A pilot study to evaluate a novel localized treatment to stabilize small- to medium-sized infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.
There is no proven therapy to reduce growth rates of small- to medium-sized abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Ex vivo and animal studies have demonstrated that a novel stabilizing agent, 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl glucose (PGG), delivered locally to the aneurysm sac, can bind to elastin and collagen to re-establish strength and resist enzymatic degradation. We aimed to demonstrate that a one-time administration of PGG solution to the aneurysm wall is safe and potentially effective to slow the growth of small- to medium-sized AAAs. Patients with small- to medium-sized infrarenal AAAs (maximum diameter <5.5 cm) were recruited. Via transfemoral access, a 14F or 16F dual-balloon delivery catheter was introduced into the aneurysm sac. A single, 3-minute, localized endoluminal infusion of PGG was delivered via a 'weeping' balloon to the aneurysm wall. Independent core laboratory measurements of maximum aneurysm sac diameter and sac volume measurements based on computed tomography angiography (CTA) were used for assessments at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. The primary endpoints were technical success and safety (major adverse events at 30 days). The secondary endpoint was growth stabilization, defined as freedom from aneurysm sac enlargement (diameter increase >5 mm per year or volume increase of >10% per year). Twenty patients (19 male) were enrolled at five centers from May 2019 to June 2022 (mean age, 67.8 years; range, 50-87 years). All procedures were technically successful. The safety profile was consistent with standard interventional procedures. Four patients demonstrated transient elevations of liver enzymes levels that returned to normal by 30 days with no clinical symptoms. Through November 2022, follow-up CTA data is available on the first 11 patients. The average changes in maximum aneurysm diameter from baseline to 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 0.2 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, and 0.8 mm, respectively, and the average changes in volume were 2.0%, 9.6%, 18.1%, and 11.6%, respectively. At 12 months, none of the aneurysms showed growth >5.0 mm, and three had volume growth >10%. The early results of this first-in-human, small cohort study demonstrated that a single, localized PGG administration to patients with small- to medium-sized infrarenal AAAs is safe. Longer term follow-up on all 20 treated patients is needed to better assess the potential impact on aneurysm growth.


Favorable outcome of a total hip arthroplasty with insufficient bone coverage of the roof reinforcement ring.
Total hip arthroplasty in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip can be a complex procedure due to acetabular and proximal femoral deformities. A 59-year-old male patient underwent a total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of end-stage dysplastic osteoarthritis. A roof reinforcement ring, a cemented polyethylene cup, and a cementless stem were used. A portion of the superior rim of the ring was uncovered by the host bone. Morsellized autogenous femoral-head graft was impacted to fill the space between the superior rim of the ring and the superior part of the dysplastic acetabulum. At the follow-up after 5-years, the patient had no complaints and was very satisfied with the operation result. The hip radiograph revealed no signs of instability of the acetabular component, and no bone graft resorption. Favorable results were described using metal rings and conical femoral stems for the treatment of the developmental dysplasia of the hip. The superior rim of the metal ring should be against host bone for 60% of its support. Despite the suboptimal implantation of the ring compromising, apparently, mechanical stability of the arthroplasty, the outcome was favorable. This result can be supported by the good fixation of the metal ring to the pelvis with screws, the adequate orientation of both components of the total hip arthroplasty, and the bone graft incorporation.


Claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging: cohort study in over 55,000 patients.
To evaluate whether MR scanners with acoustic noise reduction and a short magnetic bore reduce the rate of claustrophobic reactions. We performed a cohort study in an outpatient setting, enrolling a total of 55,734 consecutive patients referred for MRI of any part of the body based on a clinical indication. Imaging was performed using a conventional MR scanner (42,998 patients) and a recently developed MR scanner (12,736 patients) with 97% acoustic noise reduction and a short bore. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for the nonrandomized design. In addition to those undergoing head-first examinations, female and middle-aged patients were significantly more likely to develop claustrophobia in the logistic regression analysis (P < 0.001). The rate of claustrophobic reactions was significantly lower with the recent MR scanner (0.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6-0.9%) than with the conventional scanner (2.1%; 95% CI, 2.0-2.3%; P < 0.001) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.1 (95% CI, 2.5-3.9) and a number needed to treat of 72 (95% CI, 63-85). The incidence of claustrophobia may be reduced by a factor of 3 when recently-developed MR scanners are used.


Comparison of the amino acid compositions and antigenic properties of spiralins purified from the plasma membranes of different spiroplasmas.
Spiralins were purified by agarose-suspension electrophoresis after extraction with detergents from the membranes of the following spiroplasmas: Spiroplasma citri C189, S. citri Maroc (R8A2), S. citri Scaph and the honey-bee spiroplasma B88. The four proteins (molecular mass congruent to 26,000 daltons, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-pore gradient electrophoresis) showed very similar amino acid compositions characterized by the absence of methionine and tryptophan and a high polarity index (greater than 49%). When compared with the amino acid composition of S. citri membrane, the four spiralins had little or no histidine, a low content of glycine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and arginine, and a high content of threonine, alanine and valine. Comparison of the amino acid compositions according to the criteria described by Cornish-Bowden (Anal. Biochem., 1980, 105, 233-238) strongly suggests that all four spiralins are related. A crossed immunoelectrophoretical comparison, however, shows that though the three proteins purified from S. citri strains (serogroup I-1) are antigenically similar, they do not seem to share common epitopes with spiralin from the honey-bee spiroplasma B88 (serogroup I-2).


[A multilocular haemangioblastoma with cerebellar and spinal involvement as a manifestation of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome].
A case of incomplete von Hippel-Lindau's disease is described. Our patient is characterized by multilocular and recurring typical hemangioblastomas in the cerebellum and the spinal cord. Moreover there are hints at familiar pre-disposition. Based on the recent literature the morphological and clinical characteristics are discussed with special consideration of modern radiological (myelography, arteriography, computertomography) and laboratory (hemoglobin levels follow-ups) investigations.


Securing extraocular muscles in strabismus surgery: laboratory analysis of biomechanical parameters related to the suture.
To investigate the tensile properties of several components used to secure extraocular muscle to sclera in strabismus surgery to determine potential failure points. A digital force gauge measured the tensile strength of intact or damaged 6-0 Vicryl suture (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ), as well as threads tied in a 2-1-1 or 2-1-1-1 surgeon's knot configuration. Human sclera was used to test the resistance to drag of knotted and unknotted 6-0 Vicryl suture thread through partial thickness sclera. Mean values were compared using a t test. The mean tensile strength of 6-0 Vicryl suture was 623.5 g, but it was markedly reduced by damage from the needle (P < 0.0001) or ophthalmic needle holder (P < 0.0001). The 2-1-1 knots broke at a mean force of 307.6 g, compared with 292.8 g for 2-1-1-1 knots (P = 0.84). Drag through a 2 mm scleral tunnel was 4.6 g, compared to 13.6 g for a 4 mm tunnel (P = 0.011). The force required to pull a knotted suture through a 4 mm scleral tunnel was 254 g for a 2-1-1 knot and 367 g for a 2-1-1-1 knot (P < 0.015). Although 6-0 Vicryl possesses adequate tensile strength for muscle fixation, thread damage from a needle or needle holder may cause serious losses in tensile strength. Knot-breaking strength is not significantly increased by adding a fourth throw. Frictional forces of the scleral tunnel are not sufficient to provide muscle stabilization, but the presence of a knot can provide substantial resistance to suture slip into the scleral tunnel.


Gemcitabine and checkpoint blockade exhibit synergistic anti-tumor effects in a model of murine lung carcinoma.
Lung cancer is leading cause of cancer death in the world. Chemotherapy is currently one of the standard treatments for lung cancer. Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine nucleoside drug which has been approved by FDA to treat lung cancer. However, acquired resistance inevitable develops after Gemcitabine treatment, limiting clinical efficacy. Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were treated with Gemcitabine and cell apoptosis and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. LLC mouse model was established to analysis the proportion and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) expression of CD8 + T cells. Anti-tumor effect by treating with Gemcitabine and anti-PD-1 antibody was measured through in vivo LLC mouse model. Gemcitabine treatment induces tumor cell apoptosis and PD-L1 expression. Further study showed that Gemcitabine treatment also increases CD8+ and CD4+ T cells proportion, PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in LLC mouse model. Combination therapy with Gemcitabine and αPD-1 not only has strong anti-tumor effect, but also could inhibit postsurgical recurrence of LLC. Our findings demonstrated that the combination therapy of Gemcitabine and αPD-1 is an effective therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.


Comparative Evaluation of HVT-IBD Vector, Immune Complex, and Live IBD Vaccines against vvIBDV in Commercial Broiler Chickens with High Maternally Derived Antibodies.
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) causes increased mortality and severe immunosuppression in commercial chickens. Currently, vaccination mainly used to control IBD. In this study, Group A (n = 30) received the HVT-IBD vector vaccine (Vaxxitek®) s/c and Group B (n = 30) received the immune complex vaccine (Bursa-Plex®) s/c at 1 day of age. Group C (n = 30) received a single dose of intermediate plus vaccine (228E) through the eye-drop route at 14 days of age. Group D (n = 30) was vaccinated twice with the intermediate vaccine (D78) at 12 and 22 days of age by eye-drop. Group E (n = 30) had the same treatment as group D along with the IBD killed vaccine (Nobilis G®) at 5 days of age. The PC (n = 20) and NC (n = 20) groups were non IBD vaccinated birds either challenged or not with vvIBDV, respectively; 20 chicks from each group were challenged with vvIBDV at 4 weeks of age. Based on clinical signs, postmortem gross lesions, histopathological changes, mortality rate, feed conversion rate, serology, bursal and spleen indices, the HVT-IBD vector vaccine administered was found to be safer and provided better protection against the vvIBDV challenge. The use of a killed IBD vaccine at an earlier age in broilers strengthened the protection induced by double doses of intermediate vaccines in broilers with high maternally derived antibodies against the vvIBDV challenge.


Effect of Enterococcus faecalis lipoteichoic acid on apoptosis in human osteoblast-like cells.
Enterococcus faecalis is commonly detected in persistent apical periodontitis characterized by unimproved periradicular bone resorption. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a major virulence factor of E. faecalis, on apoptosis of osteoblasts. Human osteoblast-like MG63 cells were treated with LTA from E. faecalis at a series of concentrations for 48 hours. The proliferation of the MG63 cells was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. To examine the apoptosis, the LTA-treated cells were analyzed by flow cytometry by using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide double staining. Hoechst 33258 staining was performed to observe the morphologic changes of the cells. To investigate the apoptosis at the molecular level, the protein levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. Meanwhile, the caspase-3 activity was detected with caspase colorimetric protease assay. The proliferation of MG63 cells was inhibited by E. faecalis LTA in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry assay indicated that LTA had a stimulating effect on MG63 cell apoptosis. Typical morphologies of apoptotic cells were observed under fluorescence microscope. Furthermore, the cell apoptosis was confirmed by (1) the down-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein (Bcl-2), (2) the up-regulation of the proapoptotic protein (Bax), and (3) the elevated caspase-3 activity. LTA of E. faecalis could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of human osteoblast-like MG63 cells.


Participatory Ergonomics Intervention to Prevent Work Disability Among Workers with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Workplace Setting.
Purpose In order to support people with low back pain (LBP) to stay at work, work arrangements are regarded important. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a workplace intervention using a participatory approach on work disability of workers with ongoing or recurrent LBP. Methods A total of 107 workers with LBP, with duration of pain for at least two consecutive weeks or recurrent pain of any duration during the last year, were randomized either to the intervention (n = 51) or control group (n = 56). The intervention included arrangements at the workplace, along with individual guidance provided by an occupational physiotherapist (OPT). The randomized intervention study used standard counselling and guidance by an OPT without workplace intervention as a comparison. Surveys were completed at baseline, and 6 and 12 months after baseline. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups on the primary outcome measure, i.e. self-assessed work ability. We found no between-group differences in perceived health, self-assessed work productivity, number of sickness absence days and severity of back pain. However, there were significant positive within-group changes in the intervention group in the intensity of LBP, perceived health and the number of sickness absence days due to LBP. Conclusion Workplace arrangements are feasible using participatory ergonomics, but more quantitative and qualitative research is needed on its utilization and effectiveness among workers with LBP.


Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in a male: strict correlation between metabolic control and plasma arginine concentration.
In a male with a partial defect of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) we observed that maintenance of arginine supply was crucial for adequate metabolic control in conjunction with a low protein diet. The arginine supplement had to be given such that the concentrations of arginine and ornithine in plasma were above 50 mumol/l. It appears that arginine is needed not only as an essential amino acid for protein synthesis but also as a precursor of ornithine. In this patient the substitution thus aimed at increasing the intramitochondrial ornithine in order to reach a critical substrate concentration for the kinetically abnormal OTC.


New appliance for in vivo determination of the thickness of the horny layer. Principle of the method, apparatus.
An electronically guided mechanism permits the "unbloody" measurement of the horny layer (HL) thickness in vivo. If a steel needle is driven by a constant speed electrode through the HL from the exterior, it is possible to measure and catalogue specific resistance variations by means of synchronic recording following derivation from the alternating current circuit against an indifferent electrode per needle electrode through the HL, i.e. from the point of skin surface contact to that of the living "ell layer of the epidermis. The mechanical construction consists of a hydraulic trust with a measuring head which is affixed by subpressure to the skin surface. The electronic device of plug-in design constains: 1. a constant voltage generator for the analogous and digital electronic, 2. a high Ohm test amplifier as well as threshold value switch, and measuring area transformer, 3. a digital measuring value indicator, hydraulic-guidance logistics, inclusive of respective operational parts. Measuring values, made available by electronic output, are being transmitted numerically via code transformer to a teletypewriter and simultaneously transferred on an electronic data processing tape. Presented are measuring data for the calibration of the device as well as a series of results of HL-thickness measurements. Methodological errors are being discussed, just as the applicability of the device for research and practical usage.


Simple determination of oxime carbamates in soil and environmental water by high pressure liquid chromatography.
A method for determining residues of aldicarb, aldicarb sulphoxide, aldoxycarb, oxamyl and methomyl in soil, groundwater and surface water is described. Subsoils were extracted with water and topsoils were extracted with acetone. The aqueous samples were either directly injected after acidification or concentrated by extraction with chloroform. The organic extracts were evaporated to dryness and redissolved in acidified mobile phase. The compounds were detected with a variable wavelength U.V. detector or with a fluorometric detector after a post-column reaction. Compounds within a concentration range from 0.5 ng/ml to 200 micrograms/ml could be determined with a maximum coefficient of variation of 7.5%. Recoveries varied from 77.0% to 98.8%.


Polyunsaturated fatty acids and protection of newborn rats from oxygen toxicity.
To test whether polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) might be associated with protection against oxygen toxicity in newborn experimental animals, we performed two series of experiments. In the first series, adult female rats were fed one of three diets--regular Rat Chow, a high-PUFA (safflower oil-based) diet, or a low-PUFA (palm oil-based) diet--for several weeks before and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Newborn offspring of the three diet groups had similar antioxidant enzyme activities and surfactant development. Offspring of dams fed the high-PUFA diet had total lung lipid fatty acids characterized by increased linoleic acid (18:2 omega 6) and arachidonic acid (20:4 omega 6) and a significantly increased PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratio, compared with offspring of dams fed the regular diet or low-PUFA diet; associated with this increased PUFA pattern was markedly superior survival (80 of 84 (95%) vs 56 of 84 (67%) for regular-diet offspring, P less than 0.01) after 7 days in greater than 95% oxygen. Conversely, offspring born to dams fed the low-PUFA diet had decreased lung PUFA content and inferior tolerance to prolonged high O2 exposure (survival 38 of 84 (45%)). In the second experimental series, the postnatal provision of high PUFA rat milk to offspring born to dams fed the low-PUFA diet (via "cross-nurturing" by high-PUFA diet dams) rapidly increased their lung lipid PUFA and improved their hyperoxic survival (44 of 50 vs 25 of 50 for low-PUFA diet newborn animals kept with their low-PUFA mother rats, P less than 0.01). These studies suggest that increasing lung lipid PUFA can confer a protective effect against the toxic effects of hyperoxia on the newborn animal lung.


Multiparametric differentiation of posterior fossa tumors in children using diffusion-weighted imaging and short echo-time 1H-MR spectroscopy.
To assess the combined value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in differentiating medulloblastoma, ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, and infiltrating glioma in a pediatric population. A total of 17 children with untreated posterior fossa tumors (seven medulloblastoma, four infiltrating glioma, two ependymoma, and four pilocytic astrocytoma), were investigated with conventional MRI, DWI, and MRS using a single-voxel technique. Within the nonnecrotic tumor core, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values using a standardized region of interest (ROI) were retrieved. Quantification of water signal and analysis of metabolite signals from MRS measurements in the same tumorous area were reviewed using multivariant linear discriminant analysis. Combination of ADC values and metabolites, which were normalized using water as an internal standard, allowed discrimination between the four tumor groups with a likelihood below 1 x 10(-9). Positive predictive value was 1 in all cases. Tumors could not be discriminated when using metabolite ratios or ADC values alone, nor could they be differentiated using creatine (Cr) as an internal reference even in combination with ADC values. Linear discriminant analysis using DWI and MRS using water as internal reference, fully discriminates the four most frequent posterior fossa tumors in children.


Lung microbiota and potential treatment of respiratory diseases.
The unique microbiome found in the lungs has been studied and shown to be associated with both pulmonary homeostasis and lung diseases. The lung microbiome has the potential to produce metabolites that modulate host-microbe interactions. Specifically, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by certain strains of the lung microbiota have been shown to regulate immune function and maintain gut mucosal health. In response, this review described the distribution and composition of the microbiota in lung diseases and discussed the impact of the lung microbiota on health and lung disease. In addition, the review further elaborated on the mechanism of microbial metabolites in microbial-host interaction and their application in the treatment of lung diseases. A better understanding of the interaction between the microbiota, metabolites, and host will provide potential strategies for the development of novel methods for the treatment of pulmonary microbial induced lung diseases.


The Tribe Anisoscelini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Coreidae) in Argentina.
Eight genera and 21 species of the tribe Anisoscelini (Coreidae, Coreinae) are recorded in Argentina: Anisoscelis foliaceus (Fabricius); Coribergia declivicollis (Berg); Dalmatomammurius vandoesburgi (Brailovsky); Holymenia hystrio (Fabricius); Leptoglossus chilensis (Spinola); L. cinctus (Herrich-Schaeffer); L. concolor Walker; L. crassicornis (Dallas); L. dentatus Berg; L. fasciatus (Westwood); L. gonagra (Fabricius); L. impictus (Stål); L. ingens (Mayr); L. neovexillatus Allen; L. quadricollis (Westwood); L. stigma (Herbst); L. vexillatus (Stål); L. zonatus (Dallas); Phthia lunata (Fabricius); Phthiacnemia picta (Drury) and Ugnius kermesinus (Linnaeus). A key to genera belonging to the tribe is provided. L. stigma is recorded for the first time in Argentina with new locality records for La Rioja, Salta and San Juan.


Assessing the applicability of findings in systematic reviews of complex interventions can enhance the utility of reviews for decision making.
Assessment of applicability is an essential part of the systematic review process. In the context of systematic reviews of the effects of interventions, applicability is an assessment of whether the findings of a review can be applied in a particular context or population. For more complex interventions, assessing applicability can be challenging because of greater diversity of, and interactions within and between, the intended population, intervention components, comparison conditions, and outcomes as well as a range of further considerations related to intervention context and theoretical basis. We recommend that review authors plan and conduct analyses to explain variations in effect and answer questions about mechanisms of action and influence of different settings, contexts, and populations. We also recommend that review authors provide rich descriptions of the setting, implementation details, resource use, and contexts of included studies and assess applicability for at least one target population, setting, and context. This should facilitate applicability assessments by end users. Consensus on terminology is needed and guidance should be developed for the synthesis of implementation information within reviews as well as the documentation of applicability judgments by review authors.


Analysis of a single nucleotide polymorphism in codon 388 of the FGFR4 gene in malignant gliomas.
The FGFR4 codon 388 polymorphism (Arg(388), Arg/Gly(388) or Gly(388)) was determined in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), anaplastic astrocytomas (AA), diffuse astrocytomas (DA), and control muscles. Arg(388) was rare in AA, GBM, muscles, and was absent in DA. The Arg/Gly(388) and the Gly(388) frequency was equal among GBM and controls. FGFR4 expression was not related to codon 388 in GBM, and no survival differences between Arg/Gly(388) and Gly(388) tumors were found. U87 cells (Arg/Gly(388)) did not show higher invasion than U138 cells (Gly(388)). This suggests that the FGFR4 codon 388 status does not play a major role in malignant gliomas.


Dementia care navigation: Building toward a common definition, key principles, and outcomes.
As the complexity of medical treatments and patient care systems have increased, the concept of patient navigation is growing in both popularity and breadth of application. Patient navigators are trained personnel whose role is not to provide clinical care, but to partner with patients to help them identify their needs and goals and then overcome modifiable patient-, provider-, and systems-level barriers. Due to its high incidence, duration, and medical-social complexity, dementia is an ideal candidate for a patient-centric health care delivery model such as care navigation. The Alzheimer's Association formed an expert workgroup of researchers in the field of dementia care navigation to identify evidence-based guidelines. Recognizing the unique and challenging needs of persons living with dementia and their care partners, several U.S. dementia care navigation programs have been developed and assessed in recent years. Collectively these programs demonstrate that persons living with dementia and their care partners benefit from dementia care navigation. Improved care system outcomes for the person living with dementia include reduced emergency department visits, lower hospital readmissions, fewer days hospitalized, and shorter delays in long-term care placement. Well-being is also increased, as there is decreased depression, illness, strain, embarrassment, and behavioral symptoms and increased self-reported quality of life. For care partners, dementia navigation resulted in decreased depression, burden, and unmet needs. This article presents principles of dementia care navigation to inform existing and emerging dementia care navigation programs. Several U.S. dementia care navigation programs have demonstrated outcomes for persons living with dementia, care partners, and health systems.The Alzheimer's Association formed an expert workgroup of researchers in the field of dementia care navigation to create a shared definition and identify evidence-based guidelines or principles.These outlined principles of dementia care navigation can inform existing and emerging dementia care navigation programs.


Successful recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 in a living kidney transplant recipient using low-dose methylprednisolone.
The data of immunosuppressive therapy management on solid organ transplant recipients with coronavirus disease 2019 are insufficient. We report a kidney transplant recipient who developed coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia, with successful management of low-dose mPSL. A 36-year-old man, who underwent living kidney transplantation 1.5 year prior, developed fever. After 10 days, he developed dyspnea, and his blood oxygen levels decreased. Computed tomography showed pulmonary ground-glass shadow on both lungs, and the coronavirus disease 2019 real-time polymerase chain reaction test was positive. After reducing the immunosuppressive agents, the C-reactive protein levels continued elevating, and the pulmonary shadow spread. Subsequently, low-dose methylprednisolone (40 mg/day) was administered for 4 days and his C-reactive protein and blood oxygen levels increased and improved, respectively. The coronavirus disease 2019 real-time polymerase chain reaction test was negative and the pulmonary shadow disappeared. Low-dose methylprednisolone may prevent the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019.


Transient ureteral dilatation associated with infantile infectious sacroiliitis.
We report a case of ureteral dilatation associated with septic arthritis of the ipsilateral sacroiliac joint in an infant. Recognition, diagnosis and management of this uncommon entity are discussed.


Stress, salt and hypertension.
Reasons are given why calcium, obesity and genetics cannot be considered primary factors in the etiology of essential hypertension. This leaves the major protagonists as salt and neuroendocrine responses to the emotions aroused by the social environment. Most essential hypertension is renin dependent and associated with the physiological changes induced by arousal of the defence response. The psychosocial stimulation associated with this arousal induces an increase in salt appetite. This makes the salt consumption of society a measure of the social stress to which it is exposed. Primitive people whose blood pressure remains normal throughout their lives may lack modern societies' physically protective achievements but their religiously prescribed social solidarity may protect them from psychosocial stress. Our chronic suppression of awareness of emotional arousal together with loss of the ritualized support of affiliative behavior may result in repressed emotional responses which find somatic expression in diseases such as essential hypertension. Hypertensiologist George Pickering proposed that the primitive's ritual and taboo (the equivalent in our society might be the Alcoholic's Anonymous belief in a 'Higher Power') protect them from much anger and despair. He gave this precedence over salt as the primary factor in essential hypertension. New evidence supports this. Despite a high salt diet the blood pressure of socially adjusted rodents remains normal throughout their lifespan. On the other hand, the hypertension that develops when they are psychosocially stimulated is not abated by a low salt diet. In humans, the blood pressure of cloistered, secluded Italian nuns on a high salt diet has remained normal for 20 years while that of nearby village women has risen at a startling 2 mmHg/annum during the same period. On the other hand, in rapidly changing Malawi mature adult, rural and urban blood pressures are rising fast despite a low salt intake. Thus the evidence today argues that the most important factor in the etiology of essential hypertension is not salt but psychosocial stimulation.


Bio-production of novel water-soluble yellow pigment from Aspergillus sp. and exploring its sustainable textile applications.
In the present study, 40 pigment-producing microbes were isolated from various soil sources. Among these, a novel water-soluble yellow pigment-producing fungal isolate (MBYP1) was identified as Aspergillus sp. through ITS gene sequencing. The maximum pigment yield (UA430nm, 12.45 ± 0.5 g/l) was obtained when strain MBYP1 was cultured under optimum conditions (28 °C and pH 5.5 under static condition). Subsequently, the pigment was purified through gel chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Characterization of purified pigment through UV-Vis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) reveal maximum absorbance at 430 nm and molecular mass of 301 m/z, respectively. Further, the pigment exhibited a maximum dyeing capacity of up to 80% irrespective of mordant. Toxicity evaluation of purified pigment with zebra fish model system reported an IC50 value of 710 µg/mL. Pigment antioxidant ability was established by DPPH (35.7 µg/mL) and phosphomolybdenum assay (226.61 mg/g) thus ascertaining improvised light fastness of dyed fabric. Moreover, lack of antimicrobial activity (up to 40 µg/mL) improves pigment bio-degradability. In collective, the novel yellow pigment from Aspergillus sp. MBYP1 strain was found to be an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dye for potential applications in textile industries.


Left bundle branch block, an old-new entity.
Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is generally associated with a poorer prognosis in comparison to normal intraventricular conduction, but also in comparison to right bundle branch block which is generally considered to be benign in the absence of an underlying cardiac disorder like congenital heart disease. LBBB may be the first manifestation of a more diffuse myocardial disease. The typical surface ECG feature of LBBB is a prolongation of QRS above 0.11 s in combination with a delay of the intrinsic deflection in leads V5 and V6 of more than 60 ms and no septal q waves in leads I, V5, and V6 due to the abnormal septal activation from right to left. LBBB may induce abnormalities in left ventricular performance due to abnormal asynchronous contraction patterns which can be compensated by biventricular pacing (resynchronization therapy). Asynchronous electrical activation of the ventricles causes regional differences in workload which may lead to asymmetric hypertrophy and left ventricular dilatation, especially due to increased wall mass in late-activated regions, which may aggravate preexisting left ventricular pumping performance or even induce it. Of special interest are patients with LBBB and normal left ventricular dimensions and normal ejection fraction at rest but who may present with an abnormal increase in pulmonary artery pressure during exercise, production of lactate during high-rate pacing, signs of ischemia on myocardial scintigrams (but no coronary artery narrowing), and abnormal ultrastructural findings on myocardial biopsy. For this entity, the term latent cardiomyopathy had been suggested previously.


Association af changes in the bacterial ecology of bovine mastitis with changes in the use of milking machines and antibacterial drugs.
The results of mastitis bacteriology made by the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute in Finland during the past 50 years (1.15 million samples) are viewed in relation to simultaneous changes in dairy cow management. Although intensive preventive measures have been applied for decades, the prevalence of bovine mastitis has not decreased. Instead, pathogenic bacteria are becoming progressively less susceptible to the available therapy. In part this must be due to the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, but it seems that the bacterial spectrum has also changed. The incidence of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci) has decreased, while in contrast, the incidence of staphylococci, initially Staphylococcus aureus and later coagulase-negative staphylococci, has increased. Results suggest that external pressure, like changes in animal husbandry, including antimicrobial treatments and introduction of modern milking machines, act as selective forces on the bacterial species which cause bovine mastitis.


Perioperative Systemic Chemotherapy, Cytoreductive Surgery, and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Patients With Colorectal Peritoneal Metastasis: Results of the Prospective Multicenter Phase 2 COMBATAC Trial.
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) as parts of an interdisciplinary treatment concept including systemic chemotherapy can improve survival of selected patients with peritoneal metastatic colorectal cancer (pmCRC). Nevertheless, the sequence of the therapeutic options is still a matter of debate. Thus, the COMBATAC (COMBined Anticancer Treatment of Advanced Colorectal cancer) trial was conducted to evaluate a combined treatment regimen consisting of preoperative systemic polychemotherapy + cetuximab followed by CRS + HIPEC and postoperative systemic polychemotherapy + cetuximab. The COMBATAC trial is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, single-stage phase 2 trial. Twenty-six patients with synchronous or metachronous colorectal or appendiceal peritoneal carcinomatosis were included. Enrollment was terminated prematurely by the sponsor because of slow recruitment. Progression-free survival as primary end point and overall survival were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Also evaluated were morbidity according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0 and feasibility of the combined treatment concept. Median progression-free survival for the intention-to-treat population (n = 25) was 14.9 months. Median overall survival was not reached during the study duration. Ninety-two adverse events were documented in 16 patients, including 14 serious adverse events in 9 patients. The overall morbidity rate was 64%, and the grade 3/4 morbidity rate was 44%. Of all grade 3/4 morbidity events, 36.4% were related to systemic chemotherapy and 22.7% to surgery, whereas 40.9% were not directly related. There was no treatment-related mortality. The results of the COMBATAC trial show that the multimodal treatment concept consisting of perioperative systemic chemotherapy and CRS + HIPEC is safe and feasible. Progression-free survival in selected patients with colorectal or appendiceal peritoneal metastasis might be improved.


Sweeping-beam technique with electrons for large treatment areas as total skin irradiation : Dosimetric and technical aspects of a modified Stanford technique.
Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is still a technical and therapeutic challenge today. Thus, we developed TSEBT using a sweeping-beam technique. For treatment delivery, a linear accelerator Versa HD (ELEKTA, Stockholm, Sweden) with high-dose-rate electrons (HDRE) was used with a dose rate of 9000 MU/min. Dosimetry quality assurance was performed by multiple measurements with film dosimetry, 2D array, and Roos chamber. Clinical experience shows that treatment durations of 75 to 90 min are usual for the Stanford technique without using HDRE. With this new sweeping-beam irradiation technique, the total treatment time of a daily fraction could be reduced to 20 min while keeping over- and underdosing low. The treatment area is about 60 cm × 200 cm and the dose distribution is uniform within 2% and 5% in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. Initially, the electron energy of 6 MeV is reduced to 3.2 MeV by 1‑cm polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) scatter and the irradiation conditions of a source-surface distance (SSD) of 350 cm. The photon contamination drops to under 1%. These results show that the mean dose to total skin varies between 1.3 and 1.8 Gy. The sweeping-beam technique with electrons has a homogeneous dose distribution in connection with a short treatment time.


Treatments of refractory eosinophilic lung diseases with biologics.
Biologics targeting the molecules associated with type 2 inflammation have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Chronic eosinophilic airway/lung diseases including chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis/mycosis, eosinophilic bronchitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis share clinical features with eosinophilic asthma and CRPwNP, which are mostly adult-onset and may develop simultaneously or consecutively. These eosinophilic airway/lung diseases respond well to initial treatment with systemic corticosteroids, but often recur when the corticosteroids are tapered. The management of these "refractory" cases is an unmet need for clinicians. We first reviewed the standard treatments for these chronic eosinophilic airway/lung diseases, followed by the definition and prevalence of refractory diseases and the role of biologics in their management. The available evidence varies from case reports and case series to randomized control trials, depending on the type of disease; however, these studies provide not only a direction for clinical practice, but also insights into the pathophysiology of each disease. Physicians should discuss the efficacy and costs of biologics in patients with refractory eosinophilic airway/lung diseases to minimize not only the current symptoms, but future risks as well.


In silico analysis and experimental validation of lipoprotein and novel Tat signal peptides processing in Anabaena sp. PCC7120.
Signal peptide (SP) plays a pivotal role in protein translocation. Lipoprotein- and twin arginine translocase (Tat) dependent signal peptides were studied in All3087, a homolog of competence protein of Synechocystis PCC6803 and in two putative alkaline phosphatases (ALPs, Alr2234 and Alr4976), respectively. In silico analysis of All3087 is shown to possess the characteristics feature of competence proteins such as helix-hairpin-helix, N and C-terminal HKD endonuclease domain, calcium binding domain and N-terminal lipoprotein signal peptide. The SP recognition-cleavage site in All3087 was predicted (AIA-AC) using SignalP while further in-depth analysis using Pred-Lipo and WebLogo analysis for consensus sequence showed it as IAA-C. Activities of putative ALPs were confirmed by heterologous overexpression, activity assessment and zymogram analysis. ALP activity in Anabaena remains cell bound in log-phase, but during late log/stationary phase, an enhanced ALP activity was detected in extracellular milieu. The enhancement of ALP activity during stationary phase was not only due to inorganic phosphate limitation but also contributed by the presence of novel bipartite Tat-SP. The Tat signal transported the folded active ALPs to the membrane, followed by anchoring into the membrane and successive cleavage enabling transportation of the ALPs to the extracellular milieu, because of bipartite architecture and processing of transit Tat-SP.


Mirror asomatognosia in right lesions stroke victims.
The objectives of this prospective study were: to search for mirror-induced disorders of the body image in right hemisphere stroke victims using a description task of the contralateral upper limb, to analyze their clinical features, and to discuss possible mechanisms. Sixteen consecutive patients with documented unilateral right hemisphere stroke were examined for asomatognosia at the acute phase of stroke, then at least 2 months after stroke under three test conditions: without a mirror, with a conventional mirror, with an inverted mirror. Video recordings of the tests were analyzed to assess performance. The diagnosis of asomatognosia was retained if the subject reported at least one of three sensations: limb transformation, limb strangeness, and/or limb alienation. During the acute phase, 14/16 patients presented manifestations of asomatognosia. All of these spontaneous manifestations had disappeared 2 months later, but were reactivated in 12 patients when exposed to mirror images. The mirror tests revealed four situations: no disorder (n = 4), asomatognosia with both mirrors (n = 5), asomatognosia with the conventional or inverted mirrors (n = 1 and 5), and asomatognosia with the inverted mirror (n = 1). These manifestations were designated as mirror-asomatognosia, a disorder resulting from adaptations of the procedures leading to reorganization of the internal representations of the body image. These findings suggest there are several such internal representations of the body image and that direct body image and mirror body image would be two specific ones. These clinical manifestations and their evolution over time are an expression of the progressive nature of the underlying compensatory mechanisms made possible by brain plasticity.


Morphology and ultrastructure of Lymphocystis disease virus, a fish iridovirus, grown in tissue culture.
The morphology and the ultrastructure of the Lymphocystis disease virus (LDV) strain Leetown , a fish iridovirus , was studied by electron microscopy. The virus was grown on bluegill fry (BF-2) cells at 21 degrees. LDV showed an icosahedral shape by ultrathin sections and negative staining, with a diameter of about 200 nm. The shell of the virion seemed to be composed of two unitary membranes with a total diameter of 16 nm. The outer membrane demonstrated swelling in negative staining, exhibiting a central core and the presence of globular subunits at its external surface organized in geometrical arrays of 60 and 90 degrees. Glutaraldehyde fixation preserved very effectively the icosahedral structure with the subunits remaining invisible. The internal structure of the virions was composed of osmiophilic threads or granules of 6 to 8 nm in diameter surrounded by an amorphous material of 10 to 20 nm in thickness. External filaments were observed at the surface of the particles in ultrathin sections, giving the appearance of a halo surrounding the shell. In negative staining these filaments were rarely observed; in one virus preparation, they appeared in bundles.


Biological significance of the antibody response to HIV antigens expressed on the cell surface.
Human antibodies to HIV antigens expressed on the surface of infected cells may inhibit cell fusion with uninfected CD 4-positive cells and mediate killing of the infected cells by effector cells bearing the Fc receptor. Sequential sera from ten HIV-antibody seroconverted men, of which five progressed to ARC or AIDS (CDC stage IV) during the follow-up period of two years, were tested for the ability to inhibit CD 4-dependent cell fusion, (CFI) and to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Nine patients developed HIV-specific ADCC and seven CFI-antibodies using the HIV strain HTLV-IIIB as target antigen. These antibodies appeared approximately at the same time 2-12 months after primary infection, defined as antibody seroconversion or antigenaemia. ADCC antibodies were detectable at higher titers as compared to CFI-antibodies. All sera of asymptomatic individuals (CDC stage II and III) were CFI antibody positive and had a higher mean ADCC titer as compared to sera from patients progressing to AIDS or ARC. ADCC and CFI antibodies coincided in some cases in the complete absence of core antibodies. Because the relationship between ADCC and CFI was not exclusive it is concluded that distinct domains of the HIV envelope induce natural antibodies mediating ADCC and CFI.


Use of a standardized uptake value for parametric in vivo imaging of benzodiazepine receptor distribution on [11C]flumazenil brain PET.
To simplify the acquisition protocol of carbon-11 labeled flumazenil (FMZ) positron emission tomography (PET) for distribution volume (DV) images, we attempted to obtain standardized uptake value (SUV) images compatible with DV images, and assessed the applicability of this method in patients with unilateral cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). [(11)C]FMZ PET was performed in ten normal subjects. A DV image and ten sequential 5-min SUV images were generated for each subject. We investigated the correlation coefficient (r) and standard estimation of error (SEE) between the latter ten static images and the DV image using the pixel-by-pixel method, thereby determining the optimum acquisition phase. The same FMZ PET procedure was performed in 15 patients with unilateral CVD. Twenty regions of interest (ROIs) were positioned both in lesioned areas and in symmetrical regions. DV and SUV in the optimum phase for each ROI were calculated to compare the lesion-to-normal (L/N) ratio of DV and that of SUV. The highest r and a low SEE (r=0.957, SEE=633) were observed from 30 to 35 min after tracer administration in the study of normal subjects. A high r (0.945) and a low SEE (0.0438) between the DV L/N ratio and the SUV L/N ratio were obtained in the study of patients. Our study suggests that SUV images acquired from 30 to 35 min after FMZ administration are a suitable alternative to DV images not only in normal subjects but also in patients with unilateral CVD. This simple method seems to be valuable for the identification of altered neuronal activity in patients with CVD.


Multiple symmetric lipomatosis in the Chinese: ultrasound, CT and MR imaging.
We report four cases of multiple symmetric lipomatosis in the Chinese population. We believe that multiple symmetric lipomatosis in the Chinese is not uncommon and may be related to the increasing incidence of alcoholism. The ultrasound appearances of these lipomatous masses are presented for the first time. Heterogeneous echogenic masses with fine fibrous strands that insinuate around fascial planes, lymph nodes and vascular tissues are typical findings. Unlike diseases affecting the Western population, multiple symmetric lipomatosis in the Chinese appears to be limited to the head and neck.


A common methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation and longevity.
Homozygotes (TT genotype) for the C677T mutation in the gene of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (C677T/MTHFR mutation) constitute about 12% of the Caucasian population. They have mild hyperhomocysteinemia which is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. If the mutation is associated with premature death its prevalence is expected to be lower in the elderly than in the young. To test this we determined the C677T/MTHFR genotypes in 220 newborn and 222 elderly 80-108-year-old Swedes. In the newborn and elderly, the allele frequency, of the C677T/MTHFR mutation was 29.1 and 27.0% and the mutant homozygote frequency was 10.0 and 9.5%, respectively. In a meta analysis of the present and three previous studies including a total of 1388 elderly and 1415 younger subjects, the odds ratio (OR) representing the likelihood of the TT genotype to attain old age relative to the CC genotype was 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69-1.11) and relative to both the CC and CT genotypes was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.66-1.04). This finding does not suggest that the C677T/MTHFR mutation is a strong risk factor for diseases frequently leading to premature death.


Improved photo-induced charge carriers separation through the addition of erbium on TiO2 nanoparticles and its effect on photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B.
ErxTi1-xO2 nanocomposites was prepared by a simple sol-gel method with various proportion of erbium viz., x=0.02, x=0.04, x=0.06, x=0.08 and x=0.10. The prepared nanocomposites were studied using XRD, UV-Vis DRS, Raman spectra, HR-SEM, EDS, TEM, PL and impedance spectroscopy. XRD revealed that modified TiO2 nanocomposites possessed only the anatase phase with crystallite sizes of about 8.1 to 12.7nm and which is well consistent with TEM analysis. It is seen that erbium ion exist in the nanocomposites based on the analysis of EDS. HR-SEM analysis revealed that the ErxTi1-xO2 nanocomposites are spherical in shape with size between 10 and 20nm. The amount of erbium remarkably affects the structural, optical and electrical properties. Loading erbium could produce 4f energy levels between valence and conduction bands thus narrowing optical band gap and generates visible absorption peaks. It was found that erbium modified TiO2 nanocomposites induced a shift in Raman. The enhancement of life time of charge carriers was observed on erbium inclusion.


Preventing suicide in refugees and asylum seekers: a rapid literature review examining the role of suicide prevention training for health and support staff.
Refugees and asylum seekers are exposed to a unique set of circumstances and experiences that are associated with an increased suicide risk. Suicide prevention training has been recognised as a central component supporting a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Limited literature exists exploring the role of suicide prevention training for health and support staff working with refugee and asylum seeker consumers. To determine the impact suicide prevention training for health staff may have in supporting refugee and asylum seeker suicide prevention, researchers undertook a rapid literature review exploring what elements should be considered when developing suicide prevention training for health and support staff working with refugee and asylum seeker consumers. Results of academic and grey literature screening identified 14 studies exploring suicide prevention training for health and support staff working with refugee and asylum seeker consumers. Findings of the literature review suggest suicide prevention training for health and support staff working with refugee and asylum seekers should consider the inclusion of content which increases participant competence and confidence to identify and respond to suicide risk; provide staff with an understanding of cultural differences and its impact on refugees and asylum seekers recognition of mental health and suicide as a health matter; highlight the importance trauma informed practices in care and consider the lived experience of refugees and asylum seekers. Inclusion of specific content in refugee and asylum seeker suicide prevention training may provide health and support staff increased competence and confidence to identify and respond to suicide risk in refugees and asylum seekers.


Fibrinolytic activity in retinal vein occlusion.
Impaired fibrinolytic function is a common finding in patients with thrombotic disease. The present study was initiated to evaluate the fibrinolytic response to a venous occlusion test (VOT) in patients with retinal vein occlusion. Euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity were measured before and after VOT in a group of 26 consecutive patients presenting with retinal vein occlusion and in 15 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Before VOT (baseline), a higher proportion of patients (54%) had an ECLT of more than 5 h compared with controls (6.7%) (p = 0.0027) indicating decreased overall fibrinolytic activity. Patients had non-significantly lower t-PA and higher PAI activities compared with controls. After VOT, a higher proportion of patients (34.6%) had an ECLT of more than 5 h compared with controls (6.7%) (p = 0.05). Patients had significantly lower t-PA activity (p = 0.0232) and significantly higher PAI activity (p = 0.0292). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with an ECLT of more than 5 h had significantly higher levels of PAI activity at baseline (p = 0.0326) and after VOT (p = 0.0184) compared with patients with an ECLT of less than 5 h. However, t-PA activity was significantly higher (p = 0.0153) at baseline, and non-significantly higher after VOT in patients with an ECLT of more than 5 h when compared with patients with an ECLT of less than 5 h. These findings suggest that impaired fibrinolysis due to increased PAI activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of retinal vein occlusion.


Myocilin variations and familial glaucoma in Taxiarchis, a small Greek village.
To initiate a prospective study of glaucoma in a Greek village reported over 30 years ago to have several large families with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). A random group of 126 villagers from Taxiarchis, Greece was examined in the village community center. The detailed evaluation included ophthalmic and general history, measurement of blood pressure, intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT) as well as evaluation of the optic nerve status. The incidence of glaucoma approached 18% in this small isolated village. Myocilin variants were present in almost half of the individuals screened with Arg76Lys and Thr377Met being the most common finding (25% and 17%, respectively). Over half of the individuals with the Thr377Met mutation were diagnosed with glaucoma. Two of these patients were homozygous for the Thr377Met mutation. Three individuals with the Arg76Lys polymorphism had glaucoma; however, two of these individuals also had the Thr377Met mutation. Only two patients with pseudoexfoliation were identified. The incidence of glaucoma and the Thr377Met MYOC mutation in this population is much higher than that reported for other European populations.


Effects of ELF and static magnetic fields on calcium oscillations in islets of Langerhans.
Several experimental studies have produced contradictory results on the effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields on cellular processes involving calcium ions. Furthermore, the few positive results have not been independently replicated. In most of these studies, isolated cells were used. Our study used mouse islets of Langerhans, in which very regular oscillations of calcium concentration can be observed at length. These oscillations are sustained by processes that imply energetic and inter-intracellular communication. Various magnetic fields were applied, either sinusoidal at different frequencies (50 Hz or multiples of the natural oscillation frequency) at 0.1 or 1 mT or static at 1 mT. Islets were also exposed to "cyclotron resonance" conditions. There was neither alteration of the fundamental oscillation frequency nor the degree of organisation under all exposure conditions. Using this sensitive model, we could not show new evidence of alterations of calcium processes under exposure to various magnetic fields.


Hibernation Patterns of the European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, at a Cornish Rescue Centre.
The European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, is frequently admitted to rescue centres in the UK. With many overwintering in captivity, there is cause to investigate hibernation patterns in order to inform and improve husbandry and monitoring protocols. Thirty-five hedgehogs were studied over two winters. Weight change during hibernation for the first winter was used to test for effects of disturbance on different aspects of hibernation, including total duration, frequency and duration of spontaneous arousals. There was no significant difference between the two winters for any of the four aspects studied. Significant positive correlations demonstrated that weight-loss increased with the duration of the hibernation period and with percent of nights spent asleep, but not with the number of arousal events. Thus, weight-loss appears more strongly associated with the proportion of time spent asleep than with the number of arousal events. This was surprising given the assumed energetic expense of repeated arousal and was potentially due to availability of food during arousals. In contrast with previous studies, larger hedgehogs lost less weight per day than did smaller hedgehogs. They also woke up more often (i.e., had more opportunities to feed), which may explain the unexpected pattern of weight-loss. Hibernatory behaviour in captivity differs from that in the wild, likely because of non-natural conditions in hutches and the immediate availability of food. This study provides a basis for further research into the monitoring and husbandry of hedgehogs such that it can be adapted for each individual according to pre-hibernation weight and behaviour during hibernation.


Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins inhibit Beclin 1-dependent autophagy.
Apoptosis and autophagy are both tightly regulated biological processes that play a central role in tissue homeostasis, development, and disease. The anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, interacts with the evolutionarily conserved autophagy protein, Beclin 1. However, little is known about the functional significance of this interaction. Here, we show that wild-type Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins, but not Beclin 1 binding defective mutants of Bcl-2, inhibit Beclin 1-dependent autophagy in yeast and mammalian cells and that cardiac Bcl-2 transgenic expression inhibits autophagy in mouse heart muscle. Furthermore, Beclin 1 mutants that cannot bind to Bcl-2 induce more autophagy than wild-type Beclin 1 and, unlike wild-type Beclin 1, promote cell death. Thus, Bcl-2 not only functions as an antiapoptotic protein, but also as an antiautophagy protein via its inhibitory interaction with Beclin 1. This antiautophagy function of Bcl-2 may help maintain autophagy at levels that are compatible with cell survival, rather than cell death.


Aryl-aryl coupling reaction using a novel and highly active palladium reagent prepared from Pd(OAc)2, 1,3-bis[diphenylphosphino]propane (DPPP), and Bu3P.
A palladium-assisted coupling reaction of aryl triflate with arene was investigated, and a novel Pd reagent prepared from equimolar Pd(OAc)2, 1,3-Bis[diphenylphosphino]propane (DPPP), and Bu3P was developed. This method is useful for intramolecular biaryl coupling reactions, not only between aryl triflate and arene (triflate-amide), but also between aryl halide and arene (halo-amide).


Adaptation to walking with an exoskeleton that assists ankle extension.
The goal of this study was to investigate adaptation to walking with bilateral ankle-foot exoskeletons with kinematic control that assisted ankle extension during push-off. We hypothesized that subjects would show a neuromotor and metabolic adaptation during a 24min walking trial with a powered exoskeleton. Nine female subjects walked on a treadmill at 1.36±0.04ms(-1) during 24min with a powered exoskeleton and 4min with an unpowered exoskeleton. Subjects showed a metabolic adaptation after 18.5±5.0min, followed by an adapted period. Metabolic cost, electromyography and kinematics were compared between the unpowered condition, the beginning of the adaptation and the adapted period. In the beginning of the adaptation (4min), a reduction in metabolic cost of 9% was found compared to the unpowered condition. This reduction was accompanied by reduced muscular activity in the plantarflexor muscles, as the powered exoskeleton delivered part of the necessary ankle extension moment. During the adaptation this metabolic reduction further increased to 16%, notwithstanding a constant exoskeleton assistance. This increased reduction is the result of a neuromotor adaptation in which subjects adapt to walking with the exoskeleton, thereby reducing muscular activity in all leg muscles. Because of the fast adaptation and the significant reductions in metabolic cost we want to highlight the potential of an ankle-foot exoskeleton with kinematic control that assists ankle extension during push-off.


ACHENY: A standard Chenopodiaceae image dataset for deep learning models.
This paper contains datasets related to the "Efficient Deep Learning Models for Categorizing Chenopodiaceae in the wild" (Heidary-Sharifabad et al., 2021). There are about 1500 species of Chenopodiaceae that are spread worldwide and often are ecologically important. Biodiversity conservation of these species is critical due to the destructive effects of human activities on them. For this purpose, identification and surveillance of Chenopodiaceae species in their natural habitat are necessary and can be facilitated by deep learning. The feasibility of applying deep learning algorithms to identify Chenopodiaceae species depends on access to the appropriate relevant dataset. Therefore, ACHENY dataset was collected from natural habitats of different bushes of Chenopodiaceae species, in real-world conditions from desert and semi-desert areas of the Yazd province of IRAN. This imbalanced dataset is compiled of 27,030 RGB color images from 30 Chenopodiaceae species, each species 300-1461 images. Imaging is performed from multiple bushes for each species, with different camera-to-target distances, viewpoints, angles, and natural sunlight in November and December. The collected images are not pre-processed, only are resized to 224 × 224 dimensions which can be used on some of the successful deep learning models and then were grouped into their respective class. The images in each class are separated by 10% for testing, 18% for validation, and 72% for training. Test images are often manually selected from plant bushes different from the training set. Then training and validation images are randomly separated from the remaining images in each category. The small-sized images with 64 × 64 dimensions also are included in ACHENY which can be used on some other deep models.


Bacteriological quality of bottled drinking water versus municipal tap water in Dharan municipality, Nepal.
Water-related diseases are of great concern in developing countries like Nepal. Every year, there are countless morbidity and mortality due to the consumption of unsafe drinking water. Recently, there have been increased uses of bottled drinking water in an assumption that the bottled water is safer than the tap water and its use will help to protect from water-related diseases. So, the main objective of this study was to analyze the bacteriological quality of bottled drinking water and that of municipal tap water. A total of 100 samples (76 tap water and 24 bottled water) were analyzed for bacteriological quality and pH. The methods used were spread plate method for total plate count (TPC) and membrane filter method for total coliform count (TCC), fecal coliform count (FCC), and fecal streptococcal count (FSC). pH meter was used for measuring pH. One hundred percent of the tap water samples and 87.5 % of the bottled water samples were found to be contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria. Of the tap water samples, 55.3 % were positive for total coliforms, compared with 25 % of the bottled water. No bottled water samples were positive for fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, in contrast to 21.1 % and 14.5 % of the tap water samples being contaminated with fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, respectively. One hundred percent of the tap water samples and 54.2 % of the bottled water samples had pH in the acceptable range. All of the municipal tap water samples and most of the bottled drinking water samples distributed in Dharan municipality were found to be contaminated with one or more than one type of indicator organisms. On the basis of our findings, we may conclude that comparatively, the bottled drinking water may have been safer (than tap water) to drink.


Nucleotide sequence coding for the human type IV collagen alpha 2 chain cDNA reveals extensive homology with the NC-1 domain of alpha 1 (IV) but not with the collagenous domain or 3'-untranslated region.
We have isolated two overlapping cDNA clones that provide the complete nucleotide sequence coding for the NC-1 domain and 3'-untranslated region of the alpha 2 chain of human type IV collagen as well as a sequence encoding 232 residues of the collagenous domain. An extensive homology was observed between the sequences of the NC-1 domain of the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains, but considerably less between the sequences encoding collagenous and 3'-untranslated regions. There were four interruptions in the collagenous sequence studied whereas the comparable region of the alpha 1(IV) chain had only two. A potential oligosaccharide attachment site was found in a 6-residue long interruption of the collagenous domain but none in the NC-1 domain.


CO reveals dual mechanisms of O2 chemoreception in the cat carotid body.
The hypothesis that CO-binding pigments in the carotid body participate in O2 chemoreception was tested. The chemosensory nerve discharges of cat carotid body perfused and superfused in vitro at 36-37 degrees C with cell-free solution containing CO2-HCO3- (pH approximately equal to 7.39) were recorded to monitor O2 chemoreception. Several levels of PCO (60-550 Torr) at two levels of PO2 (50 Torr-140 Torr) were used. With high PCO of 500-550 Torr at any PO2 the discharge rate peaked promptly but the effect was significantly less than that to hypoxia. At any stage of the CO effect, exposure to light promptly attenuated or eliminated the response, as if the stimulatory effect of hypoxia was absent. Lower PCO of 60-70 Torr attenuated the response to hypoxia which was not suppressed by light. PCO of 140 Torr also attenuated the response to hypoxia and made the activity partially photolabile. During high PCO exposure the excitatory response to cyanide but not to nicotine was attenuated, consistent with the idea that the effects of nicotine are downstream from those of CO. Both inhibitory and excitatory effects of CO were promptly reversible. The results indicate that two types of CO-binding chromophores participate in O2 chemoreception in the carotid body.


Acute dystonic reactions in Saudi Arabian psychiatric patients treated with haloperidol.
The work described in this paper arose from a clinical observation that Saudi Arabian patients treated with haloperidol appeared to suffer extrapyramidal side effects - particularly acute dystonic reactions, more frequently than European patients. It was decided to study sequential drug free patients requiring haloperidol treatment and the results are presented.


Key determinants for signaling in the sensory rhodopsin II/transducer complex are different between Halobacterium salinarum and Natronomonas pharaonis.
The cell membrane of Halobacterium salinarum contains a retinal-binding photoreceptor, sensory rhodopsin II (HsSRII), coupled with its cognate transducer (HsHtrII), allowing repellent phototaxis behavior for shorter wavelength light. Previous studies on SRII from Natronomonas pharaonis (NpSRII) pointed out the importance of the hydrogen bonding interaction between Thr204NpSRII and Tyr174NpSRII in signal transfer from SRII to HtrII. Here, we investigated the effect on phototactic function by replacing residues in HsSRII corresponding to Thr204NpSRII and Tyr174NpSRII . Whereas replacement of either residue altered the photocycle kinetics, introduction of any mutations at Ser201HsSRII and Tyr171HsSRII did not eliminate negative phototaxis function. These observations imply the possibility of the presence of an unidentified molecular mechanism for photophobic signal transduction differing from NpSRII-NpHtrII.


Zinc Fingers in HIV-1 Gag Precursor Are Not Equivalent for gRNA Recruitment at the Plasma Membrane.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag precursor specifically selects the unspliced viral genomic RNA (gRNA) from the bulk of cellular and spliced viral RNAs via its nucleocapsid (NC) domain and drives gRNA encapsidation at the plasma membrane (PM). To further identify the determinants governing the intracellular trafficking of Gag-gRNA complexes and their accumulation at the PM, we compared, in living and fixed cells, the interactions between gRNA and wild-type Gag or Gag mutants carrying deletions in NC zinc fingers (ZFs) or a nonmyristoylated version of Gag. Our data showed that the deletion of both ZFs simultaneously or the complete NC domain completely abolished intracytoplasmic Gag-gRNA interactions. Deletion of either ZF delayed the delivery of gRNA to the PM but did not prevent Gag-gRNA interactions in the cytoplasm, indicating that the two ZFs display redundant roles in this respect. However, ZF2 played a more prominent role than ZF1 in the accumulation of the ribonucleoprotein complexes at the PM. Finally, the myristate group, which is mandatory for anchoring the complexes at the PM, was found to be dispensable for the association of Gag with the gRNA in the cytosol.


Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions of a novel acidic glycan can mediate sponge cell adhesion.
Cell recognition and adhesion were first demonstrated in marine sponges. These phenomena were later shown in Microciona prolifera sponge to be mediated by a Ca(2+)-dependent self-association of adhesion proteoglycans (APs) attached in a species-specific manner to cell-surface receptors. Using the same experimental system we now provide three lines of evidence that highly polyvalent Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions of a novel AP glycan represent the basis of AP-AP self-binding and thus of cell adhesion. 1) A specific monoclonal antibody which blocks cell aggregation and AP bead adhesion identified a highly repetitive novel carbohydrate epitope (2500 sites) in an acidic glycan of M(r) = 200 x 10(3) (g200) from AP. 2) Reconstitution of the Ca(2+)-dependent self-interaction activity of AP was achieved by cross-linking the purified protein-free g200 glycan into polymers of similar valency as the native AP. 3) Beads coated with the protein-free g200 glycan showed a Ca(2+)-dependent aggregation equivalent to that of AP beads. Carbohydrate and amino acid analyses of the g200 glycan purified by gel electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography yielded six components in the following proportions; 68 fucose, 32 glucuronic acid, 2 mannose, 18 galactose, 19 N-acetylglucosamine, and 1 asparagine residue. These unique chemical features together with immunological and enzymological analyses suggest that the g200 glycan is a large highly fucosylated, acidic, N-linked polysaccharide with a novel structure distinct from that of other known glycosaminoglycans.


Tuning the selectivity of catalytic nitriles hydrogenation by structure regulation in atomically dispersed Pd catalysts.
The product selectivity in catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles is strongly correlated with the structure of the catalyst. In this work, two types of atomically dispersed Pd species stabilized on the defect-rich nanodiamond-graphene (ND@G) hybrid support: single Pd atoms (Pd1/ND@G) and fully exposed Pd clusters with average three Pd atoms (Pdn/ND@G), were fabricated. The two catalysts show distinct difference in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of nitriles. The Pd1/ND@G catalyst preferentially generates secondary amines (Turnover frequency (TOF@333 K 709 h-1, selectivity >98%), while the Pdn/ND@G catalyst exhibits high selectivity towards primary amines (TOF@313 K 543 h-1, selectivity >98%) under mild reaction conditions. Detailed characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the structure of atomically dispersed Pd catalysts governs the dissociative adsorption pattern of H2 and also the hydrogenation pathway of the benzylideneimine (BI) intermediate, resulting in different product selectivity over Pd1/ND@G and Pdn/ND@G, respectively. The structure-performance relationship established over atomically dispersed Pd catalysts provides valuable insights for designing catalysts with tunable selectivity.


Nuclear protein phosphorylation in isolated nuclei from HeLa cells. Evidence that 32P incorporation from [gamma-32P]GTP is catalyzed by nuclear kinase II.
A nuclear system for studying nuclear protein phosphorylation is characterized, using as phosphate donor either low levels of [gamma-32P]GTP, low levels of [gamma-32P]ATP, or low levels of labeled ATP plus excess unlabeled GTP. Since nuclear casein kinase II is the only described nuclear protein kinase to use GTP with high affinity, low levels of GTP should specifically assay this enzyme. ATP should measure all kinases, and ATP plus unlabeled GTP should measure all kinases except nuclear casein kinase II (ATP-specific kinases). The results are consistent with these predictions. In contrast with the ATP-specific activity, endogenous phosphorylation with GTP was enhanced by 100 mM NaCl, inhibited by heparin and quercetin, stimulated by polyamines, and did not use exogenous histone as substrate. The GTP- and ATP-specific kinases phosphorylated different subsets of about 20 endogenous polypeptides each. Addition of purified casein kinase II enhanced the GTP-supported phosphorylation of the identical proteins that were phosphorylated by endogenous kinase. These results support the hypothesis that activity measured with GTP is catalyzed by nuclear casein kinase II, though other minor kinases which can use GTP are not ruled out. Preliminary observations with this system suggest that the major nuclear kinases exist in an inhibited state in nuclei, and that the effects of polyamines on nuclear casein kinase II activity are substrate specific. This nuclear system is used to determine if the C-proteins of hnRNP particles, previously shown to be substrates for nuclear casein kinase II in isolated particles, is phosphorylated by GTP in intact nuclei. The results demonstrate that the C-proteins are effectively phosphorylated by GTP, but in addition they are phosphorylated by ATP-specific kinase activity.


Latex condom deterioration accelerated by environmental factors: I. Ozone.
Commercial non-lubricated latex condoms were unpackaged and exposed in an environmental chamber to ozone levels (0.3 ppm) commonly present in urban smog conditions. Deterioration was observed by scanning electron microscopy after 18 hours exposure. Loss of mechanical strength was quantitated by measurement of the air pressures necessary to burst the condom and volumes at burst. After 24 hours exposure to ozone the latex surface was covered with craters and after 48 hours the pressure required to burst the condom was 44% that of control samples. Data suggest the need for study of the effectiveness of lubrication and packaging in protecting condoms from environmental factors which may accelerate deterioration.


Clinical Trial Design in Neuroendocrine Tumors.
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) present tremendous opportunities for productive clinical investigation, but substantial challenges as well. Investigators must be aware of common pitfalls in study design, informed by an understanding of the history of trials in the field, to make the best use of available data and our patient volunteers. We believe the salient issues in clinical trial design and interpretation in the NET field are patient homogeneity, standardized response assessment, and rigorous design and execution. Whether designing or interpreting a study in patients with NET, these principles should drive assessment.


Neural correlates of experimentally induced flow experiences.
Flow refers to a positive, activity-associated, subjective experience under conditions of a perceived fit between skills and task demands. Using functional magnetic resonance perfusion imaging, we investigated the neural correlates of flow in a sample of 27 human subjects. Experimentally, in the flow condition participants worked on mental arithmetic tasks at challenging task difficulty which was automatically and continuously adjusted to individuals' skill level. Experimental settings of "boredom" and "overload" served as comparison conditions. The experience of flow was associated with relative increases in neural activity in the left anterior inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the left putamen. Relative decreases in neural activity were observed in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the amygdala (AMY). Subjective ratings of the flow experience were significantly associated with changes in neural activity in the IFG, AMY, and, with trend towards significance, in the MPFC. We conclude that neural activity changes in these brain regions reflect psychological processes that map on the characteristic features of flow: coding of increased outcome probability (putamen), deeper sense of cognitive control (IFG), decreased self-referential processing (MPFC), and decreased negative arousal (AMY).


Cryo-electron microscopy of the giant Mimivirus.
Mimivirus is the largest known virus. Using cryo-electron microscopy, the virus was shown to be icosahedral, covered by long fibers, and appears to have at least two lipid membranes within its protein capsid. A unique vertex, presumably for attachment and infection of the host, can be seen for particles that have a suitable orientation on the micrographs.


Effect of rush immunotherapy on airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness after bronchoprovocation with allergen in asthma.
Rush immunotherapy (RIT) has been shown to be effective in allergic asthma. We investigated the mechanisms of RIT on the basis of cytokine production by T-cell lines and airway inflammation and responsiveness. Subjects were 8 patients with house dust mite-allergic asthma treated with dust mite extract RIT for 6 months and 6 RIT-untreated control patients. IL-5 production by Dermatophagoides farinae -specific T-cell lines, eosinophil percentages, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in induced sputum and airway responsiveness to allergen and histamine were evaluated before and after treatment. Changes in eosinophil percentages and ECP in induced sputum and responsiveness to histamine 24 hours after allergen inhalation were also studied. After 6 months of RIT, percentages of total eosinophils (43. 0% +/- 6.90% to 16.8% +/- 2.48%; P <.01), percentages of EG2(+ ) eosinophils (32.6% +/- 6.39% to 19.7% +/- 4.68%; P <.01) and ECP (362.7 +/- 125.3 ng/mL to 26.2 +/- 5.15 ng/mL; P <.05) decreased in induced sputum, and IL-5 production by T-cell lines decreased (617 +/- 93.2 pg/mL to 200.0 +/- 34.1 pg/mL; P <.01). RIT decreased both early- and late-phase bronchoconstriction (early phase: 33.2% +/- 3. 46% to 25.4% +/- 1.42%; P <.03; late phase: 16.2% +/- 3.52% to 6.2% +/- 1.96%; P <.03) and suppressed increases in the percentages of total (61.8% +/- 4.89% to 42.0% +/- 4.67%; P <.01) and EG2-positive eosinophils (55.54% +/- 7.21% to 36.5% +/- 6.43%; P <.01) and ECP (685.6 +/- 217.0 ng/mL to 85.4 +/- 23.4 ng/mL; P <.05) in induced sputum after allergen inhalation. RIT also decreased airway responsiveness to dust mite (1:303.7 +/- 123.7 wt/vol to 1:65.0 +/- 13.2 wt/vol; P <.03) and to histamine before (397.1 +/- 206.9 microgra/mL to 1391.3 +/- 283.3 microgram/mL; P <.03) and after allergen inhalation (139.2 +/- 36.5 microgram/mL to 629.1 +/- 196.3 microgram/mL; P <.03). RIT decreases airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness before and after bronchial provocation with allergen, possibly by inhibiting both allergen-specific T-cell- and mast cell-dependent pathways. RIT is an effective antiinflammatory treatment in allergic asthma.


Functional Seizures.
Functional or psychogenic seizures have proved a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for centuries. Functional seizures can look and feel similar to epileptic seizures but are instead a common and highly disabling form of functional neurologic disorder, or conversion disorder. Consistent with the biopsychosocial model of mental illness, functional seizures are caused by biological, psychological, and social factors unrelated to epileptic discharges. People with functional seizures do not consciously fake their symptoms. Functional seizures can be differentiated from epileptic seizures through the clinical history, features of the seizures themselves, and electroencephalography findings. Psychotherapy is effective in treating functional seizures.


Self-assembly of DNA nanostructure containing cell-specific aptamer as a precise drug delivery system for cancer therapy in non-small cell lung cancer.
As the most common subtype in lung cancer, the precise and efficient treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains an outstanding challenge owing to early metastasis and poor prognosis. Chemotherapy, the most commonly used treatment modality, is a difficult choice for many cancer patients due to insufficient drug accumulation in tumor sites and severe systemic side-effects. In this study, we constructed a cell-specific aptamer-modified DNA nanostructure (Apt-NS) as a targeting drug delivery system achieving the precision therapy for lung cancer. The synthesis of DNA nanostructure and its stability were evaluated using gel electrophoresis. The targeting properties and internalization mechanism were investigated via flow cytometry and confocal analyses. Drug loading, release, and targeted drug delivery were determined by fluorescence detection, Zeta potentials assay, and confocal imaging. CCK8 assays, colony formation, cell apoptosis, metastasis analyses and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the biological functions of DNA nanostructure. Self-assembled DNA nanoparticles (Apt-NS) had excellent stability to serum and DNase I and the ability to specifically recognize A549 cells. Upon specific binding, the drug-loaded nanoparticles (Apt-NS-DOX) were internalized into target cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, DOX could be released from Apt-NS-DOX based on the degradation of the lysosome. Apt-NS-DOX exerted significant suppression of cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and also enhanced cell apoptosis due to the excellent performance of drug delivery and intracellular release, while maintaining a superior biosafety. In addition, the antitumor effects of Apt-NS-DOX were further confirmed using in vivo models. Our study provided cell-specific aptamer-modified DNA nanostructures as a drug-delivery system targeting A549 cells, which could precisely and efficiently transport chemotherapeutic drug into tumor cells, exerting enhanced antineoplastic efficacy. These findings highlight that DNA nanostructure serving as an ideal drug delivery system in cancer treatment appears great promise in biomedical applications.


Use of Kratom, an Opioid-like Traditional Herb, in Pregnancy.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an herbal preparation with opioid-like effects made from a tree native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Increasingly, kratom is used for self-treatment of opioid use disorder and recently has been associated with a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis. Few data are available on the clinical outcomes of kratom use in pregnancy. We present two cases of pregnant women presenting with kratom dependence. Both women presented with symptoms consistent with opioid withdrawal. Both women were initiated on opioid replacement, with successful treatment of symptoms. Kratom is an emerging self-treatment for opioid use disorder in the obstetric population. Obstetric care providers should be aware of kratom and consider opioid replacement for pregnant women with kratom dependence.


[The firing of nurse managers: literature and experiences].
The firing of a nursing manager was first documented in the 80' in US. To describe the involuntary turnover according to the literature and a case-story. Literature review and interview to a key informant. The involuntary turnover is preceded by a hard time with indicators of a difficult relationships with the management; it initiates a profound crisis comparable to the loss of a significant person and feelings of failure prevail, self esteem and self confidence decrease. If the manager is fired, external help may be necessary - included psychological counseling - to overcome the traumatic experience. Before effectively facing the future, some time may be needed to deal with the loss effectively. The firing of a nursing manager is not an exception in Italy but the literature and discussion on the problem is lacking.


Two-dimensional echocardiographic determination of left atrial emptying volume: a noninvasive index in quantifying the degree of nonrheumatic mitral regurgitation.
Several noninvasive techniques, including radionuclide angiography and Doppler echocardiography, have attempted to measure the regurgitant volume in patients with mitral regurgitation; however, none of these techniques are entirely satisfactory. Utilizing a computerized light pen method for tracing the left atrial endocardial border during systole and diastole in two orthogonal planes (apical four and two chamber views), biplane volume determinations were calculated in 12 normal subjects and 30 patients with nonrheumatic mitral regurgitation. Left atrial emptying volume determinations were performed by subtracting the left atrial end-diastolic volume from the left atrial end-systolic volume. The degree of mitral regurgitation was visually assessed as normal (0, trivial, Group I, 12 patients), mild (1+, Group II, 4 patients), moderate (2+, Group III, 8 patients), moderately severe (3+, Group IV, 12 patients) and severe (4+, Group V, 6 patients) by contrast left ventricular angiography and also quantitatively by regurgitant fraction at cardiac catheterization. All 18 patients with moderately severe (Group IV) and severe (Group V) mitral regurgitation had a left atrial emptying volume greater than 40 ml compared with none of the normal subjects and patients with mild (Group II) or moderate (Group III) mitral regurgitation. There was good correlation between left atrial emptying volume and mitral regurgitant fraction (r = 0.85, p less than 0.01). Thus, in patients with nonrheumatic mitral regurgitation, left atrial emptying volume is useful in separating mild from severe mitral regurgitation.


Grit in pharmacy faculty: A pilot analysis focused on productivity measures.
Grit, a "perseverance and passion for long-term goals," is an important characteristic that has been linked to success in academics and career endeavors. In pharmacy education, there have been mixed results on grit as a predictor of academic performance in pharmacy students. Furthermore, there have been no studies on the implications of grit in pharmacy faculty. The purpose of this study was to determine pharmacy faculty Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) scores at two universities and whether those scores correlate with faculty productivity. A 36-item electronic survey was administered to pharmacy faculty members at two institutions. Baseline demographics and self-reported Grit-S scores were obtained. Metrics of productivity in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service were defined using quantitative measures. Non-parametric analyses were conducted to test if higher Grit-S scores correlated with other variables. Faculty reported an average Grit-S score of 3.68. There was no significant correlation between Grit-S scores and components of faculty productivity in teaching and service for the previous academic year or career. Higher Grit-S scores had a moderately positive correlation with the number of peer-reviewed publications in 2017. Grit-S scores are high among pharmacy faculty and were not correlated with higher productivity in most components of faculty workload.


Problematic smartphone use and relations with negative affect, fear of missing out, and fear of negative and positive evaluation.
For many individuals, excessive smartphone use interferes with everyday life. In the present study, we recruited a non-clinical sample of 296 participants for a cross-sectional survey of problematic smartphone use, social and non-social smartphone use, and psychopathology-related constructs including negative affect, fear of negative and positive evaluation, and fear of missing out (FoMO). Results demonstrated that FoMO was most strongly related to both problematic smartphone use and social smartphone use relative to negative affect and fears of negative and positive evaluation, and these relations held when controlling for age and gender. Furthermore, FoMO (cross-sectionally) mediated relations between both fear of negative and positive evaluation with both problematic and social smartphone use. Theoretical implications are considered with regard to developing problematic smartphone use.


Drug Repurposing for COVID-19: A Review and a Novel Strategy to Identify New Targets and Potential Drug Candidates.
In December 2019, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in the province of Wuhan, China. Since then, there have been over 400 million confirmed cases and 5.8 million deaths by COVID-19 reported worldwide. The urgent need for therapies against SARS-CoV-2 led researchers to use drug repurposing approaches. This strategy allows the reduction in risks, time, and costs associated with drug development. In many cases, a repurposed drug can enter directly to preclinical testing and clinical trials, thus accelerating the whole drug discovery process. In this work, we will give a general overview of the main developments in COVID-19 treatment, focusing on the contribution of the drug repurposing paradigm to find effective drugs against this disease. Finally, we will present our findings using a new drug repurposing strategy that identified 11 compounds that may be potentially effective against COVID-19. To our knowledge, seven of these drugs have never been tested against SARS-CoV-2 and are potential candidates for in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate their effectiveness in COVID-19 treatment.


Hierarchical SnO₂ nanoparticle-ZnO nanorod photoanode for improving transport and life time of photoinjected electrons in dye-sensitized solar cell.
A hierarchical photoanode comprising a SnO(2) nanoparticle underlayer and a ZnO nanorod overlayer was prepared and its photovoltaic performance was compared to photoanodes consisting of SnO(2) nanoparticle only and ZnO nanorod only. The photoanode layer thickness was adjusted to about 7.6 μm to eliminate thickness effect. Ruthenium complex, coded N719, was used as a sensitizer. The photoanode composed of ZnO nanorod only showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) as low as 0.54% with a short-circuit photocurrent density (J(SC)) of 2.04 mA/cm(2) and an open-circuit voltage (V(OC)) of 500 mV. The photoanode with SnO(2) nanoparticle only exhibited higher PCE (1.24%) because of higher J(SC) (6.64 mA/cm(2)), whereas V(OC) (340 mV) was lower than ZnO nanorod. Compared to SnO(2) nanoparticle and ZnO nanorod films, the bilayer structured film demonstrated much higher PCE (2.62%) because of both higher J(SC) (7.35 mA/cm(2)) and V(OC) (660 mV). Introduction of ZnO nanorod on the SnO(2) nanoparticle layer improved significantly electron transport and lifetime compared to the SnO(2) only film. One Order of magnitude slower charge recombination rate for the bilayer film than for the SnO(2) film was mainly responsible for the improved efficiency.


Failure of an intra-oral wound to heal. Case report.
Failure to treat the soft tissue component of dento-alveolar wounds may complicate wound healing mechanisms, retarding the rate of healing and increasing the risk of infection. A case is presented of a five-year-old with an intra-oral wound which, left untreated for eleven days, failed to resolve.


GC/MS analysis of m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine in urine. Forensic implication in cocaine use.
m-Hydroxybenzoylecgonine (m-OH-BE) and d3-m- hydroxybenzoylecgonine (d3-m-OH-BE) have been synthesized, and a GC/MS procedure with d3-m-OH-BE as internal standard has been developed. Among 24 human urine specimens that were positive for BE, all of them have shown detectable levels of m-OH-BE with 75% of the specimens exceeding the LoQ (5 ng/mL), compared with only 50% of the specimens containing detectable levels of EME. The presence of m-OH-BE in urine suggested that this metabolite may serve as a valuable marker of cocaine use in addition to BE and EME.


Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of intact C3-hydroxylated benzodiazepine glucoronides in urine.
A method is described for the determination C3-hydroxylated benzodiazepine glucuronides in biological samples. Oxazepam and lorazepam glucuronides are measured as methyl esters and trimethylsilyl derivates by a gas chromatographic procedure. The applicability of the method has been tested on the urine of rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and man, receiving oxazepam orally. Oxazepam glucuronide was not found in rat urine but it was present in the urine of rabbits (5.7% of the administered dose), guinea pigs (9.5%) and man (13.4-26.9%).


Evaluation of computed tomography parameters in patients with facial nerve stimulation post-cochlear implantation.
To compare the preoperative computed tomography (CT) parameters, including the thickness and density of the bone separating the upper basal turn of the cochlea (UBTC) and the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve (LSFN), in patients with and without facial nerve stimulation (FNS) in post-cochlear implants (CI). A retrospective case review of 1700 CI recipients in a tertiary referral center between January 2010 and January 2020 was performed; out of the 35 recipients who were found to have FNS, 29 were included in the study. The control group comprised the same number of randomly selected patients. CT parameters of the patients were measured independently by three fellowship-trained neuro-otologists blinded to the postoperative status of the patients. Thickness in axial and coronal views and density of the bone separating the UBTC and the LSFN were measured. There was satisfactory agreement between the readings of the three reviewers. The distances (in mm) between the UBTC and LSFN obtained from the coronal (0.43 ± 0.24 vs. 0.63 ± 0.2) and axial (0.42 ± 0.25 vs. 0.6 ± 0.18) views were statistically lower in the FNS group (p = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). The density (in HU) of the bony partition was also statistically lower in the FNS group (1038 ± 821 vs. 1409 ± 519; p = 0.029). Patients who experienced FNS postoperatively had significantly lower distance and bone density between the UBTC and the LSFN. This finding can help surgeons in preoperative planning in an attempt to decrease the occurrence of FNS.