Assessment of Psychosocial Programs to Prevent Sexual Violence During Adolescence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Sexual violence is a public health problem that affects adolescents globally. To our knowledge, no meta-analysis of prevention programs for adolescent sexual violence has been conducted. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of psychosocial programs for preventing sexual violence during adolescence. Peer-reviewed articles published in English were searched in PsycINFO, ERIC, PsycArticles, PubMed, and Web of Science databases through December 2021. Studies were included if they were randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of a psychosocial prevention program targeting sexual violence and delivered to adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify studies. The quality of individual studies was assessed with the Revised Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (ORs). Exploratory subgroup and metaregression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between moderators and effect sizes. Primary outcomes were perpetration of sexual violence, experience of sexual violence, and a composite measure of any perpetration or experience of sexual violence. Data were analyzed from 20 trials involving 37 294 adolescents. Compared with control conditions, prevention programs were associated with a significant reduction in the perpetration (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73-0.95; P = .005) and experience (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.98; P = .02) of sexual violence, as well as a 13% significant reduction of any sexual violence (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.97; P = .009). Exploratory analyses of the combination of program setting and participant age indicated that programs that were delivered in school settings and targeted at adolescents aged 15 to 19 years yielded significantly larger effect sizes (Cochran Q = 4.8; P = .03) compared with programs that were either delivered outside of a school setting or targeted younger adolescents. Quality assessment of trials revealed concerns of risk of bias across several included studies. In this meta-analysis, evidence suggested that prevention programs were associated with reducing adolescent sexual violence, especially when implemented at school with older adolescents. However, there is need for additional high-quality research. Prevention of adolescent sexual violence remains understudied compared with other similarly important public health prevention targets.


A DFT and molecular docking study of xerantholide and its interaction with Neisseria gonorrhoeae carbonic anhydrase.
Xerantholide is a sesquiterpene lactone that has anti-gonorrhea and anti-plasmodium activities. We present gas-phase electronic structure calculations of the equilibrium geometry of xerantholide, its adiabatic electron affinity (AEA), adiabatic ionization energy (AIE) and the energy barrier (ΔE‡) connecting the lowest energy conformers of the sesquiterpene. The computations were performed with the B3LYP, M06-2X and ωB97xd variants of the density functional theory (DFT) in conjunction with large basis sets. With the inclusion of the vibrational zero point energy, the computed AEA range from 0.740 eV [B3LYP/Aug-CC-pVTZ] to 0.774 eV [B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)], and the AIE is roughly 8.6 eV at all theoretical levels. At the B3LYP/Aug-CC-pVTZ level, the barrier (ΔE‡) connecting the two lowest energy conformers is predicted to be 13.9 kcal/mol. Based on the molecular docking analysis, xerantholide interacts with the active site of Neisseria gonorrhoeae carbonic anhydrase (NgCA) via hydrogen bonding, metal-acceptor interaction, and non-polar alkyl and pi-alkyl interactions. The predicted binding affinity of - 6.8 kcal/mol compares well with those obtained for standard NgCA inhibitors such as acetazolamide (-5.7 kcal/mol). A biomimetic model study involving xerantholide and zinc-tris imidazole ([ZnIm3]2+) ion was also carried out at different theoretical levels to estimate the interaction energy for the formation of the complex formed between the ligand and the active site model of NgCA. The binding free energy (ΔG) has been calculated to be - 28.5 kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. The interaction mode observed in both the docking and the model calculations involves the lactone ring.


Avian scale development. X. Dermal induction of tissue-specific keratins in extraembryonic ectoderm.
Epidermal-dermal tissue interactions regulate morphogenesis and tissue-specific keratinization of avian skin appendages. The morphogenesis of scutate scales differs from that of reticulate scales, and the keratin polypeptides of their epidermal surfaces are also different. Do the inductive cues which initiate morphogenesis of these scales also establish the tissue-specific keratin patterns of the epidermis, or does the control of tissue-specific keratinization occur at later stages of development? Unlike feathers, scutate and reticulate scales can be easily separated into their epidermal and dermal components late in development when the major events of morphogenesis have been completed and keratinization will begin. Using a common responding tissue (chorionic epithelium) in combination with scutate and reticulate scale dermises, we find that these embryonic dermises, which have completed morphogeneis, can direct tissue-specific stratification and keratinization. In other words, once a scale dermis has acquired its form, through normal morphogenesis, it is no longer able to initiate morphogenesis of that scale, but it can direct tissue-specific stratification and keratinization of a foreign ectodermal epithelium, which itself has not undergone scale morphogenesis.


How Field Courses Propel Inclusion and Collective Excellence.
Field courses have been identified as powerful tools for inclusion and student success in science. However, not all students are equally likely to take field courses. How do we remove barriers to equity in field courses, to make them engines for inclusion, diversity, and collective excellence in ecology and evolution?


The association between sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and adverse clinical events in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the common clinical adverse events associated with sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use compared to placebo in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without type 2 diabetes. Twelve articles were chosen via a systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We screened for randomised placebo-controlled trials. The main clinical adverse events included diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA), amputation, and volume depletion. We performed heterogeneity testing and assessment of publication bias. In all, 65 600 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to placebo, SGLT2i may increase the risk of DKA and volume depletion in patients with CKD with or without type 2 diabetes. For DKA, compared with placebo, the combined effect of SGLT2i was OR 2.03 (95% CI: 1.28 to 3.23 I2: 2.3%, P: 0.420). For volume depletion, compared with placebo, the combined effect of SGLT2i was OR 1.24 (95% CI: 1.13 to 1.37 I2: 0.0%, P: 0.484). For the risk of amputation, despite low heterogeneity for amputation, the forest plot indicated no statistical significance, and thus it cannot be concluded that SGLT2i increases the risk of amputation. Compared with placebo, the combined effect of SGLT2i was OR 1.10 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.29 I2: 0.0%, P: 0.642). The use of SGLT2i may increase the risk of DKA and volume depletion in patients with chronic renal insufficiency with or without type 2 diabetes.


Is "quality of care" being mislabeled or mismeasured?
According to Francis Peabody, "The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient." This secret has been well guarded in current approaches to measuring "quality of care." The measurements have concentrated on performance of approved technical procedures, such as the appropriate ordering of diagnostic tests, pharmaceutical agents, or surgery, but have generally ignored traditional components of caring, such as relieving pain or other symptoms, improving functional capacity, and assuaging anxiety or distress. By ordering the pertinent technical procedures, a health care system, institution, or clinician can get excellent ratings for "quality of care," despite gross violations of human caring. Although offering desirable assurance that the best procedures are being used, the current measurements need a more accurate label, such as "quality of technical performance." If the process of caring is to be emphasized and appraised appropriately, new methods will be required. They can be developed to identify specific activities in caring and perhaps to include evaluations of accomplishment for what patients say they want done.


The synovial response after CO2 laser arthroscopy of the knee.
The CO2 laser is a precision surgical laser because of its high degree of absorption in soft tissue with limited lateral damage. The tissue, which absorbs the CO2 laser energy, and has a high water content, will be converted to vapor with a small residue of ash and a by-product of heat. The laser can only be effective if these by-products, i.e. vapors, heat, and carbon ash residue, are not injurious and are well tolerated by the joint. These by-products must be either reabsorbed by the synovium or remain as a nonviable substance in the joint. From April 1989 through April 1990, 40 patients underwent 43 operative arthroscopies of the knee using the Pfizer CO2 laser. All procedures were chondroplasties, synovectomies, and/or meniscectomies. All accessible CO2 carbon ash residue was removed from the joint after the procedures using an intraarticular shaver and hand rasp. Postoperatively there were no cases of hemorrhagic effusions, subcutaneous emphysema, or synovitis. Histologic examinations performed on 10 patients undergoing subsequent surgery showed no evidence of carbon ash residue or synovitis seen grossly or microscopically. The carbon ash residue is not noxious to the joint and is completely removed from the joint, presumably by the synovial response.


The vaccination status of aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children in far north Queensland.
A survey was undertaken to ascertain the vaccination status of all 773 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children who were born and remained in Far North Queensland during the 1993-94 financial year. Only 42% had received all 15 vaccines scheduled in the first two years of life by their second birthday. More who resided in remote communities were fully vaccinated (64%) by then than those who lived in rural towns (32%) or an urban setting (21%) (p < 0.01). The 445 children who were not fully vaccinated required a median of three vaccines to have been fully vaccinated by the second birthday. Of these, 146 (33%) required only one vaccine, nearly 60% of whom would have been fully vaccinated if they had had the fourth (18-month) dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. Of the 445, 143 (32%) required five or more vaccines to have been fully vaccinated. Only 26% and 36% of the children received all the vaccines scheduled at six and 12 months of age, respectively, on the same day. However, the eventual uptakes of the three vaccines scheduled at six months of age were very similar (approximately 80%) and simultaneous vaccination with the two vaccines scheduled at 12 months of age would have made a very limited (approximately 4 percentage points) impact on the overall percentage of fully vaccinated children. Considerably more than simple and apparently logical strategies will be required to ensure that Indigenous children in Far North Queensland are adequately vaccinated. A systematic approach, with a careful understanding of the barriers to routine vaccination and a means of prospectively tracking the vaccination status of each child, will be needed if state and national vaccination goals are to be met.


Systemic mastocytosis revisited with an emphasis on skeletal manifestations.
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare form of mastocytosis that can affect various organ systems. Bone involvement is the most common and prominent imaging feature in patients with SM regardless of the subtype. Furthermore, bone involvement is a prognostic factor as it may entail an aggressive course of the disease. Diagnosis is established by bone marrow biopsy complemented by imaging modalities such as radiography, CT, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The radiographic and CT appearances are that of sclerotic, lytic, or mixed patterns with focal or diffuse distribution, involving primarily the axial skeleton and the ends of the long bones. Bone marrow infiltration is best recognized on MR imaging. Osteoporosis is common in SM; thus, a bone mineral density measurement at lumbar spine and proximal femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry should be obtained. Imaging plays a huge part in the diagnostic process; when skeletal imaging findings are carefully interpreted and correlated with clinical features, they can lead to the suspicion of SM. The primary aims of this review article were to focus on the role of imaging in detection and characterization of skeletal patterns of SM and to discuss relevant clinical features that could facilitate prompt and correct diagnosis.


Biosynthetic Pathway of the Reduced Polyketide Product Citreoviridin in Aspergillus terreus var. aureus Revealed by Heterologous Expression in Aspergillus nidulans.
Citreoviridin (1) belongs to a class of F1-ATPase β-subunit inhibitors that are synthesized by highly reducing polyketide synthases. These potent mycotoxins share an α-pyrone polyene structure, and they include aurovertin, verrucosidin, and asteltoxin. The identification of the citreoviridin biosynthetic gene cluster in Aspergillus terreus var. aureus and its reconstitution using heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans are reported. Two intermediates were isolated that allowed the proposal of the biosynthetic pathway of citreoviridin.


A CRISPR interference strategy for gene expression silencing in multiple myeloma cell lines.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic neoplasm which is characterized by proliferation and infiltration of plasmatic cells in the bone marrow. Currently, MM is considered incurable due to resistance to treatment. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding the role of different genetic alterations in the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies in both cell lines and mouse models. Despite current advances of gene editing tools, the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for gene editing of MM have not so far been extended. In this work, we want to repress Rnd3 expression, an atypical Rho GTPase involved in several cellular processes, in MM cell lines using a CRISPR interference strategy. We have designed different guide RNAs and cloning them into a lentiviral plasmid, which contains all the machinery necessary for developing the CRISPR interference strategy. We co-transfected the HEK 293T cells with this lentiviral plasmid and 3rd generation lentiviral envelope and packaging plasmids to produce lentiviral particles. The lentiviral particles were used to transduce two different multiple myeloma cell lines, RPMI 8226 and JJN3, and downregulate Rnd3 expression. Additionally, the impact of Rnd3 expression absence was analyzed by a transcriptomic analysis consisting of 3' UTR RNA sequencing. The Rnd3 knock-down cells showed a different transcriptomic profile in comparison to control cells. We have developed a CRISPR interference strategy to generate stable Rnd3 knockdown MM cell lines by lentiviral transduction. We have evaluated this strategy in two MM cell lines, and we have demonstrated that Rnd3 silencing works both at transcriptional and protein level. Therefore, we propose CRISPR interference strategy as an alternative tool to silence gene expression in MM cell lines. Furthermore, Rnd3 silencing produces changes in the cellular transcriptomic profile.


Stereoselective recognition of monolayers of cholesterol, ent-cholesterol, and epicholesterol by an antibody.
The interaction between a monoclonal antibody and four distinct monolayers with varying degrees of structural, chemical, and stereochemical similarity were studied and quantified. The antibody, raised and selected against cholesterol monohydrate crystals, interacts with cholesterol monolayers stereospecifically, but not enantiospecifically. Monolayers of ent-cholesterol molecules, which are chemically identical to cholesterol and whose structure is the exact mirror image of the cholesterol monolayer, interact with the antibody to the same extent as the cholesterol monolayers. The affinity of the antibody for both enantiomeric monolayers is extremely high. However, the antibody does not interact with monolayers of epicholesterol, which is an epimer of cholesterol: The hydroxy group in epicholesterol is in the 3alpha position rather than in the 3beta position, imposing a different angle between the hydroxy group and the rigid steroid backbone, and a different packing of the molecules. Monolayers of triacontanol, a long-chain primary aliphatic alcohol, interact with the antibody to a lesser extent than the cholesterol and ent-cholesterol monolayers, presumably due to the structural flexibility of the triacontanol molecule. The lack of chiral discrimination by the antibody is thus correlated to the level at which the chirality is exposed at the surface of the monolayers.


Glasgow Acuity Cards: a new test for the measurement of letter acuity in children.
Problems with design and format of the traditional Snellen chart have led to the development of alternative charts for the measurement of visual acuity in adults. However, advances in chart design for the measurement of visual acuity in pre-school children have not paralleled those used in adult test charts. Visual acuity can be measured in infants and very young children using behavioural and electrophysiological techniques but clinical measurement of letter acuity tends to commence when the child is old enough to interact and co-operate with the examiner. Charts which are commercially available in the UK for measuring letter acuity in pre-school children (3-5 years old) either use single optotypes or are derivatives of the Snellen format. There is a need for a test of letter acuity for use with this young age group which is accurate, reliable and based upon sound and established design principles. Glasgow Acuity Cards have been designed to include features that should allow change in letter acuity to be detected in pre-school children, especially those undergoing vision therapy training. The test is performed at 3 m and incorporates several design features which have been used previously in adult charts but are new to childrens' test charts. These include: linear progression of letter sizes using a log scale; letters of approximately equal legibility; equal number of letters per line; control of contour interaction; screening cards to determine initial level of acuity. The test is quick and easy to perform and should provide a means of detecting change in letter acuity, with increased confidence.


Topographic change in the central macula coupled with contrast sensitivity loss in diabetic pregnancy.
To study macular topography and contrast sensitivity (CS) in diabetic and nondiabetic women during pregnancy and post partum. A prospective study of 46 pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes and 11 nondiabetic pregnant controls. Macular surface topography was analyzed by Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph. Volume above the reference plane (VARP) was measured with 1.0-, 1.5-, 2.0-, and 3.0-mm-diameter circles. CS was measured with the Vistech 6500 Contrast Test System. The diabetic women had greater VARP than the controls measured with the 1.5-mm diameter circle. In diabetic women, the mean VARP was 0.084+/-0.064 mm(3) (mean +/- SD) in the first trimester, 0.080 +/- 0.056 mm(3) in the third trimester, and 0.087 +/- 0.067 mm(3) 3 months post partum compared with the values of 0.069+/-0.043, 0.054+/-0.024, and 0.036+/-0.020 mm(3) in the controls ( P=0.036 between groups). In diabetic women requiring laser treatment, the difference from controls was more significant ( P<0.001). CS at 3 cpd and 6.0 cpd was lower in diabetic women than in controls throughout pregnancy and post partum ( P=0.012 and P=0.043). A statistically significant negative correlation appeared between macular topography and CS during the third trimester; between cpd 6 and VARP 1.5 mm ( r=-0.471, P=0.001), and between cpd 6 and VARP 2.0 mm ( r=-0.446, P=0.002). In the diabetic women, especially in those with clear progression of retinopathy during pregnancy and post-partum, the macula seemed to be slightly more elevated than in the controls, and CS was lower at mid-range spatial frequencies. CS loss in the diabetic women correlated with macular elevation during the third trimester.


High false-negative rate of anti-HCV among Egyptian patients on regular hemodialysis.
Routine serological testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among hemodialysis (HD) patients is currently recommended. A dilemma existed on the value of serology because some investigators reported a high rate of false-negative serologic testing. In this study, we aimed to detect the false-negative rate of anti-HCV among Egyptian HD patients. Seventy-eight HD patients, negative for anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and hepatitis B surface antigen, were tested for HCV RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In the next step, the viral load was quantified by real-time PCR in RT-PCR-positive patients. Risk factors for HCV infection, as well as clinical and biochemical indicators of liver disease, were compared between false-negative and true-negative anti-HCV HD patients. The frequency of false-negative anti-HCV was 17.9%. Frequency of blood transfusion, duration of HD, dialysis at multiple centers, and diabetes mellitus were not identified as risk factors for HCV infection. The frequency of false-negative results had a linear relation to the prevalence of HCV infection in the HD units. Timely identification of HCV within dialysis units is needed in order to lower the risk of HCV spread within the HD units. The high false-negative rate of anti-HCV among HD patients in our study justifies testing of a large scale of patients for precious assessment of effectiveness of nucleic acid amplification technology testing in screening HD patient.


Effects of altrenogest on reproductive performance of gilts and sows: A meta-analysis.
Altrenogest is a synthetic progestogen that allows for synchronization of the time of estrus in swine. Its effect on reproductive performance, however, is inconsistent due to conflicting data in the scientific literature. A meta-analysis of published data, therefore, was performed to determine whether altrenogest affects gilt and sow reproductive performance. Altrenogest administration to pigs enhanced the number of piglets born alive per litter (NBA), total number born per litter (TNB), estrous rate within 10 days after treatment (ER10) and pregnancy rate (PR) as well as the farrowing rate (FR) of gilts. The NBA and TNB of primiparous sows fed altrenogest were improved although FR was less. In multiparous sows, altrenogest treatment did not result in any improvement for any of the five analyzed variables. Additionally, 14-day treatment regimens for gilts and >8-days for primiparous sows improved reproductive performance and extent of estrous synchrony. The effects of altrenogest on reproductive performance of swine were parity and treatment duration dependent.


Difference in Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Korean Adolescents.
Previous studies have identified various factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among children and adolescents. Recent studies attempted to analyze changes in SSB consumption of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and showed conflicting results. This study aimed to estimate the difference in SSB consumption before (2018-2019) and during (2020-2021) the COVID-19 pandemic among Korean adolescents. The study population consisted of students (n = 227,139) aged 12-18 y from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS). Data collection was done between 2018 and 2021. The primary outcome was the difference in the SSB consumption status (none/<7 times/wk, ≥7 times/wk) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association. Additional analysises were also conducted by gender, school grades, household income, grade point average, region, household members, fast-food intake, and fruit intake. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a decrease in adolescents' SSB intake. [(<7 times/wk) 2019: 59.4, 2020: 58.8, (≥7 times/wk) 2019: 35.3, 2020: 33.4]. The study found a difference in SSB consumption among Korean adolescents between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings are noteworthy considering the importance of continuous care in managing SSB intake.


Unannounced Meal Challenges Using an Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop System.
Background: The advanced hybrid closed-loop (AHCL) algorithm combines automated basal rates and corrections yet requires meal announcement for optimal outcomes. We aimed to compare the performance of the MiniMed™ 780G AHCL algorithm with and without meal announcement. Methods: In a single-arm study involving 14 adults with type 1 diabetes, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of AHCL when meals were not announced. Participants stayed at a supervised environment for 5 days, during which the outcomes of not announcing meals (≤80 g of carbohydrate) were assessed. Next, participants entered a 90-day at-home "unannounced" phase, during which all meals (≤80 g of carbohydrate) were unannounced, followed by a 90-day at-home phase in which all meals were announced. Results: Time in range (TIR 70-180 mg/dL) was lower in the unannounced versus announced periods (67.5% ± 12.5% vs. 77.7% ± 9.5%; P < 0.01, respectively), with more time spent in hyperglycemia range 180-250 mg/dL (22.7% ± 7.7% vs. 15.7% ± 7.2%) and >250 mg/dL (7.9% ± 6.4% vs. 3.6% ± 2.7%), but less time in hypoglycemia range 54-70 mg/dL (1.6% ± 1% vs. 2.8% ± 1.8%) and <54 mg/dL (0.3% ± 0.4% vs. 0.7% ± 0.9%). Not announcing meals containing up to 60 g of carbohydrate did not lead to increase in postprandial extreme dysglycemia >250 mg/dL, and up to 20 g of unannounced carbohydrates did not significantly change the TIR 70-180 mg/dL compared with full announcement. Conclusion: The AHCL system is optimized for use with meal announcement. While not announcing meals of ≤80 g carbohydrates appears to be safe, it results in suboptimal postprandial glycemic control, especially with high-carbohydrate meals. Not announcing small meals (≤20 g carbohydrate) does not deteriorate glycemic control. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT04479826.


[Number of hematopoietic stem cells in mice in the phase of increased radiation resistance following sublethal irradiation and change in their number after repeated exposure to radiation].
The content of haemopoietic stem cells in mice at the stage of the enhanced radioresistance (day 12 after irradiation with a sublethal dose of 2.75 Gy) was lower than that in the controls. Their repopulation in the repeatedly exposed mice was more intensive than in the intact mice irradiated with the same dose. The authors discuss the significance of the peculiarities observed in understanding the causes of the increase in radioresistance after sublethal irradiation.


Confirmation of co-denitrification in grazed grassland.
Pasture-based livestock systems are often associated with losses of reactive forms of nitrogen (N) to the environment. Research has focused on losses to air and water due to the health, economic and environmental impacts of reactive N. Di-nitrogen (N2) emissions are still poorly characterized, both in terms of the processes involved and their magnitude, due to financial and methodological constraints. Relatively few studies have focused on quantifying N2 losses in vivo and fewer still have examined the relative contribution of the different N2 emission processes, particularly in grazed pastures. We used a combination of a high (15)N isotopic enrichment of applied N with a high precision of determination of (15)N isotopic enrichment by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry to measure N2 emissions in the field. We report that 55.8 g N m(-2) (95%, CI 38 to 77 g m(-2)) was emitted as N2 by the process of co-denitrification in pastoral soils over 123 days following urine deposition (100 g N m(-2)), compared to only 1.1 g N m(-2) (0.4 to 2.8 g m(-2)) from denitrification. This study provides strong evidence for co-denitrification as a major N2 production pathway, which has significant implications for understanding the N budgets of pastoral ecosystems.


Predicting kinetics of water-rich permeate flux through photocatalytic mesh under visible light illumination.
Membrane-based separation technologies are attractive to remediating unconventional water sources, including brackish, industrial, and municipal wastewater, due to their versatility and relatively high energy efficiency. However, membrane fouling by dissolved or suspended organic substances remains a primary challenge which can result in an irreversible decline of the permeate flux. To overcome this, membranes have been incorporated with photocatalytic materials that can degrade these organic substances deposited on the surface upon light illumination. While such photocatalytic membranes have demonstrated that they can recover their inherent permeability, less information is known about the effect of photocatalysis on the kinetics of the permeate flux. In this work, a photocatalytic mesh that can selectively permeate water while repelling oil was fabricated by coating a mixture of nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) and perfluorosilane-grafted SiO2 (F-SiO2) nanoparticles on a stainless steel mesh. Utilizing the photocatalytic mesh, the time-dependent evolution of the water-rich permeate flux as a result of photocatalytic degradation of the oil was studied under the visible light illumination. A mathematical model was developed that can relate the photocatalytic degradation of the organic substances deposited on a mesh surface to the evolution of the permeate flux. This model was established by integrating the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics for photocatalysis and the Cassie-Baxter wettability analysis on a chemically heterogeneous mesh surface into a permeate flux relation. Consequently, the time-dependent water-rich permeate flux values are compared with those predicted by using the model. It is found that the model can predict the evolution of the water-rich permeate flux with a goodness of fit of 0.92.


Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Uranium from Uranium-containing Wastewater Using an Organic Phase-refining-type Emulsion Flow Extractor.
A previously reported emulsion flow (EF) extraction system does not equip the refining device for any used organic phase. Therefore, the processing of large quantities of wastewater by using the EF extractor alone could lead to the accumulation of extracted components into the organic phase, and a lowering of the extraction performance. In the present study, we developed an organic phase-refining-type EF system, which is equipped with a column for refining a used organic phase to prevent accumulation, and successfully applied it for treating uranium-containing wastewater.


Risk factor profile for newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: 4-year follow-up of annual health examinations in a Japanese Adult Cohort.
Detecting unknown atrial fibrillation (AF) would provide an opportunity to prevent ischemic stroke by instituting appropriate anticoagulation. Although opportunistic screening of older patients is recommended in current guidelines, which patients may benefit from intensive AF screening remains unclear. We sought to clarify the risk factor profile for newly diagnosed AF in annual health examinations of a Japanese adult cohort. Among 141 441 Japanese patients who underwent annual health examinations in 2014, 87 872 patients aged ≥20 years without known AF who had undergone electrocardiography were analyzed (mean age: 47 ± 12 years; 64% men). The absence of known AF was confirmed by prior electrocardiography in 2012 and/or 2013. Newly diagnosed AF was observed in 244 patients in 2014-2017 (mean age: 62 ± 12 years; 83% men). In the multivariable analysis, waist circumference obesity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-1.99; p = .005) high blood pressure (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.01-3.59; p = .047), on-treatment hypertension (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.01-2.31; p = .046), and daily alcohol drinking (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.52-3.12; p < .001) were significantly associated with newly diagnosed AF. In this Japanese cohort, waist circumference obesity, hypertension, and alcohol drinking were independent predictors of newly diagnosed AF in annual medical examinations. This finding encourages further evaluation of systematic AF screening programs in at-risk populations.


I choose, therefore I like: preference for faces induced by arbitrary choice.
Behavioral choice alters one's preference rather than simply reflecting it. This effect to fit preferences with past choice, is known as "choice-induced preference change." After making a choice between two equally attractive options, one tends to rate the chosen option better than they initially did and/or the unchosen option worse. The present study examined how behavioral choice changes subsequent preference, using facial images for the choice options as well as blind choice techniques. Participants rated their facial preference for each face, and chose between two equally preferred faces and subsequently rated their facial preference. Results from four experiments demonstrated that randomly chosen faces were more preferred only after participants were required to choose "a preferred face," (in Experiment 1) but not "an unpreferred face," (in Experiment 2) or "a rounder face" (in Experiment 3). Further, preference change was still observed after participants were informed that choices were actually random (in Experiment 4). Our findings provide new and important implications characterizing the conditions under which random choice changes preference, and show that people are tempted to make a biased evaluation even after they know that they did not make the choice for themselves.


The childhood arthritis radiographic score of the hip: the proposal cut-off value using cluster analysis.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic rheumatic disease that affects children. It is crucial to detect and treat hip involvement in JIA early to prevent functional impairment and reduced quality of life. The Childhood Arthritis Radiographic Score of the Hip (CARSH) is a validated radiographic scoring system used to assess hip involvement in JIA. In this study, we aimed to determine cut-off values for CARSH scores using cluster analysis. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis and included JIA patients with hip involvement who underwent a pelvic radiograph. The same pelvic radiograph was interpreted by two experienced pediatric rheumatologists at baseline and after 3 weeks by both readers for reliability. The CARSH scores were calculated for each hip four times (twice by each reader). For the 50 hips, a total of 200 interpretations of the CARSH score were obtained. Model-based clustering was employed to identify distinct groups of CARSH score interpretations and characterize the phenotype of each cluster. Twenty-five children with hip involvement were included. The mean age was 13.9 ± 4.6 years. JIA subtypes were as follows: ERA in 64%, oligoarthritis in 16%, psoriatic arthritis in 12%, polyarthritis RF + in 4%, and RF - in 4% of patients. For the 200 hip interpretations, three clusters based on the level of the CARSH were identified by model-based clustering. Cluster 1 consisted of 17 CARSH score interpretations with a median score of 7 ± 3 (ranging from 1 to 15). This group primarily comprised patients with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) and psoriatic arthritis. Patients in cluster 1 were generally older, experienced longer diagnostic delays, and had a longer disease duration compared to the other clusters. Cluster 2 exhibited a moderate CARSH score, with an average score of 4 ± 3 (1 to 15). Patients in this group had significantly higher body weight compared to the other clusters. Cluster 3 represented the group with the least severe hip involvement, characterized by CARSH scores of 2 ± 1 (ranging from 0 to 9). This cluster had a higher proportion of male patients and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels than the other clusters. Regarding the individual items of the CARSH score, cluster 1 showed higher percentages of hip radiograph abnormalities such as joint space narrowing, erosions, growth abnormalities, and subchondral cysts. Cluster 2 was characterized by a high rate of acetabular sclerosis, with little to no abnormalities in other CARSH score items. Cluster 3 was the only group that exhibited hip subluxation, with minimal abnormalities in the other score items. In conclusion, this study identified three distinct groups of CARSH scores, representing varying levels of severity in hip involvement in JIA. These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians in assessing and managing JIA patients with hip involvement, enabling tailored treatment strategies based on the severity of the condition. Key Points • While a Childhood Arthritis Radiographic Score of the Hip (CARSH) is a valid and reliable tool in hip-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis, its use is limited in daily practice due to the lack of available cut-off values. • The cluster analysis defined three clusters based on the CARSH levels. • Cluster 1 exhibited the highest score with more damage and disability. Cluster 2 involved a moderate score and more overweight patients. Cluster 3 included the least level of the score but with an active disease parameter.


Exosomes Secreted from circZFHX3-modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells Repaired Spinal Cord Injury Through mir-16-5p/IGF-1 in Mice.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological event that leads to severe motor and sensory dysfunction. Exosome-mediated transfer of circular RNAs (circRNAs) was associated with SCI, and exosomes have been reported to be produced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study is designed to explore the mechanism of exosomal circZFHX3 on LPS-induced MSCs injury in SCI. Exosomes were detected by transmission electron microscope and nanoparticle tracking analysis. CD9, CD63, CD81, and TSC101, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax), Cleaved caspase 3, and Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) protein levels were measured by western blot assay. CircZFHX3, microRNA-16-5p (miR-16-5p), and IGF-1 level were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry assay. Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were assessed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). ROS, LDH, and SOD levels were measured by the special kits. The binding between miR-16-5p and circZFHX3 or IGF-1 was predicted by Starbase and DianaTools and then verified by a dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. The biological role of exosomal circZFHX3 on SCI mice was examined in vivo. CircZFHX3 and IGF-1 were decreased, and miR-16-5p was increased in SCI mice. Also, exosomal circZFHX3 boosted cell viability and repress apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in LPS-treated BV-2 cells in vitro. Mechanically, circZFHX3 acted as a sponge of miR-16-5p to regulate IGF-1 expression. Exosomal circZFHX3 reduced cell injury of SCI in vivo. Exosomal circZFHX3 inhibited LPS-induced BV-2 cell injury partly by regulating the miR-16-5p/ IGF-1 axis, hinting at a promising therapeutic strategy for the SCI treatment.


The Wenckebach phenomenon: a salute and comment on the centennial of its original description.
In 1899, Karel F. Wenckebach unraveled the complicated arrhythmia that bears his name--one of the most famous eponyms in medicine. He reported his findings before the benefit of clinical electrocardiography or the discovery of the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes. Born and educated in The Netherlands, Wenckebach first worked in Utrecht in the physiology laboratory of T.W. Engelmann, his respected mentor, where he became familiar with kymographic recordings and rhythm disturbances in frog experiments. He then entered country practice in 1891, where he gained great respect for practicing physicians as well as the importance of clinical experience. In 1896, he returned to Utrecht to work again in the laboratory with Engelmann. In 1898, a woman consulted Wenckebach about her irregular pulse. His investigation of her irregular heart action by using radial arterial pulse tracings and experimental atrial and ventricular pulse tracings from the heart of a frog enabled him to discover the mechanism of partial heart block. In later years, he continued to be a leader in academic medicine, chairing the departments of medicine in Groningen, Strasbourg, and Vienna. He achieved fame for investigating cardiac arrhythmias and other contributions and is considered to be one of the founders of modern cardiology. He is remembered for his insight into atrioventricular conduction, which is as valid today as it was a century ago.


Depression in children and adolescents two months after the death of a parent.
This study examined depressive symptoms in bereaved children and adolescents two months after the death of a parent. Participants were 325 children and adolescents bereaved of a parent approximately two months prior to the study. They were compared to 129 non-bereaved community controls and 110 non-bereaved depressed controls. Participants and their parents were interviewed regarding the child's depressive symptoms. Possible moderating factors for depression in bereaved children were examined. 25% of the bereaved participants experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) compared to 1% of the community controls. An additional 24% of the bereaved participants experienced a sub-syndromal depressive episode, defined as 3 or 4 depressive symptoms, compared to 4% of the community controls. Factors correlated with occurrence of MDE in the bereaved children in exploratory analyses were (1) history of MDE in the child and (2) history of alcoholism in a parent. Guilt/worthlessness, psychomotor disturbance, and low energy in the context of an MDE predicted membership in the depressed control group over the bereaved group. The relationship between an MDE in the bereaved child and parent history of alcoholism is exploratory, as the p-value for this correlation was greater than the α adjusted for multiple comparisons. The bereaved child's history of MDE was based on the child's and parent's memories of depressive symptoms. The death of a parent is a risk factor for depressive symptoms and depressive episodes in children and adolescents two months after the death.


Transparent intracortical microprobe array for simultaneous spatiotemporal optical stimulation and multichannel electrical recording.
Optogenetics, the selective excitation or inhibition of neural circuits by light, has become a transformative approach for dissecting functional brain microcircuits, particularly in in vivo rodent models, owing to the expanding libraries of opsins and promoters. Yet there is a lack of versatile devices that can deliver spatiotemporally patterned light while performing simultaneous sensing to map the dynamics of perturbed neural populations at the network level. We have created optoelectronic actuator and sensor microarrays that can be used as monolithic intracortical implants, fabricated from an optically transparent, electrically highly conducting semiconductor ZnO crystal. The devices can perform simultaneous light delivery and electrical readout in precise spatial registry across the microprobe array. We applied the device technology in transgenic mice to study light-perturbed cortical microcircuit dynamics and their effects on behavior. The functionality of this device can be further expanded to optical imaging and patterned electrical microstimulation.


The effect of L-DOPA on the ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis of the Chinese quail, Excalfactoria chinensis.
Intraperitoneally injected L-DOPA was found to stimulate strongly the lysosomal system of all of the cell types of the adenohypophysis. We suggest that this amine may play a role in the regulation of the secretory activity of the gland by mediating the lysosomal activity, this role being of variable importance according to the fluctuations in hormonal activity. Utrastructural changes occur in some cell types following injection of L-DOPA. The question as to whether these changes are induced directly by L-DOPA or via the monoaminergic system of the hypothalamus and its hypophysiotropic hormones is discussed.


Phase transformation and mechanical properties of new bioactive glass-ceramics derived from CaO-P2O5-Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 glass system.
This work investigates the role of sintering temperature on bioactive glass-ceramics derived from the new composition CaO-P2O5-Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 glass system. The sintering behaviour of the samples' physical, structural, and mechanical properties is highlighted in this study. The experimental results indicated that the sintering process improved the crystallization and hardness of the final product. Results from XRD and FTIR showed the existence of carbonate apatite, pseudo-wollastonite, and wollastonite phases. From the results, the bioglass-ceramics sintered at 700 °C obtained the highest densification and optimum mechanical results. It had the value of 5.34 ± 0.21 GPa regarding microhardness and 2.99 ± 0.24 MPa m1/2 concerning fracture toughness, which falls in the range of the human enamel. Also, the sintered samples maintained their bioactivity and biodegradability after being tested in the PBS medium. The bioactivity does not affect but slows down the apatite formation rate. Overall results promoted the novel bioglass-ceramics as a candidate material for dental application.


A phase I/II study of direct intraarterial (ophthalmic artery) chemotherapy with melphalan for intraocular retinoblastoma initial results.
To develop a technique that would allow us to cannulate repeatedly the ophthalmic artery of young children with advanced retinoblastoma, to find a dose of melphalan that would be tolerable and tumoricidal for retinoblastoma when given intraarterially, and to study the local ocular and systemic side effects of intraarterial melphalan in these children. Phase I/II clinical trial. Ten children with advanced retinoblastoma (Reese-Ellsworth V) eyes who were indicated for enucleation were entered into an institutional review board-approved protocol of ophthalmic artery infusion of melphalan to avoid enucleation. Cannulation of the ophthalmic artery was performed by a femoral artery approach using microcatheters while the children were under anesthesia and anticoagulated. Chemotherapy (melphalan) was infused into the artery over a 30-minute period. Ophthalmic examinations, retinal photography, and electroretinograms were used to document local toxicity, whereas physical examinations and complete blood counts were used to measure systemic toxicity. The ophthalmic arteries were successfully cannulated in 9 cases (total, 27 times), as many as 6 times in 1 patient. Dramatic regression of tumors, vitreous seeds, and subretinal seeds were seen in each case. No severe systemic side effects (sepsis, anemia, neutropenia, fever, or death) occurred. No transfusions were required (red cells or platelets). Three patients developed conjunctival and lid edema that resolved without treatment. There was no toxicity to the cornea, anterior segment, pupil, or motility. One (previously irradiated) eye developed retinal ischemia; another eye had no toxicity after intraarterial chemotherapy but did develop a radiationlike retinopathy after brachytherapy. Vision stabilized or improved in all but 1 patient after treatment. Electroretinograms were generally poor (advanced eyes were treated), but in 2 cases, the electroretinogram improved after treatment (and resolution of a retinal detachment). Seven eyes avoided enucleation. Two intraarterially treated eyes were enucleated, with no viable tumors identified pathologically. We developed a technique of direct ophthalmic artery infusion of melphalan for children with retinoblastoma. The technique had minimal systemic side effects (one patient had grade 3 neutropenia) and minimal local toxicity. Among the first 9 cases treated with this technique, 7 eyes destined to be enucleated were salvaged.


Self-concept and psychological adjustment differences between self-identified male transsexuals and male homosexuals.
Self-concept and adjustment data from anatomical males seeking sexual reassignment surgery were compared with that from a male homosexual group. Findings indicated that the homosexual group had a better self-image and was better adjusted than the sex change group. Other findings are presented that reinforce the view that the norm violations in homosexuality and transsexualism do not necessarily imply serious character damage.


Inter-observer variability in reading of phototest reactions with sharply or diffusely delineated borders.
In both clinical and experimental phototesting, naked eye assessment of erythema has been the main assessment parameter. As with all subjective assessment, variability in recorded results due to variable circumstances around the performance and reading of tests influences reliability and utility of data whether they be interpreted for an individual patient or for a group of research subjects. In the present study, variability in the reporting of diameter of ultraviolet B (UVB) erythema has been studied. The erythematous reactions were assessed by the naked eye and with the help of a millimetre-graded ruler by a group of dermatologists and dermatological trainees. Reaction size, objectively quantified by means of laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) using thresholding of the reaction perfusion, and known size of UVB provocation were used as yardsticks in order to quantify this variability. Agreement between observers, against known size, was excellent for reactions with a sharp border, but for reactions with a diffuse or indistinct border there was a substantial inter-observer variability. This was also true for the comparison between naked-eye reading and LDPI assessment of the reaction size. It is concluded that if naked-eye readings are to be the outcome measurement, then provocations/protocols producing distinct borders are an advantage. If borders between provoked and unprovoked skin can be expected to be diffuse, i.e. part of a continuum of response, the use of objective, bioengineering techniques such as LDPI is required. Quantitative methods are also the basis for more detailed presentation and interpretation of test results including information on dose response above the minimal erythema dose.


Estimate a patient's 10 years cardiovascular risk using the Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease tool in a cross-sectional study in Al-Harja, Asser, Saudi Arabia, 2021.
Recently, the cases of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) have been increasing in the rural areas of southwest Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study sought to consider the relevant contributing factors, such as traditional dietary habits and a diet rich in cholesterol and fat, few opportunities for disease screening, false beliefs about chronic disease management medications, delays in diagnosis, and the great distances required for travel to cardiac specialist centers. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 12 primary health care (PHC) centers, using the ASCVD tool. The total required sample was determined to be 440 participants after calculating based on the total population of Al-Harja. Systematic random sampling was performed using a list of PHC centers and fixed intervals. The study's outcome is ASCVD risk score divided into four categories: low risk <5%, borderline risk 5%-7.5%, intermediate risk >7.5%-20%, and high risk >20%. Data were collected through interview questionnaires, measurements, and laboratory sample investigations. It was revealed that 16.59% of the participants were classified in the high-risk category for having ASCVD in the next 10 years. There was a significant association between the ASCVD risk score and obesity (P = 0.03). Prior diagnoses for either hypertension or diabetes mellitus (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with an increased ASCVD risk score. An alarmingly high prevalence of high-risk ASCVD scores was seen among male participants, with 54 (22.78%) in the high-risk category, while 19 female participants (9.36%) were in the same category. Therefore, we can conclude that male participants are two times as likely to have a high ASCVD risk than female participants.


Cellular and molecular mechanism of action of antiestrogens.
The mechanism of action of tamoxifen and of 4-hydroxytamoxifen is reviewed at the cellular and molecular level, through the current view of the authors. Synthetic antiestrogens are mainly acting directly on breast cancer cells by interacting with the estrogen receptor (RE). They prevent estrogen action by competing with estrogens on the cytosol RE. The resulting complex is partially activated, leading to its nuclear localisation and a partial and dissociated stimulation of the expression of estrogen responsive genes. A defective and partial activation of RE induced by antiestrogen is shown in vitro by several alterations of the RE concerning the dissociation rate of ligands and the affinity for double-stranded DNA and for a monoclonal antibody against the RE. The explanation of the inhibition of tumor growth is more controversial, since the proliferation of estrogen responsive cells is not only regulated by estrogens but also by other hormones and factors. We present evidence of a direct effect of antiestrogen mediated by the RE, and discuss the mechanism of resistance to antiestrogen in RE positive breast cancer cells.


Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis with malignant change, in a male.
Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL) is a rare disorder, characterized by the occurrence of multiple leiomyomas scattered throughout the peritoneal cavity. Until this report DPL had been observed only in women and there is only one previous case with malignant change. A case of DPL in a male, complicated by sarcomatous transformation is reported. DPL has a definite malignant potential; patients with the disease should be followed closely for signs of progression.


Relationship between Serum Irisin Levels and MRI-Measured Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Japanese Men.
Irisin, an exercise-induced myokine, is a potential neurotrophic factor; however, its relationship with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether serum irisin levels are associated with CSVD in healthy Japanese men. We analyzed data from 720 men free of stroke and participated in this observational study. Serum irisin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CSVD was assessed on deep and subcortical white matter hyperintensities (DSWMHs), periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs), lacunar infarcts (LIs), and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on brain magnetic resonance imaging. We calculated the total CSVD score (ranges 0-4) to express the total CSVD burden. We computed the adjusted odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), of the total CSVD score and individual CSVD features using logistic regression models according to the quartiles of irisin (reference: Q1). Serum irisin levels were associated with lower ORs of higher (vs. zero or lower score) total CSVD score, with the lowest risk (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.97) being observed in Q3 compared to Q1 after adjustment of potential covariates. Similar results were obtained for younger adults (<65 years). Among individual CSVD features, irisin was associated with a reduced risk of LIs in the total sample and PVHs, LIs, and CMBs in younger adults. No relationship was observed in older adults (≥ 65 years). Serum irisin levels were associated with less burden of total CSVD in healthy Japanese men. Serum irisin levels were also related with a reduced risk of PVHs, LIs, and CMBs, but not DSWMHs.


Identification of a novel mutation in the BMPR2 gene in a pulmonary arterial hypertension patient using next-generation sequencing.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a hemodynamic state that is characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling, leading to a continuous increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and eventually right heart failure. Mutations of the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2) gene are the most common genetic cause of PAH. A 52-year-old woman was admitted to Shaoxing People's Hospital after suffering from a cough for 2 months. In our hospital, the proband got a thorough medical examination and was diagnosed with PAH following genetic testing. Genetic test showed that the proband carried a novel heterozygous c.1481C>T (p.Ala494Val) mutation in the BMPR2 gene. The new mutation was initially discovered as a potential pathogenic variant by bioinformatics research, but it needed to be functionally verified. The novel mutation may be related to the development of the PAH. In addition to general examinations, clinicians must thoroughly examine molecular genetics to provide an accurate diagnosis in the clinic, particularly for rare disorders.


Motivational interviewing to improve self-management in youth with type 1 diabetes: A randomized clinical trial.
Effective interventions are needed to help adolescents with T1D develop independent self-management skills to prevent commonly observed deterioration of disease self-management resulting in poor health outcomes. Using a prospective RCT design, we assessed the impact of a nurse-led education program based on motivational interviewing (MI) in youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). After parental consent and youth assent, we prospectively randomized 66 adolescents 13-18 years old with T1D to either usual care (every 3 months visit with pediatric endocrinologist) or usual care supplemented by 2 in-person and 4 follow-up phone calls with a nurse educator in a pediatric endocrinology clinic of the University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia. We used MI sessions to support youth general and disease specific self-management skills. Outcomes were change, between baseline and 6 months, in TRAQ (a validated measure of youth self-management) scores and HbA1c values. Mean TRAQ scores (based on a 5-point Likert scale) increased by 1.44 points (s.d. = 0.56) in the Intervention Group versus 0.26 points (s.d. = 0.34) in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean HbA1C value decreased in the intervention group by 0.95 units versus a decrease of 0.12 units in the control group (p = 0.047). We found that a brief, nurse-led MI-based educational intervention, integrated into specialty pediatric care, resulted in a significant improvement in both self-reported self-management skills and in HbA1c values. Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04798937.


Phase diagrams for impure lipid systems. Application to lipid/anaesthetic mixtures.
A physical model is presented to describe theoretically the temperature-dependent interactions of lipid bilayers with small molecules such as anaesthetics. Based on an earlier model, a triangular lattice in which each site is occupied by a single lipid chain is constructed and the small (anaesthetic) molecules are assumed to occupy interstitial sites in the centre of each lattice triangle. The phase characteristics of such lipid/anaesthetic mixtures are described in terms of the interaction parameters between lipid-lipid, lipid-anaesthetic and anaesthetic-anaesthetic molecules. Depending on the chemical nature of the interacting species the following three models are formulated: Model I. An interstitial model in which the only perturbation is in the head-group region of the bilayer and direct interactions between neighbouring anaesthetic molecules are taken into account. Model II. Here, only hydrophobic interactions between anaesthetics and lipids are considered. Model III. Both van der Waals' and coulombic interactions are taken into account. Phase diagrams for the three models are obtained by numerical calculation over a wide range of interaction parameters. It is shown that in all three models, lateral phase separation takes place due to the presence of anaesthetics. The heat of transition, however, is found to be virtually independent of the anaesthetic concentration.


Thermal Imaging to Predict Failed Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: A Prospective Observational Study.
Successful brachial plexus blockade produces sympathetic blockade, resulting in increased skin temperature in the blocked segments. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of infrared thermography in predicting failed segmental supraclavicular brachial plexus block. This prospective observational study included adult patients undergoing upper-limb surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Sensation was evaluated at the dermatomal distribution of the ulnar, median, and radial nerves. Block failure was defined as absence of complete sensory loss 30 min after block completion. Skin temperature was evaluated by infrared thermography at the dermatomal supply of the ulnar, median, and radial nerves at baseline, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after block completion. The temperature change from the baseline measurement was calculated for each time point. Outcomes were the ability of temperature change at each site to predict failed block of the corresponding nerve using area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis. Eighty patients were available for the final analysis. The AUC (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the ability of temperature change at 5 min to predict failed ulnar, median, and radial nerve block was 0.79 (0.68-0.87), 0.77 (0.67-0.86), and 0.79 (0.69-0.88). The AUC (95% CI) increased progressively and reached its maximum values at 15 min (ulnar nerve 0.98 [0.92-1.00], median nerve 0.97 [0.90-0.99], radial nerve 0.96 [0.89-0.99]) with negative predictive value of 100%. Infrared thermography of different skin segments provides an accurate tool for predicting failed supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Increased skin temperature at each segment can exclude block failure in the corresponding nerve with 100% accuracy.


Radical prostatectomy in very high-risk localized prostate cancer: long-term outcomes and outcome predictors.
The objective of this study was to present the long-term outcomes and determine outcome predictors in very high-risk (cT3b-T4) prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Between January 1989 and December 2004, 51 patients with cT3b-T4 PCa underwent RP. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), clinical progression-free survival (CPFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) rate. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the predictive power of clinical and pathological variables in BPFS and CPFS. Median follow-up was 108 months [interquartile range (IQR) 73.5-144.5]. The median serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 16.9 ng/ml (IQR 7-37.2). Median biopsy and pathological Gleason (pGS) score were both scored as 7 (range 4-10 and 5-9, respectively). Overstaging was frequent (37.2%); four patients (7.8%) had organ-confined stage pT2, while 15 (29.4%) had extracapsular extension only (pT3a). Another 23 (45.1%) were confirmed with seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b) and nine (17.7%) had adjacent structure invasion (pT4). Eleven patients (21.6%) had lymph-node involvement. Thirty-two patients (62.7%) had positive surgical margins. The BPFS, CPFS, CSS and OS at 5 and 10 years were 52.7%, 45.8%;78.0%, 72.5%; 91.9%, 91.9% and 88.0%, 70.7%. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, pathological stage was an independent predictor of BPFS while preoperative PSA and pGS was an independent predictor of CPFS. The management of cT3b-T4 PCa typically consists of a multimodality treatment in which RP is a valuable first step. Overstaging was frequent (37.2%), and almost one-quarter of the patients remained free of additional treatments. Long-term cancer-related outcomes were very satisfactory.


Multicenter randomized, and blinded European field study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Felpreva®, a novel spot-on formulation containing emodepside, praziquantel and tigolaner, in treating cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks.
The present field study evaluated the safety and 3-month preventive efficacy of a novel spot-on endectocide containing emodepside 2.04% w/v, praziquantel 8.14% w/v and tigolaner 9.79% w/v (Felpreva®, Vetoquinol) when administered at the intended commercial dose of 0.15 ml/kg body weight to privately owned cats infested by fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and/or ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Rhipicephalus spp.). The efficacy of Felpreva® to reduce the clinical signs associated with flea allergy dermatitis was also evaluated. A total of 326 cats, i.e. 120 and 206 infested by ticks and fleas respectively, from 16 different sites located in Hungary and Portugal were included on Day 0 and allocated in two Groups at a ratio of 2:1 (T1:T2). Cats of T1 were treated with Felpreva®, while cats of T2 were dosed with a commercial Control Product (Bravecto®, MSD Animal Health) licensed for the same indications. Of the 120 tick-infested cats, 79 and 41 were treated with Felpreva® and Bravecto® respectively, while of the 206 flea-infested cats, 139 were treated with Felpreva® and 67 with Bravecto®. Cats were physically examined on Days 7, 28, 56, 75 and 90; when present, fleas and ticks were counted and collected. Efficacy evaluation was based on the mean percent reduction of live parasite counts for each of five visits versus the pre-treatment count. Percent reductions of live flea and tick counts over all post-baseline periods were 99.74% (T1) versus 98.56% (T2) and 97.50% (T1) versus 98.65% (T2), respectively. Non-inferiority for the Felpreva® compared with the Bravecto® treated group was statistically demonstrated for both fleas and ticks. Three adverse events were observed and considered unlikely related to the treatment. These results show that the new topical combination product Felpreva® is safe and highly efficacious in treating flea and tick infections in cats for at least three months (90 days) with a single administration. In 16 cats that were identified with flea allergy dermatitis, the clinical signs of flea allergy dermatitis improved following treatment in both groups.


Current topics and perspectives relating to hormone therapy for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is androgen-dependent, and hormone therapy, mainly achieved by androgen deprivation, has been one of the main treatment modalities in the clinical management of prostate cancer patients for more than six decades. In the 1980s, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, which reduce testosterone to castration levels, were introduced Also, after the 1980s, nonsteroidal antiandrogens were developed in addition to steroidal antiandrogens. Since then, so-called maximum androgen blockade (MAB)/combined androgen blockade (CAB), which is a combination of surgical or medical castration and oral antiandrogens, has been developed. More recently, novel treatment modalities have been developed, such as intermittent androgen suppression, nonsteroidal antiandrogen monotherapy, and alternative antiandrogen therapy after relapse from initial MAB/CAB, The present article focuses on these treatment modalities to review current topics and perspectives with respect to hormone therapy for prostate cancer.


Evidence for two distinct active sites on aldehyde dehydrogenase.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase can catalyze the hydrolysis of esters such as p-nitrophenyl acetate as well as oxidize aldehydes to acids. It has not been proven unequivocally that the two reactions occur at the same active site. In the accompanying paper (Tu, G. C., and Weiner, H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1212-1217) evidence was presented which showed that cysteine at position 49 was at the active site for the dehydrogenase reaction. Evidence also was presented which showed that cysteine located at position 162 was susceptible to modification by N-ethylmaleimide. It was shown here that the two activities of the enzyme can be differently protected from inactivation by substrate analogs. Furthermore, aldehydes were found to be poor inhibitors against the esterase reaction while ester was a good inhibitor against the dehydrogenase reaction. In addition, it was possible to modify cysteine 49 with N-ethylmaleimide but not find inhibition of the esterase reactivity until cysteine 162 was modified. It appears that horse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase has two separate active sites per subunit. The data fit a model where ester can be hydrolyzed at both sites but that aldehyde oxidation occurred only at position 49.


Borate and glycerol inhibition of the aggregation of guinea pig platelets by bovine factor VIII and ristocetin.
To demonstrate the importance of the carbohydrate portions of bovine factor VIII and ristocetin for the induction of platelet aggregation, guinea pig platelets were treated with either borate or glycerol before and after addition of ristocetin or bovine factor VIII. Both borate and glycerol were capable of inhibiting the aggregation of blood platelets induced by adding bovine factor VIII or ristocetin to platelet-rich plasma. Furthermore, aggregates formed after treatment with either agent could be dispersed by high concentrations of either borate or glycerol. These effects did not appear to be solely the result of high ionic strength or of irreversible damage to the platelets. The results obtained support the hypothesis that the binding of the carbohydrate groups of factor VIII plays an important role in the induction of platelet aggregation and in the maintenance of aggregates formed in response to the treatment of platelet-rich plasma with bovine factor VIII or ristocetin.


Drought tolerance of germinating seeds and young seedlings of Anastatica hierochuntica L.
Drought tolerance of germinating seeds and young seedlings of Anastatica hierochuntica L. was studied under controlled conditions. When seeds at various stages of germination were air-dried, or alternatively were desiccated over CaCl2 to the same or a lower water level than in the air-dried seeds, and after various periods of storage were rewetted, they readily continued germination or growth. Similarly, 60% of dried young seedlings with rootlets 4-6 mm long that had been dehydrated for one week, renewed their growth 8 h after wetting, their shrivelled, dried rootlets imbibing water. Recovery was adversely affected by both longer periods of germination prior to the dehydration, or by the longer duration of storage of the redried seeds/seedlings. The higher rate of dehydration also reduced recovery. It is argued that despite this tolerance of seedlings to drought, the Rose of Jericho cannot be considered a resurrection plant. Compared with other desert annuals, this behavior is specific for Anastatica. However, it may occur also in other annual species of populations sequestered within the driest of desert habitats.


MR imaging of a hemorrhagic hepatic cyst in a patient with polycystic liver disease.
The appearance of a hemorrhagic hepatic cyst in a patient with polycystic disease of the liver is reported with CT, ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance. Magnetic resonance provided useful diagnostic information not available with either CT or US.


Effect of progesterone on the activity of occupied nuclear estrogen receptor in vitro.
In previous studies, we have demonstrated that progesterone administration in vivo can selectively alter estrogen receptor levels and distribution in the rat anterior pituitary. The present study represents an attempt to extend these observations to an in vitro model. Cytosolic and nuclear preparations of uterine homogenates from ovariectomized adult rats were shown to be capable of temperature-dependent estrogen-mediated receptor activation and translocation from cytosol to nuclei upon recombination. Addition of progesterone to isolated cytosol did not diminish estrogen receptor binding capacity over at least a 2 h period at 22 degrees C. Preincubation of the subcellular fractions with progesterone, followed by removal of free progesterone prior to cytosol-nuclear recombination, resulted in dramatic reduction in nuclear estrogen receptor activity. This action was equally apparent whether progesterone was introduced to the cytosolic or nuclear fraction, and was confined to the steroid-occupied subpopulation of nuclear receptors. The ability of this in vitro system to mimic the estrogen receptor-suppressive effect of progesterone provides a good model in which to analyze the biochemical basis for a direct estrogen-inhibitory effect of progesterone on estrogen action.


But Why Weight: Understanding the Implications of Obesity in Kidney Transplant.
Obesity is increasing in prevalence among candidates for kidney transplant. Understanding the influence of obesity on candidate evaluation, surgical risk, peritransplant management, and post-transplant outcomes is critical to ensuring equitable access to transplant for this growing population.


Native gastrointestinal mucus: Critical features and techniques for studying interactions with drugs, drug carriers, and bacteria.
Gastrointestinal mucus plays essential roles in modulating interactions between intestinal lumen contents, including orally delivered drug carriers and the gut microbiome, and underlying epithelial and immune tissues and cells. This review is focused on the properties of and methods for studying native gastrointestinal mucus and its interactions with intestinal lumen contents, including drug delivery systems, drugs, and bacteria. The properties of gastrointestinal mucus important to consider in its analysis are first presented, followed by a discussion of different experimental setups used to study gastrointestinal mucus. Applications of native intestinal mucus are then described, including experimental methods used to study mucus as a barrier to drug delivery and interactions with intestinal lumen contents that impact barrier properties. Given the significance of the microbiota in health and disease, its impact on drug delivery and drug metabolism, and the use of probiotics and microbe-based delivery systems, analysis of interactions of bacteria with native intestinal mucus is then reviewed. Specifically, bacteria adhesion to, motility within, and degradation of mucus is discussed. Literature noted is focused largely on applications of native intestinal mucus models as opposed to isolated mucins or reconstituted mucin gels.


Corticosteroid treatment in meconium aspiration syndrome: a solution for better outcome?
Corticosteroid treatment in severe meconium aspiration syndrome may afford, especially if started early, some improvement in oxygenation, lung function and pulmonary haemodynamics during the acute phase of the disorder. Still, the effects of corticosteroids on lung tissue perturbations and outcome of diseased infants remain unclear. Further research is needed to determine the clinical significance and optimal timing and dosing of corticosteroid treatment in severe meconium aspiration syndrome.


Automated choroidal segmentation of 1060 nm OCT in healthy and pathologic eyes using a statistical model.
A two stage statistical model based on texture and shape for fully automatic choroidal segmentation of normal and pathologic eyes obtained by a 1060 nm optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is developed. A novel dynamic programming approach is implemented to determine location of the retinal pigment epithelium/ Bruch's membrane /choriocapillaris (RBC) boundary. The choroid-sclera interface (CSI) is segmented using a statistical model. The algorithm is robust even in presence of speckle noise, low signal (thick choroid), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) detachments and atrophy, drusen, shadowing and other artifacts. Evaluation against a set of 871 manually segmented cross-sectional scans from 12 eyes achieves an average error rate of 13%, computed per tomogram as a ratio of incorrectly classified pixels and the total layer surface. For the first time a fully automatic choroidal segmentation algorithm is successfully applied to a wide range of clinical volumetric OCT data.


Cellular basis of vasospasm: role of small diameter arteries and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.
Constriction of small (100-200 microm) diameter cerebral arteries in response to increased intravascular pressure plays an important role in the regulation of cerebral blood flow. In arteries from healthy animals, these pressure-induced constrictions arise from depolarization of arterial smooth muscle leading to enhanced activity of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. Recently, we have observed that pressure-induced constrictions are greatly enhanced in cerebral arteries obtained from a rabbit model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to the emergence of R-type voltage-dependent calcium channels in arterial myocytes. Enhanced pressure-induced constrictions and the resulting decrease in cerebral blood may contribute to the development of neurological deficits in SAH patients following cerebral aneurysm rupture. This work supports the concept that small diameter arteries represent important targets for current treatment modalities (e.g. Hypertensive, Hypervolemic, Hemodilution "triple H" therapy) used in SAH patients. Further, we propose targeting R-type calcium channels, encoded by the gene Ca(v)2.3, as a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of SAH-induced cerebral vasospasm.


RhBMP-7 improves survival and eruption in a growing tooth avulsion trauma model.
Long-term loss of avulsed and replanted teeth is a frequent clinical problem. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP 7) induces cementogenesis in periodontitis-associated periodontal ligament (PDL) defects. This study's aim was to assess the utility of rhBMP 7 in a tooth avulsion trauma model in growing individuals. Immature primary incisors of 12 minipigs were extracted. PDL and cementum were removed either partially (group 1: 4 mm2 [n=28 teeth]; group 2: 16 mm2 [n=26 teeth]) or totally (group 3 [n=26 teeth]). 500 microg rhBMP 7/g collagen matrix was applied to the teeth from one side while the corresponding teeth on the contralateral side served as controls (split mouth model). After an experimental period of 4 months, microradiography, fluorescence and light microscopy of nondecalcified sections were performed. All teeth of group 1 survived and all teeth of group 3 were lost, whether rhBMP-7 was applied or not. In group 2, nine out of ten teeth survived when rhBMP-7 was applied and four out of ten teeth were lost when rhBMP-7 was not applied. In the presence of rhBMP-7, eruption of teeth in group 2 was significantly improved (difference [median]: 5 mm, P<0.05, n=6). Even though there was a tendency towards increased deposition rates of cementum under rhBMP-7, this difference was not significant (Wilcoxon: P>0.05, ANOVA: P=0.002; n=6/group). In conclusion, rhBMP-7 improved survival rates and eruption of replanted teeth in growing individuals. No adverse effects were seen. Based on the present results, future clinical trials appear to be warranted.


Evaluation of the influence of food intake on the incorporation and excretion kinetics of mesoporous silica particles in C.elegans.
The effect of the presence of food on the incorporation and excretion of silica particles was studied in this work using the biological model Caenorhabditis elegans and image analysis techniques. The experiment was based on two 24-hour phases: exposure and depuration. During exposure, nematodes were maintained for 24 h in liquid medium with silica particles, but some with and others without food. During depuration, nematodes were transferred to medium without particles. Nematodes were analysed by an image analysis in both phases to quantify the properties of particle distributions in nematodes' bodies with time. No differences were found in the proportion of nematodes carrying particles in the exposure phase when food was present. However in the depuration phase, lack of food generated a high proportion of particle carriers. Particle distribution properties were also similar in the exposure phase. Nevertheless, lack of food produced particle accumulation due to decelerated excretion because digestive tube relaxed under these conditions. Thus after the depuration phase, lack of food led particles to persist in digestive tubes. According to these results, intake of silica particles had no retention effects when a food flux was provided, but particles were not easily excreted when the food flux was interrupted.


TNF-α/TNFR1 regulates the polarization of Kupffer cells to mediate trichloroethylene-induced liver injury.
We have previously shown trichloroethylene (TCE) induced immune liver injury, and TNF-α/TNFR1 pathway as a probably mechanism underlying the immune damage, but the pathogenic mechanism is still unclear. The study aims to investigate whether TNF-α and its receptors regulate Kupffer cell polarization and downstream inflammation signaling pathways during TCE sensitization, to clarify the mechanism of TCE-mediated immune liver injury. 6-8 weeks old SPF BALB/c female mice were used to establish a TCE sensitization model. We found that in the TCE sensitization positive group, liver injury was aggravated, Kupffer cells activated and polarized to M1 type. The expression of M1 Kupffer cell marker proteins CD11c and CD16/32 increased in the TCE positive group, so did TNF-α and TNFR1 in liver. The expression of P-IKK protein, PP65 protein and P-STAT3 protein increased in the TCE sensitization positive group, and the downstream inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6 also increased in the TCE sensitization positive group. After using the TNFR1 inhibitor R7050, we found that M1 Kupffer cell polarization, TNF-α expression, signal pathway expression and inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6 expression declined, and the liver damage relieved. Briefly, the use of R7050 to inhibit TNF-α/TNFR1 changing the polarization of liver M1 Kupffer cell, thereby inhibiting the activation of related downstream signaling pathways and reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors. TNF-α/TNFR1 regulates the polarization of M1 Kupffer cells inflammatory play an important role in liver immune damage.


Molecular monitoring in chronic myeloid leukemia: response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and prognostic implications.
The majority of patients with chronic-phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are treated with Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib and dasatinib achieve cytogenetic disease remission (ie, Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells undetectable by cytogenetic evaluation). However, more sensitive methods are required for monitoring residual disease (ie, molecular monitoring of BCR-ABL transcript levels). It is generally accepted that molecular responses have prognostic significance. Patients with CP CML who achieve early molecular responses are more likely to achieve durable cytogenetic responses and are less likely to experience disease progression. Rising BCR-ABL transcript levels also indicate loss of response, often as a consequence of developing BCR-ABL mutations. However, some studies have suggested that patients who achieve complete cytogenetic disease remission may not derive an additional prognostic benefit from achieving a major molecular response. Practical issues also exist for molecular monitoring with respect to restricted access and variability in methodologies and data reporting. Although molecular monitoring has a clear role in assessing residual disease and determining the risk of disease progression in patients with CML, the importance of cytogenetic monitoring should not be ignored.


Low direct cytotoxicity and cytoprotective effects of nitric oxide releasing indomethacin.
Nitric oxide (NO) releasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown a marked reduction of gastrointestinal side effects and we here examined the cytotoxicity of NCX 530 (NO-indomethacin). Under conditions where indomethacin clearly induced both necrosis and apoptosis, NCX 530 induced neither. NCX 530 protected cells from celecoxib-induced necrosis and apoptosis. NCX 530 partially suppressed celecoxib-dependent membrane permeabilization and an inhibitor for guanylate cyclase suppressed the cytoprotective effect of NCX 530 against celecoxib. In vivo, NCX 530 alone produced fewer gastric lesions in rats than did indomethacin. A combination of the oral administration of celecoxib together with the intraperitoneal administration of indomethacin, but not of NCX 530, clearly resulted in the production of gastric lesions. The low direct cytotoxicity and the cytoprotective effect of NCX 530 observed in vitro may also act in vivo, thus ensuring that NCX 530 is safe for use on the gastric mucosa.


Chemical-genomic profiling: systematic analysis of the cellular targets of bioactive molecules.
Chemical-genomic (CG) profiling of bioactive compounds is a powerful approach for drug target identification and mode of action studies. Within the last decade, research focused largely on the development and application of CG approaches in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The success of these methods has sparked interest in transitioning CG profiling to other biological systems to extend clinical and evolutionary relevance. Additionally, CG profiling has proven to enhance drug-synergy screens for developing combinatorial therapies. Herein, we briefly review CG profiling, focusing on emerging cross-species technologies and novel drug-synergy applications, as well as outlining needs within the field.


Effects of mechanical properties of adhesive resins on bond strength to dentin.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the micro-tensile bond strength to dentin and mechanical properties of the cured adhesive resins. Coronal dentin surfaces of extracted human teeth were treated with four commercial self-etching priming systems (Clearfil SE Bond; UniFil Bond; Tokuso Mac-Bond II; and Imperva Fluoro Bond) and bonded with a resin composite. After 24h storage in water at 37 degrees C, the bonded specimens were trimmed and subjected to micro-tensile bond strength testing at a cross-head speed of 1mm/min. Debonded surfaces were observed under a FE-SEM. For testing mechanical properties, 0.7-mm thick slabs of each adhesive resin were prepared, light-cured, and stored dry at the room temperature for 24h. After trimming, ultimate micro-tensile strength was measured. The nano-hardness and Young's modulus were also evaluated using cured adhesives that were prepared in the same manner as described above. The micro-tensile bond strengths to dentin and ultimate micro-tensile strengths of the resins were not significantly different among all systems (P>0.05). However, the nano-hardness and Young's modulus of Clearfil SE Bond and Imperva Fluoro Bond adhesive resins were significantly higher than those of UniFil Bond and Tokuso Mac-Bond II resins (P<0.05). The micro-tensile bond strength significantly correlated with the ultimate micro-tensile strength of the resins (r(2)=0.77; P<0.05), but was not correlated with the nano-hardness or Young's modulus (P>0.05). SEM observation of the debonded surfaces revealed a mixed type of fracture with a combination of interfacial and cohesive failure within the adhesive resin. The four self-etching priming systems exhibited similar dentin bond strengths, which also correlates with the ultimate strength of the adhesive resins.


Deconstructing adolescent ethnicity: A longitudinal analysis of ethnic-racial identity development and self-categorization.
The study of adolescent perceptions of their ethnicity/race has been investigated from an ethnic-racial identity (measurement) perspective or through an ethnic-racial classification lens. This study examines both, as it explores change in adolescents' ethnic-racial self-categorization; change in strength of ethnic-racial identity (ERI); and the relationship between change in self-categorization and strength of ERI. In so doing, it contributes to theorizing about the content and process of ERI formation. The longitudinal and mixed-methods study followed 732 middle and high school students biannually in a semi-rural, ethnically diverse school district. All students completed the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) in fall and spring each year and interviewed annually for qualitative inquiry. The four waves of data demonstrated that: (1) 22% of students changed their ethnic-racial classification at least once; (2) Multiracial youth, boys, and 8th graders were significantly more likely to change self-classification compared to White youth, girls, and 10 th graders; (3) strength of ERI did not change over time, however, African American and Hispanic youth had the strongest ERI over time compared to the others; (4) change in self-classification was significantly related to change in strength of ERI, however, its direction varied by race of students. While adolescent ethnic-racial identity development (ERI) appears to be related to ethnic-racial categorization, the direction of the relationship varies depending on ethnic self-categorization. Results contribute to theory building of ERI in relation to: content and process, group consciousness, certainty and clarity, and public regard.


Comparative de novo transcriptome analysis identifies salinity stress responsive genes and metabolic pathways in sugarcane and its wild relative Erianthus arundinaceus [Retzius] Jeswiet.
Erianthus arundinaceus [Retzius] Jeswiet, a wild relative of sugarcane has a high biomass production potential and a reservoir of many genes for superior agronomic traits and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A comparative physiological, anatomical and root transcriptome analysis were carried out to identify the salt-responsive genes and metabolic pathways associated with salt-tolerant E. arundinaceus genotype IND99-907 and salinity-sensitive sugarcane genotype Co 97010. IND99-907 recorded growth of young leaves, higher proline content, higher relative water content, intact root anatomical structures and lower Na+/K+, Ca2+/K+ and Mg2+/K+ ratio as compared to the sugarcane genotype Co 97010. We have generated four de novo transcriptome assemblies between stressed and control root samples of IND99-907 and Co 97010. A total of 649 and 501 differentially expressed genes (FDR<0.01) were identified from the stressed and control libraries of IND99-907 and Co 97010 respectively. Genes and pathways related to early stress-responsive signal transduction, hormone signalling, cytoskeleton organization, cellular membrane stabilization, plasma membrane-bound calcium and proton transport, sodium extrusion, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, cellular transporters related to plasma membrane-bound trafficking, nucleobase transporter, clathrin-mediated endocytosis were highly enriched in IND99-907. Whereas in Co 97010, genes related to late stress-responsive signal transduction, electron transport system, senescence, protein degradation and programmed cell death, transport-related genes associated with cellular respiration and mitochondrial respiratory chain, vesicular trafficking, nitrate transporter and fewer secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes were highly enriched. A total of 27 pathways, 24 biological processes, three molecular functions and one cellular component were significantly enriched (FDR≤ 0.05) in IND99-907 as compared to 20 pathways, two biological processes without any significant molecular function and cellular components in Co 97010, indicates the unique and distinct expression pattern of genes and metabolic pathways in both genotypes. The genomic resources developed from this study is useful for sugarcane crop improvement through development of genic SSR markers and genetic engineering approaches.


COVID-19 Pandemic and Healthcare Communication: A Patient-Centric Evaluation of Treatment and Diagnostic Procedures in Poland.
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated swift and often abrupt changes in healthcare practices, significantly influencing treatment and diagnostic procedures. This study aimed to gauge patient perceptions regarding these changes and their overall impact on the treatment and diagnosis process (ITDP). MATERIAL AND METHODS In March 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 1860 Polish residents (mean age: 48.82±16.57 years), who had accessed medical services within the preceding 24 months. We employed a binary logistic regression model to pinpoint independent factors contributing to a wholly negative perception of the pandemic's influence on the ITDP. RESULTS Around 64.3% of respondents perceived the ITDP during the pandemic negatively, with 20.8% reporting mixed impacts. Of 22 factors considered, 16 were significantly associated with ITDP perceptions in univariate analyses, and 8 qualified for the final multivariate model. The most potent predictors of negative ITDP perceptions included impeded communication with medical personnel due to the emphasis on COVID-19 (OR=2.82; 95% CI: 2.04-3.90) and worsening family financial circumstances during the pandemic (OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.26-3.27). Other significant predictors comprised viewing remote services as a hindrance to medical communication, higher education, and use of self-funded private healthcare. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm that negative perceptions of the ITDP during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with the remote delivery of medical services and communication challenges. These insights underscore the need to improve these domains for better healthcare delivery amid ongoing or future health crises.


Combined l-citrulline and glutathione administration prevents neuronal cell death following transient brain ischemia.
We previously reported that oral l-citrulline (l-Cit) administration antagonizes neuronal cell death in hippocampus following transient brain ischemia and that oral glutathione (GSH) administration prevents neuronal death through antioxidant activity. Here, we tested potential synergy of combined l-Cit and GSH administration in protection against neuronal death following cerebral ischemia. One day after a 20-min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO), mice were orally administered l-Cit or GSH alone (at 40 or 100mg/kgp.o.) or both (at 40mg/kgp.o. each) daily for 10days. The combination, but not l-Cit or GSH alone at 40mg/kgp.o., significantly prevented neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region in BCCAO mice. Consistently, combined l-Cit and GSH administration improved memory-related behavioral deficits observed in BCCAO mice. Combination treatment also significantly rescued reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein levels and antagonized eNOS S-glutathionylation seen following BCCAO ischemia. Recovery of eNOS activity was confirmed by in vivo NO production in hippocampus of BCCAO mice. Taken together, combined administration of l-Cit with GSH rescues eNOS function, thereby inhibiting delayed neuronal death in hippocampus.


Rethinking disaster utopia: the limits of conspicuous resilience for community-based recovery and adaptation.
While some communities appear to blossom in the wake of a disaster, others are left to struggle in the ashes. This paper introduces the concept of 'conspicuous resilience' to understand how emergent community-based recovery efforts privilege some needs while marginalising others, contributing to uneven forms of recovery. Drawing on a qualitative case study of the deadly Montecito debris flow in Southern California, United States, in January 2018, an in-depth examination of emergent community-based resilience efforts is gauged next to the social construction of unmet needs. Conspicuous acts of resilience centred around gaps in social and financial support as well as desires for protection from future debris flows. In defining and addressing needs, community-based interventions mirrored existing social inequalities and uneven relationships of power, promoting a false sense of equality and security while reinforcing private interests. To address the limits of conspicuous resilience, a justice-oriented politics of disaster recovery is needed.


Impact of baroreflex on venous return surface.
Although Guyton's concept of venous return (VR) revolutionized circulatory physiology, the pulmonary circulation is invisible in its original framework. Since the pulmonary circulation is critical in left heart failure, we characterized the VR as a surface described by right (P(RA)) and left atrial (P(LA)) pressures and demonstrated that the VR surface was capable of representing mechanics of pulmonary as well as systemic circulation. However how baroreflex impacts the VR surface remains unknown. In 8 dogs, we isolated the carotid sinuses and replaced both ventricles with pumps. We varied cardiac output, shifted blood distribution between the systemic and pulmonary circulation at carotid sinus pressures (CSP) of 100 or 140 mmHg. The coefficient of determination of the VR surface ranged 0.96-0.99 indicating how flat the surface is. Increasing CSP decreased maximum VR (233 ± 27 vs. 216 ± 33 ml/kg/min, p<0.05), whereas did not change the slopes of VR along P(RA) or P(LA) axes. Baroreflex parallel shifts the VR surface, thereby stressed volume, without changing its slopes.


Echocardiographic diagnosis of endocarditis in a bull.
A 2-year-old Charolais bull was examined because of lameness that developed after infection of a tail laceration. A systolic murmur was auscultated during the routine physical examination. A diagnosis of endocarditis and polyarthritis secondary to septicemia from the tail lesion was made. The diagnosis was supported by echocardiography and blood cultures, which yielded Corynebacterium pyogenes. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy.