rice plants can detect competing barnyardgrass through the presence of this signaling chemical and respond by increasing levels of their allelochemicals to achieve an advantage for their own growth.


Changes in grapes composition during ripening of five Vitis vinifera L varieties as related to Tephritidae and Drosophilidae infestations.
Vitis vinifera (L) is a great economically important crop. However, huge loss in fruits due to destructive pests hinders the improvement of its performance. The study of their biochemical profile, ripening dynamics, and defense mechanisms presents a great scientific interest. In this work, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) activities, proteins, sugar and malondialdehyde (MAD) were investigated during ripening of five grape varieties in Loudaya region (Marrakech, Morocco), three of them are allochthonous while two are autochthonous. The Dipterans infestations by Drosophila suzukii and Ceratitis capitata have been highlighted as a factor that stimulates the defense mechanism in ripeness stage of grapes. Sugars, proteins and MDA have shown a gradual increase in grapes maturation in all varieties. TAL activity decrease in the course of the maturation in contrast to the PAL activity increasing in the ripe grapes. High content of PAL, TAL, and MDA compounds were noted in the ripe infested grapes as compared to the healthy ones. A significant difference (P < 0.05) for all biochemical assays according to varieties, maturity and the condition (damaged/undamaged) were found. A PCA analysis highlighted different biochemical behaviours from the grapes concerning the flies' infestations (79.64% of total variation). The variables that have contributed to the discrimination of the grapes according to their stage of maturities were sugar, proteins and TAL. The higher concentrations of PAL (6.64 ± 0.57 EU), TAL (0.93 ± 0.05 EU) and MDA (58.32 ± 2.55 EU) especially in the injured grapes prove that flies infestation triggered a priming defense mechanism, directly activating defense reactions. The results obtained could be crucial in establishing a database of the Moroccan grapes biochemical defense which provides a foundation for new methodologies in the plants behavior against fruit flies stress.


Excipient compatibility study of Hypericum perforatum extract (St. John's wort) using similarity metrics to track phytochemical profile changes.
The formulation of botanical dietary supplements is challenging due to their complex activity-composition relationship, as well as physical and chemical stability issues. As excipient compatibility testing is a major component of sound formulation development, the objectives of this work were: (1) explore excipient compatibility storage paradigms; (2) determine interactions between phytochemicals of interest in Saint John's Wort (SJW) with several excipients; and (3) explore the application of similarity metrics to the data. Modifications to conventional isothermal stress testing paradigms included additional storage conditions of heat and moisture (5, 50 degrees C, 5 and 0% added water), as well as more rigorous controls. Binary blends of SJW and ten commonly used excipients were prepared and neat SJW was used as control. After 3 weeks, the percentage remaining of each phytochemical was determined by HPLC. Several similarity metrics were applied to the data. Common storage paradigms were suitable for excipient compatibility testing when controls of neat material are stored under similar conditions and the percentage of phytochemicals remaining in excipient:SJW blends and neat SJW are compared. Excipient incompatibilities were determined for SJW phytochemicals of interest. Similarity metrics applied to the phytochemical profiles conveniently summarized the data. This work allows logical decisions to be made regarding the formulation of SJW.


Novel leukocyte agonists are released by endothelial cells exposed to peroxide.
Reactive oxygen species do not activate isolated neutrophils, yet in vivo, such oxidants promote their adhesion to, and subsequent migration through, the vascular wall. We show human endothelial cells exposed to t-butylhydroperoxide shed large, sealed membrane vesicles that contained potent neutrophil agonists. This activity migrated on TLC like platelet-activating factor (PAF). Since neutrophils have a receptor for this phospholipid, which recognizes its unique characteristics including the short sn-2 acetyl residue, we examined the effect of PAF receptor antagonists and PAF acetylhydrolase on this activity. Structurally unrelated PAF receptor antagonists blocked neutrophil stimulation by vesicular phospholipids, and digestion with PAF acetylhydrolase, which is specific for short sn-2 residues, destroyed this activity. However, metabolic labeling, inhibition of synthesis, phospholipase A1 digestion, and high performance liquid chromatographic studies demonstrated that the vesicles did not contain PAF. Instead, the bioactivity migrated on high performance liquid chromatography like the phospholipids generated by oxidative fragmentation of synthetic arachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine that we have shown previously (Smiley, P. L., Stremler, K. E., Prescott, S. M., Zimmerman, G. A., and McIntyre, T. M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 11104-11110) to stimulate neutrophils through their receptor for PAF. Thus, peroxide treatment of endothelial cells fragments cellular phosphatidylcholines, forming novel PAF-like phospholipids, and induces the shedding of membrane vesicles that contain these bioactive phospholipids.


Calmodulin-binding transcription activators and perspectives for applications in biotechnology.
In recent years, a novel family of calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) has been reported in various species. The CAMTAs share a conserved domain organization, with a CG-1 DNA-binding domain, a transcription factor immunoglobulin domain, several ankyrin repeats, a calmodulin-binding domain, and a varying number of IQ motifs. CAMTAs participate in transcriptional regulation by recognizing and binding to a specific cis-element: (G/A/C)CGCG(C/G/T). Plants suffer from the environmental challenges, including abiotic and biotic stresses. Investigations in various plant species indicate a broad range of CAMTA functions involved in developmental regulation, environmental stress response, and hormone cross talk. In this review, we focus on the expression patterns and biological functions of CAMTAs to explore their probable applications in biotechnology. Furthermore, the identification and phylogenetic analysis of CAMTAs in crops could open new perspectives for enhancing stress tolerance, which could lead to improved crop production.


Antimicrobial action of essential oil vapours and negative air ions against Pseudomonas fluorescens.
The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of essential oil (in liquid as well as in vapour phase) and negative air ions (NAI) against Pseudomonas fluorescens. The combined effect of NAI with essential oil vapour was also investigated to determine kill time and morphological changes in bacterial cells. The MIC of Cymbopogon citratus (0.567 mg/ml), Mentha arvensis (0.567 mg/ml), Mentha piperita (1.125 mg/ml) and Eucalyptus globulus (2.25 mg/ml) was studied via the agar dilution method. To estimate the antibacterial activity of essential oils in the vapour phase, agar plates inoculated with P. fluorescens were incubated with various concentrations of each essential oil vapour and zone of inhibition was recorded. Further, in order to assess the kill time, P. fluorescens inoculated agar plates were exposed to selected bactericidal essential oil vapour and NAI, separately, in an air-tight chamber. A continuous decrease in bacterial count was observed over time. A significant enhancement in the bactericidal action was observed by exposure to the combination of essential oil vapour and NAI as compared to their individual action. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the alteration in morphology of P. fluorescens cells after exposure to C. citratus oil vapour, NAI, and combination of C. citratus oil vapour and NAI. Maximum morphological deformation was found due to the combined effect of C. citratus oil vapour and NAI. This study demonstrates that the use of essential oils in the vapour phase is more advantageous than the liquid phase. Further the antibacterial effect of the essential oil vapours can be significantly enhanced by the addition of NAI. The work described here offers a novel and efficient approach for control of bacterial contamination that could be applied for food stabilization practices.


Constructing agri-food for finance: startups, venture capital and food future imaginaries.
Over the past decade, investments in agricultural and food technology startups have grown to previously unknown dimensions. Mushrooming agri-food tech startups that promise to solve critical issues in the agri-food system through technological innovation are increasingly perceived as an attractive new investment opportunity for venture capitalists and investors. This paper investigates how digital agri-food technologies are narrated, constructed, and promoted for financial investment. Through qualitative content analysis of agri-food tech industry reports, articles, and commentaries we trace the logic, rationales, and narratives of this most recent investment rush, and reveal its immanent techno-finance fixes. We conceptualize the agri-food imaginaries produced within the agri-food tech discourse as financialized imaginaries, and argue that they are specifically tailored to construct, incentivize, and legitimize this new agri-food tech space for financial investment. In their attempt to raise money from investors, venture capital firms further fuel this development by discursively creating an 'agri-food tech investment rush'-similar to the land and gold rushes of the past. Investments in agri-food tech startups, however, are presented to investors as both a profitable investment opportunity as well as a moral obligation, allowing for food production to cope with neo-malthusian and environmental threats. This paper contributes to our understanding of digitization as a socio-technical project, which includes the active envisioning and promotion of desirable agri-food futures.


Mutation in hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha is not a common cause of MODY and early-onset type 2 diabetes in Korea.
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)-3 with a mutation in hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1alpha has been identified in most races, but the prevalence of Korean MODY and early-onset type 2 diabetes with a mutation in this gene is unknown. To determine the prevalence of MODY and early-onset type 2 diabetes with the mutation of HNF-1alpha gene in Korea, we analyzed this gene in 69 Korean early-onset type 2 diabetics and in 35 healthy persons using the single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique and direct sequencing. We identified one mutation in exon 4 (C900A) in only one of the 69 Korean subjects with early-onset type 2 diabetes; this mutation was silent and did not change the amino acid (Pro300). Additionally, we identified four polymorphisms: S487N, AAC-->AGC, intron 2 (nt -23), intron 7: (nt +7) and intron 9 (nt -24). However, there was no significant difference in frequencies of the four polymorphisms between the type 2 diabetes and control groups. Among type 2 diabetics, codon 487 variant showed no relationship to age at onset, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, basal C-peptide and 2 hour C-peptide. We concluded that this genetic mutation in HNF-1alpha gene may not be a common contributor to MODY and early-onset type 2 diabetes susceptibility in Korea.


Computational ecosystems for data-driven medical genomics.
In the path towards personalized medicine, the integrative bioinformatics infrastructure is a critical enabling resource. Until large-scale reference data became available, the attributes of the computational infrastructure were postulated by many, but have mostly remained unverified. Now that large-scale initiatives such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) are in full swing, the opportunity is at hand to find out what analytical approaches and computational architectures are really effective. A recent report did just that: first a software development environment was assembled as part of an informatics research program, and only then was the analysis of TCGA's glioblastoma multiforme multi-omic data pursued at the multi-omic scale. The results of this complex analysis are the focus of the report highlighted here. However, what is reported in the analysis is also the validating corollary for an infrastructure development effort guided by the iterative identification of sound design criteria for the architecture of the integrative computational infrastructure. The work is at least as valuable as the data analysis results themselves: computational ecosystems with their own high-level abstractions rather than rigid pipelines with prescriptive recipes appear to be the critical feature of an effective infrastructure. Only then can analytical workflows benefit from experimentation just like any other component of the biomedical research program.


Emotional Blunting in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Brief Non-systematic Review of Current Research.
Emotional blunting is frequently reported by patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and has been identified as one of the most prominent side effects of antidepressants leading to medication discontinuation. However, antidepressant-induced emotional blunting remains largely unexplored-there lacks a clinical definition of this condition, and no agreeing conclusion has been reached regarding its etiology. Current research suggests that the onset of diminished emotional response may be related to antidepressant dose, with higher doses being more likely to induce emotional blunting. Consequently, most clinicians either reduce the dose or switch to another drug when treating this symptom. Overall, more comprehensive clinical assessments or interviews specifically designed to evaluate antidepressant-induced emotional blunting in MDD patients are in need to elucidate the neuropsychological mechanisms behind this increasingly prevalent symptom.