Distribution, morphological features, and synaptic connections of parvalbumin- and calbindin D28k-immunoreactive neurons in the human hippocampal formation.
Calcium binding proteins calbindin D28k (CaBP) and parvalbumin (PV) are known to form distinct subpopulations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the rodent hippocampal formation. Light and electron microscopic morphology and connections of these protein-containing neurons are only partly known in the primate hippocampus. In this study, CaBP and PV were localized in neurons of the human hippocampal formation including the subicular complex (prosubiculum, subiculum, and presubiculum) in order to explore to what extent these subpopulations of hippocampal neurons differ in phylogenetically distant species. CaBP immunoreactivity was present in virtually all granule cells of the dentate gyrus and population of in a proportion of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 and CA2 regions. A distinct population of CaBP-positive local circuit neurons was found in all layers of the dentate gyrus and Ammon's horn. Most frequently they were located in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and the pyramidal layer of Ammon's horn. In the subicular complex pyramidal neurons were not immunoreactive for CaBP. In the prosubiculum and subiculum immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons were equally distributed in all layers, whereas in the presubiculum they occurred mainly in the superficial layers. Electron microscopy showed typical somatic and dendritic features of the granule, pyramidal, and local circuit neurons. CaBP-positive mossy fiber terminals in the hilus of the dentate gyrus and terminals of presumed pyramidal neurons of Ammon's horn formed asymmetric synapses with dendrites and spines. CaBP-positive terminals of nonprincipal neurons formed symmetric synapses with dendrites and dendritic spines, but never with somata or axon initial segments. PV was exclusively present in local circuit neurons in both the hippocampal formation and subicular complex. Most of the PV-positive cell bodies were located among or close to the principal cell layers. However, large numbers of immunoreactive neurons were also found in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and in strata oriens of Ammon's horn. PV-positive cells were equally distributed in all layers of the subicular complex. Electron microscopy showed the characteristic somatic and dendritic features of local circuit neurons. PV-positive axon terminals formed exclusively symmetric synapses with somata, axon initial segments and dendritic shafts, and in a few cases with dendritic spines. The CaBP- and PV-containing neurons formed similar subpopulations in rodents, monkeys, and humans, although the human hippocampus displayed the largest variability of these immunoreactive neurons in their morphology and location. Calcium binding protein-containing neurons frequently occurred in the molecular layer of the human dentate gyrus and in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of Ammon's horn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


A map for horizontal disparity in monkey V2.
The perception of visual depth is determined by integration of spatial disparities of inputs from the two eyes. Single cells in visual cortex of monkeys are known to respond to specific binocular disparities; however, little is known about their functional organization. We now show, using intrinsic signal optical imaging and single-unit physiology, that, in the thick stripe compartments of the second visual area (V2), there is a clustered organization of Near cells and Far cells, and moreover, there are topographic maps for Near to Far disparities within V2. Our findings suggest that maps for visual disparity are calculated in V2, and demonstrate parallels in functional organization between the thin, pale, and thick stripes of V2.


Arthroscopic Partial Capitate Resection for Type Ia Avascular Necrosis: A Short-Term Outcome Analysis.
To examine short-term clinical results of arthroscopic partial resection for type Ia avascular necrosis of the capitate. Patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for type 1a avascular necrosis of the capitate with at least 1-year follow-up were identified through a retrospective chart review. The necrotic capitate head was arthroscopically resected with removal of the lunate facet and preservation of the scaphoid and hamate facets. Wrist range of motion, grip strength, and radiographic parameters--carpal height ratio, radioscaphoid angle, and radiolunate angle-were determined before surgery and at the latest follow-up. Patients completed a visual analog scale for pain; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand measure; and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score before surgery and at the latest follow-up. Five patients (1 male, 4 females) with a mean age of 34 years (range, 16-49 years) and a mean follow-up duration of 20 months (range, 12-36 months) were identified during the chart review. All were type Ia (Milliez classification). Arthroscopy revealed fibrillation or softening with cartilage detachment at the lunate facet of the capitate head and an intact articular surface at the scaphoid and hamate facet. At the latest follow-up, the mean wrist flexion-extension was 123° (vs 81° before surgery) and grip strength was 74% (vs 37% before surgery). The visual analog scale score for pain; the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score; and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score before surgery showed a significant improvement following treatment. Radiographic parameters did not significantly change at the final follow-up, although the proximal carpal row trended toward flexion. Arthroscopic partial resection of the capitate head was an acceptable treatment for type Ia avascular necrosis of the capitate. It provided adequate pain relief and improved the range of wrist motion and grip strength during short-term follow-up. Therapeutic IV.


Determination of dyes in cosmetic products by micro-matrix solid phase dispersion and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.
A simple method based on micro-matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for the rapid and simultaneous determination of nine regulated water-soluble dyes in personal care and decorative products. The proposed miniaturized extraction procedure was optimized by means of experimental designs in order to obtain the highest extraction efficiency. Under the optimal selected conditions, the method was validated showing satisfactory performance in terms of linearity, sensitivity, and intra-day and inter-day precision. Recoveries were evaluated in different cosmetic matrices and they can be considered quantitative with average values between 70 and 120% with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 15%. Finally, the validated method was applied to 24 samples of cosmetic and personal care products, including decorative makeup, lipsticks, lip gloss, toothpastes, regenerating creams, shampoos, and eye shadows, among others, to cover a broad range of commercial real samples. Seven of the analyzed dyes were detected, being declared all of them in the label list of ingredients. More than 50% of the samples contained at least two dyes. Tartrazine was the most frequently found (50% of the samples) at concentration levels of 0.243-79.9μgg(-1). Other targets were found in 1-9 samples, highlighting the presence of Quinoline at high concentration (>500μgg(-1)) in a toothpaste sample.


Energy restriction induced SIRT6 inhibits microglia activation and promotes angiogenesis in cerebral ischemia via transcriptional inhibition of TXNIP.
Energy restriction (ER) protects against cerebral ischemic injury, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, rats were fed ad libitum (AL) or on an alternate-day food deprivation intermittent fasting (IF) diet for 3 months, followed by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery. The body weight, infarct volume, and neurological deficit score were accessed at the designated time points. ELISA, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were used to determine cytokine secretion and the expression of SIRT6, TXNIP, and signaling molecules, respectively. Immunofluorescence evaluated microglial activation and angiogenesis in vivo. For in vitro study, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-treated cell model was generated. MTT and tube formation assays were employed to determine cell viability and tube formation capability. ChIP assay detected chromatin occupancy of SIRT6 and SIRT6-mediated H3 deacetylation. We found that IF or ER mimetics ameliorated cerebral ischemic brain damage and microglial activation, and potentiated angiogenesis in vivo. ER mimetics or SIRT6 overexpression alleviated cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury in vitro. SIRT6 suppressed TXNIP via deacetylation of H3K9ac and H3K56ac in HAPI cells and BMVECs. Downregulation of SIRT6 reversed ER mimetics-mediated protection during cerebral I/R in vitro. Our study demonstrated that ER-mediated upregulation of SIRT6 inhibited microglia activation and potentiated angiogenesis in cerebral ischemia via suppressing TXNIP.


Hyperlipidaemia, alcohol abuse and acute pancreatitis.
Of 311 patients with primary acute pancreatitis, seven revealed major and seven minor lipid abnormalities on hospital admission. One pregnant woman suffered acute pancreatitis associated with Fredrickson type I hyperlipoproteinaemia. Twelve of the 13 men with types IV and V hyperlipoproteinaemia suffered alcohol abuse pancreatitis and represented 13.2 per cent of this aetiological group. However, only one of the 157 patients (0.6 per cent) with biliary disease had lipid abnormalities. Two of the 13 men died--the oldest, who had gallstones, and one with alcohol related disease. The remaining 11 were subject to follow-up (5-10 years). Six, who had improvement of their lipid abnormalities, had abstained from alcohol. The other five had a persistent lipid disorder, and all admitted continuing heavy alcohol ingestion. The clinical diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was supported by serum amylase elevation in only nine of the fourteen patients. Urinary amylase levels were consistent with the diagnosis in 11 of the 12 patients. Estimation of both serum and urinary amylase gave 100 per cent support to the clinical diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Hyperlipidaemia associated with acute pancreatitis may be secondary to alcohol abuse but the possible role of HLP cannot be discounted. Urinary amylase is useful in diagnosing acute pancreatitis in the presence of hyperlipidaemia.


Differences in metabolic potential between particle-associated and free-living bacteria along Pearl River Estuary.
Particulate organic matter (POM) in aquatic ecosystem is critical for biogeochemical cycling and host distinct communities of microbes, compared to its surrounding water. In this study, the structures and functional potentials of microbial communities associated with particles or free-living in water samples from the Pearl River Estuary were investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and GeoChip 5.0 analysis. Significant differences in the community structure and genetic functional potentials between particle-associated bacteria and free-living bacteria were observed across all eight sampling sites. In particle-associated bacteria communities, Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae were more abundant, while SAR11 clade and SAR86 clade were the most abundant in free-living bacteria communities. The richness and abundance of functional genes involved in nutrient cycling and stress response, including carbon degradation, nitrogen fixation, DMSP degradation, and polyphosphate degradation, were much higher in particle-associated bacteria compared with free-living bacteria. Thus, the particle-associated bacteria seem to play a much more important role in the biogeochemical cycles than free-living bacteria. In conclusion, the results from this study highlight the central role played by particle-associated bacteria in structuring microbial assemblages, and their importance for mediating biogeochemical cycling in the estuarine ecosystem.


Promoter hypermethylation and reduced expression of RASSF1A are frequent molecular alterations of endometrial carcinoma.
Alterations in the regulation of the RAS-MAPK pathway are frequent in endometrial carcinoma. RASSF1A is a tumor-suppressor gene that can regulate this pathway negatively. RASSF1A has been found to be inactivated by promoter methylation in some human tumors. The aim of the study was to assess the immunohistochemical expression of RASSF1A in normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma, and to correlate its expression with K-RAS mutations, presence of microsatellite instability, RASSF1A promoter methylation, and clinicopathological data. RASSF1A immunostaining was evaluated in one tissue microarray constructed from 80 paraffin-embedded samples of normal endometrium, and two tissue microarrays constructed with a total of 157 endometrial carcinomas (one constructed with 95 endometrial carcinomas previously evaluated for K-RAS mutations, and microsatellite instability, and another one containing 62 endometrial carcinomas that were also subjected to RASSF1A promoter methylation analysis). RASSF1A immunostaining was correlated with cell proliferation (Ki67), Cyclin D1 expression and clinicopathological data. Promoter methylation of RASSF1A was assessed by methylation-specific PCR. RASSF1A immunostaining was variable during the menstrual cycle in normal endometrium. RASSF1A expression was significantly reduced in 48% of endometrial carcinomas, particularly in tumors exhibiting microsatellite instability. RASSF1A-promoter methylation was very frequent in endometrial carcinoma (74%), and was frequently associated with reduced expression of RASSF1A. RASSF1A-promoter hypermethylation was common in advanced-stage endometrial carcinoma. The results suggest that reduced expression of RASSF1A may play a role in endometrial carcinogenesis by controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis through the MAPK-signaling pathway.


The Role of Hypofractionation in Proton Therapy.
Hypofractionated radiotherapy is an attractive approach for minimizing patient burden and treatment cost. Technological advancements in external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) delivery and image guidance have resulted in improved targeting and conformality of the absorbed dose to the disease and a reduction in dose to healthy tissue. These advances in EBRT have led to an increasing adoption and interest in hypofractionation. Furthermore, for many treatment sites, proton beam therapy (PBT) provides an improved absorbed dose distribution compared to X-ray (photon) EBRT. In the past 10 years there has been a notable increase in reported clinical data involving hypofractionation with PBT, reflecting the interest in this treatment approach. This review will discuss the reported clinical data and radiobiology of hypofractionated PBT. Over 50 published manuscripts reporting clinical results involving hypofractionation and PBT were included in this review, ~90% of which were published since 2010. The most common treatment regions reported were prostate, lung and liver, making over 70% of the reported results. Many of the reported clinical data indicate that hypofractionated PBT can be well tolerated, however future clinical trials are still needed to determine the optimal fractionation regime.


[Improving psychosocial health of nursing home residents: a systematic review of interventions for prevention and health promotion].
Long-term care insurance funds have been mandated by the German Prevention Act to support long-term care facilities in the implementation of health-promoting structures. One area of action is the promotion of the nursing home residents' psychosocial health. The objective of this systematic review was to describe and analyze interventions and intervention components related to the psychosocial health of nursing home residents. First, we conducted a search for systematic reviews and meta-analyses in Medline via PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Gerolit, Embase, Psyndex, and Livivo, and hand-searched additional sources. Second, references of all relevant randomized controlled trials (n=86) were extracted from the identified systematic reviews (n=27). The original articles of the included primary studies were then analyzed using criteria for the evaluation of complex interventions. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of the evidence. Seventeen interventions for promoting the psychosocial health of nursing home residents were identified. The majority of the study participants were nursing home residents with dementia. Since the underlying evidence was predominantly very low, it was not possible to draw clear conclusions concerning the efficacy of the interventions for psychosocial health outcomes. The best indications of positive effects were found for reminiscence, mealtime interventions, music therapy, and special care staff training. The diversity and heterogeneity of the interventions made both classification and consistent judgments of the quality of the evidence difficult. From the perspective of promoting the psychosocial health of nursing home residents, the identified interventions should only be considered as suggestions or proposals for prevention and health promotion measures, and future studies should evaluate their implementation.


Diagnoses commonly missed in childhood. Long-term outcome and implications for treatment.
Psychiatric and developmental disorders with onset in early childhood are often missed and commonly overlooked by adult psychiatrists. These disorders have important continuities into adulthood and are powerful predictors of chronicity, comorbidity, and severity. It is essential that they are recognized and taken into account in the assessment and treatment of the adult patient.


Age-dependent Sex Differences in Graft Loss After Kidney Transplantation.
Sex differences in kidney graft loss rates were reported in the United States. Whether these differences are present in other countries is unknown. We estimated the association between recipient sex and death-censored graft loss in patients of all ages recorded in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, and Collaborative Transplant Study registries who received a first deceased donor kidney transplant (1988-2019). We used multivariable Cox regression models, accounting for the modifying effects of donor sex and recipient age, in each registry separately; results were combined using individual patient data meta-analysis. We analyzed 438 585 patients. Young female patients 13-24 y old had the highest crude graft loss rates (female donor: 5.66; male donor: 5.50 per 100 person-years). Among young recipients of male donors, females showed higher graft loss risks than males (0-12 y: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.42, (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.73); 13-24 y: 1.24 (1.17-1.32); 25-44 y: 1.09 (1.06-1.13)). When the donor was female, there were no significant differences by recipient sex among those of age <45 y; however, the aHR for females was 0.93 (0.89-0.98) in 45-59 y-old and 0.89 (0.86-0.93) in ≥ 60 y-old recipients. Findings were similar for all 3 registries in most age intervals; statistically significant heterogeneity was seen only among 13-24-y-old recipients of a female donor (I2 = 71.5%, P = 0.03). There is an association between recipient sex and kidney transplantation survival that is modified by recipient age and donor sex.


Substance P and endogenous opioids: how and where they could play a role in cluster headache.
Substance P appears to be involved in the transmission of pain signals from the periphery to the spinal cord and brain stem. Substance P containing neurons are responsible for the neurogenic vasodilation identical to that obtained by substance P release evoked by antidromic stimulation of these fibres. Both endogenous opioids and somatostatin inhibit the release of substance P from central and peripheral endings. Present pharmacological investigations conclude that morphine and somatostatin are as effective as ergotamine in reducing the pain of CH. All three drugs are significantly more active than placebo. Somatostatin and opiates could act by inhibiting the release of substance P.


Predictive Factors of Postdischarge Narcotic Use After Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of patient factors, amount of in-hospital postoperative narcotics, and pain scores on postdischarge narcotic use (PDNU). This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing a postoperative usual-care regimen with multimodal pain regimen after pelvic reconstructive surgery. This analysis evaluated patients in the multimodal arm. Postdischarge narcotic use (as mg oral morphine equivalents, MME, calculated from narcotic tablets remaining) was assessed postoperative days 7 to 10. Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) surveys were collected preoperatively and at postoperative day 1. Patient factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis. Correlations examined the relationships between PDNU and postoperative in-hospital narcotic use and BPI scores. Sixty-eight patients randomized to the multimodal pain regimen arm had median (interquartile range) PDNU of 22.5 (0-159.4) MME. After excluding postdischarge narcotic nonusers (34.8%), the median PDNU was 127.5 (22.5-180.0) MME. The median PDNU was 172.5 (150.0-180.0) MME after abdominal reconstructive surgery (n = 7), 82.5 (28.1-180.0) MME after laparoscopic reconstructive surgery (n = 22), and 37.5 (13.1-181.2) MME after vaginal reconstructive surgery (n = 14). A linear correlation was noted between the amount of postoperative narcotics used in-hospital and the amount needed postdischarge after abdominal (r = 0.588, P = 0.057), laparoscopic (r = 0.439, P = 0.019), and vaginal (r = 0.455, P = 0.017) reconstructive surgeries. The BPI scores on postoperative day 1 for "average" pain (r = 0.388, P = 0.002) and "now" pain (r = 0.490, P < 0.001), and on postoperative week 1 for "average" pain (r = 0.383, P = 0.002) and "now" pain (r = 0.389, P = 0.002) correlated with PDNU. Amount of postoperative in-hospital use of narcotic medications and BPI scores can be valuable predictors of PDNU in patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery.


Plasma Polymerization of 1,2-Diaminocyclohexane for Covalent Bonding of Bone Morphogenic Protein-2 on Titanium Surface.
Among the bone morphogenic protein (BMP) family members, BMP-2 is a potent osteoinductive factor that plays key roles during bone formation. In this study, plasma polymerization of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) was performed to immobilize the BMP-2 on Ti surface. The plasma polymerization of DACH was carried out at a discharge power of 60 W and 100 W under a pressure of 10 mTorr for 90 sec. The BMP-2 was successfully immobilized on the DACH plasma treated Ti surface. The BMP-2 immobilized Ti surface showed the excellent cell differentiation. The results indicate that the DACH plasma polymerized Ti surface has a potential for immobilization of biomolecules in bone tissue engineering.


Clinical and Histopathological Features of an Italian Monocentric Series of Primary Small Bowel T-Cell Lymphomas.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common extranodal site of occurrence of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Most GI lymphomas are of B-cell lineage, while T-cell lymphomas are less frequent. The aim of our retrospective study was to depict the clinical-pathological profile of a series of patients affected by intestinal T-cell lymphomas (ITCL) and possibly define hallmarks of these neoplasms. A total of 28 patients were included: 17 enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphomas (EATL), 5 monomorphic epitheliotropic T-cell lymphomas (MEITL), 3 indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (ITCLDGT), and 3 intestinal T-cell lymphomas not otherwise specified (ITCL-NOS). Celiac disease (CD) was diagnosed in around 70% of cases. Diagnosis of EATL showed a significant correlation with CD30 expression, whereas MEITL with angiotropism and CD56 positivity. ITCLDGT cases showed plasma cells infiltration. Peripheral lymphocytosis, the absence of a previous diagnosis of CD, an advanced Lugano clinical stage, and the histological subtype ITCL-NOS were significantly associated with worse survival at multivariate analysis. Our findings about the epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological features of ITCL were in line with the current knowledge. Reliable prognostic tools for these neoplasms are still lacking but according to our results lymphocytosis, diagnosis of CD, Lugano clinical stage, and histological subtype should be considered for patient stratification.


The role of cytokines in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
This article reviews the recent literature regarding select cytokines involved in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is generally characterized by eosinophilic infiltration and a Th2-biased cytokine profile. However, the mechanisms that lead to nasal polyps are not clear. There has been a significant amount of work identifying cytokines that are either upregulated or downregulated in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. In general, Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 are upregulated. IL-4 promoter polymorphisms are associated with nasal polyps, and IL-4 appears to potentiate the immune response of fibroblasts. IL-5 release from nasal polyps is induced by Staph enterotoxin B and upregulation may be localized to nasal polyps. IL-8 appears to be upregulated by Staphylococcus epidermidis and may modulate remodeling in nasal polyps. Interferon-gamma and transforming growth factor-beta have antagonistic roles to Th2 inflammation and both are downregulated in nasal polyps. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1 are pro-inflammatory cytokines that are upregulated in nasal polyps. Single nucleotide polymorphisms for both cytokines have been identified in nasal polyps. Several studies have reported on various cytokines that correlate to the chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps phenotype; however, more insight into the mechanisms that lead to altered cytokine profiles and the nasal polyps phenotype is needed.


Micro-CT scan, electron microscopy and optical microscopy study of insertional traumas of cochlear implants.
Knowledge of cochlear trauma resulting from the implantation of electrodes is important for the development of atraumatic surgical techniques. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the advantages of micro-CT scanning, back-scattered electron microscopy (BSEM) and optical microscopy (OM) in understanding the mechanisms of cochlear trauma due to cochlear implantation. Our study involved six petrous bones removed from fresh human cadavers: one control specimen plus five other specimens that were surgically implanted with Neurelec Digisonic SP EVO electrode arrays. All six specimens underwent glycol methyl methacrylate embedding, were examined via micro-CT scan and were then sectioned for histological analysis of undecalcified samples via BSEM and OM. The 2D micro-CT scan reconstructions did not display cochlear microtrauma due to a limited resolution and the loss of information caused by the metallic artifacts of the intracochlear electrodes. The 3D reconstructions displayed the quality of the electrode array positioning in the cochlea and enabled determining the axes on which to section the specimens for histological examination. BSEM afforded a clear view of the damage to the osseous structures of the cochlea, but did not display the soft tissue injuries. OM enabled viewing and grading the histological lesions resulting from insertion. In our opinion, the combination of 3D micro-CT scan reconstructions and histological analysis using OM appears to be the best method to analyze this type of trauma.


Continuous drainage for the treatment of gastric cancer with pericardial metastasis and cardiac tamponade: A case report.
Signet-ring cell gastric carcinomas presenting as pericardial effusion early in diagnosis are rare and associated with high mortality and a poor prognosis. There are two interesting aspects of this case: primary gastric carcinoma presenting as cardiac tamponade and the metastatic behavior of gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma. This report describes an 83-year-old man diagnosed to have cardiac tamponade due to massive pericardial effusion. A cytological analysis of the pericardial effusion disclosed adenocarcinoma. The patient was treated with continuous pericardial drainage and the amount of pericardial effusion decreased.


Descriptive epidemiology of spot urine sodium-to-potassium ratio clarified close relationship with blood pressure level: the Nagahama study.
We undertook descriptive epidemiology of spot urine sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na/K) in a population sample to clarify the close relationship between Na/K and blood pressure level independently of potential confounding factors. Study participants consisted of 9144 apparently healthy citizens (aged 54 ± 13 years). All clinical parameters were obtained at baseline. Na/K was significantly higher in hypertensive individuals irrespective of antihypertensive medication status (normotension, 3.12 ± 1.82; untreated hypertension 3.50 ± 1.96; treated hypertension, 3.72 ± 2.53). As urinary Na (β = 0.092, P < 0.001) and K (β = -0.050, P < 0.001) levels were inversely associated with BP, Na/K (β = 0.118, P < 0.001) was more closely associated with BP than Na or K alone, as well as daily salt intake estimated from urinary Na (β = 0.088, P < 0.001). Several factors were significantly associated with Na/K, namely age, sex, obesity, blood pressure, renal function, salt restriction status, serum phosphate and urinary creatinine level, and fasting period and season at urine sample collection. However, the association between Na/K and BP was independent of these factors (adjusted β = 0.112, P < 0.001). No direct association was observed between Na/K and large arterial remodeling assessed by pulse wave analysis (P = 0.496) or retinal arteriolar morphological change (P = 0.431). Further, a genome-wide association study failed to identify any particular genotype influencing urinary Na and K levels. Although we clarified several factors that might affect spot urine Na/K, these relationships were not substantial enough to confound the association between urinary Na/K and BP. A simple measure of Na/K might be more representative of salt loading obtained from spot urine samples than Na excretion alone.


Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Latent Malignant Lymphoma With Acute Exacerbation After Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Case Report.
Concomitant malignant lymphoma at the time of transplantation is usually considered a contraindication to liver transplantation (LT). We report a case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignant lymphoma that was latent preoperatively and rapidly became aggravated after LT. A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital with an exacerbation of abdominal distension due to polycystic liver. As cystic infection, ascites, and deteriorated liver reserve function occurred after hepatic artery embolization, he underwent living-donor LT with his daughter as the donor. His respiratory condition worsened, and he was moved to the intensive care unit on postoperative day 34. Histopathologic examination of the excised liver returned around the same time revealed findings suggestive of EBV-associated malignant lymphoma in lymph nodes near the gallbladder. Subsequent computed tomography scans showed apparent neoplastic lesions in the abdominal cavity and worsening pleural effusion and ascites. Numerous atypical lymphocytes were observed in the pleural effusion and ascites, and the patient was diagnosed with exacerbation of EBV-associated malignant lymphoma. He was treated unsuccessfully with rituximab and died 66 days after LT. Caution should be exercised in elderly immunocompromised transplant candidates who may have comorbid EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease.


Ultrasound Use by Upper Extremity Surgeons in 2020: A Survey of ASSH Members.
The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) among hand surgeons appears to be increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine the utilization patterns and attitudes regarding US among American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) members in 2020 as well as the changes in usage patterns since a previous survey in 2015. In 2020, an updated and expanded 27-question survey was distributed to 4852 members of the ASSH. Questions assessed respondent demographics, training, and practice patterns, and access, utilization, training, and opinions pertaining to US. A total of 418 surveys (8.6%) were analyzed. Compared to 2015, there was an increase in the percentage of respondents using US for diagnostic purposes (51%-68%), as well as having personal access to US machines (43% to 58%). US use to assist in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome increased from 19% to 27%. The most common reason for using US was convenience and practice efficiency, while the most common reasons for not using US was no machine access. In 2020, 33% of respondents performed US-guided injections. Compared to 2015, the majority of responding upper extremity surgeons now have personal access to US machines. Utilization of diagnostic US appears to be increasing, and two-thirds of respondents believed that US use will continue to increase among upper extremity surgeons.


Guts, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity (GRIT) Among Mid Adolescent School Students in a District of South India: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Guts, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity (GRIT) is an optimistic character that mixes passion and dedication. It is a driver of achievement and success, independent of and beyond what intelligence and talent contribute. The study aimed to assess GRIT and factors influencing it among mid-adolescent school students (13-18 years) in the Perambalur district, Tamilnadu, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among mid-adolescent school students. We used a self-reported questionnaire to collect the data on sociodemographic characteristics and parents' details and the standard eight-item GRIT questions. Analysis was done with the total and subscale scores. Among the 1663 participants, 966 (58.1%) were males. The mean (SD) age was 15.6 (1.19) years. The mean GRIT score was 26.65 (4.12). Most students (755) showed medium (45.4%) GRIT scores. The age factor had a weak negative correlation with GRIT (r = -0.052, p = 0.033) and females had higher scores (t = 9.13, p = 0.002). Perseverance of effort was significantly more in those from a rural background (t = 1.9, p = 0.012), while consistency of interest was more in those from urban background (t = 0.63, p = 0.03). Most students had average or medium GRIT scores, with higher GRIT among females. The concept of GRIT should be properly addressed among children during their school years in order to inspire them to dream with passion and perseverance.


The status of identity: reflections on the need for intervention.
The primary purpose of this article is to examine the need for intervention in the context of the information we have gathered to date about identity formation. The research evidence indicates that the identity achievement status is associated with the greatest effectiveness in psychological functioning while the identity diffusion status is related to poorer functioning. The moratorium and foreclosure statuses generally occupy intermediate positions in this regard. The identity activity of adolescents and youth is also reviewed. The complexity of the identity construct is discussed as it relates to domains, developmental patterns, gender, historical and social contexts. The author uses the findings from a longitudinal study to illustrate the need for, and purposes of, intervention while respecting the richness of the identity construct of the individual.


Decision making and prostate cancer screening.
This article presents an overview of the challenges that men encounter in making decisions about prostate cancer screening, including complex affective and cognitive factors and controversies in the interpretation of the evidence on prostate cancer screening. Shared decision making involving patient decision aids are discussed as approaches that can be used to improve the quality of prostate cancer screening decisions, including a close alignment between a man's values, goals, and preferences and his choice about screening.


3D surface measurement for medical application--technical comparison of two established industrial surface scanning systems.
In 3D mapping of flexible surfaces (e.g. human faces) measurement errors due to movement or positioning occur. Aggravated by equipment- or researcher-caused mistakes considerable deviations can result. Therefore first the appliances' precision handling and reliability in clinical environment must be established. Aim of this study was to investigate accuracy and precision of two contact-free 3D measurement systems (white light vs. laser). Standard specimens of known diameter for sphere deviation, touch deviation and plane deviation were tested. Both systems are appropriate for medical application acquiring solid data (<mm). The more complex white-light system shows better accuracy at 0.2 s measuring time. The laser system is superior concerning robustness, while accuracy is poorer and input time (1.5-2.5 s) longer. Due to the clinical demand the white-light system is superior in a laboratory environment, while the laser system is easier to handle under non-laboratory conditions.


Fluorographic findings of diaphragmatic paralysis with spontaneous recovery.
Postoperative diaphragmatic paralysis is an unavoidable complication of cardiovascular surgery. Although diaphragmatic plication, as a surgical treatment, can be performed, spontaneous recovery is possible. We aimed to identify differences in fluorographic findings of diaphragmatic paralysis between pediatric patients with and without spontaneous recovery within 1 year of intrathoracic surgery. Ten children, who had been followed-up for at least 1 year post-surgery and who had not received diaphragmatic plication were included and classified into those with or without spontaneous recovery. The presence or absence of the paradoxical movement of the diaphragm and mediastinum was evaluated based on fluorographic findings. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the presence or absence of paradoxical movement between the groups. Eight patients experienced spontaneous recovery. The mean ± standard deviation time to spontaneous recovery was 150 ± 114 days (range, 18-338 days). In the spontaneous recovery group, no patient had paradoxical movement of the mediastinum, and a significant between-group difference was observed in the presence of the paradoxical movement of the mediastinum (present/absent in patients with vs. without spontaneous recovery: 0/8 vs. 2/0, P = 0.02). There was no significant between-group difference in paradoxical movement of the diaphragm (present/absent in patients with vs. without spontaneous recovery: 1/7 vs. 2/0, P = 0.07). Pediatric patients without paradoxical movement of the mediastinum spontaneously recovered within 1 year of intrathoracic surgery. Pediatric patients without paradoxical movement of the mediastinum, based on fluorography findings, spontaneously recovered within 1 year of surgery. The timing of spontaneous recovery varied between cases.


Turning behaviour following nigral injections of dopamine agonists and glycine.
Glycine, ADTN and ergometrine, but not LSD, induced strong dose-related contraversive turning following unilateral microinjections into the substantia nigra (zona reticulata) of conscious rats. The responses to glycine and ADTN were blocked by low doses of systemically injected cis-Z-flupenthixol but were unaffected by pretreatment with a variety of dopamine antagonists injected intranigrally. Turning behaviour following glycine was antagonised by strychnine but that to ADTN was not. Possible ways by which the rotational responses may be induced in view of the postulated neuronal circuitry of the substantia nigra and its connections with other brain areas are discussed.


Calcium supplementation increases circulating cholesterol by reducing its catabolism via GPER and TRPC1-dependent pathway in estrogen deficient women.
Limited studies have addressed the effects of calcium supplementation (CaS) on serum total cholesterol (TC) in postmenopausal women and the results are inconclusive. Moreover, the potential mechanisms through which CaS regulates cholesterol metabolism in the absence of estrogen are still sealed for the limitation of human being study. Cross-sectional survey, animal and in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of CaS on endogenous cholesterol metabolism in estrogen deficiency and identify its potential mechanisms. Ovariectomized rats were used to mimic estrogen deficiency. In vitro, HepG2 cell line was exposed to estradiol and/or calcium treatment. We demonstrated that CaS significantly increased serum TC and the risk of hypercholesterolemia and myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women. Increased serum TC in estrogen deficiency was caused mainly by decreased cholesterol catabolism rather than increased synthesis. This was mediated by reduced 7α-hydroxylase resulting from increased liver intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations, reduced intracellular basal cAMP and subsequent up-regulation of SREBP-1c and SHP expression. Estrogen had a protective role in preventing CaS-induced TC increase by activating the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor, which mediated the estrogen effect through the transient receptor potential canonical 1 cation channel. CaS increases endogenous serum TC via decreasing hepatic cholesterol catabolism in estrogen deficiency. G-protein coupled estrogen receptor is shown to be a key target in mediating CaS-induced TC increase. CaS should be monitored for the prevention of serum TC increase during menopause.


Migratory passerine birds as reservoirs of Lyme borreliosis in Europe.
To define the role of birds as reservoirs and disseminators of Borrelia spirochetes, we characterized tick infestation and reservoir competence of migratory passerine birds in Sweden. A total of 1,120 immature Ixodes ricinus ticks were removed from 13,260 birds and assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Borrelia, followed by DNA sequencing for species and genotype identification. Distributions of ticks on birds were aggregated, presumably because of varying encounters with ticks along migratory routes. Lyme borreliosis spirochetes were detected in 160 (1.4%) ticks. Borrelia garinii was the most common species in PCR-positive samples and included genotypes associated with human infections. Infestation prevalence with infected ticks was 5 times greater among ground-foraging birds than other bird species, but the 2 groups were equally competent in transmitting Borrelia. Migratory passerine birds host epidemiologically important vector ticks and Borrelia species and vary in effectiveness as reservoirs on the basis of their feeding behavior.


Kinetics of interleukin-1 production by macrophages during infection with Listeria monocytogenes.
Production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by peritoneal macrophages from mice inoculated intravenously with Listeria monocytogenes was measured at increasing intervals of infection. IL-1 activity in the 24 h macrophage supernatants was determined by using the thymocyte PHA co-mitogenesis assay. IL-1 production increased as the infection progressed, reached a peak on the 9th or 10th day and then declined progressively to approach normal values by the 20th day. Our data on the kinetics of IL-1 levels during an acute infection with L.monocytogenes are discussed in relationship to the development of cell-mediated immunity and its regulation by macrophages.


Identification of CD70 as a diagnostic biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma by gene expression profiling, real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
The underlying molecular mechanisms of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are poorly understood and more reliable markers for early diagnosis are needed. Hence, alternative strategies for biomarker discovery with appropriate validation technologies have to be performed. To elucidate genesis and progression of RCC we used high parallel chip based gene expression profiling comparing normal and tumour tissues. We compared corresponding control and tumour tissue samples from 10 patients with clear cell RCC. We isolated RNA from histologically well characterised tissue sections and performed reverse transcription, labelling and linear RNA amplification. Samples were hybridised on microarrays containing 642 human cDNAs. Of the 352 differentially expressed genes found, CD70 and FRA2 were selected for further evaluation by real-time RT-PCR. The analysis all showed a high potential to discriminate between normal and tumour tissue. Moreover, increased CD70 mRNA expression in tumour cells could be correlated to its expression at the protein level. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed very strong expression of CD70 in all tumour samples but no expression in adjacent normal kidney tissue. With our combined approach we were able to identify CD70 as a new marker for RCC, which may be useful in the future for improved immunohistochemical diagnosis.


[Anti-tumor effects induced by the DNA vaccine coding human and mouse soluble VEGFR2].
To develop a novel anti-angiogenesis strategy based on a DNA vaccine coding both human and mouse soluble VEGFR2. The gene fragments coding human and mouse sVEGFR2 were amplified with PCR and cloned into pVITRO2 to generate pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 recombinant. The in vitro VEGF blocking effect of the pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 expression products on HUVEC cells were evaluated. The anti-tumor effect of pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 was studied in mouse B16 model. The microvessels were stained by using CD31 antibody. The co-expressing vector pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 was constructed successfully, confirmed by the restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing. The expressing products of pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 could obviously block the function of VEGF on promoting the proliferation of HUVEC in vitro. The tumor growth in mice was also significantly inhibited by pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 expression. CD31 staining demonstrated that the microvessel density obviously decreased in tumor tissues treated with pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2. Both anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis effects of pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 were stronger than that of plasmids which coding only human or mouse sVEGFR2. pVITRO2-hm-sVEGFR2 could be a novel DNA vaccine for the anti-tumor therapy by inhibiting angiogenesis.


Bio-fabrication of gold nanoparticles using aqueous extract of red tomato and its use as a colorimetric sensor.
In this work, we report a green method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNP) using the aqueous extract of red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). We believe that citric acid and ascorbic acid present in tomato juice are responsible for the reduction of gold ions. This biosynthesized GNP in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate has been used as a colorimetric sensor to detect and estimate the pesticide, methyl parathion. The GNP in the presence of methyl parathion shows a new peak at 400 nm due to the formation of 4-nitrophenolate ion by catalytic hydrolysis of methyl parathion in alkaline medium. A calibration curve between the absorption coefficients of the 400-nm peak versus the concentration of the pesticide allows the quantitative estimation of the 4-nitrophenolate ion, thereby enabling indirect estimation of methyl parathion present in the system.


Clinorotation-induced weightlessness influences the cytoskeleton of glial cells in culture.
During and after spaceflight astronauts experience neurophysiological alterations. To investigate if the impairment observed might be traced back to cytomorphology, we undertook a ground based research using a random positioning machine (clinostat) as a simulation method for microgravity. The outcome of the study was represented by cytoskeletal changes occurring in cultured glial cells (C(6) line) after 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 20 h and 32 h under simulated microgravity. Glia is fundamental for brain function and it is essential for the normal health of the entire nervous system. Our data showed that after 30 min under simulated microgravity the cytoskeleton was damaged: microfilaments (F-actin) and intermediate filaments (Vimentin, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Proteins GFAP) were highly disorganised, microtubules (alpha-tubulin) lost their radial array, the overall cellular shape was deteriorated, and the nuclei showed altered chromatin condensations and DNA fragmentation. This feature got less dramatic after 20 h of simulated microgravity when glial cells appeared to reorganise their cytoskeleton and mitotic figures were present. The research was carried out by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to alpha-tubulin, vimentin and GFAP, and cytochemical labelling of F-actin (Phalloidin-TRIC). The nuclei were stained with propidium iodide or 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). The cells were observed at the conventional and/or the confocal laser scanning microscope. Samples were also observed at the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Our data showed that in weightlessness alterations occur already visible at the scale of the single cell; if this may lead to the neurophysiological problems observed in flight is yet to be established.


Subtotal neonatal calvariectomy for severe craniosynostosis.
This report sets forth an example of a new mode of management of severe craniosynostosis in the neonate: subtotal calvariectomy. An infant with synostosis of sagittal, coronal, and lambdoidal sutures who had signs of increased intracranial pressure with impending neurologic complications was operated on at 13 days of age. Wide excision of the bony calvarium from the underlying dura was accomplished from the supraorbital ridge to near the foramen magnum; the entire area of the coronal sutures was included. Regeneration of the calvarium occurred over two to 12 weeks and was accompanied by the presence of "sutures" in a usual location. These procedures have allowed for normal brain growth without reoperation up to the current age of two years. Neurologic and intellectual performance has been satisfactory, and cosmetic results appear to be preferable to those obtained by more limited surgery. The observations suggest that this approach may permit better craniofacila growth by minimizing secondary deformities in growth of the cranial base.


Determination of the binding epitope of lidocaine with AGP: minimizing the effects of nonspecific binding in saturation transfer difference experiments.
The ligand epitope map and the effect of nonspecific binding is assessed for lidocaine binding to α(1)-acid glycoprotein using the saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance experiment performed as a function of the ligand/protein ratio. The experimental design tested two different approaches for preparing solutions with various ligand/protein ratios; holding the protein concentration constant and increasing the ligand concentration; and holding the ligand concentration constant while decreasing the protein concentration. Nonspecific binding effects were more prevalent in experiments in which the ligand concentration was increased, although spectra with higher signal-to-noise ratios were obtained under these conditions. The epitope map determined for achiral lidocaine is compared with previously determined results for the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of propranolol. The weaker binding affinity of lidocaine may be partially attributed to steric hindrance by the lidocaine N-ethyl groups which may prevent close contact of the lidocaine amine with the negatively charged amino acids at the apex of the protein binding pocket.


TFH in HIV Latency and as Sources of Replication-Competent Virus.
During untreated disease, HIV replication is concentrated within T follicular helper cells (TFH). Heightened permissiveness, the presence of highly infectious virions on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), low frequencies of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in B cell follicles, expansions in TFH, and TFH dysfunction, all likely promote replication in TFH. Limited data suggest that memory TFH play a role in the latent or subclinical reservoir of HIV during antiretroviral therapy (ART), potentially for many of the same reasons. A better understanding of the role of memory TFH and FDC-bound virions in promoting recrudescent viremia in the setting of ART cessation is essential. Studies that target follicular virus reservoirs are needed to determine their role in HIV latency and to suggest successful cure strategies.


The future role of surgery in ischaemic heart disease.
The ability to restore myocardial perfusion in ischaemic heart disease has been one of the triumphs of surgery. Alternative, less invasive catheter-based methods have now taken the lead as favoured treatment. The resultant threat to surgical practice, as well as societal and organisational issues that impact on the life of surgeons, have caused many to question the future role of surgery in ischaemic heart disease. In spite of general awareness of risk factors, there is little to suggest that coronary disease will soon disappear; rather, obesity and unfavourable life-style of many will continue to recruit further patients and, additionally, an epidemic of heart failure is anticipated. At the same time, rapid advance in knowledge of the underlying disease is opening the prospect for more effective intervention for unstable coronary plaque. Of great relevance to the surgeon are recent advances in knowledge and technology that will lead to gene and cell-based therapy for ischaemic heart disease. The ability to modify or augment activity of myocytes in heart failure, and to promote angiogenesis, offers hope for repair of ischaemically damaged hearts undreamed of only a few years ago. Tissue engineering, encompassing gene and cell-based therapy, holds promise of reconstruction of the myocardium and its vasculature. Temporary cardiovascular support to enable application of these techniques will very likely provide one role for surgery. More importantly, the need to ensure optimal anatomic and functional repair will surely give rise to a new generation of surgeons with much expanded scientific and technical support to draw upon, and will ensure an important role for surgery in ischaemic heart disease for decades to come.


Specific role of phosphodiesterase 4B in lipopolysaccharide-induced signaling in mouse macrophages.
Cyclic nucleotide signaling functions as a negative modulator of inflammatory cell responses, and type 4 phosphodiesterases (PDE4) are important regulators of this pathway. In this study, we provide evidence that only one of the three PDE4 genes expressed in mouse peritoneal macrophages is involved in the control of TLR signaling. In these cells, LPS stimulation of TLR caused a major up-regulation of PDE4B but not the paralogs PDE4A or PDE4D. Only ablation of PDE4B impacted LPS signaling and TNF-alpha production. TNF-alpha mRNA and protein were decreased by >50% in PDE4B-/-, but not in PDE4A-/- or PDE4D-/- macrophages. The PDE4 selective inhibitors rolipram and roflumilast had no additional inhibitory effect in macrophages deficient in PDE4B, but suppressed the TNF-alpha response in the other PDE4 null cells. The inhibition of TNF-alpha production that follows either genetic ablation or acute inhibition of PDE4B is cAMP-dependent and requires protein kinase A activity. However, no global changes in cAMP concentration were observed in the PDE4B-/- macrophages. Moreover, ablation of PDE4B protected mice from LPS-induced shock, suggesting that altered TLR signaling is retained in vivo. These findings demonstrate the highly specialized function of PDE4B in macrophages and its critical role in LPS signaling. Moreover, they provide proof of concept that a PDE4 inhibitor with subtype selectivity retains useful pharmacological effects.


Analysis of oligoclonal antibody bands against individual HIV structural proteins in the CSF of patients infected with HIV.
Intrathecal antibody responses to HIV were investigated by a highly sensitive immunoblot assay. Serum and CSF specimens were tested for reactivity with the recombinant HIV gag proteins p15, p17 and p24 and with the recombinant transmembrane protein p41. Autochthonous production of virus-specific IgG to one or more HIV structural proteins was seen in 8 of 10 asymptomatic seropositive subjects, in 3 of 4 men with AIDS-related complex, and in 9 of 13 patients with AIDS. These results were consonant with an elevated CSF/serum antibody ratio to total HIV antigen. The high frequency of local HIV-specific antibody synthesis in seropositive individuals without related clinical symptoms indicates an early involvement of the CNS in HIV infections.


Modulation of laccase transcriptome during biodegradation of naphthalene by white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.
Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using Pleurotus ostreatus was investigated in the current study along with the expression levels of laccase genes involved in biodegradation under variable conditions. Biodegradation of PAHs (naphthalene, anthracene, and 1,10-phenanthroline) was detected spectrophotometrically. Recorded data revealed that biodegradation of the tested PAHs was time dependent. Elevated level of naphthalene biodegradation (86.47%) was observed compared to anthracene (27.87%) and 1,10-phenanthroline (24.51%) within 3 days post incubation. Naphthalene was completely degraded within 5 days. Further incubation enhanced the biodegradation of both anthracene and 1,10-phenanthroline until reaches 93.69% and 92.00% biodegradation of the initial concentration within an incubation period of 11 and 14 days, respectively. Naphthalene was selected as a PAH model. HPLC and thin layer chromatography of naphthalene biodegradation products at time intervals proposed that naphthalene was first degraded to α- and β-naphthol which was further metabolized to salicylic and benzoic acid. The metabolic pathway of naphthalene degradation by this fungus was elucidated based on the detected metabolites. The expression profile of six laccase isomers was evaluated using real-time PCR. The transcriptome of the fungal laccase isomers recorded higher levels of transcription under optimized fermentation conditions especially in presence of both naphthalene and Tween 80. The accumulation of such useful metabolites from the biodegradation of PAH pollutants recommended white rot fungus as a potential candidate for production of platform chemicals from PAH wastes.


Combining novel feature selection strategy and hyperspectral vegetation indices to predict crop yield.
Wheat is an important food crop globally, and timely prediction of wheat yield in breeding efforts can improve selection efficiency. Traditional yield prediction method based on secondary traits is time-consuming, costly, and destructive. It is urgent to develop innovative methods to improve selection efficiency and accelerate genetic gains in the breeding cycle. Crop yield prediction using remote sensing has gained popularity in recent years. This paper proposed a novel ensemble feature selection (EFS) method to improve yield prediction from hyperspectral data. For this, 207 wheat cultivars and breeding lines were grown under full and limited irrigation treatments respectively, and their canopy hyperspectral reflectance was measured at the flowering, early grain filling (EGF), mid grain filling (MGF), and late grain filling (LGF) stages. Then, 115 vegetation indices were extracted from the hyperspectral reflectance and combined with four feature selection methods, i.e., mean decrease impurity (MDI), Boruta, FeaLect, and RReliefF to train deep neural network (DNN) models for yield prediction. Next, a learning framework was developed by combining the predicted values of the selected and the full features using multiple linear regression (MLR). The results show that the selected features contributed to higher yield prediction accuracy than the full features, and the MDI method performed well across growth stages, with a mean R2 ranging from 0.634 to 0.666 (mean RMSE = 0.926-0.967 t ha-1). Also, the proposed EFS method outperformed all the individual feature selection methods across growth stages, with a mean R2 ranging from 0.648 to 0.679 (mean RMSE = 0.911-0.950 t ha-1). The proposed EFS method can improve grain yield prediction from hyperspectral data and can be used to assist wheat breeders in earlier decision-making.


The occurrence, synthesis and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan in the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta: a high performance liquid chromatographic study.
The biosynthesis and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT) in the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta was investigated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Incubation of intact H. diminuta in [3H]tryptophan resulted in substantial radioactivity recovered in 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). Furthermore, the tissue levels of 5-HT and 5-HTP, as determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection, were significantly depressed when the animals were deprived of tryptophan. On the other hand, the tissue levels of 5-HTP were significantly increased following incubation with the 5-HTP decarboxylase inhibitor m-hydroxybenzylhydrazine. The synthesis and metabolism of 5-HT are discussed in the light of 5-HT as a physiological transmitter in H. diminuta.


Androgen-induced norepinephrine release mediating guinea pig seminal vesicle smooth muscle proliferation: potential role of pre-synaptic alpha2-adrenoceptors.
Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that androgen-induced basal norepinephrine (NE) release is responsible for the onset of proliferation in seminal vesicle smooth muscle (SVM) cells during early puberty. With subsequent sexual maturation, SVM was irreversibly differentiated to an androgen-resistant-amitotic state in which basal NE release remained elevated and resistant to androgen withdrawal or repletion. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that this irreversible elevation of basal NE release during pubertal development is caused, at least in part, by the down-regulation of pre-synaptic NE feedback inhibition, secondary to irreversible reduction in the expression of neuronal (pre-synaptic) alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. Functional alpha(2)-adrenoceptors are selectively localized to pre-synaptic sites in SVM. To test this hypothesis, we employed ligand binding techniques with [(3)H]RX821002, an antagonist which labeled all alpha(2)-adrenoceptor sub-types. Initial experiments focused on analysis of competitor specificity to identify the predominant alpha(2)-adrenoceptor sub-type in SVM. Subsequently, we quantified the changes in the receptor concentration (B(max)) for [(3)H]RX821002 at the point of maximal dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced change in basal NE release. Based on competitor specificity for [(3)H]RX821002, the alpha(2D)-adrenoceptor sub-type predominated in SVM. We treated pre-pubertal castrate animals with DHT for 7 days, which was previously demonstrated to maximally induce basal NE release. This treatment reduced the pre-synaptic alpha(2)-adrenoceptor B(max) 4-fold. In animals which had been castrated as adults, the B(max) for [(3)H]RX821002 remained irreversibly suppressed. The DHT-dependent reduction in the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor concentration is consistent with the developmental pattern of increased basal NE release. These findings support the hypothesis that the down-regulation of pre-synaptic NE feedback is mechanistically involved in the irreversible elevation of basal NE release. NE mediates proliferation in SVM in early pubertal development. Thus, the androgen-dependent pubertal growth of smooth muscle cells may be indirectly controlled at the level of neurotransmission.


Arterial blood gases and pH during sleep in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Arterial blood gases were measured during 7 hours of sleep in 15 patients with severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary discrease (COPD); 6 awake patients with COPD studies in recumbency for an average of 5 hours served as controls. Mean maximal decrease in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) (plus or minus SD) was 13.5 plus or minus 3.9 mm Hg for sleeping patients (p less than 0.005) and 5.5 plus or minus 1.7 mm Hg for controls (p less than 0.1), respectively. Changes in pH during sleep were of the magnitude expected with acute changes in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) in patients with chronic hypercapnia. Consistent changes in heart rate, respiratory frequency or cardiac rhythm were not observed during sleep. Nocturnal worsening of hypoxemia could be explained by alveolar hypoventilation in six sleeping patients and in five controls; in nine sleeping patients, further impariment of ventilation-perfusion mismatch also contributed to worsening of hypoxemia. There was no relationship between the decrease in PaO2 during sleep and the degree of airways obstruction or the PaO2 level when awake. Because of low PaO2, when awake, a fall in PaO2 during sleep brings values into the steep part of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve where slight changes in PaO2 result in marked changes in oxygen content. All patients with COPD whose waking PaO2 was below 60 mm Hg had PaO2 below 50 mm Hg during sleep; nocturnal oxygen therapy should be considered in such patients, particularly in the presence of polycythemia or troublesome right-sided heart failure.


Ultrastructural localization of substance P immunoreactivity in the ventral horn of the rat spinal cord.
At the light microscope level, the minute concentrations of substance P (SP) in rat spinal ventral horn can be visualized best by amplification with the double bridge PAP method of Vacca et al. (1975; 1980) in 5 microns paraffin tissue sections. Morphologically, the immunoreactive sites resemble punctate bodies. They occur in close apposition with the large ventral horn cells and their associated neuronal processes. By the Sternberger PAP procedure, we now describe these punctate bodies at the electron microscope level. Ultrastructurally, they appear as tiny boutons (terminal and preterminal) and small unmyelinated processes. The boutons and processes typically contain one to several immunolabeled dense core vesicles among many immunolabeled clear vesicles. They range in size near the limit of resolution of the light microscope (LM), thereby justifying further the use of LM amplification staining by the double bridge method. The immunolabeled boutons often synapse with large smooth dendrites (which may originate from motoneurons) by asymmetrical or symmetrical synaptic densities. Their synaptic densities appear immunostained as well. The data support the view that the electrophysiological action of SP in the ventral horn occurs in part by synaptic action along the processes of the ventral horn cells. Other mechanisms of action are considered for the peptide as well. Additional types of membrane specializations (synaptoid junctions) and SP neural circuits are described below.


Exercise improves homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium by activation of apelin receptor-AMP-activated protein kinase signalling.
Intestinal remodelling is dynamically regulated by energy metabolism. Exercise is beneficial for gut health, but the specific mechanisms remain poorly understood. Intestine-specific apelin receptor (APJ) knockdown (KD) and wild-type male mice were randomly divided into two subgroups, with/without exercise, to obtain four groups: WT, WT with exercise, APJ KD and APJ KD with exercise. Animals in the exercise groups were subjected to daily treadmill exercise for 3 weeks. Duodenum was collected at 48 h after the last bout of exercise. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1 KD and wild-type mice were also utilized for investigating the mediatory role of AMPK on exercise-induced duodenal epithelial development. AMPK and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α were upregulated by exercise via APJ activation in the intestinal duodenum. Correspondingly, exercise induced permissive histone modifications in the PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) promoter to activate its expression, which was dependent on APJ activation. In agreement, exercise elevated the expression of mitochondrial oxidative markers. The expression of intestinal epithelial markers was downregulated due to AMPK deficiency, and AMPK signalling facilitated epithelial renewal. These data demonstrate that exercise-induced activation of the APJ-AMPK axis facilitates the homeostasis of the intestinal duodenal epithelium. KEY POINTS: Apelin receptor (APJ) signalling is required for improved epithelial homeostasis of the small intestine in response to exercise. Exercise intervention activates PRDM16 through inducing histone modifications, enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid metabolism in duodenum. The morphological development of duodenal villus and crypt is enhanced by the muscle-derived exerkine apelin through the APJ-AMP-activated protein kinase axis.


House-dust community (Fungi, mites) in different climatic regions.
House-dust flora and fauna were compared in the maritime cool temperate climate (in three degrees of continentality), the mediterranean warm temperate climate, the arctic climate and the tropical climate.An inverse relationship exists between continentality of the temperate climate and the numbers of arthropods and fungi (mesophilic as well as xerophilic) in the dust of the houses.The numbers of arthropods and fungi were lowest in mediterranean and arctic climates, most likely because of the limiting effect of the drier indoor climate. Fungi are more tolerant of dry conditions than house-dust inhabiting mites. Generally the highest numbers of fungal diaspores and arthropods were found in the tropics, where, however, the lowest number of positive samples was also found, especially for the species of the Aspergillus glaucus group and for Wallemia sebi. Maritime cool temperate climate showed the highest numbers of positive samples for fungi and mites.In general, a relationship exists between relative humidity and the density of fungal diaspores and arthropods.


An assessment of issues surrounding implementation of the Campaign to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance in Healthcare Settings.
The Campaign to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance in Healthcare Settings was developed through 9 research projects: 1 to determine the name and image, 5 to test the 12-step programs, and 3 to evaluate the Campaign. This report analyzes data from 9 projects and reports key findings. Data from the 9 projects were analyzed by 4 topics: perceptions of the problem of antimicrobial resistance, barriers to preventing antimicrobial resistance, most and least important steps and strategies, and preferences for materials and information sources. Data from 21 in-depth interviews, 19 focus groups, and 3 surveys were analyzed. A total of 695 clinicians participated: 564 (81.2%) were physicians; 98 (14.1%) were nurses; and 33 (4.7%) were other healthcare professionals. Differences by both occupation and medical specialty area were observed. A majority of participants agreed that antimicrobial resistance is a problem nationally, whereas fewer agreed that it is a problem in their institution or practice. Of the Campaign's 4 strategies, "Diagnose and Treat Infection Effectively" and "Use Antimicrobials Wisely" were considered most important, whereas "Prevent Infection" and "Prevent Transmission" were considered least important. Frequently cited preferences for materials included posters and professional resources such as journal articles and presentations at conferences or annual meetings of professional societies. The findings highlight important issues that could influence the success of implementation of the Campaign to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance in Healthcare Settings. Tailoring the campaign messages and supporting materials to individual institutions or clinician types are encouraged to address or acknowledge these issues and facilitate behavior change.


Myringotomy and ventilation tubes: a report of 1,568 ears.
We reviewed the records of all patients who had a myringotomy and insertion of a ventilation tube at Otologic Medical Group during a 6-year period; there were 2,266 intubations on 1,568 ears. Uncomplicated serous otitis media was the indication in 1.055 ears; 19% developed brief episodes of otorrhea. Persistent otorrhea necessitated tube removal in 9 ears, all but 2 of which became dry. These 2 patients required mastoid surgery. We conclude that myringotomy and insertion of a ventilation tube in serous otitis media is associated with infrequent complications, and these complications are probably related more to the underlying disease process than to the ventilation tube.


Determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations: a review.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used for their properties such as stain and water resistance. The substances have been associated with adverse health outcomes in both pregnant mothers and infants, including pre-eclampsia and low birthweight. A growing body of research suggests that PFAS are transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta, leading to in utero exposure. A systematic review was performed using the PubMed database to search for studies evaluating determinants of PFAS concentrations in blood matrices of pregnant mothers and neonates shortly after birth. Studies were included in this review if an observational study design was utilized, exposure to at least one PFAS analyte was measured, PFAS were measured in maternal or neonatal matrices, at least one determinant of PFAS concentrations was assessed, and results such as beta estimates were provided. We identified 35 studies for inclusion in the review and evaluated the PFAS and determinant relationships among the factors collected in these studies. Parity, breastfeeding history, maternal race and country of origin, and household income had the strongest and most consistent evidence to support their roles as determinants of certain PFAS concentrations in pregnant mothers. Reported study findings on smoking status, alcohol consumption, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) suggest that these factors are not important determinants of PFAS concentrations in pregnant mothers or neonates. Further study into informative factors such as consumer product use, detailed dietary information, and consumed water sources as potential determinants of maternal or neonatal PFAS concentrations is needed. Research on determinants of maternal or neonatal PFAS concentrations is critical to estimate past PFAS exposure, build improved exposure models, and further our understanding on dose-response relationships, which can influence epidemiological studies and risk assessment evaluations. Given the potential for adverse outcomes in pregnant mothers and neonates exposed to PFAS, it is important to identify and understand determinants of maternal and neonatal PFAS concentrations to better implement public health interventions in these populations.


The Pfannenstiel or so called "bikini cut": still effective more than 100 years after first description.
The original Pfannenstiel incision is discussed including the technique, history, current indications, advantages, and disadvantages. Excellent cosmetic results, principles of less traumatic surgery, and a rare incisional hernia complication rate of about 0-2%, as well as long-time use characterise this access path to the pelvic organs first described by the German gynaecologist in 1900. Complications of nerve damage, however, should be recognised, especially when extending the incision too far laterally.


Demonstration of accuracy and clinical versatility of mutual information for automatic multimodality image fusion using affine and thin-plate spline warped geometric deformations.
This paper applies and evaluates an automatic mutual information-based registration algorithm across a broad spectrum of multimodal volume data sets. The algorithm requires little or no pre-processing, minimal user input and easily implements either affine, i.e. linear or thin-plate spline (TPS) warped registrations. We have evaluated the algorithm in phantom studies as well as in selected cases where few other algorithms could perform as well, if at all, to demonstrate the value of this new method. Pairs of multimodal gray-scale volume data sets were registered by iteratively changing registration parameters to maximize mutual information. Quantitative registration errors were assessed in registrations of a thorax phantom using PET/CT and in the National Library of Medicine's Visible Male using MRI T2-/T1-weighted acquisitions. Registrations of diverse clinical data sets were demonstrated including rotate-translate mapping of PET/MRI brain scans with significant missing data, full affine mapping of thoracic PET/CT and rotate-translate mapping of abdominal SPECT/CT. A five-point thin-plate spline (TPS) warped registration of thoracic PET/CT is also demonstrated. The registration algorithm converged in times ranging between 3.5 and 31 min for affine clinical registrations and 57 min for TPS warping. Mean error vector lengths for rotate-translate registrations were measured to be subvoxel in phantoms. More importantly the rotate-translate algorithm performs well even with missing data. The demonstrated clinical fusions are qualitatively excellent at all levels. We conclude that such automatic, rapid, robust algorithms significantly increase the likelihood that multimodality registrations will be routinely used to aid clinical diagnoses and post-therapeutic assessment in the near future.


[Clinical diagnosis of proximal occlusion of a major cerebral artery in the very early stage of ischemic stroke].
To find clinical criteria applied in the first hours of disease for the identification of severe ischemic stroke caused by an occlusion of proximal major arteries. The authors have analyzed 133 medical histories of patients with the diagnosis of acute cerebral blood circulation disorder admitted in the first 6 h from onset. All patients underwent CT-angiography or digital subtraction angiography. Occlusion of the inner carotid artery, occlusion of M1-segment of the middle cerebral artery and occlusion of a major artery were considered as proximal occlusion of major cerebral arteries. Neurological status was assessed by the signs of proximal arterial occlusion (PAO). Checking of 5 PAO symptoms allows the prediction of occlusion location in approximately 80% of cases. Presence of ≥3 out of 5 symptoms is characterized by 70% sensitivity and 90% specificity with regard to the occlusion of the inner carotid artery, M1-segment of the middle cerebral artery and/or a major artery. Predictive value of this model should be verified in a prospective study.


Survey of point of care ultrasound usage in emergency medicine by Vietnamese physicians.
Emergency medicine (EM) is rapidly developing as a specialty in Vietnam. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is currently taught as part of formal EM curriculums though limited literature exists to describe current POCUS usage in EDs in Vietnam. A survey was developed to understand current POCUS utilisation and guide future training efforts. A survey was administered to 104 Vietnamese physicians attending a national emergency medicine symposium regarding POCUS utilisation, access, training and preference. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression to identify independent variables associated with POCUS usage. Increased access to ultrasound machines was significantly associated with increased POCUS usage, with 'all the time' access (OR = 92.9, 95% CI 7.15-1207.6, P = 0.001) being more strongly associated than 'sometimes' access (OR = 41.4, 95% CI 4.08-419.8, P = 0.002). Formal training did not significantly increase POCUS usage and 50.0% of respondents who regularly used POCUS had no formal training. There was no significant difference in physician preference or comfort for any single application of POCUS. There were 98.0% of trainees and 96.3% of independently practising physicians who reported a desire for additional POCUS training. Regular access to ultrasound machines increases the frequency of POCUS usage in EDs in Vietnam. POCUS training was not as clearly associated with POCUS usage as those without formal training were equally likely to use POCUS as those with formal training. No single POCUS application stood out as strongly preferred by physicians in this survey.


Platycodin D represses β-catenin to suppress metastasis of cetuximab-treated KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer cells.
Cetuximab, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, is extensively used for clinical therapy in KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, some patients still cannot get benefit from the therapy, because metastasis and resistance occur frequently after cetuximab treatment. New adjunctive therapy is urgently needed to suppress metastasis of cetuximab-treated CRC cells. In this study, we used two KRAS wild-type CRC cells, HT29 and CaCo2, to investigate whether platycodin D, a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Chinese medicinal herb Platycodon grandifloras, is able to suppress the metastasis of cetuximab-treated CRC. Label-free quantitative proteomics analyses showed that platycodin D but not cetuximab significantly inhibited expression of β-catenin in both CRC cells, and suggested that platycodin D counteracted the inhibition effect of cetuximab on cell adherence and functioned in repressing cell migration and invasion. Western blot results showed that single platycodin D treatment or combined platycodin D and cetuximab enhanced inhibition effects on expressions of key genes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, including β-catenin, c-Myc, Cyclin D1 and MMP-7, compared to single cetuximab treatment. Scratch wound-healing and transwell assays showed that platycodin D combined with cetuximab suppressed migration and invasion of CRC cells, respectively. Pulmonary metastasis model of HT29 and CaCo2 in nu/nu nude mice consistently showed that combined treatment using platycodin D and cetuximab inhibited metastasis significantly in vivo. Our findings provide a potential strategy to inhibit CRC metastasis during cetuximab therapy by addition of platycodin D.


Hematein inhibits atherosclerosis by inhibition of reactive oxygen generation and NF-kappaB-dependent inflammatory mediators in hyperlipidemic mice.
Hematein, a natural compound, is a known anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic agent in the rabbit model. The authors investigated the effects of this compound on atherogenesis and possible mechanisms of the actions in the hyperlipidemic mice. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-) mice fed a high-cholesterol diet alone for 8 weeks developed the fatty streak lesion in the aortic sinus, whereas this lesion was significantly reduced by hematein treatment without a change in plasma lipid levels compared with control mice. Hematein treatment reduced plasma levels of lipid peroxide and superoxide generation in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophage. Hematein treatment inhibited NF-kappaB-DNA binding activity in peritoneal macrophages from Ldlr-/- mice and the activation of NF-kappaB in RAW264.7 macrophages. This compound suppressed plasma nitrite/nitrate levels in Ldlr-/- mice and NO production and iNOS expression in LPS+IFNgamma-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Hematein treatment also suppressed the activity of iNOS promoters in RAW264.7 macrophages, and reduced the plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and the production of these cytokines in LPS+IFNgamma-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that hematein inhibits atherosclerotic lesion formation, possibly by reducing proinflammatory mediators through a decrease in reactive oxygen species generation and NF-kappaB activation.


Organic persistent luminescence imaging for biomedical applications.
Persistent luminescence is a unique visual phenomenon that occurs after cessation of excitation light irradiation or following oxidization of luminescent molecules. The energy stored within the molecule is released in a delayed manner, resulting in luminescence that can be maintained for seconds, minutes, hours, or even days. Organic persistent luminescence materials (OPLMs) are highly robust and their facile modification and assembly into biocompatible nanostructures makes them attractive tools for in vivo bioimaging, whilst offering an alternative to conventional fluorescence imaging materials for biomedical applications. In this review, we give attention to the existing limitations of each class of OPLM-based molecular bioimaging probes based on their luminescence mechanisms, and how recent research progress has driven efforts to circumvent their shortcomings. We discuss the multifunctionality-focused design strategies, and the broad biological application prospects of these molecular probes. Furthermore, we provide insights into the next generation of OPLMs being developed for bioimaging techniques.


[Observation of the anterior ischemic optic neuropathy by color Doppler flow imaging].
To study the characteristics of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in anterior optic neuropathy (AION). Forty eyes of 25 patients clinically diagnosed to have progressive AION were studied by using CDFI. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time averaged maximum velocity (TAMV) and resistance index (RI) of the central retinal artery (CRA), nasal and temporal posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs) and ophthalmic artery (OA) were detected. The diameter of retrobulbar optic nerve (ON) was detected at the same time. Thirty-four volunteers were served as the control group. In the comparison with the control group, there were significantly reduced PSV, EDV and TAMV in PCAs (P < 0.001) and CRA (P < 0.001) and markedly increased RI in PCAs, CRA and OA in AION group. The retrobulbar optic nerve edema was found in 32/40 eyes. The characteristics of reduced velocity and increased resistance index in retrobulbar arteries of the AION are demonstrated. CDFI is helpful to the diagnosis of AION.


Hepatitis E.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was discovered during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, after an outbreak of unexplained hepatitis at a military camp. A pooled faecal extract from affected soldiers was ingested by a member of the research team. He became sick, and the new virus (named HEV), was detected in his stool by electron microscopy. Subsequently, endemic HEV has been identified in many resource-poor countries. Globally, HEV is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis. The virus was not initially thought to occur in developed countries, but recent reports have shown this notion to be mistaken. The aim of this Seminar is to describe recent discoveries regarding HEV, and how they have changed our understanding of its effect on human health worldwide.


Effects of two doses of methylphenidate on cross-situational and borderline hyperactive children's evoked potentials.
This study involved 27 children displaying cross-situational hyperactivity and 14 youngsters with borderline hyperactivity. For all patients, evoked potentials were recorded after receiving 0 (placebo), 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg methylphenidate. Under each pharmacologic condition, subjects were administered: a photic stimulation procedure; two versions of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT), which varied in difficulty level; and a discrimination ('oddball') test. Under photic stimulation, methylphenidate reduced the impact of increasing brightness levels on the rates of amplitude increment and latency decrease in the P208 component of the visual evoked response. These results are similar to those obtained by Buchsbaum and Wender (1973) for hyperactive patients with a positive clinical response to amphetamine. In CPT and the discrimination test, the two active dosages of methylphenidate brought about a comparable reduction of placebo levels of errors and reaction time. Analogously, in both versions of CPT, the two active dosages resulted in comparable increases in the amplitude of two components of the late positive complex (LPC; P510 and P740). P510 was identified as a classical P300. In the discrimination test, the effect of the stimulant on the response evoked by the visual non-target was to increase the amplitude of a component (P463) previously identified as P300. These pharmacologic results were nearly identical for borderline and cross-situational patients. In general, the results confirmed previous observations that methylphenidate improves hyperactive children's performance and increases the amplitude of their LPC. Further, these findings support previous observations that hyperactive patients' cognitive processing is optimized by a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg methylphenidate. Finally, the similarity between findings for cross-situational and borderline hyperactive patients is consistent with other evidence that stimulant effects are not limited to classically hyperactive children.


Dietary cravings and aversions in the postpartum period.
Although food cravings and aversions are commonly experienced by pregnant women, the degree to which they persist in the postpartum period is unknown. This study examines this issue in both lactating and nonlactating women. A random sample of 463 subjects was selected from all prenatal patients receiving care at a large health maintenance organization (HMO). Even though almost all of the subjects reported craving some food or beverage during the last trimester of pregnancy and half reported some aversion, those phenomena dropped markedly in the postpartum period. Evaluation of dietary quality as related to food cravings revealed no clear association; that is, the data provided no evidence to support the hypothesis that cravings are caused by dietary deficiencies or that they result in significantly augmented intake of key nutrients found in those foods. Overall, food cravings and aversions do not continue into the postpartum period at a higher rate than one would expect in the adult female population; manifestation of food cravings/aversions is not related to dietary quality.


A case of varicella zoster infection in kidney transplant recipient using immunosuppressant.
Kidney transplant recipients must take lifelong immunosuppression to prevent acute or chronic allograft injury. However, they are also at risk for opportunistic infections due to compromised immune cell functionality. Disseminated HZ in kidney transplant recipients can result in a very high overall mortality rate of up to 30%. Here we described a 23-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency room with a complaint of high-grade fever, chills, and non-dermatomal lesion of varicella zoster skin infection that affected the face and trunk. After investigation the patient was diagnosed with chickenpox clinically and was managed with complete recovery and early hospital discharge.


Epigenetic Regulator CoREST Controls Social Behavior in Ants.
Ants acquire distinct morphological and behavioral phenotypes arising from a common genome, underscoring the importance of epigenetic regulation. In Camponotus floridanus, "Major" workers defend the colony, but can be epigenetically reprogrammed to forage for food analogously to "Minor" workers. Here, we utilize reprogramming to investigate natural behavioral specification. Reprogramming of Majors upregulates Minor-biased genes and downregulates Major-biased genes, engaging molecular pathways fundamental to foraging behavior. We discover the neuronal corepressor for element-1-silencing transcription factor (CoREST) is upregulated upon reprogramming and required for the epigenetic switch to foraging. Genome-wide profiling during reprogramming reveals CoREST represses expression of enzymes that degrade juvenile hormone (JH), a hormone elevated upon reprogramming. High CoREST, low JH-degrader expression, and high JH levels are mirrored in natural Minors, revealing parallel mechanisms of natural and reprogrammed foraging. These results unveil chromatin regulation via CoREST as central to programming of ant social behavior, with potential far-reaching implications for behavioral epigenetics.


Sleep disruption with basal forebrain lesions decreases latency to amygdala kindling in cats.
Sleep deprivation enhances seizure susceptibility in experimental and human epilepsies. Because sleep abnormalities are also common in these populations, a possible explanation for this close association is that sleep deprivation activates seizures by enhancing existing sleep disturbances. The present experiment examined this hypothesis by comparing sleep-waking state percentages and the number of after-discharge-eliciting stimulations required to induce generalized tonic-clonic convulsions with the amygdala kindling model of epilepsy in 3 groups of cats (n = 5 each). One group consisted of experimental subjects who received bilateral lesions of the basal forebrain, a preoptic area long implicated in the generation of normal sleep state characteristics. A second group sustained unilateral lesions of the basal forebrain area. Since only bilateral destruction of this region produces sleep-waking cycle abnormalities, this group provided a lesion control. Finally, a third group had no lesion and provided a control which allowed normative assessment of sleep state patterns and seizure susceptibility in otherwise unmanipulated cats. The results were: cats without lesions showed a parallel development of seizure and sleep disorders, the latter indexed by progressive SWS and REM sleep deficits; cats with unilateral lesions showed identical trends in the development of sleep and seizure anomalies; and cats with bilateral lesions of basal forebrain displayed similar but more severe sleep disturbances than those evidenced by control subjects and also required fewer after-discharge stimulations to establish kindled convulsions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Measuring microtubule persistence length using a microtubule gliding assay.
The mechanical properties of microtubules have been an area of active research for the past two decades, in part because understanding the mechanics of individual microtubules contributes to modeling whole-cell rigidity and structure and hence to better understanding the processes underlying motility and transport. Moreover, the role of microtubule structure and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in microtubule stiffness remains unclear. In this chapter, we present a kinesin-driven microtubule gliding assay analysis of persistence length that is amenable to simultaneous variation of microtubule parameters such as length, structure, or MAP coverage and determination of persistence length. By combining sparse fluorescent labeling of individual microtubules with single particle tracking of individual fluorophores, microtubule gliding trajectories are tracked with nanometer-level precision. The fluctuations in these trajectories, due to thermal fluctuations in the microtubules themselves, are analyzed to extract the microtubule persistence length. In the following, we describe this gliding assay and analysis and discuss two example microtubule variables, length and diameter, in anticipation that the method may be of wide use for in vitro study of microtubule mechanical properties.


Identification and analysis of unitary loss of long-established protein-coding genes in Poaceae shows evidences for biased gene loss and putatively functional transcription of relics.
Long-established protein-coding genes may lose their coding potential during evolution ("unitary gene loss"). Members of the Poaceae family are a major food source and represent an ideal model clade for plant evolution research. However, the global pattern of unitary gene loss in Poaceae genomes as well as the evolutionary fate of lost genes are still less-investigated and remain largely elusive. Using a locally developed pipeline, we identified 129 unitary gene loss events for long-established protein-coding genes from four representative species of Poaceae, i.e. brachypodium, rice, sorghum and maize. Functional annotation suggested that the lost genes in all or most of Poaceae species are enriched for genes involved in development and response to endogenous stimulus. We also found that 44 mutated genomic loci of lost genes, which we referred as relics, were still actively transcribed, and of which 84% (37 of 44) showed significantly differential expression across different tissues. More interestingly, we found that there were totally five expressed relics may function as competitive endogenous RNA in brachypodium, rice and sorghum genome. Based on comparative genomics and transcriptome data, we firstly compiled a comprehensive catalogue of unitary gene loss events in Poaceae species and characterized a statistically significant functional preference for these lost genes as well showed the potential of relics functioning as competitive endogenous RNAs in Poaceae genomes.