Water desalination with a single-layer MoS2 nanopore.
Efficient desalination of water continues to be a problem facing the society. Advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of a variety of nanoporous membranes for water purification. Here we show, by performing molecular dynamics simulations, that a nanopore in a single-layer molybdenum disulfide can effectively reject ions and allow transport of water at a high rate. More than 88% of ions are rejected by membranes having pore areas ranging from 20 to 60 Å(2). Water flux is found to be two to five orders of magnitude greater than that of other known nanoporous membranes. Pore chemistry is shown to play a significant role in modulating the water flux. Pores with only molybdenum atoms on their edges lead to higher fluxes, which are ∼ 70% greater than that of graphene nanopores. These observations are explained by permeation coefficients, energy barriers, water density and velocity distributions in the pores.


Bis[mu-4-(ethylammoniomethyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazolato-kappa2N1:N2]bis[(eta4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I)] dichloride dichloromethane methanol solvate.
In the title compound, [Rh(2)(C(8)H(15)N(3))(2)(C(8)H(12))(2)]Cl(2).CH(2)Cl(2).CH(3)OH, the dinuclear Rh(I) complex has C(2) symmetry and the two pyrazolato ligands act as mu-bridges. The coordination of each Rh(I) cation is completed by one cyclooctadiene (COD) ligand. It is shown that the average Rh-C(COD) distance is linearly dependent on the Rh-N(pyrazole) distance in this type of compound, and this is ascribed to the steric hindrance produced by the packing.


Effect of healthcare provider characteristics on nodal yield at radical cystectomy.
Current evidence suggests that patient outcomes after radical cystectomy are dependent on nodal yield, even in cases of node-negative disease. We hypothesized that the final lymph node (LN) counts would be associated with the service provider (surgeon, pathologist) and the level of experience of the provider's assistant. We reviewed a series of 89 consecutive patients who had undergone cystectomy from 2001 to 2005 for the effect of provider factors on LN counts. The effect of the surgeon was assessed on an individual basis and the effect of the pathologist was determined according to the uropathologic subspecialization. Provider assistant experience was classified according to the training level of the surgical assistant and the caseload volume of the pathology assistant. Multivariate linear regression analysis, controlling for patient factors, number of nodal packets, and margin status, was used to determine the provider factors associated with the final nodal counts. The median number of LNs harvested was 14 per patient. On univariate analyses, the individual surgeon and the number of nodal packets submitted were significantly associated with nodal yield (P <0.001 for both). Surgical margin status was also significant (P = 0.003), with fewer LNs collected from those with margin-positive disease. On multivariate linear regression analysis, only surgeon (P = 0.01) and number of packets (P < 0.001; with more LNs taken with more packets) remained statistically significant. The results of our study have shown that the nodal yield from radical cystectomy is dependent on surgeon-specific factors (the number of packets submitted and the operating surgeon). The patient or pathology service providers did not influence the ultimate LN counts.


Stimulation of collagen production by transforming growth factor-beta1 during differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts.
The aim of the present study was to elucidate how transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) can stimulate collagen deposition in cardiac tissue by interstitial cells via stimulation of fibroblasts, via myofibroblasts, or via differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. The dose- and time-dependent stimulation of collagen production and of expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), a marker of myofibroblasts, was studied in cultures of second-passage adult rat cardiac fibroblasts. The TGF-beta(1)-stimulated collagen production is positively correlated (r=0.68, P<0.001) with the appearance of alpha-SMA. Only at high concentrations (40 to 600 pmol/L) and after a long time (24 to 48 hours) of incubation, TGF-beta(1) increases the collagen production and stimulates the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. The maximal stimulation of the collagen production (2-fold, P<0.001) observed after incubation of cultures of fibroblasts with 600 pmol/L TGF-beta(1) for 48 hours is accompanied by a maximal stimulation of alpha-SMA expression (3.5-fold, P<0.001), when cultures consist mainly of myofibroblasts. The stimulation of collagen production cannot be reversed either after additional incubation of TGF-beta(1)-stimulated second-passage cultures for 2 days or in their offspring in the next third passage after incubation for 7 days without TGF-beta(1). The increased collagen production in these third-passage cultures cannot be further stimulated by TGF-beta(1). Our data suggest that TGF-beta(1)-stimulated collagen production in cultures of adult rat cardiac ventricular fibroblasts cannot be explained by a direct stimulation of the collagen production either in fibroblasts or in myofibroblasts. Instead, TGF-beta(1) induces the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, which have a higher activity for collagen production than fibroblasts.


Predicting Inpatient Mortality Among Encephalitis Patients: A Novel Admission Risk Score.
Identifying underlying commonalities among all-cause encephalitis cases can be extraordinarily useful in predicting meaningful risk factors associated with inpatient mortality. A retrospective cohort of patients with encephalitis was derived from a clinical chart review of adult patients (age ≥18 years) across 16 different hospitals in Houston, Texas, between January 2005 and July 2015. Clinical features at admission were assessed for their correlation with inpatient mortality and used to derive a final risk score prediction tool. The study included a total of 273 adult patients with all-cause encephalitis, 27 (9.9%) of whom died during hospitalization. A limited number of clinical features were substantially different between patients who survived and those who died (Charlson score, Glasgow coma scale [GCS], immunosuppression, fever on admission, multiple serologic studies, and abnormal imaging). A final multivariable logistic model was derived with the following risk factors, which were transformed into a scoring system: 1 point was assigned to the presence of a Charlson score >2, thrombocytopenia, or cerebral edema, and 2 points for a GCS value <8. Patients were then classified into different risk groups for inpatient mortality: 0 points (0%), 1 point (7%), 2 points (10.9%), 3 points (36.8%), and ≥4 points (81.8%). The risk score developed from this study shows a high predictive value. This can be highly beneficial in alerting care providers to key clinical risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in adults with encephalitis.


A novel hypoxia-induced miR-147a regulates cell proliferation through a positive feedback loop of stabilizing HIF-1α.
Hypoxia is a general event in solid tumor growth. Therefore, induced cellular responses by hypoxia are important for tumorigenesis and tumor growth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as important regulators of hypoxia induced cellular responses. Here we report that miR-147a is a novel and crucial hypoxia induced miRNA. HIF-1α up-regulates the expression of miR-147a, and miR-147a in turn stabilizes and accumulates HIF-1α protein via directly targeting HIF-3α, a dominant negative regulator of HIF-1α. Subsequent studies in xenograft mouse model reveal that miR-147a is capable of inhibiting tumor growth. Collectively, these data demonstrate a positive feedback loop between HIF-1α, miR-147a and HIF-3α, which provide a new insight into the mechanism of miR-147a induced cell proliferation arrest under hypoxia.


Acute effects of urinary bladder distention on the coronary circulation in patients with early atherosclerosis.
We sought to examine whether distention of the urinary bladder, a physiologic stimulus, could induce impaired coronary circulation in patients with early atherosclerosis. Distention of the urinary bladder reflexively causes an increase in sympathetic activity. The effect of such distention on the coronary circulation in patients with early atherosclerosis remains unknown. To assess the effect of bladder distention on coronary dynamic forces, epicardial and microvascular responses were measured with an intracoronary Doppler flow wire in 40 patients with early atherosclerosis (<50% diameter stenosis). Patients were randomized into two groups according to whether they did not (group 1, n = 20) or did have (group 2, n = 20) pretreatment with an alpha1-adrenergic receptor blocker (oral doxazosin, 2 mg). Coronary flow velocity was monitored by quantitative coronary angiography at baseline, during urinary bladder distention and after intracoronary nitroglycerin injection. Bladder distention significantly decreased the coronary diameter in the stenotic segments (p<0.001), decreased coronary blood flow (p<0.001) and increased coronary resistance (p<0.001), as compared with baseline values, in group 1 patients. In group 2 patients with bladder distention, the angiographic variables did not show significant changes, as compared with baseline values. No significant differences were noted between the groups in the responses of the angiographic variables after nitroglycerin administration. The present study shows, for the first time, that urinary bladder distention caused vasoconstriction of coronary conduit and resistance vessels involved mechanisms related to alpha1 adrenoceptors. Pretreated administration of doxazosin reversed the changes toward baseline. Vasoconstriction during bladder distention can be relieved after nitroglycerin administration, suggesting an unchanged responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle cells to such distention.


Are the vascular effects of naloxone attributable to the preservatives methyl- and propylparaben?
In vitro, the Nalonee preparation of naloxone caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of human pial cortical arteries contracted by potassium, noradrenaline, serotonin, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and haemorrhagic cerebrospinal fluid, or inhibited contractions elicited by these agents. However, the preservatives in the Nalonee preparation, methyl- and propylparaben, had similar effects. Pure naloxone alone had no effect on potassium or PGF2 alpha-induced contractions. It is suggested that the relaxant effects on vascular smooth muscle of Nalonee can be attributed to the alkylparabens rather than to naloxone. The pronounced relaxations induced by the alkylparabens had a rapid onset, and they were stable and could easily be cleared after rinsing.


Rehabilitating the geriatric patient: potential and limitations.
Rehabilitation of the elderly can reverse the trend toward greater dependence and escalating costs if the staff is specially trained.


Some biological properties of an "irreversible" antagonist of neurohypophyseal hormones, deamino-[Phe(4-BrCH2CONH)2]-oxytocin, and its isosteric analogue, deamino-[Phe(4-CH3CH2CONH)2]-oxytocin.
The 2-p-bromoacetylaminophenylalanine analogue of deamino-oxytoxin displayed some features of an irreversible inhibitor of oxytocin on rat uterus (long persistence of inhibitory effect, slow wash-out from the tissue). An isosteric analogue with a propionylamino group at the same position was, under similar experimental conditions, also an antagonist of oxytocin, but the features of an irreversible inhibitor were lacking. pA2 values of the two substances are between 6.5 and 6.9. The "irreversibility" of the former compound is concentration dependent and it is concluded that it cannot be entirely caused by a covalent binding of the inhibitor to the uterus receptor for oxytoxin. Like many other similar inhibitors, the substances display only an inefficient in vivo inhibition of the vasopressor effect of lysine vasopressin in rats.


Stump-like mathematical model and computer simulation on dynamic separation of capillary zone electrophoresis with different sample injections.
In this paper, a novel mathematical model of stump-like peak was constructed for alternative computer simulation of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) by using Haarhoff-Van der Linde (HVL) function. Unlike a classical model of Gaussian peak, the developed model contains both Gaussian and plateau concentration distributions of analytes. Based on the model, the relevant computer software was developed and implemented in Borland Delphi 7 environment. The relevant results revealed that (i) the software could freely simulate the plateau and Gaussian distribution peaks; (ii) the simulator could simulate a dynamic process of CZE properly; and (iii) the program could display the final electropherogram of numerous analytes in CZE. We further conducted the relevant experiments and compared them with the simulations. The comparisons demonstrated the high agreement between the simulation results and the experiments as well as those cited from references. In addition, the software could calculate effective mobility, diffusion coefficient and concentration of analytes based on the physico-chemical parameters input by users. The developed model and software have evident significance for understanding of electrophoretic separation, conditional optimization and basic computation on physico-chemical parameters of analytes in CZE.


Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders.
We review recent evidence for circadian rhythm dysregulation in bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs). We examine evidence for endogenous abnormalities in the biological clock and disruptions in the external entrainment of circadian rhythms in BSDs. We also address whether circadian dysregulation provides vulnerability to onset of BSD and evidence for a new integration of reward and circadian dysregulation in BSD. Relative circadian phase delay (e.g., later melatonin peak, evening chronotype) is associated with BSD, particularly in the depressive phase. More consistent evidence supports irregularity of social rhythms, sleep/wake and activity patterns, and disruptions of social rhythms by life events, as stable trait markers of BSD and potential vulnerabilities for BSD onset. Growing research supports an integrative reward/circadian model. Both endogenous abnormalities in the biological clock pacemaking function and disruptions in the external entrainment of circadian rhythms by physical and social cues are involved in BSDs. Circadian dysregulation may provide vulnerability to BSD onset.


A population-based assessment of avoidable hospitalizations and resource use of non-vaccinated patients with COVID-19.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has precipitated a prolonged public health crisis. Numerous public health protections were widely implemented. The availability of effective and safe vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presented an opportunity to resolve this crisis; however, vaccine uptake was slow and inconsistent. This study evaluated the potential for preventable hospitalizations and avoidable resource use among eligible non-vaccinated persons hospitalized for COVID-19 had these persons been vaccinated. This was a retrospective, population-based cohort study. The population-at-risk were persons aged ≥ 12 years in Alberta (mid-year 2021 population ~ 4.4 million). The primary exposure was vaccination status. The primary outcome was hospitalization with confirmed SARS-CoV-2, and secondary outcomes included avoidable hospitalizations, avoidable hospital bed-days, and the potential cost avoidance related to COVID-19. The study inception period was 27 September 2021 to 25 January 2022. Data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, vaccination status, health services, and costs were obtained from the Government of Alberta and from the Discharge Abstract Database. Hospitalizations occurred in 3835, 1907, and 481 persons who were non-vaccinated, fully vaccinated, and boosted (risk of hospitalization/100,000 population: 886, 92, and 43), respectively. For non-vaccinated persons compared with fully vaccinated and boosted persons, the risk ratios (95%CI) of hospitalization were 9.7 (7.9-11.8) and 20.6 (17.9-23.6), respectively. For non-vaccinated persons, estimates of avoidable hospitalizations and bed-days used were 3439 and 36,331 if fully vaccinated and 3764 and 40,185 if boosted. Estimates of cost avoidance for non-vaccinated persons were $101.46 million if fully vaccinated and $110.24 million if boosted. Eligible non-vaccinated persons with COVID-19 had tenfold and 21-fold higher risks of hospitalization relative to whether they had been fully vaccinated or boosted, resulting in considerable avoidable hospital bed-days and costs.


Facial Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Ag/AgCl Chloride Ion Sensor Based on Gel-Type Electrolyte.
In this study, a novel chloride ion (Cl-) sensor based on Ag wire coated with an AgCl layer was fabricated using a gel-type internal electrolyte and a diatomite ceramic membrane, which played an important role in preventing electrolyte leakage from the ion-selective electrode. The sensing performance, including reversibility, response, recovery time, low detection limit, and the long-term stability, was systemically investigated in electrolytes with different Cl- contents. The as-fabricated Cl- sensor could detect Cl- from 1 to 500 mM KCl solution with good linearity. The best response and recovery time obtained for the optimized sensor were 0.5 and 0.1 s, respectively, for 10 mM KCl solution. An exposure period of over 60 days was used to evaluate the stability of the Cl- sensor in KCl solution. A relative error of 2% was observed between the initial and final response potentials. Further, a wireless sensing system based on Arduino was also investigated to measure the response potential of Cl- in an electrolyte. The sensor exhibited high reliability with a low standard error of measurement. This type of sensor is crucial for fabricating wireless Cl- sensors for applications in reinforced concrete structures along with favorable performances.


[Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: recommendations of the Nephrology Branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics. Part two].
Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in childhood, affecting 1 to 3 per 100,000 children under the age of 16. It most commonly occurs in ages between 2 and 10. Its cause is unknown, and its histology corresponds to minimal change disease in 90% of cases, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome represents 10-20% of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in pediatrics. It has a poor prognosis, and its management is a significant therapeutic challenge. Half of patients evolve to end-stage renal disease within 5 years, and are additionally exposed to complications secondary to persistent NS and to the adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy. The primary goal of treatment is to achieve complete remission, but even a partial remission is associated with a better renal survival than the lack of response. This paper is the result of the collaborative effort of the Nephrology Branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics with aims at helping pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists to treat pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. In this second part, handling of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome as well as nonspecific therapies are discussed.


[Doppler flow characteristics in ductus venosus between 22-42 weeks in intrauterine growth restriction and normal pregnancies].
The ductus venosus plays an important role in the oxygenated blood supply from the placenta directly to the fetal heart. Uterine blood flow restriction and placental insufficiency can cause intrauterine grow restriction. Permanent hypoxia triggers compensatory mechanisms to protect vital organs. Increased placental resistance and constriction of the fetal peripheral vessels, as evidenced by blood redistribution and increased right ventricular afterload and end-diastolic pressure lead to increased pulsatility in precordial veins. Doppler flow analysis of the DV allows the indirect estimation of the fetal heart function. Because it is not always possible to achieve correct ultrasound beam insonation there have been attempts to use angle-independent indices. The aim of the study was: to compare the Doppler indices in DV in growth restricted and normal fetuses. 208 women were analyzed: 89 women between 22-42 weeks of pregnancy complicated by IUGR and 119 with normal pregnancy as a control group. Ultrasound examination using pulse and color Doppler was performed and PVIV, PIV, PLI and S/D ratio were estimated. The authors found that for the normal group PVIV, PIV, PLI and S/A decreased with advancing gestation. However in comparison in IUGR group these parameters were substantially higher. The improvement of maternal and fetal Doppler techniques allows us to distinguish the subgroups of IUGR fetuses with the uteroplacental insufficiency that will have an increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Alterations in the venous blood velocity waveforms have a more precise relationship with the risk of adverse perinatal outcome than changes in the arterial blood flow usually recognized relatively early in placental function disorders.


Machine Learning-based Voice Assessment for the Detection of Positive and Recovered COVID-19 Patients.
Many virological tests have been implemented during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for diagnostic purposes, but they appear unsuitable for screening purposes. Furthermore, current screening strategies are not accurate enough to effectively curb the spread of the disease. Therefore, the present study was conducted within a controlled clinical environment to determine eventual detectable variations in the voice of COVID-19 patients, recovered and healthy subjects, and also to determine whether machine learning-based voice assessment (MLVA) can accurately discriminate between them, thus potentially serving as a more effective mass-screening tool. Three different subpopulations were consecutively recruited: positive COVID-19 patients, recovered COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals as controls. Positive patients were recruited within 10 days from nasal swab positivity. Recovery from COVID-19 was established clinically, virologically and radiologically. Healthy individuals reported no COVID-19 symptoms and yielded negative results at serological testing. All study participants provided three trials for multiple vocal tasks (sustained vowel phonation, speech, cough). All recordings were initially divided into three different binary classifications with a feature selection, ranking and cross-validated RBF-SVM pipeline. This brough a mean accuracy of 90.24%, a mean sensitivity of 91.15%, a mean specificity of 89.13% and a mean AUC of 0.94 across all tasks and all comparisons, and outlined the sustained vowel as the most effective vocal task for COVID discrimination. Moreover, a three-way classification was carried out on an external test set comprised of 30 subjects, 10 per class, with a mean accuracy of 80% and an accuracy of 100% for the detection of positive subjects. Within this assessment, recovered individuals proved to be the most difficult class to identify, and all the misclassified subjects were declared positive; this might be related to mid and short-term vocal traces of COVID-19, even after the clinical resolution of the infection. In conclusion, MLVA may accurately discriminate between positive COVID-19 patients, recovered COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals. Further studies should test MLVA among larger populations and asymptomatic positive COVID-19 patients to validate this novel screening technology and test its potential application as a potentially more effective surveillance strategy for COVID-19.


Effect of nonenzymatic glycosylation on the titers of circulating autoantibodies in pemphigus and pemphigoid.
Hyperglycemia is observed in some patients with autoimmune bullous diseases complicated by diabetes mellitus or treated with systemic corticosteroids. High concentrations of glucose can react with various proteins and change their structural and functional properties. We previously reported that nonenzymatic glycosylation of antibody can impair antigen-antibody binding. We ascertained whether glycosylation of autoantibody decreases the autoantibody titer by examining 30 sera from patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid. Nonenzymatic glycosylation in the physiological range was induced by incubation of sera with 1650 mM D-glucose at 4 degrees C for 7 days. The titers of sera were determined by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). In all cases, the immunofluorescence intensity of glycosylated sera was weaker than that of nonglycosylated sera. Glycosylated sera showed a lower antibody titer by 1 doubling dilution in 18 out of 30 cases, compared with nonglycosylated sera. The ten BP patients' sera were also analyzed by immunoblotting for reactivity with the BP180-GST fusion proteins, S delta 1 and 4575. All BP sera reacted with S delta 1, and 5 out of 10 BP sera reacted with both S delta 1 and 4575. In all the sera that reacted only with S delta 1, the glycosylated sera showed a 1 doubling dilution decrease in autoantibody titer. Interestingly, in 4 out of 5 sera that reacted with both S delta 1 and 4575, there were no differences in the antibody titer between glycosylated and nonglycosylated sera. These results indicate the possibility of a false decrease in autoantibody titers of sera from patients with autoimmune bullous diseases complicated with hyperglycemia. Although the false decrease in titers of autoantibodies induced by nonenzymatic glycosylation is not dramatic, it must be considered in order not to underestimate the disease activity of pemphigus in such cases.


Endophytic colonization and in planta nitrogen fixation by a diazotrophic Serratia sp. in rice.
Nitrogen fixing endophytic Serratia sp. was isolated from rice and characterized. Re-colonization ability of Serratia sp. in the rice seedlings as endophyte was studied under laboratory condition. For detecting the re-colonization potential in the rice seedlings, Serratia sp. was marked with reporter genes (egfp and Kmr) using transposon mutagenesis. The conjugants were screened for re-colonization ability and presence of nif genes using PCR. Further, the influence of flavonoids and growth hormones on the endophytic colonization and in planta nitrogen fixation of Serratia was also investigated. The flavonoids, quercetin (3 microg/ml) and diadzein (2 microg/ml) significantly increased the re-colonization ability of the endophytic Serratia, whereas the growth hormones like IAA and NAA (5 microg/ml) reduced the endophytic colonization ability of Serratia sp. Similarly, the in planta nitrogen fixation by Serratia sp. in rice was significantly increased due to flavonoids. The inoculation of endophytic diazotrophs increased the plant biomass and biochemical constituents.


Silent Brain Infarction After Endovascular Arch Procedures: Preliminary Results from the STEP Registry.
Few data exist concerning the rate of silent cerebral ischaemic events following endovascular treatment of the aortic arch. The objective of this work was to quantify these lesions using the STEP registry (NCT04489277). This multicentre retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients treated with an aortic endoprosthesis deployed in Ishimaru zone 0-3 and brain diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) within seven days following the procedure. DW-MRI was performed to identify the location and number of new silent brain infarctions (SBI). All endografts were carbon dioxide flushed prior to implantation. The study population included 91 patients (mean age, 69 years; men, 64%) from two academic centres treated between September 2018 and January 2020. The procedure was elective in 71 patients (78%). The treatment was performed for a dissection, degenerative aneurysm, or other aortic disease in 44 (49%), 34 (37%), and 13 (14%) patients, respectively. Endografts were deployed in zone 0, 1, 2 or 3 in 23 (25%), 10 (11%), 47 (52%), and 11 (12%) patients, respectively. Endografts were branched (25%), fenestrated (17%), or tubular (58%). At 30 days, there were no deaths or clinical strokes. On cerebral DW-MRI, a total of 245 SBI were identified in 45 patients (50%). Lesions were in the left hemisphere in 63% of the patients (153/245), predominantly in the middle territory (94/245). Deployment in zone 0-1 (p = .026), placement of a branched or fenestrated endograft (p = .038), a proximal endoprosthesis diameter ≥ 40 mm (p = .038), and an urgent procedure (p = .005) were significantly associated with the presence of SBI on univariable analysis, while urgent procedure was found to be an independent predictor on multivariable analysis (binary logistic regression) (p = .002). SBI following endovascular repair of the aortic arch is frequent, although there were no clinical strokes. Innovative strategies to reduce the risk of embolisation need to be developed.


Comparison of emotional responses in monkeys with rhinal cortex or amygdala lesions.
Four emotionally arousing stimuli were used to probe the behavior of monkeys with bilateral ablations of the entorhinal and perirhinal cortex. The monkeys' behavioral changes were then contrasted with those observed earlier (M. Meunier, J. Bachevalier, E. A. Murray, L. Málková, & M. Mishkin, 1999) in monkeys with either neurotoxic or aspiration lesions of the neighboring amygdala. Rhinal cortex ablations yielded several subtle behavioral changes but none of them resembled any of the disorders typically seen after amygdalectomies. The changes produced by rhinal damage took mainly the form of heightened defensiveness and attenuated submission and approach responses; that is, just the opposite of some of the most distinctive symptoms following amygdala damage. These findings raise the possibility that the rhinal cortex and amygdala have distinct, interactive functions in normal behavioral adaptation to affective stimuli.


Adjustable shunts and proton therapy: a magnetic combination.
Due to evidence for proton beam therapy (PBT) in pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors, compact proton therapy systems became commercially available to allow better integration in a hospital setting. However, these systems have a non-zero magnetic field at the level of the patient. Often, these patients have a cerebrospinal fluid shunt, and most of them are adjustable through a magnet. Whether the induced magnetic fields could interfere with adjustable shunts is unknown. In the first five CNS tumor patients with adjustable shunts who underwent PBT, the shunt setting was controlled before, during, and after treatment with PBT. Additionally, we used an ex vivo adjustable shunt to check if the settings could be altered by the magnetic field. We did not observe unintentional changes in shunt settings in vivo during treatment. In ex vivo testing, the shunt settings were altered directly cranial to the exit window of PBT due to the magnetic field. Although we did not observe any shunt setting alteration during PBT in this small cohort, caution is warranted. Given the lack of high-volume data, there should be a low threshold for checking the shunt setting at the end of PBT therapy or in a symptomatic patient.


Calcified primary tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
The dominant pattern and location of calcifications occurring within 23 primary gastrointestinal tumors have been analysed and correlated with the data from the literature. The provided guidelines for radiologic diagnosis of such calcified tumors include: (1) a retrocardiac mass containing amorphous calcifications is typical of leiomyoma of the esophagus; (2) calcific deposits similar to that in uterine fibroids may be the feature of gastric leiomyoma or intestinal leiomyosarcoma; (3) sand-like deposits within the wall of the stomach or colon are characteristic of a mucinous adenocarcinoma; (4) clusters of phleboliths in the gastrointestinal wall suggest a hemangioma particularly if recurrent intestinal bleeding and cutaneous hemangiomas are associated; (5) sunburst type of calcification in the pancreas indicates a cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma of that organ; and (6) aggregates of granular calcifications in the liver are diagnostic for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon but may rarely be seen in a primary malignancy of the liver.


An exploratory mixed methods approach to implicit and explicit identification with non-suicidal self-injury.
Identification with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is uniquely related to NSSI behavior and predicts future NSSI. This exploratory, mixed methods study used implicit and explicit approaches to further understanding of NSSI identity. Participants included 15 treatment-seeking adults (60% female, 87% Caucasian) with lifetime NSSI. Participant age ranged from 19 to 38 years (M = 25.33, SD = 6.10). Implicit tasks were completed at two time points in a test-retest design, followed by a qualitative interview. Qualitative data suggest that explicit NSSI identity is relevant to some individuals with NSSI history. Mixed methods analyses indicate that individuals who explicitly identify with NSSI have stronger implicit NSSI identities than those who do not, and report more methods of NSSI on average. Results are novel, although exploratory in nature due to the sample size, and may not be generalizable to non-clinical samples or individuals currently engaging in NSSI. Individuals with stronger explicit identity evidence higher implicit identity scores, suggesting a potential higher risk profile for future NSSI. This study offers further support for the value of including both implicit and explicit assessment of NSSI identity in risk assessment.


Positive association between calcium channel blocker treatment and persistent type II endoleak.
Type II endoleaks are the most common complication occurring after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The aims of our study were to evaluate the impact of persistent type II endoleak on sac dynamics post-EVAR, and to study the association between non-anatomical factors including polymorphisms associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and persistent type II endoleak. The cohort comprises 210 patients undergoing EVAR between January 2010 and December 2018. A persistent type II endoleak was defined as any type II endoleak lasting longer than six months and included also a type II endoleak diagnosed after six months or more post-EVAR during the 36-month follow-up period confirmed with CT-angiography. Anteroposterior AAA maximum diameter and AAA volume were measured pre-EVAR and 36 months post-EVAR using CT-angiographic pictures. Sac progression was defined as at least 5 mm increase, sac regression as at least 5 mm decrease in the sac diameter in relation to the preprocedural diameter. Sociodemographic information, comorbidities, treatment, laboratory parameters, selected anatomical and genetic factors were all analyzed to determine their impact on persistent type II endoleak. The adjustments included age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, sex, smoking in multivariate analyses. When postprocedural diameter and volume were evaluated, adjustments included also preprocedural diameter/volume. After exclusion, 178 patients with mean age 72.4±7.60 years remained for analysis. Persistent type II endoleak was found in 27.5% of patients (N.=49) and 2.94-times increased risk of sac progression in multivariate analysis (P=0.033). In multivariate analysis, AAA diameter in patients with persistent type II endoleak was 4.31 mm greater than in patients without (B=4.31; P=0.014); and its presence was also associated with 22.0 cm3 greater sac volume (B=22.0; P=0.034) compared to patients without persistent type II endoleak. Treatment with calcium channel blockers increased risk of persistent type II endoleak 2.11-times in multivariate analysis (OR=2.11; 95% CI: 1.05-4.25; P=0.037). No association between persistent type II endoleak and selected polymorphisms associated with AAA and other observed factors were found. Risk of persistent type II endoleak was more than doubled in patients taking calcium channel blockers. Patients with persistent type II endoleak had greater anteroposterior sac diameter and sac volume compared to patients without persistent type II endoleak.


Joint fatigue-failure: A demonstration of viscoelastic responses to rate and frequency loading parameters using the porcine cervical spine.
Fatigue-failure in low back tissues is influenced by parameters of cyclic loading. Therefore, this study quantified the effect of loading rate and frequency on the number of tolerated compression cycles. Energy storage and vertical deformation were secondarily examined. Thirty-two porcine spinal units were randomly assigned to experimental groups that differed by loading rate (4.2 kN/s, 8.3 kN/s) and loading frequency (0.5 Hz, 1 Hz). Following preload and range-of-motion tests, specimens were cyclically loaded in a neutral posture until fatigue-failure occurred or 10800 cycles were tolerated. Macroscopic dissection was performed to identify the fracture morphology, and measurements of energy storage and vertical displacement were calculated throughout the specimen lifespan (1%, 10%, 50%, 90%, 99%). Given the differences in compression dose-force-time integral-between experimental conditions, the number of sustained cycles were assessed following linear and nonlinear dose-normalization via correction factors calculated from existing risk-exposure approximations. Without dose-normalization, an 8.3 kN/s loading rate and 0.5 Hz loading frequency reduced the fatigue lifetime by 3541 and 5977 cycles, respectively (p < 0.001). Linear and nonlinear dose-normalization resulted in a significant rate × frequency interaction (p < 0.001). For a 1 Hz loading frequency, the number of sustained loading cycles did not differ between loading rates (padj ≥ 0.988), but at 0.5 Hz, spinal units compressed at 8.3 kN/s sustained 99% (linear) and 97% (nonlinear) fewer cycles (padj < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that the interacting effects of loading frequency and loading rate on spinal fatigue-failure depend on the normalization of dose discrepancies between experimental groups.


Cis regulatory effects on A-to-I RNA editing in related Drosophila species.
Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing modifies maturing mRNAs through the binding of adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (Adar) proteins to double-stranded RNA structures in a process critical for neuronal function. Editing levels at individual editing sites span a broad range and are mediated by both cis-acting elements (surrounding RNA sequence and secondary structure) and trans-acting factors. Here, we aim to determine the roles that cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors play in regulating editing levels. Using two closely related Drosophila species, D. melanogaster and D. sechellia, and their F1 hybrids, we dissect the effects of cis sequences from trans regulators on editing levels by comparing species-specific editing in parents and their hybrids. We report that cis sequence differences are largely responsible for editing level differences between these two Drosophila species. This study presents evidence for cis sequence and structure changes as the dominant evolutionary force that modulates RNA editing levels between these Drosophila species.


Uncovering dental implants using a new thermo-optically powered (TOP) technology with tissue air-cooling.
Uncovering implants with lasers, while bloodless, has been associated with a risk of implant and bone overheating. The present study evaluated the effect of using a new generation of high-power diode lasers on the temperature of a dental implant and the surrounding tissues using an in vitro model. The implant temperature was measured at three locations using micro thermocouples. Collateral thermal damage of uncovered soft tissues was evaluated using NTBC stain. Implant temperature rise during and collateral thermal soft-tissue damage following implant uncovering with and without tissue air-cooling was studied using both the classic operational mode and the new thermo-optically powered (TOP) technology. For the classic surgical mode using a cork-initiated tip and constant laser power set at 3.4 W, the maximum temperature rise in the coronal and apical parts of the implant was 23.2 ± 4.1°С and 9.5 ± 1.8°С, respectively, while 1.5 ± 0.5 mm of collateral thermal damage of the soft tissue surrounding the implant model occurred. Using the TOP surgical tip with constant laser power reduced implant overheating by 30%; collateral thermal soft-tissue damage was 0.8 ± 0.2 mm. Using the TOP surgical mode with a tip temperature setting of 800°C and air-cooling reduced the implant temperature rise by more than 300%, and only 0.2 ± 0.1 mm of collateral thermal soft-tissue damage occurred, typical for optimized CO2 laser surgery. Furthermore, use of the new generation diode technology (TOP surgical mode) appeared to reduce the time required for implant uncovering by a factor of two, compared to the standard surgical mode. Use of the new generation diode technology (TOP surgical mode) may significantly reduce overheating of dental implants during uncovering and seems to be safer for the adjacent soft and hard tissues. Use of such diode lasers with air-cooling can radically reduce the rise in implant temperatures (by more than three times), potentially making this technology safe and effective for implant uncovering.


Human and bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine research and development.
Human (HRSV) and bovine (BRSV) respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) are two closely related viruses, which are the most important causative agents of respiratory tract infections of young children and calves, respectively. BRSV vaccines have been available for nearly 2 decades. They probably have reduced the prevalence of RSV infection but their efficacy needs improvement. In contrast, despite decades of research, there is no currently licensed vaccine for the prevention of HRSV disease. Development of a HRSV vaccine for infants has been hindered by the lack of a relevant animal model that develops disease, the need to immunize immunologically immature young infants, the difficulty for live vaccines to find the right balance between attenuation and immunogenicity, and the risk of vaccine-associated disease. During the past 15 years, intensive research into a HRSV vaccine has yielded vaccine candidates, which have been evaluated in animal models and, for some of them, in clinical trials in humans. Recent formulations have focused on subunit vaccines with specific CD4+ Th-1 immune response-activating adjuvants and on genetically engineered live attenuated vaccines. It is likely that different HRSV vaccines and/or combinations of vaccines used sequentially will be needed for the various populations at risk. This review discusses the recent advances in RSV vaccine development.


Peri-prosthetic bone mineral density after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty under oral bisphosphonate therapy - A comparison between mobile- and fixed-bearing prostheses.
Peri-prosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) decreases after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We aimed to specifically compare peri-prosthetic BMD changes between mobile- and fixed-bearing prostheses in patients undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy, hypothesizing that mobile-bearing components would have a favorable effect on postoperative peri-prosthetic BMD. This prospective cohort study investigated 30 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA for primary knee osteoarthritis between December 2007 and September 2012. All patients underwent mobile-bearing TKA in one knee and fixed-bearing TKA in the other and received oral alendronate therapy at a dosage of 35 mg/week. Peri-prosthetic and lumbar spine BMDs were measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry scans, with peri-prosthetic BMD changes being compared between the two prostheses in each patient at six months and one, two, three, and five years post-operation. Clinical results did not significantly differ between two prostheses. Relative change of lumbar spine BMD was significantly greater at five years post-operation than at one year post-operation (p = 0.01), and was significantly correlated at five years post-operation with peri-prosthetic BMD in the central femur (r = 0.39, p = 0.002), posterior femur (r = 0.39, p = 0.002), and medial tibia (r = 0.42, p = 0.007). There was no difference in peri-prosthetic BMD changes between two prostheses in patients undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy. Our results suggest that the influence of oral bisphosphonate therapy might offset the influence of prosthetic design. Thus, oral bisphosphonate therapy may be more effective than prosthetic design selection in preventing post-TKA peri-prosthetic BMD loss. II.


Databases for knowledge discovery. Examples from biomedicine and health care.
Examples are given of the use of large research databases for knowledge discovery. Such databases are not only increasingly used for research in the 'hard' mathematics-based disciplines such as physics and engineering but also in more 'soft' disciplines, such as sociology, psychology and, in general, the humanities. In between the 'hard' and the 'soft' disciplines lie disciplines such as biomedicine and health care, from which we have selected our illustrations. This latter area can be subdivided into: (1) fundamental biomedical research, related to the 'hard' scientific approach; (2) clinical research, using both 'hard' and 'soft' data and (3) population-based research, which can be subdivided into prospective and retrospective research. The examples that we shall offer are representative for using computers in scientific research in general, but in medical and health informatics in particular.


Fesselin binds to actin and myosin and inhibits actin-activated ATPase activity.
Fesselin is an actin binding protein that bundles actin filaments and accelerates nucleation of actin polymerization. The effect of fesselin on actin polymerization is regulated by Ca(++)-calmodulin. Because actin filaments serve both structural and contractile functions we also examined the effect of fesselin on activation of myosin S1 ATPase activity. Fesselin inhibited the activation of S1-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis in a similar manner in both the presence and absence of tropomyosin. This inhibition was unaffected by Ca(++)-calmodulin. Fesselin inhibited the binding of myosin-S1 to actin during steady-state ATP hydrolysis. Fesselin also displaced caldesmon from actin. S1 displaced fesselin from actin in the absence of nucleotide when the affinity of S1 for actin was much greater than the affinity of fesselin for actin. It is likely that fesselin and S1 share common binding sites on F-actin. We also observed that fesselin could bind to smooth muscle myosin with muM affinity. Fesselin shares some similarities to caldesmon in binding to several other proteins and having multiple potential functions.


[Diagnosis and emergency treatment of stroke in children].
The sudden occurrence of a focal neurological deficit, sometimes transitory and fluctuating, must lead to a suspicion of a stroke, including in a child. The preferred examination is magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance angiography in an emergency. The sequelae of stroke are common and severe. Urgent diagnosis and adapted care can help to improve morbidity-mortality. Rehabilitation starts early and must systematically screen for cognitive or language impairment. The management of a stroke in a child must be planned for in multi-disciplinary protocols established before the patient's arrival at hospital.


Cimetidine and salbutamol combined inhibition of gastric acid secretion in the dog.
The effects of salbutamol and cimetidine, alone and in combination, on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion have been studied in conscious dogs with gastric fistulae. Salbutamol 24 nmol/kg.h alone and cimetidine 4 mumol/kg.h alone inhibited acid up to 69%, cimetidine 8 mumol/kg.h produced up to 87% inhibition and the combination of cimetidine 4 mumol/kg.h and salbutamol 24 nmol/kg.h almost totally inhibited acid (up to 99%). The pharmacokinetics of these inhibitions were studied and salbutamol and/or cimetidine caused a complex uncompetitive inhibition of pentagastrin-stimulated acid. The inhibitory combination of the two drugs was additive.


Histochemical and ultrastructural study of adult human tendon.
The authors have studied the enzymhistochemical and ultrastructural pictures of tenocytes of adult human tendons. High succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, TPN-diaphorase, lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity were found, as indicated both oxidativ, anaerobic and pentose-phosphate shung activity. Phosphorylase and glutamate dehydrogenase activity was medial, lipase and alcaline phosphatase activity was slight. In tenocytes well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and GOLGI apparatus, large amount of free ribosomes were found.


Correction: Performance evaluation of the Asante Rapid Recency Assay for verification of HIV diagnosis and detection of recent HIV-1 infections: Implications for epidemic control.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000316.].


Sensitive enzyme immunoassay of antibodies to HIV-1 p17 antigen using indirectly immobilized recombinant p17 for diagnosis of HIV-1 infection.
Recombinant p17 (rp17) antigen of HIV-1 and maltose binding protein-rp17 fusion protein (MBP-rp17) were immobilized onto polystyrene beads in different ways: rp17 and MBP-rp17 were immobilized directly onto polystyrene beads by physical adsorption; biotinyl-rp17 and biotinyl-MBP-rp17 were immobilized indirectly onto streptavidin-coated polystyrene beads; and 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-MBP-rp17 was immobilized indirectly onto (anti-DNP) IgG-coated polystyrene beads. These directly and indirectly immobilized antigens were incubated with urine samples containing antibody IgG to p17 antigen and subsequently with rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate or (anti-human IgG gamma-chain) Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate. Beta-D-galactosidase activity bound to the polystyrene beads was assayed by fluorometry. When rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate was used, signals (fluorescence intensities for bound beta-D-galactosidase activity) were much higher with the indirectly immobilized antigens than those with the directly immobilized antigens. By experiments using (anti-human IgG gamma-chain)Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate, the binding of rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate to antibodies against p17 antigen bound to directly immobilized rp17 antigen was shown to be seriously limited as compared with that to antibodies against p17 antigen bound to indirectly immobilized DNP-MBP-rp17. When rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate and serum samples were used, serum interference was much less with indirectly immobilized DNP-MBP-rp17 than with directly immobilized rp17 antigen, and the sensitivity of enzyme immunoassay for antibody IgG to p17 antigen using indirectly immobilized DNP-MBP-rp17 was 1,000- to 3,000-fold higher than that of enzyme immunoassay using directly immobilized rp17 antigen and Western blotting for p17 band. This sensitive enzyme immunoassay indicated positivity in HIV-1 seroconversion serum panels as early as conventional methods for antibodies to HIV-1 and earlier than Western blotting for p17 band.


Evaluation of the Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the emergency department compared with the normal population.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common diagnosis for dizziness patients admitting to emergency department and for initial diagnosis, cardiac causes of dizziness should be excluded at admittance. Electrocardiography (ECG) is a simple method to detect cardiac arrhythmias for these patients. Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio are transmural repolarization parameters and shown to be strongly related to ventricular arrhythmias. With this study, we aim to investigate ventricular repolarization parameters like Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio which can be easily evaluated by ECG in BPPV patients. A total of 84 newly diagnosed BPPV patients and 59 age-sex matched control group without dizziness symptoms compatible with inclusion criteria were included for the study. Patients with previous vertigo, coronary artery disease, renal disease, heart failure, severe valvular disease, arrhythmia history, electrolyte disturbances and patients under 18 years of age were excluded. Mean age of the study population was 44.4 ± 12.1 years, 36.4% were male. There was no significant difference among groups in terms of age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypothyroidism history. When ECG results were evaluated QRS interval, QT interval, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio were statistically higher in BPPV patients compared to control group (p = 0.000, p = 0.047, p = 0.000, p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively). As a result of our study, Tp-e and Tp-e/QTc ratio were significantly higher in BPPV patients compared to the control group. These findings suggest that ventricular arrhythmia risk may be higher in BPPV patients. Further evaluation of these patients in terms of ventricular arrhythmia would be beneficial.


Normal second-trimester amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase associated with fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma.
Amniocentesis was performed at 19 weeks' gestation on a patient with two sequential serum alphafetoprotein values above 2 times median. Ultrasound examination suggested a possible sacrococcygeal teratoma. However, both amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase were normal, and the patient elected to continue her pregnancy. At 24 weeks fetal demise was confirmed, and prostaglandin induction of labour produced a macerated female fetus with a large sacrococcygeal teratoma.


Entry into the stationary phase is associated with a rapid loss of viability and an apoptotic-like phenotype in the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.
When the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus entered the stationary phase, there was a rapid loss in cell viability which was associated with the appearance of markers characteristic of apoptosis, namely annexin V-FITC binding to the cytoplasmic membrane, demonstrating exposure of phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet of the membrane; and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) staining of the nuclei, indicating DNA fragmentation. This was followed later by a loss of membrane integrity as revealed by propidium iodide staining. The development of the apoptotic phenotype was blocked when the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide was added to the culture 1h prior to the onset of the stationary phase, demonstrating active participation of the cell. In addition, intracellular activity against substrates specific for caspase-1 and -8 also increased on stationary phase entry and the development of the apoptotic phenotype was blocked when the cell permeant caspase inhibitor Z-FAD-fmk was present in the medium. Cell death in A. fumigatus during the stationary phase therefore appears to share similarities to apoptotic cell death in higher eukaryotes and to be dependent on a caspase-like activity.


Epidemiology of Skin Cancer: Update 2019.
Melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancer (KSC) are the most common types of cancer in White-skinned populations. Both tumor entities showed increasing incidence rates worldwide but stable or decreasing mortality rates. Rising incidence rates of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and KSC are largely attributed to increasing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the main causal risk factor for skin cancer.Incidence rates of KSC, comprising of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are much higher than that of melanoma. BCC development is mainly the cause of an intensive UV exposure in childhood and adolescence, while SCC development is related to chronic, cumulative UV exposure over decades. Although mortality is relatively low, KSC is an increasing problem for health care services causing significant morbidity.Cutaneous melanoma is rapidly increasing in White populations, with an estimated annual increase of around 3-7% over the past decades. In contrast to SCC, melanoma risk is associated with intermittent and chronic exposure to sunlight. The frequency of its occurrence is closely associated with the constitutive color of the skin and the geographical zone. Changes in outdoor activities and exposure to sunlight during the past 70 years are an important factor for the increasing incidence of melanoma. Mortality rates of melanoma show stabilization in the USA, Australia, and in European countries. In the USA even dropping numbers of death cases were recently reported, probably reflecting efficacy of the new systemic treatments.Among younger cohorts in some populations (e.g., Australia and New Zealand,), stabilizing or declining incidence rates of CM are observed, potentially caused by primary prevention campaigns aimed at reducing UV exposure. In contrast, incidence rates of CM are still rising in most European countries and in the USA. Ongoing trends towards thinner melanoma are largely ascribed to earlier detection.


Imaging features of granular cell tumor in the breast: Case report.
Granular cell tumor of the breast (GCTB) is a benign rare tumor. There are limited reports on its imaging manifestations. GCTB is often misdiagnosed as breast cancer, which results in unnecessary radical mastectomy and excessive treatment. In this article, we have reported a case of a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman with GCTB and highlighted the imaging features to differentiate this rare tumor from breast cancer. A 56-year-old postmenopausal patient had a chief complaint of a subcutaneous nodule in the upper outer quadrant of her right breast for 2 months. She underwent physical examination, color Doppler ultrasonography, mammography, magnetic resonance, and postoperative pathology. The final diagnosis was GCTB. The tumor cells were intermingled with the fibrous stroma and normal breast parenchyma and showed positive immunoreaction to S-100, CD68, and neuron-specific enolase. The patient underwent lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The patient recovered well after lumpectomy and had no complications during the 2-year follow-up. There are some important imaging features of GCTB that can be used to distinguish it from breast carcinoma to reduce misdiagnosis.


Tree dispersion in oak-dominated forests along an environmental gradient.
Spatial pattern was analyzed in seventeen stands of oak-dominated forest to address the hypothesis that species tended to be aggregated under favorable conditions and widely spaced in xeric, nutrient poor conditions. Trees were sampled at 80-100 points in each stand with the distance-to-nearest neighbor method. Soil samples were collected in each stand for analysis of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, soil pH, soil texture, and soil organic matter. Growing season precipitation was also recorded from climate stations near each stand. Quercus stellata (Wang.) dominated 10 stands, Q. marilandica (Muenchh.) dominated three stands and these species were codominant in four stands. Principal components analysis identified a soil texture/fertility gradient across the study area. Quercus stellata and all species combined were aggregated in most stands, whereas Q. marilandica was mostly randomly distributed within a stand. Small trees of all species combined tended to be aggregated and large trees were randomly dispersed in all but two stands, suggesting competition. Mean distance between large-large pairs was always greater than mean distance between small-small pairs in all stands, but this difference was only significant in one stand. Correlations between nearest neighbor distance and combined size of nearest neighbors were significant and positive in 12 of 17 stands. In all cases, however, slopes were shallow suggesting that competition is weak in these communities and has a limited effect on spacing of neighboring trees. Contrary to our hypothesis, trees were more aggregated on coarse-textured soils with low organic matter content. For all species combined, degree of aggregation was unrelated to growing season precipitation. Aggregation appears to be common in these forests because environmental stress in many stands reduces growth rates. Trees have not yet reached a size at which competition or other interactions can greatly increase interplant distances and reduce the degree of aggregation. A simple graphical model is developed to describe the relationship between patterns, stress and competition in plant communities.


The ability of Portland cement, MTA, and MTA Bio to prevent through-and-through fluid movement in repaired furcal perforations.
This study assessed the ability of Portland cement, white Angelus-mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and MTA Bio to seal furcal perforations in extracted human molar teeth. Fifty-five human mandibular molar teeth were accessed, and the canal orifices were located. The roots were horizontally sectioned in the middle third. Resin composite was used to fill the root canal orifices and the apical end of the root. Perforations were created in the center of the pulp chamber floor by using a size 3 round bur. The teeth were divided into 3 groups (n = 15), and an additional 10 teeth served as controls. In G1, the perforation defects were repaired with MTA, whereas in G2 and G3, MTA Bio and Portland cement were used, respectively. Each tooth was assembled in a hermetic cell to allow the evaluation of fluid filtration. Leakage was measured by the movement of an air bubble traveling within a pipette connected to the teeth. Measurements of the air bubble movement were made after 10 minutes at a constant pressure of 20 cm H(2)O. Kruskal-Wallis H test was applied to the fluid flow data to detect differences between the experimental groups (P < .05). Leakage existed in every sample and was very variable in all the experimental groups, ranging from 0.098-0.51 microL/min. Kruskal-Wallis H-test results showed that there was no significant difference in mean fluid flow between the experimental groups (P = .874). The sealing ability promoted by the 3 cements was similar; no cement was able to produce a fluid-tight seal.


A simple rapid method for prolactin assay by reversed passive hemagglutination: evaluation of its clinical application.
Measurement of the serum prolactin (PRL) level is essential in diagnosis and treatment of infertile women. At present, the serum PRL level is generally measured routinely by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique, but this assay requires a qualified technician and special equipment. Here we report a semi-quantitative method for PRL assay (MS-8701 kit) by reversed passive hemagglutination (R-PHA) using monoclonal PRL antibody. This assay with the MS-8701 kit is specific, and its sensitivity is 1 ng/ml. The serum PRL levels determined with the MS-8701 kit were significantly correlated with those determined by RIA (correlation coefficient 0.932). Furthermore, the effect of bromocriptine on the serum PRL level in patients with prolactinoma, and the change in the serum PRL level after metoclopramide loading could be determined using this kit. These results suggest that the MS-8701 kit should be useful in an out-patient clinic to screen for hyperprolactinemia, to check the effect of bromocriptine, and to follow up patients after operation for prolactinoma.


Comparison of tree-based regression tree methods for predicting live body weight from morphological traits in Hy-line silver brown commercial layer and indigenous Potchefstroom Koekoek breeds raised in South Africa.
In animal breeding, more considerable attention is drawn to reveal the relationship between live body weight and morphological traits in identifying breed and species standards. The aim of this study was to predict live body weight from morphological characteristics in the Hy-line silver brown commercial layer and indigenous Potchefstroom Koekoek breed, native to South African. In the prediction of live body weight, eleven morphological measurements, i.e., wing length, back length, beak length, shank length, shank circumference, chest circumference, wingspan, keel length, body girth, toe length, and body length, were taken. As tree-based regression tree methods, predictive performances of CART, CHAID, and exhaustive CHAID algorithms were measured for body weight prediction. Among those, CART was found to be the best decision tree algorithm that gave the highest predictive accuracy. CART visual results reflected that the heaviest body weight mean (2.000 kg) was obtained from the chickens with 10.250 cm < WL ≤ 10.500 cm. As a result, it could be suggested that the CART decision tree might help to determine breed standards of the Hy-line silver brown commercial layer and, especially, indigenous Potchefstroom Koekoek breeds for breeding programs.


[Recent aspects of selected autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematodes and their clinical significance. III. RNA-fixing autoantibodies, ribonucleoprotein autoantibodies].
The present publication deals with a review about the subgroups of RNA-fixing autoantibodies, their pathogenetic and clinical relevance within the bounds of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Special regards are done to auto-antibodies against ribonucleoprotein (RNP).


Tetrahedral DNA Nanoconjugates for Simultaneous Measurement of Telomerase Activity and miRNA.
In this study, a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure was first self-assembled; this was then conjugated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carbon nanodots (CDs). The fabricated nanocomposites allow simultaneous analysis of telomerase activity and miRNA with dual fluorescence channels. By further introducing an iRGD peptide sequence, the nanoconjuates can be conveniently transferred inside living cells for in situ imaging. The analytical performances and anti-jamming capabilities are excellent. Meanwhile, the materials are highly biocompatible for intracellular applications. Therefore, the proposed biosystem shows great promise as a powerful tool for quantitative analysis of the dual biomarkers. The strategy can also be further exploited as a versatile platform for in situ detection of many other targets for early disease diagnosis.


Fe-O-Zr in MOF for effective photo-Fenton Bisphenol A degradation: Boosting mechanism of electronic transmission.
To enhance the efficiency of photogenerated electron transport in the photo-Fenton reaction, we report a Fe-doped UiO-66 containing Fe-O-Zr bonds for the photo-Fenton reaction system. The modulation changes the energy bandgap from 3.89 eV to 2.02 eV, and its absorption edge is red-shifted from the UV region to the visible range. Simultaneously, Fe-O-Zr reduces the redox internal resistance, enhances the photocurrent and catalytic process, and suppresses the compounding of photogenerated electrons and holes. These promote the valence cycling of Fe(III)/Fe(II) in the photo-Fenton reaction. Compared with UiO-66, the hydroxyl radical generation efficiency of this reaction system was increased by 5.8 times (UiO-66: 0.0009 mM/min, FeUiO-1: 0.0053 mM/min). The degradation efficiency of BPA was increased by 100.8 times (UiO-66: 0.0012 min-1, FeUiO-1: 0.121 min-1), and the removal rate of TOC also reached 69.55%. The removal rate of BPA was maintained at more than 85% through 5 cycles. The reaction system was able to maintain a removal rate more than 97% at pH:3-9. In the presence of anions, such as Cl-, SO42-, NO32- (10 mM), the degradation rates of BPA were still above 94%. The catalytic efficiency was 2.02 times higher under natural light than relative to dark conditions. It was demonstrated by EPR and inhibition experiments that the main active species in the reaction were hydroxyl radicals and vacancies. The HOMO energy level and LUMO energy level of the intermediates were analyzed, and the possible degradation pathways of the active species were speculated. Evaluation of the biological toxicity of intermediates demonstrated that the system can effectively detoxify BPA. This investigation provides a reference method to enhance the efficiency of the photo-Fenton reaction of MOFs.


Social Determinants of Health Associated with HBV Testing and Access to Care among Foreign-born Persons Residing in the United States: 2009 - 2012.
To describe how select Social Determinants of Health (SDH) are associated with the burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among foreign-born persons residing in the United States. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 Risk Factor Survey data to investigate the independent relationship between SDH and HBV testing and access to care. HBV infected persons with insurance were more likely to see a physician than those without. Respondents worried about money to pay rent or mortgage were more likely to report HBV infection than individuals who reported they never worry. Compared to English speakers, Spanish-speakers were less likely to report HBV infection, Vietnamese-speakers were more likely to see a physician for HBV infection, and Khmer-speakers were less likely to be tested. Health insurance coverage, worries about paying rent, and language of interview all differentially affect HBV testing and linkages to care among foreign-born persons. Multi-sectorial stakeholder collaborative efforts should integrate resources to provide culturally sensitive health promotion campaigns which may improve HBV related outcomes.


Intravenous cocaine self-administration in the C57BL/6J mouse.
Freely behaving C57BL/6J mice with intrajugular catheters were trained to nose-poke for cocaine (0.75 mg/kg per 5-microliters infusion) under a fixed-ratio-10 schedule of reinforcement. Mice were given a choice between two nose-poke holes on opposite sides of the apparatus. Nose-pokes by experimental (O) subjects (operant group) were reinforced on only one side and reinforcer delivery coincided with the onset of a 10-s time-out light stimulus. Drug delivery to control subjects (yoked group) was determined by the behavior of O mice. Nose-poke rate increased in O subjects, whereas yoked subjects did not acquire the nose-poking response. Moreover, nose-poking was selective for the cocaine-paired side in O subjects. When saline infusions were substituted for cocaine (i.e., extinction), nose-poking in O subjects decreased, whereas yoked controls were unaffected. O subjects developed a preference for the drug-associated side of the apparatus during extinction. Overall, these data offer strong evidence of cocaine-directed behavior in the C57BL/6 inbred mouse strain. More generally, these findings support the feasibility of using intravenous self-administration to assess reinforcement in genetically well-defined populations.


Accessing the brain with soft deployable electrocorticography arrays.
Soft robotics facilitates the deployment of large radial electrode arrays on the brain cortex through small craniotomies.


Breath volatile metabolome reveals the impact of dietary fibres on the gut microbiota: Proof of concept in healthy volunteers.
Current data suggest that dietary fibre (DF) interaction with the gut microbiota largely contributes to their physiological effects. The bacterial fermentation of DF leads to the production of metabolites, most of them are volatile. This study analyzed the breath volatile metabolites (BVM) profile in healthy individuals (n=15) prior and after a 3-week intervention with chitin-glucan (CG, 4.5 g/day), an insoluble fermentable DF. The present exploratory study presents the original data related to the secondary outcomes, notably the analysis of BVM. BVM were analyzed throughout the test days -in fasting state and after standardized meals - using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). BVM production was correlated to the gut microbiota composition (Illumina sequencing, primary outcome), analyzed before and after the intervention. The data reveal that the post-prandial state versus fasting state is a key determinant of BVM fingerprint. Correlation analyses with fecal microbiota spotlighted butyrate-producing bacteria, notably Faecalibacterium, as dominant bacteria involved in butyrate and other BVM expiration. CG intervention promotes interindividual variations of fasting BVM, and decreases or delays the expiration of most exhaled BVM in favor of H2 expiration, without any consequence on gastrointestinal tolerance. Assessing BVM is a non-invasive methodology allowing to analyze the influence of DF intervention on the gut microbiota. FiberTAG project was initiated from a European Joint Programming Initiative "A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life" (JPI HDHL) and was supported by the Service Public de Wallonie (SPW-EER, convention 1610365, Belgium).


Complications of pelvic lymphadenectomy and retropubic prostatic 125I implantation.
Pelvic lymphadenectomy was accomplished in 75 patients with localized prostatic cancer at the time of retropubic prostatic implantation with iodine-125. Twelve (16 per cent) surgical complications were encountered in 11 patients and included 1 death. Late complications which persisted six months or longer occurred in 5 (8 per cent) of 61 patients. The most serious and as yet unquantitated complication appears to be pelvic vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. PELVIC LYMPHADenectomy may be accomplished safely and with minimal morbidity in the vast majority of prostatic cancer patients.


Preverbal infants produce more protophones with artificial objects compared to natural objects.
Protophones are considered to be precursors of speech. These vocalizations have been notably discussed in relation to toys and their importance for developing language skills. However, little is known about how natural objects, compared to artificial objects, may affect protophone production, an approach that could additionally help reconstruct how language evolved. In the current study, we examined protophone production in 58 infants (4-18 months) while interacting with their caregivers when using natural objects, household items, and toys. The infants were recorded in their home environment, in a rural area in Zambia. The results showed that the infants produced significantly fewer protophones when using natural objects than when using household items or toys. Importantly, this pattern was found only for the younger preverbal infants, and there was no indication in the data that the level of caregiver responsiveness differed with regard to the object type. Furthermore, the infants of the present work selected primarily the household items when exposed to both natural objects and household items. These findings suggest that natural objects are less likely to promote protophone production and, consequently, language skill development than artificial objects in preverbal infants, who seem to favor the latter, perhaps due to their features designed for specific functional purposes. Furthermore, these findings provide empirical evidence that the use of complex tools in social interactions may have helped to promote the evolution of language among hominins.


[Thiamine, pyridoxine and cobalamine. From myths to pharmacology and clinical practice].
Vitamins are not uncommonly uncritically prescribed by neurologists and other medical professions. The effects of vitamins are, however, often pharmacologically and biochemically well-defined. This offers the opportunity for a rational scientific approach to treatment. In this article the biochemical and pharmacological mode of action of vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (cobalamine) will be discussed and modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of clinical states of hypervitaminoses (B6) and vitamin deficiencies (B1, B6, and B12) will be presented.


Radiofrequency Ablation Turbinoplasty versus Microdebrider-Assisted Turbinoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
To critically review published literature for treatment-related outcomes for bilateral inferior turbinate reduction (IFTR) via either microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty (MAT) or radiofrequency turbinoplasty. The primary outcomes were relief of nasal obstruction according to visual analog scale and nasal airflow, volume, and resistance measures based on acoustic rhinomanometry. MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Catalog, and CINAHL. The databases were searched with the terms "turbinoplasty" and "turbinate reduction." Inclusion criteria were English language, human subjects, and studies specifically relating to IFTR with radiofrequency turbinoplasty or MAT. Exclusion criteria were pediatric patients and concurrent nasal procedures. Results were tabulated, and the data were analyzed per random effects modeling. Subgroup analysis and quality assessment were also performed. A total of 976 articles were initially identified, with 26 meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Random effects modeling demonstrated a significant improvement after IFTR, as measured with the visual analog scale (4.26-point improvement, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 3.32-5.20, P < .001, k = 21 studies, I(2) = 99%) and with acoustic rhinomanometry measurements of volume (2.43-cm(3) improvement, 95% CI = 0.48-4.38, P = .015, k = 6 studies, I(2) = 99%), flow (203-mL/s improvement, 95% CI = 131-276, P < .001, k = 4 studies, I(2) = 99%), and resistance change (2.78-Pa/cm(3) improvement, 95% CI = 0.433-5.13, P = .020, k = 5 studies, I(2) = 99%). There was no difference in outcome by technique, allergic rhinitis, or quality score. The 2 highest-quality papers favored MAT. The median follow-up was 6 months. IFTR produces a significant subjective and objective improvement in nasal airflow in the short term. This change does not appear to be related to the technique used for IFTR.


Intramolecular deactivation processes of electronically excited Lanthanide(III) complexes with organic acids of low molecular weight.
The luminescence of Lanthanide(III) complexes with different model ligands was studied under direct as well as sensitized excitation conditions. The research was performed in the context of studies dealing with deep-underground storages for high-level nuclear waste. Here, Lanthanide(III) ions served as natural analogues for Actinide(III) ions and the low-molecular weight organic ligands are present in clay minerals and furthermore, they were employed as proxies for building blocks of humic substances, which are important complexing molecules in the natural environment, e.g., in the far field of a repository site. Time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy was applied for a detailed characterization of Eu(III), Tb(III), Sm(III) and Dy(III) complexes in aqueous solutions. Based on the observed luminescence the ligands were tentatively divided into two groups (A, B). The luminescence of Lanthanide(III) complexes of group A was mainly influenced by an energy transfer to OH-vibrations. Lanthanide(III) complexes of group B showed ligand-related luminescence quenching, which was further investigated. To gain more information on the underlying quenching processes of group A and B ligands, measurements at different temperatures (77K≤T≤353K) were performed and activation energies were determined based on an Arrhenius analysis. Moreover, the influence of the ionic strength between 0M≤I≤4M on the Lanthanide(III) luminescence was monitored for different complexes, in order to evaluate the influence of specific conditions encountered in host rocks foreseen as potential repository sites.


Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adduct 2-(3-Hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)acrylonitrile (ISACN) Modulates Inflammatory Process In vitro and In vivo.
Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHA) are synthetic molecules with several biological actions already described in the literature. It has been previously described that adduct 2-(3-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)acrylonitrile (ISACN) has anticancer potential in leukemic cells. Inflammation is often associated with the development and progression of cancer. Therefore, to better understand the effect of ISACN, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of ISACN both in vitro and in vivo. Results demonstrated that ISACN negatively modulated the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 by cultured macrophages. In vivo, ISACN 6 and 24 mg/kg treatment promoted reduced leukocyte migration, especially neutrophils, to the peritoneal cavity of zymosan-challenged animals. ISACN displays no anti-edematogenic activity, but it was able to promote a significant reduction in the production of inflammatory cytokines in the peritoneal cavity. These data show, for the first time, that MBHA ISACN negatively modulates several aspects of the inflammatory response, such as cell migration and cytokine production in vivo and in vitro, thus having an anti-inflammatory potential.


Distribution and characteristics of the occluding junctions in a monolayer of a cell line (MDCK) derived from canine kidney.
On solid substrates MDCK, a cell line derived from normal dog kidney, forms a confluent monolayer that is studded with "blisters". Previous studies with this cell line suggest that these hemicysts develop as a result of active fluid accumulation between cell sheet and substratum. One factor that may determine when and how hemicysts appear only in localized sites is the interruption of occluding junctions in nonhemicyst areas. To study this possibility, we compared the permeability characteristics of the occluding junctions in hemicysts and in an uninterrupted monolayer of MDCK grown on a permeable support of collagen-coated nucleopore filter. The spontaneous electrical potential differences were small, without statistical differences between them. Relative ionic permeability coefficients were evaluated from the voltage deflections to imposed salt gradients or to a single ion substitution across both structures. The results showed that the relative permeability ratios for Na+, K+, choline+, and Cl- were the same in hemicysts and the uninterrupted monolayer. These and other results indicate that the junctional complex encircling the apical surface of a sheet of MDCK cells can provide an effective permeability barrier constituting a true occluding junction with the same properties in hemicyst and nonhemicyst areas.


Future Evolution of Biosimilar Development by Application of Current Science and Available Evidence: The Developer's Perspective.
Biosimilars have been available in the USA for over a decade, and in Europe for almost two decades. In that time, biosimilars have become established in the treatment landscape for a wide range of diseases, facilitating patient access and affordability of healthcare. However, patients can still struggle to access biological therapies in some markets. There is a need to streamline the process of developing biosimilars without compromising their quality, safety, or efficacy. This opinion piece considers the efficiencies that could be achieved within the biosimilar approval process. In clinical trials for biosimilars, clinical efficacy endpoints have been shown to be less sensitive measures of biosimilarity than biochemical, biophysical, and biological functional assays. Additional clinical efficacy studies comparing potential biosimilars and reference products do not add information that is useful for regulatory purposes. Large clinical studies of biosimilars with immunogenicity endpoints are of limited value, given the quality control processes in place for all biologics, including biosimilars. The expectation for multiple-switch studies for US interchangeability designation should be reconsidered immediately, and the category should be eliminated in the future. As biosimilars are typically approved globally based on a single set of clinical trials, and all subsequent manufacturing changes are already carefully monitored by regulatory authorities, comparative pharmacokinetic testing of EU and US reference products is unnecessary. Manufacturers and regulators could take greater advantage of existing real-world evidence. Streamlining biosimilar development would enable biosimilar development of more and a wider variety of biological drugs, accelerating biosimilar development without impacting patient safety or effectiveness.


Thromboxane synthase inhibition: "endoperoxide shunt phenomenon" does not occur in healthy humans in vivo.
The effects of the thromboxane synthase inhibitor CGS13080 on the in vivo synthesis of thromboxane and prostacyclin were determined in six healthy volunteers. Two different doses (0.08 and 0.25 mg/kg x h) were infused for six hours under strictly controlled conditions and 2,3-dinor-TxB2 and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha were measured in urine using gaschromatography--mass spectrometry. The in vivo synthesis of thromboxane was inhibited by 80-75% while there was no effect on the in vivo prostacyclin synthesis.


ACOG educational bulletin. Primary and preventive health care for female adolescents. Number 254, November 1999. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Although most adolescents enjoy good health, many of their behaviors put them at risk for negative health outcomes. Consequently, a fundamental change in the provision of health care services is required. Increasingly, services must be directed at primary and secondary prevention. As such, physicians should respond by making preventive services a greater component of their clinical practice. The approach outlined previously can help in this transition and can ensure that adolescents receive the services their health status demands.


Survival estimates stratified by the Nottingham Prognostic Index for early breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
Estimates of survival for women diagnosed with early staged breast cancer are available based on stratification into prognostic categories defined using the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI). This review aimed to identify and summarize the estimated survival statistics from separate sources in the literature and to explore the extent of between-study heterogeneity in survival estimates. Observational studies in women diagnosed with early and locally advanced breast cancer reporting overall survival by NPI category were identified using a systematic literature search. An exploratory meta-analysis was conducted to describe survival estimates and assess between-study heterogeneity. Twenty-eight studies were identified. Nineteen studies with sufficient data on overall survival were included in meta-analysis. A high level of heterogeneity in survival estimates was evident with I2 values in the range of 90 to 98%. The substantial differences between studies in the relationship between NPI categories and survival at 5 and 10 years poses challenges for use of this prognostic score in both clinical settings and in decision-analytic model-based economic evaluations.


Synthesis, characterisation and preliminary investigation of the haemocompatibility of polyethyleneimine-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan for gene delivery.
The development of safe and efficient gene carriers is the key to the clinical success of gene therapy. In the present study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was prepared by chitosan (CS) alkalisation and carboxymethylation reactions. Then polyethyleneimine (PEI) was grafted to the backbone of CMCS by an amidation reaction. The CMCS-PEI copolymer showed strong complexation capability with DNA to form nanoparticles, and achieved lower cytotoxicity and higher transfection efficiency compared with PEI (25 kDa) towards 293T and 3T3 cells. Moreover, the haemocompatibility of the CMCS-PEI copolymer was investigated through the aggregation, morphology and lysis of human red blood cells (RBCs), along with the impact on the clotting function with activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thromboelastographic (TEG) assays. The results demonstrated that the CMCS-PEI copolymer with a concentration lower than 0.05 mg/mL had little impact on the aggregation, morphology or lysis of RBCs, or on blood coagulation. Therefore, the copolymer may be a strong alternative candidate as an effective and safe non-viral vector.


In situ recombination for durable photoelectrocatalytic degradation of organic dye in wastewater.
Photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) can effectively degrade organic pollutants by using photoelectrodes without secondary pollution. However, significant mass transport resistance and decreased catalytic activity caused by the shedding of active components remain a barrier to achieving the photocatalytic system with a high degradation rate and long-term durability. Here, an in situ recombination concept is presented to overcome this challenge. The bionic coral-like electrode, obtained by in situ assembly of UIO-66 around TiO2 nanoflowers (TNF) on Ti-foam substrate, is employed as the photoanode in PEC. Ex situ evaluation of photoelectrochemical activity demonstrates that the UIO-66@TNF/Ti-foam (U@T/T) design significantly improves the light-propagation, light-absorption and charge transfer. In Situ degradation evaluations also shows that the interesting design promotes rapid and stable degradation of organic dye (e.g. Rhodamine B (RhB)). At 2.0 V of bias potential and pH 7.0 in 5 mg L-1 RhB, under the action of active species such as ·O2- and ·OH (proved by the degradation mechanism experiments), the removal rate of RhB can reach 96.1% at 120 min and almost complete removal at 200 min (99.1%).


Characterization of the small hydrophobic proteins associated with pulmonary surfactant.
Lipid extracts of bovine pulmonary surfactant, which retain many of the biophysical characteristics of natural surfactant, contain approx. 98% lipid and 2% protein, as determined by amino acid analysis. Polyacrylamide/urea gel electrophoresis reveals that lipid extract surfactant contained a major apoprotein band with apparent Mr 3500 and minor apoprotein bands with apparent Mr 15,000 and 7000. After reduction, the 15 kDa band disappears and is replaced by a prominent band with apparent Mr = 5000. Reduction also results in a relative diminution of the 7 kDa band and a relative increase in the intensity of the 3.5-kDa band. Edman degradation reveals two major peptide sequences which have been designated surfactant-associated peptide (N-terminal Phe) and surfactant-associated peptide (N-terminal Leu) and a minor sequence designated surfactant-associated peptide (N-terminal Ile). The latter surfactant-associated peptide appears to be related to the N-terminal Leu peptide but lacks the terminal Leu. N-Terminal analysis by dansylation demonstrates that the 15 and 5 kDa (reduced) apoprotein species contain N-terminal Phe, Leu and Ile. The 3.5 and 7 kDa bands contain only N-terminal Leu and Ile. Chromatography of lipid extracts on silicic acid columns gives rise to fraction I, which contains protein and phosphatidylglycerol, and fraction II, which contains protein, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Fraction I was primarily composed of the 15-kDa apoproteins, while fraction II contained mainly the 3.5 and 7 kDa apoproteins. Both fractions exhibited biophysical activity after reconstitution with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. These results indicate that lipid extracts contain an oligomer of 15 kDa containing surfactant-associated peptide (N-terminal Phe) and surfactant-associated peptides (N-terminal Leu or Ile) which interact through sulfhydryl and perhaps other bonds. Lipid extracts also contain 3.5 kDa monomers of surfactant-associated peptides with N-terminal Leu and N-terminal Ile which can dimerize through sulfhydryl and perhaps hydrophobic interactions.


Colonic Perforation as Initial Presentation of Amyloid Disease: Case Report and Literature Review.
Amyloidosis is an uncommon disease caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils in tissues. This disease does not usually require surgical intervention, which could be warranted in the presence of complications such as bleeding, obstruction, or perforation. We present a case of primary amyloidosis of the colon in a patient affected by polymyositis who underwent Hartmann's procedure after a spontaneous colonic perforation. After 2 months of well-being, the patient underwent two consecutive surgical procedures for stenosis of the ostomy orifice. A review of the literature has been performed, gathering case reports highlighting the distribution of this disease by age, gender, location, and treatment when available. Gastrointestinal amyloid disease is a rare condition, and it could be considered among the rare causes of intestinal perforation. Timely surgical management is often necessary.


The utility of restriction endonuclease analysis and phage typing in the epidemiologic investigation of a Staphylococcus aureus outbreak in a neonatal nursery.
Outbreaks of Staphylococcus aureus infections in neonatal units require prompt investigation and implementation of control measures. From January to March 1990, a marked increase in the number of S. aureus infections was observed in a neonatal nursery. Twenty-seven S. aureus isolates from 23 patients were analyzed by phage typing and restriction endonuclease analysis (REA). Only nine strains were differentiated by phage type. However, REA with HindIII, CfoI, and ClaI differentiated 20 strains. The REA results indicated that the outbreak was due to several different S. aureus strains and did not represent transmission of a single epidemic strain. REA may enable more accurate determination of the presence or absence of an epidemic strain during an outbreak than would traditional methods such as phage typing.


Spectrum-effect relationship of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Laportea bulbifera based on multivariate statistical analysis.
Laportea bulbifera, named Hong He Ma in Chinese, is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used by the Miao nationality of China. In this study, 43 batches of L. bulbifera were collected from different origins in China. Ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether were used to prepare different extracts of the plant. UHPLC technique was used to establish the fingerprints, whereas DPPH assay and RAW264.7 inflammatory cell models were used to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. Moreover, the spectrum-effect relationship between relative peak area of common peaks and efficacy value was set up by multivariate statistical analysis. Furthermore, 10 batches were selected randomly for validation of those models. The results showed that ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts possess excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. Peaks A6 and A7 demonstrated the greatest antioxidant activity, while peak A17 showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity. After a verified experiment, the result was obtained and illustrated that the spectrum-effect relationship which we established could reliably infer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds of the Chinese herbal medicine.


Lack of evidence for a hepatic peroxisome proliferator receptor and an explanation for the binding of hypolipidaemic drugs to liver homogenates.
The existence of a postulated hepatic receptor responsible for the peroxisomal proliferation induced in rodents by hypolipidaemic drugs has been investigated. [3H]-nafenopin and [3H]-ciprofibrate were used as labelled ligands and two competitive binding assays, using either a charcoal-dextran or a hydroxylapatite method, were developed to investigate potential binding. In both assay systems, specific displaceable binding of either nafenopin or ciprofibrate to whole homogenate, microsomal and cytosolic fractions of rat liver could not be detected in a variety of buffer systems. A positive control of ligand binding to bovine serum albumin indicated the validity of the binding assays used. In addition, both nafenopin and ciprofibrate exhibited displaceable binding to serum albumin using the hydroxylapatite binding assay and a Scatchard analysis of the binding of [3H]-nafenopin to fatty acid free rat serum albumin yielded a dissociation constant of 5.2 x 10(-7) M and 86 pmol of ligand bound per mg protein. Taken collectively, our data strongly argues against the existence of a specific hepatic peroxisome proliferation receptor and indicates that the peroxisome proliferating hypolipidaemic drugs bind to serum albumin and possibly to other cellular proteins not involved in the activation of genes necessary for peroxisome proliferation.


Cervical collaterals may protect against stroke after blunt vertebral artery injury.
The incidence of ischemic stroke reported after blunt vertebral artery injury is lower than that reported after blunt carotid artery injury. Unlike the carotid arteries, the vertebral arteries receive collateral blood flow through ascending cervical branches in addition to a convergent arterial supply with the contralateral vertebral artery. We hypothesize that the incidence of stroke after vertebral artery injury is less than after carotid artery injury in part because of reconstitution of vertebral arteries by cervical collaterals. A retrospective blinded interpretation of angiographic studies in 46 patients with blunt vertebral injury was performed to assess for presence and grade of vertebral artery injury and for the presence of reconstitution of the vessel via cervical collaterals. Follow-up CT scans from the same patients were evaluated for the presence of posterior circulation strokes. There were 55 injured vertebral arteries in the 46 patients, of whom 8 experienced posterior fossa strokes. Two-tailed Fisher exact probability test evaluating the hypothesis that patients with vertebral artery collaterals were less likely to experience posterior fossa strokes reached significance, p < 0.05. Of patients with occlusive (grades IV and V) injuries, those with collateral vessels were significantly less likely to experience posterior fossa strokes (p < 0.01). This result may be considered when weighing the potential risks and benefits of antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy in patients with occlusive blunt vertebral artery injury.