Bradykinin-mediated estrogen-dependent depressor response by direct activation of female-specific distribution of myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons in rats.
To understand the direct impact of bradykinin in autonomic control of circulation through baroreflex afferent pathway. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored while bradykinin and its agonists were applied via nodose (NG) microinjection, the expression of bradykinin receptors (BRs) in the NG (1st -order) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS, 2nd -order) were tested in adult male, age-matched female, and ovariectomized rats under physiological and hypertensive conditions. Additionally, bradykinin-induced depolarization was also tested in identified baroreceptor and baroreceptive neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Under physiological condition, bradykinin-induced dose- and estrogen-dependent reductions of MAP with lower estimated EC50 in females. B2 R agonist mediated more dramatic MAP reduction with long-lasting effect compared with B1 R activation. These functional observations were consistent with the molecular and immunostaining evidences. However, under hypertensive condition, the MAP reduction was significantly less dramatic in N' -Nitro-L-Arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) induced secondary and spontaneous hypertension rats in males compared with female rats. Electrophysiological data showed that bradykinin-elicited concentration-dependent membrane depolarization with discharges during initial phase in identified myelinated Ah-types baroreceptor neurons, not myelinated A-types; while, higher concentration of bradykinin was required for depolarization of unmyelinated C-types without initial discharges. These datasets have demonstrated for the first time that bradykinin mediates direct activation of baroreflex afferent function to trigger estrogen-dependent depressor response, which is due mainly to the direct activation/neuroexcitation of female-specific myelinated Ah-type baroreceptor neurons leading to a sexual dimorphism in parasympathetic domination of blood pressure regulation via activation of B2 R/B1 R expression in baroreflex afferent pathway.


Survey of state conjunctivitis policies for school-age students.
To examine state policies regarding school-age students with conjunctivitis. Analysis included the following evidence: publicly available policies for disposition of affected students; indications for exclusion and return to classroom; and completeness of information, including mention of different etiologies of conjunctivitis; signs and symptoms of viral versus bacterial conjunctivitis; student disposition and treatment based on etiology; internally consistent recommendations; reference to credible resources; and mention of the possibility of a conjunctivitis outbreak. Fifteen of 50 states have no policies. Ten states allow students to remain in school, 5 allow return 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic treatment, and 5 require physician approval. Seventeen states and Washington, DC, offer little detail or internally inconsistent recommendations, such as choice of antibiotic use or provider note. Twelve policies are thoroughly presented. Twenty-three states refer to sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. No policy references the American Academy of Ophthalmology. State policies on conjunctivitis in students vary widely. Antibiotic use as a prerequisite for return to school has drawbacks of cost to parents, increasing antibiotic resistance, and lack of efficacy against nonbacterial etiologies, for example, viral conjunctivitis. Publicly available information and guidelines could be improved, aiming for fewer absentee days, reduced outbreak risk, and reduced risk of antibiotic resistance.


An anti-LpqH human monoclonal antibody from an asymptomatic individual mediates protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Whilst a functional role for humoral immunity in Mtb protection remains poorly defined, previous studies have suggested that antibodies can contribute towards host defense. Thus, identifying the critical components in the antibody repertoires from immune, chronically exposed, healthy individuals represents an approach for identifying new determinants for natural protection. In this study, we performed a thorough analysis of the IgG/IgA memory B cell repertoire from occupationally exposed, immune volunteers. We detail the identification and selection of a human monoclonal antibody that exhibits protective activity in vivo and show that it targets a virulence factor LpqH. Intriguingly, protection in both human ex vivo and murine challenge experiments was isotype dependent, with most robust protection being mediated via IgG2 and IgA. These data have important implications for our understanding of natural mucosal immunity for Mtb and highlight a new target for future vaccine development.


Outcomes of IOL power calculation using measurements by a rotating Scheimpflug camera combined with partial coherence interferometry.
To evaluate the accuracy of the measurements provided by a Scheimpflug camera combined with partial coherence interferometry for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation. I.R.C.C.S.-G.B. Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy. Prospective case series. Consecutive patients scheduled for cataract surgery were enrolled. Preoperative biometry was performed with a Pentacam AXL. All patients received the same IOL (AcrySof SN60WF). Measurements were entered into the following formulas: Barrett Universal II, Emmetropia Verifying Optical 2.0, Haigis, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Holladay 2 with axial length adjustment, Kane, Ladas Super Formula (LSF) 2.0, Næser 2, Pearl-DGS, SRK/T, T2, and VRF. When refraction was measured at 1 month postoperatively, the mean prediction error (PE), the median absolute error (MedAE), and the percentage of eyes with a PE within ±0.25, ±0.50, and ±1.00 diopter (D) were calculated after constant optimization. Ninety-one eyes of 91 patients were analyzed. Comparison of the mean PE and MedAE did not reveal any statistically significant difference. However, the Pearl DGS formula achieved the lowest MedAE (0.19 D), followed by the LSF 2.0 (0.22). Twelve of the 13 formulas obtained a PE within ±0.50 D in at least 80% of eyes (range 80%-87%) and 7 of them in at least 85%. Twelve formulas yielded a PE within ±0.25 D in at least 50% of eyes (range 51%-64%). All the investigated formulas performed well using the Pentacam AXL measurements. The newest Pearl DGS formula version and LSF 2.0 showed promising results.


An inside look: hand injury-prevention program.
The purpose of this article is to review the development of an industrial hand injury-prevention program to provide the impetus for other hand therapists to undertake such programs. The article includes a description of how to initiate a prevention program, the content of the training seminar, presentation methods, and marketing strategies. The "Handle with Care" program was effective in reducing the cost and incidence of industrial hand injuries and was favorably received by Oklahoma industry at its inception. A new program is currently being developed in California.


Polymorphism of apolipoprotein E. III. Effect of a single polymorphic gene locus on plasma lipid levels in man.
The two autosomal codominant alleles of the Apo E-N/D polymorphism, Apo En and Apo Ed, have a considerable influence on plasma lipid levels and distribution in man. Serum cholesterol levels are highest in phenotype Apo E-N, intermediate in phenotype Apo E-ND, and low in phenotype Apo E-D. Contrary VLDL-cholesterol is highest in phenotype Apo E-D, intermediate in heterozygotes, and lowest in phenotype Apo E-N. Serum-triglyceride, VLDL-triglyceride and the ratio of VLDL-cholesterol/serum-triglyceride are also intermediate in phenotype Apo E-ND between the two opposite homozygous groups. 10% of heterozygous Apo E-ND subjects exhibited a beta-VLDL subfraction compared to 0.8% in phenotype Apo E-N and 100% in Apo E-D. Hence the three phenotypic groups exhibit metabolic differences in vivo, and the gene Apo Ed has a mild dyslipoproteinemic effect even in a single dose. The Apo E-N/D polymorphism may therefore be a major influence on the occurrence of arteriosclerotic vascular disease in man.


[Influence of corneal biomechanical properties on myopic regression after laser in situ keratomileusis].
Laser in situ keratomileusis is a safe and accepted method for correcting myopia. The operational results in terms of accuracy as well as the subjective acceptance of patients for corrections to - 8 D are now considered to be promising (Seiler, Refraktive Chirurgie der Hornhaut, 2000); however, postoperative results show individual patient problems in long-term stability. It is believed that the preoperative condition of the cornea (e.g. thickness, biomechanical properties) could have an influence on postoperative problems such as myopic regression. This study included a total of 46 eyes from 25 patients. At 3 months postoperatively, 15 patients (19 eyes) showed a SEQ of -0.50 D or more. Within this group, 11 patients (15 eyes) developed a regression (regression group) within the first 3 postoperative months. The remainder of the total group did not show any regression (stability group). The subjects of this study were on average 33 ± 8 years (stability group) and 31 ± 7 years old (regression group). The corneal thickness was tested and refractive error, visual acuity (BCVA/UCVA) and intraocular pressure was measured. In addition, the corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were determined. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -3.14 D ± 1.41 D (SE) in the stability group and - 6.47 D ± 1.40 D (p = 0.001)in the regression group. Also, the postoperative spherical equivalents were statistically significant different (p < 0.05). In contrast, the mean preoperative corneal thickness showed no differences in both groups (p = 0.96) (stability group 563 ± 36 µm and regression group 563 ± 28 µm). The aim of the study to detect a possible causal relationship between myopia regression after LASIK and the biomechanical properties of the cornea and corneal thickness could not be clearly identified.


Quantitative determination of oxidized carbon nanotube probes in yeast by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.
Short oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes were functionalized with fluorescein isothiocyanate to form carbon nanotube probes (CNTP). The distribution of CNTP in yeast was quantitatively determined by capillary electrophoresis coupled with laser-induced fluorescence detection. The detection sensitivity for CNTP was greatly improved comparing with UV absorbance and Raman detection. The time- and temperature-dependent influx patterns of CNTP into yeast were obtained. The apparent permeability coefficient for influx of CNTP into yeast was calculated, which suggested that CNTP might permeate into yeast through endocytosis. This study implies that CNTP could be a fine drug transporter and might be wildly used in multidrug resistance research and microorganism detection.


Teledermatology before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The use and acceptance of teledermatology increased more in the last 2 months of the recent lockdown owing to coronavirus disease 2019 than in the preceding 20 years. This sudden popularity -even among the greatest skeptics- was driven by the need to offer solutions to patients in both public and private settings who suddenly found themselves unable to access in-person dermatological care. Even departments already offering an asynchronous, store-and-forward teledermatology service were obliged to create new systems to support direct interaction between specialists and patients (the direct-to-consumer model). This article suggests some practical ways to implement TD safely and to expedite and optimize teleconsultations; these ideas are not just applicable to a pandemic situation.


Pathology of the optic nerve.
This article focuses on pathologic processes affecting the optic nerve, optic nerve/sheath complex, and chiasm. Pathology of the visual pathways posterior to the chiasm is beyond the scope of this article and is discussed only briefly.


Effects of acute hypobaric hypoxia on thermoregulatory and circulatory responses during cold air exposure.
The thermoregulatory responses during simultaneous exposure to hypoxia and cold are not well understood owing to the opposite reactions of vasomotor tone in these two environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of hypobaric hypoxia on various thermoregulatory responses, including skin blood flow (SkBF) during cold exposure. Ten subjects participated in two experimental conditions: normobaric normoxia with cold (NC, barometric pressure (PB) = 760 mmHg) and hypobaric hypoxia with cold (HC, PB = 493 mmHg). The air temperature was maintained at 28 °C for 65 min and gradually decreased to 19 °C for both conditions. The total duration of the experiment was 135 min. The saturation of percutaneous oxygen (SpO2) was maintained at 98-99% in NC condition, but decreased to around 84% in HC condition. The rectal and mean skin temperatures showed no significant differences between the conditions; however, the forehead temperature was higher in HC condition than in NC condition. The pulse rate increased in HC condition, and there was a strong negative relationship between SpO2 and pulse rate (r = - 0.860, p = 0.013). SkBF and blood pressure showed no significant differences between the two conditions. These results suggest that hypobaric hypoxia during cold exposure did not alter the overall thermoregulatory responses. However, hypobaric hypoxia did affect pulse rate regardless of cold exposure.


Composition and diversity of the preputial microbiota in healthy bulls.
Characterization of microbial communities inhabiting the reproductive tracts of cattle may lead to a better comprehension of bovine physiology and reproductive health. To date, reported studies have utilized culture-independent 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) for the classification of microbiota in the vaginal tract of cows but no studies have looked at the microbiota of the prepuce or penis of the bull. The aim of this study was to elucidate the microbiota present on the epithelial surface of the penis and prepuce of the post-pubertal bull using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Ninety-two healthy bulls of a variety of ages and breeding history, presented for routine breeding soundness examinations, were utilized in this investigation. Bacteria belonging to Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were identified in the prepuce. From all the bulls, two major community types were found, those with low or high bacterial species richness (up to 400 operational taxonomic units in one sample). There was no animal characteristic (breed or age) or management practice (feed type, antibiotic use, co-housing, breeding history) that was correlated with the bull penile microbial community composition. However, Bradyrhizobium was a distinguishing genus only found in the low diversity samples. The bull penile microbial community includes members of genera that are common in soil, cow vagina, respiratory tract, and feces. The baseline preputial microbial community in healthy bulls is described in the current study. This knowledge can be used later when investigating the interactions between disease and the male urogenital tract microbial community.


Cytometry Multiplex Bead Antibody Array.
The flow cytometry-based multiplex bead array is an advanced technology using antibody-conjugated multiplex beads to detect soluble targets in a liquid phase. This technology has been widely used for detection of soluble analytes like cytokines, chemokines, allergens, viral antigens, and cancer markers. RayPlex® Multiplex Beads Antibody Array series are developed by RayBiotech Life, Inc. to quantitatively detect a wide range of analytes with high sensitivity to meet increasing need of research and diagnosis.


Factors Associated with Mortality of Lambs Born to Ewe Hoggets.
The reproductive performance of ewe hoggets is poorer than that of mature-age ewes due to production of fewer lambs with poorer survival. Scant data are available on the risk factors for, and causes of, the mortality for lambs born to ewe hoggets, the impact of ewe deaths on lamb loss, and the causes of death for lambs born to ewe hoggets vs. mature-age ewes lambing in the same circumstances. In this study, 297 lambs born to 1142 ewe hoggets were necropsied along with 273 lambs born to 1050 mature-age ewes. Low lamb birthweight, multiple litter size, and increasing ewe hogget average daily gain from breeding to late pregnancy were risk factors for lamb mortality. The most common cause of mortality for lambs born to ewe hoggets was stillbirth and the risk factors for stillbirth were similar to those for lamb mortality generally. Approximately 11% of ewe hoggets' lamb deaths were due to the death of the dam. Causes of mortality differed between lambs born to ewe hoggets vs. those born to mature-age ewes. Management practices to increase ewe hogget lambs' birthweights (particularly those from multiple litters) and supervision of ewe hoggets at lambing time are recommended.


Sustained reductions in oxipurinol renal clearance during a restricted diet.
The renal clearance of oxipurinol, the major metabolite of allopurinol, was studied in six healthy subjects during normal and restricted (low protein and low calorie) diets. A 600 mg oral dose of allopurinol was administered after 7 days of a normal diet (100 mg protein/day) and again after 2 and 4 weeks of a restricted diet (19 gm protein/day). The renal clearance of oxipurinol was reduced from 19.6 +/- 1.5 ml/min during the normal diet to 10.9 +/- 0.8 and 12.0 +/- 0.9 ml/min (both P less than 0.001) during the restricted diet at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. These changes in oxipurinol renal clearance paralleled changes in uric acid renal clearance. Furthermore, the plasma oxipurinol half-life was increased from 27.0 +/- 1.7 hours during the normal diet to 51.1 +/- 4.3 and 45.7 +/- 3.7 hours (both P less than 0.001) during the restricted diet at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. We conclude that dietary protein and calorie restriction cause a sustained reduction in the elimination of oxipurinol.


Differential m6A, m6Am, and m1A Demethylation Mediated by FTO in the Cell Nucleus and Cytoplasm.
FTO, the first RNA demethylase discovered, mediates the demethylation of internal N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and N6, 2-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am) at the +1 position from the 5' cap in mRNA. Here we demonstrate that the cellular distribution of FTO is distinct among different cell lines, affecting the access of FTO to different RNA substrates. We find that FTO binds multiple RNA species, including mRNA, snRNA, and tRNA, and can demethylate internal m6A and cap m6Am in mRNA, internal m6A in U6 RNA, internal and cap m6Am in snRNAs, and N1-methyladenosine (m1A) in tRNA. FTO-mediated demethylation has a greater effect on the transcript levels of mRNAs possessing internal m6A than the ones with cap m6Am in the tested cells. We also show that FTO can directly repress translation by catalyzing m1A tRNA demethylation. Collectively, FTO-mediated RNA demethylation occurs to m6A and m6Am in mRNA and snRNA as well as m1A in tRNA.


Inter-reader agreement of the prostate imaging quality (PI-QUAL) score for basic readers in prostate MRI: A multi-center study.
The Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) score is the first step toward image quality assessment in multi-parametric prostate MRI (mpMRI). Previous studies have demonstrated moderate to excellent inter-rater agreement among expert readers; however, there is a need for studies to assess the inter-reader agreement of PI-QUAL scoring in basic prostate readers. To assess the inter-reader agreement of the PI-QUAL score amongst basic prostate readers on multi-center prostate mpMRI. Five basic prostate readers from different centers assessed the PI-QUAL scores independently using T2-weighted images, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) including apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, and dynamic-contrast-enhanced (DCE) images on mpMRI data obtained from five different centers following Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System Version 2.1. The inter-reader agreements amongst radiologists for PI-QUAL were evaluated using weighted Cohen's kappa. Further, the absolute agreements in assessing the diagnostic adequacy of each mpMRI sequence were calculated. A total of 355 men with a median age of 71 years (IQR, 60-78) were enrolled in the study. The pair-wise kappa scores ranged from 0.656 to 0.786 for the PI-QUAL scores, indicating good inter-reader agreements between the readers. The pair-wise absolute agreements ranged from 0.75 to 0.88 for T2W imaging, from 0.74 to 0.83 for the ADC maps, and from 0.77 to 0.86 for DCE images. Basic prostate radiologists from different institutions provided good inter-reader agreements on multi-center data for the PI-QUAL scores.


Idiopathic hypercalciuria in children: prevalence and metabolic characteristics.
A group of 273 children with minor complaints was screened for idiopathic hypercalciuria by measurement of the urine Ca/Cr. Borderline or definitely high levels were noted in 17 of these children, 11 of whom were boys. More intensive metabolic studies were completed on four of these children and on three children who were noted to have symptomatic renal stones associated with idiopathic hypercalciuria. These studies suggest that IH, well recognized in adults, may have its origins in childhood and that appropriate management, if initiated in childhood, may have significant long-term benefits.


Developing standardized titles to classify the adverse events in 7,418 cranial and spinal neurosurgical procedures.
Neurosurgical procedures are life- and function-saving but carry a risk of adverse events (AE) which can cause permanent neurologic deficits. Unfortunately, there is lack of clearly defined AEs associated with given procedures, and their reporting is non-uniform and often arbitrary. However, with an increasing number of neurosurgical procedures performed, there is a need for standardization of AEs for systematic tracking. Such a system would establish a baseline for future quality improvement strategies. To review our institutional AEs and devise standardized titles specific to the spine, tumor, functional, and vascular neurosurgery divisions. A review of prospective monthly-reported morbidity and mortality (M&M) conference data within the Department of Neurological Surgery was conducted from January 2017 to December 2019. An AE was defined as any mortality, an "unintended and undesirable diagnostic or therapeutic event", "an event that prolongs the patient's hospital stay", or an outcome with permanent or transient neurologic deficit. A total of 1096 AEs from 7418 total procedures (14.8 %) were identified. Of those, 418 (5.6 %) were in cerebrovascular, 249 (3.4 %) were in neuro-oncology and 429 (5.8 %) were in the spine & functional divisions. The most common AEs across all divisions were infection (17 %), hemorrhage (11 %) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak (7.8 %). Other AEs were indirectly related to the neurosurgical procedure, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (2.7 %), or pneumothorax (0.3 %). This work illustrates standardized AEs can be implemented universally across the spectrum of neurological surgery. Standardization can help identify recurring AE patterns through better tracking.


Chondrocyte growth factor from the human pituitary gland.
Extracts of frozen human pituitaries were mitogenic in a fetal rabbit chondrocyte bioassay. In the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, a 10-fold increase in chondrocyte cell number was observed upon addition of the pituitary factor to the culture medium. After gel filtration, the chondrocyte growth factor eluted with proteins of approximately 40,000 molecular weight. These fractions were pooled and purified further upon ion exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose. The most active fraction stimulated cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner down to 10 ng/ml. The chondrocyte growth factor was trypsin- and heat-sensitive (100 degrees C, 10-15 min). Its isoelectric point (pI 7.9) was different from bovine brain and pituitary fibroblast growth factor (pI 4.8-5.8 and pI 9.5, respectively. Unlike the somatomedins and epidermal growth factor, it was acid-labile. Preparations of human growth hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as vasopressin and oxytocin, were inactive in the bioassay, demonstrating that the human pituitary contains a chondrocyte growth factor which appears to be distinct from these anterior and posterior pituitary hormones.


Dyslipidemia and glucose dysregulation in overweight and obese patients.
Inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to overweight, obesity, and cardiometabolic risk. Overweight and obesity can lead to metabolic abnormalities, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), lipid disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Diet and exercise can effectively reverse overweight and obesity and their related comorbidities. Modest weight loss (5%-10%) and modest physical activity (30 minutes a day) are first-line recommendations for the prevention of type 2 DM. Clinical trials have demonstrated that insulin sensitivity can be improved and type 2 DM can be prevented through lifestyle modification and pharmacologic therapy, including antiobesity drugs, antidiabetic drugs, statins, and antihypertensive drugs. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in regulating metabolism through its effects on food intake at the level of the hypothalamus and on body composition through peripheral effects on adipose tissue.


Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation via the protective role of T regulatory cells in the fetal liver in a late-pregnancy preterm mouse model.
This study intended to explore the effect of T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the perinatal liver against LPS-induced inflammation in a preterm birth mouse model. Moreover, the role of adoptive Tregs on the inflammatory response induced by LPS was also studied. Female BALB/C mice were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with LPS dissolved in normal saline solution at a dose of 50 µg/kg. Spleens from pregnant mice were used to obtain Tregs. The expression of Forkhead family transcription factor-3 (Foxp3), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), and Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were assessed from fetal liver tissues by polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. LPS administered to mice induced an inflammatory response in the perinatal liver, and this inflammatory response was negatively regulated by Tregs in the experimental group. Maternal-fetal tolerance was maintained by Tregs. Transmission of Tregs was estimated in different experimental groups based on the mRNA expression of TLR-4, IL-6, HO-1, and Foxp3. After analysis of the experimental data, it was determined that Tregs exhibited regulatory potential against LPS-induced inflammatory response. Further, it was concluded that the transmission of Tregs improved the mother's immune tolerance against LPS-induced inflammation in the fetal liver.


Axonal trajectories of masticatory motoneurons: a genu formation of axons of jaw-opening motoneurons in the cat.
Axonal courses of jaw-opening motoneurons were examined in the cat by applying horseradish peroxidase to the central cut end of the nerve branch which supplies the mylohyoid and/or the anterior digastric muscle. The axons of mylohyoid and anterior digastric motoneurons, which are located in the ventromedial division of the trigeminal motor nucleus, initially swing dorsally before running ventrolaterally to leave the pons; axons proceeding in the more rostral levels make turns in the more dorsomedial tegmental regions, and those running in the most rostral levels form a small genu in the region near the midline under the floor of the fourth ventricle.


Modified abaxial sesamoid nerve block provides enhanced proximal diffusion compared to basisesamoid block and lower proximal diffusion than traditional low plantar nerve block in equine hind limbs: ex vivo and in vivo study.
To determine the proximal diffusion distance of radiopaque contrast medium and mepivacaine/methylene blue solution and incidence of inadvertent intrasynovial and intravascular injections of modified sesamoid nerve block (MASB) when compared with traditional plantar nerve analgesia techniques of the equine distal hind limb. Ex vivo model: 18 hind limbs; and in vivo model: 5 horses in a crossover study. In the ex vivo model, a mepivacaine/methylene blue solution was used to compare the diffusion distance between MASB, basisesamoid block (BSB), and traditional low plantar block (TLPB). Ten minutes after injection, skin was dissected and proximal diffusion distance of the dye patch was measured. In the in vivo model, both hind limbs were injected with radiopaque contrast medium with either MASB or TLPB. Ten minutes after injection, a radiograph was acquired and the proximal diffusion of the contrast medium patch was measured. In the ex vivo model, solution proximal diffusion distance for MASB was significantly longer than BSB (P < .050) and significantly shorter than TLPB (P < .050). Both techniques reached the proximal aspect of DFTS similarly (P = .289), and no difference in the incidence of intrasynovial or intravascular injections was observed (P = .292). In the in vivo model, contrast medium proximal diffusion of MASB was significantly shorter than TLPB (P < .050). The proportion of injections that diffused subcutaneously to the proximal aspect of the proximal pouch of the DFTS was not significantly different between techniques (P = .136). No difference in the incidence of DFTS intrasynovial or intravascular injections was observed (P = .305). MASB presented significantly more proximal diffusion than BSB and less proximal diffusion than TLPB, consistently reached the proximal aspect of DFTS, and presented a very low risk of intrasynovial and intravascular injections.


Solitary juxtacortical lesion associated with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a case report.
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a severe autoimmune encephalitis mediated by anti-NMDA receptor antibodies. Brain MRI manifestations vary and are non-specific. If there are any lesions, they tend to be diffusely or multifocally distributed. Solitary lesion is relatively rare. We report a 16-year-old girl who initially presented with focal seizures but developed severe psychiatric and extrapyramidal symptoms later on. Brain MRI revealed a solitary juxtacortical demyelinating lesion in the left frontal lobe. No enhancement was noted. Electroencephalogram captured epileptiform discharges in the same region. NMDAR IgGs were tested positive in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Corticosteroid and intravenous IgG were administered and the patient completely recovered. Brain MRI revealed a fainter lesion in the left frontal lobe. In very rare instances, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can present with a solitary brain lesion. A full panel of antibodies for autoimmune encephalitis is the key leading to the diagnosis.


Fatal panresistant Lomentospora prolificans fungemia in a patient with aplastic anemia: First report from Türkiye.
Lomentospora prolificans is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause invasive lomentosporiosis in immunocompromised patients. Patients with hematological malignancies and those who have undergone stem cell or solid organ transplantations are in the highest risk group. In addition to the limitations and delays in diagnostic possibilities, L. prolificans has a high mortality due to its resistance to all available antifungal drugs. In a patient diagnosed with aplastic anemia, we described the first case of L. prolificans in Türkiye. L. prolificans was identified in the blood culture, and despite the initiation of antifungal treatments, the fungemia resulted in mortality on the 7th day of intensive care hospitalization. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and prompt initiation of appropriate antifungal therapy to improve the outcome of patients with rare mold infections.


Trans-cinnamic acid and Xenorhabdus szentirmaii metabolites synergize the potency of some commercial fungicides.
Development of novel approaches for the control of fungal phytopathogens is desirable. In this study we hypothesized that the combination of commercial fungicides with certain enhancing agents could result in synergistic levels of control. Prior research has indicated that trans-cinnamic-acid (TCA), a metabolite of the bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens and metabolites of Xenorhabdus szentirmaii are particularly toxic to various phytpathogenic fungi when compared to metabolites of other Xenorhabdus or Photorhabdus spp. In this study we explored the efficacy of commercial fungicide interactions when combined with either TCA or X. szentirmaii. Fungicides (active ingredient) included Abound® (Azoxystrobin), Serenade® (Bacillus subtilis), Elast® (dodine), Regalia® (extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis), Prophyt® (potassium phosphite) and PropiMax® (propiconazole). In laboratory experiments, singly-applied or combined agents were assessed for fungicidal activity against four plant-pathogenic fungi, Monilinia fructicola, Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum. Fungicidal activity was measured by the phytopathogen's growth on potato dextrose agar with and without fungicide. The interactions between fungicidal agents were determined as antagonistic, additive or synergistic. For suppression of M. fructicola, synergy was observed between TCA when combined with certain concentrations of Elast®, PropiMax®, Regalia®, Prophyte® or Serenade®, and for combinations of X. szentirmaii with Abound®. For suppression of R. solani, synergy was observed between TCA combined with Regalia® or Serenade®. Additionally, when TCA was combined with X. szentirmaii synergistic levels of suppression to M. fructicola were observed. Other combinations of TCA or X. szentirmaii with the fungicides or using alternate concentrations were either additive or occasionally antagonistic in nature. Our results indicate that TCA and X. szentirmaii can each act as strong synergists to enhance fungicidal efficacy. These results may be used to reduce negative environmental impacts of pesticide use while improving control of plant diseases. Additional research is needed to explore the diversity of the synergistic effects and confirm our observations under field conditions.


A 14-kilodalton selenium-binding protein in mouse liver is fatty acid-binding protein.
In a previous study, we purified three selenium-binding proteins (molecular masses 56, 14, and 12 kDa) from mouse liver using column chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The aim of the present study was to determine the amino acid sequence of the 14-kDa protein thereby establishing any relationship with known proteins. Although the amino terminus of the 14-kDa protein was blocked, separate in situ digestions of the protein with endoproteinases Glu-c and Lys-c gave overlapping peptides that provided a continuous sequence of 93 amino acids. This sequence exhibited a 92.5% sequence homology with rat liver fatty acid-binding protein. In situ enzymatic digestion and partial sequencing of a 12-kDa selenium-binding protein revealed identical homology to the 14-kDa protein. The 14-kDa protein bound specifically to an oleate-affinity column from which the protein and 75Se coeluted. Delipidation or sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment failed to remove 75Se from the protein, indicating that the selenium moiety was tightly bound to the protein. These observations confirm that the mouse liver selenium-binding 14-kDa protein is a fatty acid-binding protein. The nature of the selenium linkage to the protein still needs to be explored.


Anxiety of asthmatic pupils in Israel during the Persian Gulf War: treatment and counseling implications.
The aim was to study the increase in anxiety of asthmatic pupils during a state of war in comparison with healthy pupils. Twenty-five asthmatic adolescents completed Spielberger' STAI during three periods: (1) 4 months before the war; (2) during the second week of the war; and (3) 4 months after the end of the war. The comparison group included 54 healthy pupils visiting the same school. The results showed that the level of state and trait anxiety of the asthmatic and comparison group remained constant, without any significant increase, even during the war. The anxiety was not influenced by gender nor by socioeconomic level. It is concluded that during severe stressful events, there is no need for special medication for asthmatic patients.


Synthesis of micron diameter polybutadiene-encapsulated non-porous zirconia particles for ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography.
In this study, 1-microm diameter polybutadiene-encapsulated non-porous zirconia particles were synthesized, slurry packed into 50-microm I.D. fused-silica capillary columns, and evaluated using ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography. The dependencies of column efficiency and solute retention factor on pressure were investigated. Efficiencies as high as 280000 plates per meter were obtained for the separation of anti-inflammatory drugs at a pressure of 1351 MPa. Comparing the reversed-phase behavior of the polybutadiene-encapsulated non-porous zirconia with octadecylsilane bonded non-porous silica, greater selectivity was found using the zirconia-based material for the applications reported in this study. The encapsulated non-porous zirconia particles demonstrated excellent thermal stability in the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at a temperature of 100 degrees C and a pressure of 1351 MPa.


Downregulation of CBX7 induced by EZH2 upregulates FGFR3 expression to reduce sensitivity to cisplatin in bladder cancer.
Cisplatin-based cytotoxic chemotherapy is considered to be the first-line therapy for advanced bladder cancer (BC), but resistance to cisplatin limits its antitumor effect. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) has been reported to contribute to the progression and cisplatin resistance of BC. Meanwhile, chromobox protein homologue 7 (CBX7) was reported to inhibit BC progression. And our previous RNA-seq data on CBX7 (GSE185630) suggested that CBX7 might repress FGFR3, but the underlying mechanism and other cancer-related functions of CBX7 are still unknown. Silico analysis of RNA-seq data to identify the upstream regulators and downstream target genes of CBX7. The western blot analysis, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR analysis, CCK-8 assay, and nude mice xenograft models were used to confirm the enhancer of zeste homologue (EZH2)/CBX7/ FGFR3 axis. In this study, we first showed that CBX7 is downregulated in BC. Then, we revealed that EZH2 represses CBX7 expression by increasing H3K27me3 in BC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that CBX7 directly downregulates FGFR3 expression and sensitises BC cells to cisplatin treatment by inactivating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-(RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase) AKT signalling pathway. These results suggest that CBX7 is an ideal candidate to overcome cisplatin resistance in BC.


Total mercury levels in human autopsy materials from a nonexposed Polish population.
Mercury is considered to be one of the most harmful metals. Studies of the so-called normal mercury content in human internal organs, blood, and urine can be useful for assessment of the level of environmental exposure and also for legal and medical expert opinions. The examination encompassed 75 autopsies of inhabitants of southern Poland (50 male and 25 female) investigated at the Institute of Forensic Research in Kraków, Poland, between the end of 1998 and the beginning of 2001. Samples of internal organs were homogenized and digested with nitric and sulfuric acids. Determination of total mercury was performed by the use of cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The following results (range and mean, in ng/g wet weight) were obtained: brain (n = 49) 0-14.2, 2.3 +/- 1.9; liver (n = 69) 2.6-55.0, 15.5 +/- 9.5; kidney (n = 63) 3.2-170, 35.9 +/- 31.7; heart (n = 4) 1.2-2.8, 2.2 +/- 0.75; spleen (n = 17) 2.4-9.6, 4.0 +/- 1.8; lung (n = 22) 1.8-9.1, 3.3 +/- 1.8; stomach (n = 48) 0-4.5, 2.0 +/- 1.0; small intestine (n = 32) 0-14.2, 2.8 +/- 2.7; large intestine (n = 13) 0 - 23.9, 5.2 +/- 7.2; blood (n = 35) 0 6.5, 1.6 +/- 1.2; urine (n = 14) 0 2.6, below detection limit. The above mentioned levels of mercury are similar to those reported by other Polish authors, but are lower than those determined in normal Korean and Japanese organs.


Combined use of intravenous and topical tranexamic acid efficiently reduces blood loss in patients aged over 60 operated with a 2-level lumbar fusion.
The current study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the intravenous (IV) administration combined with topical administration of tranexamic acid (TXA)in patients (aged over 60) scheduled for a 2-level lumbar fusion surgery. Two hundred eighty patients scheduled for a 2-level lumbar fusion surgery were randomized into four groups, including an IV group, a local group, a combined group, and a control group. Patients in the combined group, in the IV group, in the topical group, and in the control group were administrated with 15 mg/kg of IV-TXA + 2 g TXA in local, 15 mg/kg IV-TXA, 2 g TXA in local, and 100 ml IV, respectively. The results of total blood loss (TBL), maximum hemoglobin drop, the transfusion rate, and the number of allogeneic blood units were compared. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) events were monitored and recorded. The TBL was 635.49 ± 143.60, 892.62 ± 166.85, 901.11 ± 186.25, and 1225.11 ± 186.25 mL for the combined group, the IV group, the topical group, and the control group, respectively (p = 0.015, p = 0.001, respectively). The average maximum hemoglobin drop in the four above groups was 2.18 ± 0.24, 2.80 ± 0.37, 2.40 ± 0.64, and 3.40 ± 1.32 g/dL, respectively. No PE event was reported during the follow-up. Although asymptomatic DVT events were reported by 1, 2, and 2 patients in the combined group, topical group, and control group, respectively, there is no intergroup difference. The combined use of TXA effectively reduced the total blood loss and blood transfusion rate in patients aged over 60 scheduled for a 2-level lumbar fusion, without increasing the incidence of DVT and PE formation.


Interaction of A-nor, A, 19-dinor, and A-homo-5 alpha-androstane derivatives with the androgen receptor and the epididymal androgen-binding protein.
The equilibrium affinity constant for rat prostate androgen receptor and epididymal androgen binding protein (ABP) has been determined for thirty-four potential progestogens. Three A-nor-, four A,19-dinor-, and one A-homo-5 alpha-androstane derivative bind to the androgen receptor (KD less than 0.5 muM). Five of these compounds also bind to ABP with an affinity of the same order of magnitude. "Anordrin" (compound 24) and "Dinordrins" (compounds 10, 14, 15, 16, 17), which are potential female contraceptives, do not bind with high affinity to the androgen receptor or to ABP. The following modifications in A-nor derivatives favour binding to the receptor as compared to ABP: 19-nor substitution (compound 1), C-18 methyl homologation (compound 5), 2 alpha-ethinylation (compound 22). One 2 alpha-allenyl A-nor derivative (compound 25) and one A-homo derivative (compound 34) bind almost exclusively to ABP. The interaction with either binding protein is decreased by oxidation or esterification of the hydroxyl group at C-17, and by addition of a 17 alpha-ethinyl group. The latter modifications are likely to increase the specificity of androstane derivatives for receptors other than androgen binding proteins, such as the progesterone receptor.


An intermanual advantage for tactual matching.
Previous research reports both increased and decreased levels of performance for concurrent tactual tasks when they are carried out by one hand (intramanual condition) rather than shared between the hands (intermanual condition). Intramanual advantages have been attributed to the benefits of intrahemispheric processing which avoids the need for the transcallosal passage of information. Intermanual advantages are attributed to the benefits of sharing the task load between the cerebral hemispheres. The effects of inter- and intramanual activity was investigated in a group of 72 dextrals. Subjects were required to make same/different discriminations for a tactual matching task. Faster completion times were observed for the intermanual condition compared to the intramanual condition. This suggests that the task was carried out more efficiently when the hemispheres shared the processing load. The intermanual advantage was accentuated for judgements of difference which place more strain on processing resources. There was no evidence of a left hand advantage for tactual matching of the type observed for Braille.


Thermodynamic efficiency, reversibility, and degree of coupling in energy conservation by the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
The protonmotive mitochondrial respiratory chain, comprising complexes I, III and IV, transduces free energy of the electron transfer reactions to an electrochemical proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This gradient is used to drive synthesis of ATP and ion and metabolite transport. The efficiency of energy conversion is of interest from a physiological point of view, since the energy transduction mechanisms differ fundamentally between the three complexes. Here, we have chosen actively phosphorylating mitochondria as the focus of analysis. For all three complexes we find that the thermodynamic efficiency is about 80-90% and that the degree of coupling between the redox and proton translocation reactions is very high during active ATP synthesis. However, when net ATP synthesis stops at a high ATP/ADP.Pi ratio, and mitochondria reach "State 4" with an elevated proton gradient, the degree of coupling drops substantially. The mechanistic cause and the physiological implications of this effect are discussed.


In type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide reduced HbA1c vs. semaglutide.
Frias JP, Davies MJ, Rosenstock J, et al. Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:503-15. 34170647.


Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC): Can We Separate ARVC From Other Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathies?
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy was first described as a right ventricular disease that is an important cause of death in young adults. However, with the advent of advanced imaging, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy has been found to commonly have biventricular involvement, and a small portion of patients have left ventricular-dominant forms. On the other hand, a number of primarily left ventricular disease such as sarcoid and myocarditis can be arrhythmogenic and have right ventricular involvement. A few recent publications on arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy cohorts have average left ventricular functions that are comparable to sarcoid or myocarditis cohorts. We review the current literature and compare these cohorts of patients, and call for left ventricular functional criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy as inherited arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.


Impact of N-glycan mediated shielding of ADAMTS-13 on the binding of pathogenic antibodies in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare thrombotic disorder, with 1.5 to 6.0 cases per million per year. The majority of patients with TTP develop inhibitory autoantibodies that predominantly target the spacer domain of ADAMTS-13. ADAMTS-13 is responsible for cleaving von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers, thereby regulating platelet adhesion at sites of high-vascular shear stress. Inhibition and/or clearance of ADAMTS-13 by pathogenic autoantibodies results in accumulation of VWF multimers that promotes the formation of platelet-rich microthrombi. Previously, we have shown that insertion of a single N-glycan (NGLY) in the spacer domain prevents the binding of antispacer domain antibodies. To explore whether NGLY mediated shielding of the ADAMTS-13 spacer domain effectively prevents binding of pathogenic antispacer autoantibodies in patients with immune-mediated TTP (iTTP). We screened 5 NGLY-ADAMTS-13 variants (NGLY3, NGLY7, NGLY8, NGLY3+7, and NGLY3+8) for binding of autoantibodies and for their activity in the presence and absence of 50 samples derived from patients with iTTP. NGLY variants showed greatly reduced antibody binding, down to 27% of wild-type (wt) ADAMTS-13 binding. Moreover, NGLY variants of ADAMTS-13 remained more active in FRETS-VWF73 assay in the presence of the plasma samples from these 50 patients with acute phase iTTP when compared with wtADAMTS-13. On average, wtADAMTS-13 activity was reduced to 37% of regular levels in the presence of plasma, while NGLY3 and NGLY3+7 remained 69% and 81% active, respectively. These results reinforce our previous findings that NGLYs shield ADAMTS-13 from antibody binding and hence restore ADAMTS-13 activity in the presence of autoantibodies.


Psychosocial distress among oncology patients in the safety net.
Psychosocial distress among cancer patients leads to poor health outcomes and lower satisfaction. However, little is known about psychosocial distress among disadvantaged populations. We examined the prevalence, predictors, and follow-up experience of psychosocial distress among cancer patients within a diverse, urban, and multi-lingual safety-net setting. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cancer patients undergoing psychosocial distress screening at initial medical oncology visits from 2014-2016. The primary outcome was self-reported moderate to severe psychosocial distress, defined by the NCCN as a Distress Thermometer score ≥ 4. Predictors of distress were assessed using logistic regression. Patients reporting distress were contacted by telephone 1-12 months later to reassess distress and assess completion of supportive service referrals. Among 200 screened patients, 61% had moderate to severe psychosocial distress. African-American race, psychiatric illness, greater number of emotional problems, and reported problems with housing, money, worry, sleep, memory or homelessness were associated with psychosocial distress. Among 39 patients with moderate to severe psychosocial distress who completed follow-up (42% of eligible patients), mean distress scores decreased from 6.5 at screening to 4.5 at follow-up (P < .02). 56% of the supportive service referrals made at the initial visit were not completed. Cancer patients in the safety-net experience more psychosocial distress than other populations, with persistently elevated distress levels and difficulty accessing supportive services. We identified subgroups that may be at higher risk for psychosocial distress. Closer follow-up and assistance for patients who report high distress levels may be needed.


Factors predicting the treatment success of bladder training for urgency urinary incontinence.
To evaluate the efficacy of bladder training (BT) for urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and to determine women characteristics that are predictors for success. Clinical data of 110 women with UUI who had received BT over 8 weeks were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were evaluated in terms of incontinence severity (24-h pad test), 3-day voiding diary (frequency of voiding, nocturia, incontinence episodes, and the number of pads), symptom severity (OAB-V8), incontinence-related QoL (IIQ-7) and treatment success. Treatment success was evaluated at a ≥50% reduction in incontinence episodes at the end of the treatment. A statistically significant improvement was found in all parameters (incontinence severity, frequency of voiding, nocturia, incontinence episodes and the number of pads, symptom severity, and incontinence-related QoL) at the end of the treatment compared to the baseline values in women with UUI who had received BT (p < 0.001). The treatment success rate was 35.5%. In the multivariate analysis (OR, 95% CI), the treatment was found to be more successful in women with higher education levels (p = 0.012, p = 0.029) and of younger ages (p = 0.004). It can be concluded that the BT given to women with UUI is effective in reducing incontinence severity, frequency, nocturia, incontinence episodes, number of pads, symptom severity, and improving QoL. Young age and high education levels are the predictive factors in the treatment success of BT in women with UUI. For this reason, these predictive factors should be considered in determining the treatment strategy for women with UUI.


Outcomes in infants with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: A retrospective cohort study.
Although children aged <1 year have a relatively high rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to older children, most have additional prothrombotic risk factors. Unprovoked VTE is rare, and little is known about this population, particularly the risk of recurrent VTE. We aimed to determine the rate of recurrent VTE in infants with prior unprovoked VTE and evaluate long-term, end-organ outcomes for infants with renal and intracranial vein thrombosis. Infants <1 year of age with an unprovoked VTE between 2003 and 2021 at a single institution were included. Time to recurrent event and anticoagulation duration were summarized using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Neurologic outcomes were summarized with the pediatric stroke outcome measure for infants with cerebral sinovenous, medullary, or cortical vein thrombosis. Kidney outcomes were summarized with estimated glomerular filtration rates for infants with renal vein thrombosis. Anticoagulation was summarized. Forty infants with intracranial, renal, portal, and extremity VTE met the inclusion criteria and were followed for a median of 4.7 years (IQR, 2.1-8.5). Most VTE events occurred during the first month of life. There was 1 recurrent event in 237 person-years of follow-up (incidence rate, 4 per 1000 [95% CI, 0.6-29.9] person-years). In outpatient follow-up, 40% of infants with intracranial thrombosis met criteria for moderate or severe neurologic outcomes and two-thirds of infants with a prior renal vein thrombosis had abnormal kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2). There is a low rate of recurrent VTE but significant end-organ morbidity in infants with unprovoked VTE.


Separation of the largest eigenvalues in eigenanalysis of genotype data from discrete subpopulations.
We present a mathematical model, and the corresponding mathematical analysis, that justifies and quantifies the use of principal component analysis of biallelic genetic marker data for a set of individuals to detect the number of subpopulations represented in the data. We indicate that the power of the technique relies more on the number of individuals genotyped than on the number of markers.


A push-pull treatment for strengthening the 'lazy eye' in amblyopia.
Almost all individuals exhibit sensory eye dominance, one neural basis of which is unequal interocular inhibition. Sensory eye dominance can impair binocular functions that depend on both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. We developed a 'push-pull' perceptual learning protocol that simultaneously affects the excitatory and inhibitory networks to reduce sensory eye dominance and improve stereopsis in adults with otherwise normal vision. The push-pull protocol provides a promising clinical paradigm for treating the extreme sensory eye dominance in amblyopia ('lazy eye'). The prevailing standard of care does not directly treat sensory eye dominance; instead, selected excitatory functions in the amblyopic eye are stimulated while the strong eye is patched, on the assumption that recovery of the weak eye's excitatory functions rebalances the eyes. Patching the strong eye does not directly address interocular inhibition; in contrast, the push-pull protocol by design excites the weak eye, while completely inhibiting the strong eye's perception to recalibrate the interocular balance of excitatory and inhibitory interactions. Here, we show that three adult amblyopes who trained on the push-pull protocol gained longstanding improvements in interocular balance and stereopsis. Our findings provide a proof-of-concept and evidence that push-pull learning leads to long-term plasticity.


A model for the evolutionary diversification of religions.
We address the problem of cultural diversification by studying selection on cultural ideas that colonize human hosts and using diversification of religions as a conceptual example. In analogy to studying the evolution of pathogens or symbionts colonizing animal hosts, we use models for host-pathogen dynamics known from theoretical epidemiology. In these models, religious content colonizes individual humans. Rates of transmission of ideas between humans, i.e., transmission of cultural content, and rates of loss of ideas (loss of belief) are determined by the phenotype of the cultural content, and by interactions between hosts carrying different ideas. In particular, based on the notion that cultural non-conformism can be negative frequency-dependent (for example, religion can lead to oppression of lower classes and emergence of non-conformism and dissent once a religious belief has reached dominance), we assume that the rate of loss of belief increases as the number of humans colonized by a particular religious phenotype increases. This generates frequency-dependent selection on cultural content, and we use evolutionary theory to show that this frequency dependence can lead to the emergence of coexisting clusters of different cultural types. The different clusters correspond to different cultural traditions, and hence our model describes the emergence of distinct descendant cultures from a single ancestral culture in the absence of any geographical isolation.


Trends in copper versus hormonal intrauterine device breakage reporting within the United States' Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System.
To examine trends in national reporting of broken intrauterine devices (IUDs). We enumerated IUD device "breakage" reports in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System from inception (1998) until February 2022. We explored associations of breakage with IUD type (copper versus hormonal), year reported, reporter (consumer versus clinician), and patient characteristics (age and weight). We identified 4144 breakage reports for copper versus 2140 for hormonal IUDs. Among the 170,215 adverse events reported, breaks were disproportionately reported for copper (9.6%) versus hormonal (1.7%) IUDs. National pharmacovigilance data suggests disproportionate breakage in copper versus hormonal IUDs though the true prevalence of breaks cannot be calculated from this dataset.


State-independent contextuality in classical light.
State-independent contextuality is a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics, which has been demonstrated experimentally in different systems in recent years. Here we show that such contextuality can also be simulated in classical optical systems. Using path and polarization degrees of freedom of classical optics fields, we have constructed the classical trit (cetrit), here the term 'cetrit' is the classical counterpart of a qutrit in quantum systems. Furthermore, in classical optical systems we have simulated the violations of several Yu-Oh-like noncontextual inequalities in a state-independent manner by implementing the projection measurements. Our results not only provide new physical insights into the contextuality and also show the application prospects of the concepts developed recently in quantum information science to classical optical systems and optical information processes.


Dietary fat and cholesterol induced modification of minipig lipoprotein fluidity and composition.
1. Miniature swine were fed a low (2.7%) fat control stock diet alone or supplemented with either 20% lard plus 1% cholesterol or 20% lard alone for periods of up to 6 months. 2. Cholesterol feeding reduced VLDL fluidity drastically and LDL fluidity minimally but had no effect on HDL fluidity. 3. Lard feeding had no effect on lipoprotein fluidity. 4. The rigid VLDL produced by cholesterol feeding was enriched in cholesterol and phospholipid contents, similar to beta-VLDL. 5. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were increased by 1.5 to 5-fold in pigs fed stock diets supplemented with 20% lard, with or without added cholesterol, but plasma triacylglycerol concentrations were not affected by either diet modification. 6. Diet effects were complete within 4 weeks with no further changes for periods up to 6 months. 7. Regression of the induced hypercholesterolemia was also accomplished within one month of removing cholesterol from the diet.


Removal of copper by Azolla filiculoides and Lemna minor: phytoremediation potential, adsorption kinetics and isotherms.
Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly biotechnology with low costs. The removal of copper (Cu) from polluted water by the two floating plant species Azolla filiculoides and Lemna minor was observed and recorded. Plants were exposed to different Cu (II) concentration (0.25-1.00 mg/L) and sampling time (Days 0, 1, 2, 5 and 7). Both plants can remove Cu at 1.00 mg Cu/L water, with the highest removal rates of 100% for A. filiculoides and 74% for L. minor on the fifth day of exposure. At the end of the exposure period (Day 7), the growth of A. filiculoides exposed to 1.00 mg Cu/L was inhibited by Cu, but the structure of the inner cells of A. filiculoides was well organized as compared to the initial treatment period. Regarding L. minor, Cu at 1.00 mg/L negatively impacted both the growth and morphology (shrinking of its inner structure) of this plant. This is due to the higher accumulation of Cu in L. minor (2.86 mg/g) than in A. filiculoides (1.49 mg/g). Additionally, the rate of Cu removal per dry mass of plant fitted a pseudo-second order model for both plants, whereas the adsorption equilibrium data fitted the Freundlich isotherm, indicating that Cu adsorption occurs in multiple layers. Based on the results, both species can be applied in the phytoremediation of Cu-polluted water.


Alterations in intrauterine oxygen tension during the estrous cycle in the rat and hamster and its regulation by ovarian steroid hormones: a comparative study.
The results indicate that marked fluctuations in oxygen availability occur during the estrous cycle in both rats and hamsters. Patterns of luminal pO2 were similar in that levels were intermediate during metestrus and maximal during diestrus. By contrast, minimal pO2 levels occurred during estrus in the rat vs. during proestrus in the hamster. The species also differed in the range of mean pO2 occurring during the cycle: approximately 5-50 mmHg in the hamster vs. 25-50 mmHg in the rat. Ovariectomy results in marked increases in luminal pO2 in both species. The increase is reduced by hormone replacement.


Haemodynamic performance of 16-20-mm extracardiac Goretex conduits in adolescent Fontan patients at rest and during simulated exercise.
To date, it is not known if 16-20-mm extracardiac conduits are outgrown during somatic growth from childhood to adolescence. This study aims to determine total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) haemodynamics in adolescent Fontan patients at rest and during simulated exercise and to assess the relationship between conduit size and haemodynamics. Patient-specific, magnetic resonance imaging-based computational fluid dynamic models of the TCPC were performed in 51 extracardiac Fontan patients with 16-20-mm conduits. Power loss, pressure gradient and normalized resistance were quantified in rest and during simulated exercise. The cross-sectional area (CSA) (mean and minimum) of the vessels of the TCPC was determined and normalized for flow rate (mm2/l/min). Peak (predicted) oxygen uptake was assessed. The median age was 16.2 years (Q1-Q3 14.0-18.2). The normalized mean conduit CSA was 35-73% smaller compared to the inferior and superior vena cava, hepatic veins and left/right pulmonary artery (all P < 0.001). The median TCPC pressure gradient was 0.7 mmHg (Q1-Q3 0.5-0.8) and 2.0 (Q1-Q3 1.4-2.6) during rest and simulated exercise, respectively. A moderate-strong inverse non-linear relationship was present between normalized mean conduit CSA and TCPC haemodynamics in rest and exercise. TCPC pressure gradients of ≥1.0 at rest and ≥3.0 mmHg during simulated exercise were observed in patients with a conduit CSA ≤ 45 mm2/l/min and favourable haemodynamics (<1 mmHg during both rest and exercise) in conduits ≥125 mm2/l/min. Normalized TCPC resistance correlated with (predicted) peak oxygen uptake. Extracardiac conduits of 16-20 mm have become relatively undersized in most adolescent Fontan patients leading to suboptimal haemodynamics.


Predicting the performance of TV series through textual and network analysis: The case of Big Bang Theory.
TV series represent a growing sector of the entertainment industry. Being able to predict their performance allows a broadcasting network to better focus the high investment needed for their preparation. In this paper, we consider a well known TV series-The Big Bang Theory-to identify factors leading to its success. The factors considered are mostly related to the script, such as the characteristics of dialogues (e.g., length, language complexity, sentiment), while the performance is measured by the reviews submitted by viewers (namely the number of reviews as a measure of popularity and the viewers' ratings as a measure of appreciation). Through correlation and regression analysis, two sets of predictors are identified respectively for appreciation and popularity. In particular the episode number, the percentage of male viewers, the language complexity and text length emerge as the best predictors for popularity, while again the percentage of male viewers and the language complexity plus the number of we-words and the concentration of dialogues are the best choice for appreciation.


A prospective, assessor-blind evaluation of surgeon-performed transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography in vocal cord examination before and after thyroidectomy.
Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUSG) is a promising alternative to direct laryngoscopy in assessing perioperative vocal cord function. This study sought to evaluate the accuracy of TLUSG in assessing vocal cord function. Altogether, 204 patients underwent TLUSG and direct laryngoscopy before and after elective thyroidectomy. For both examinations, vocal cord movements were independently graded. Grade I meant both vocal cords had normal movement; grade II meant ≥1 vocal cord had decreased movement; and grade III meant ≥1 vocal cord had no movement. Grade II or III on direct laryngoscopy was defined as vocal cord paresis or palsy (VCP). To assess accuracy, TLUSG findings were correlated with direct laryngoscopy findings. No patient had preoperative VCP, and 17 had unilateral postoperative VCP. The overall postoperative VCP rate was 5.1%. TLUSG failed to assess VCs in 11 (5.4%) postoperative patients. Of these, 2 had VCP and 9 had no VCP on direct laryngoscopy. Postoperative TLUSG had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 93.3%, 97.8%, 77.8%, and 99.4%, respectively. Of the 175 patients with grade I on TLUSG, only 1 (<1%) had grade II VCP on direct laryngoscopy. TLUSG is a promising, noninvasive tool for selecting patients to undergo direct laryngoscopy before and after thyroidectomy.


Determination of optimized oxygen partial pressure to maximize the liver regenerative potential of the secretome obtained from adipose-derived stem cells.
A hypoxic-preconditioned secretome from stem cells reportedly promotes the functional and regenerative capacity of the liver more effectively than a control secretome. However, the optimum oxygen partial pressure (pO2) in the cell culture system that maximizes the therapeutic potential of the secretome has not yet been determined. We first determined the cellular alterations in adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) cultured under different pO2 (21%, 10%, 5%, and 1%). Subsequently, partially hepatectomized mice were injected with the secretome of ASCs cultured under different pO2, and then sera and liver specimens were obtained for analyses. Of all AML12 cells cultured under different pO2, the AML12 cells cultured under 1% pO2 showed the highest mRNA expression of proliferation-associated markers (IL-6, HGF, and VEGF). In the cell proliferation assay, the AML12 cells cultured with the secretome of 1% pO2 showed the highest cell proliferation, followed by the cells cultured with the secretome of 21%, 10%, and 5% pO2, in that order. When injected into the partially hepatectomized mice, the 1% pO2 secretome most significantly increased the number of Ki67-positive cells, reduced serum levels of proinflammatory mediators (IL-6 and TNF-α), and reduced serum levels of liver transaminases. In addition, analysis of the liver specimens indicated that injection with the 1% pO2 secretome maximized the expression of the intermediate molecules of the PIP3/Akt and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways, all of which are known to promote liver regeneration. The data of this study suggest that the secretome of ASCs cultured under 1% pO2 has the highest liver reparative and regenerative potential of all the secretomes tested here.


A pilot study to compare fluoxetine, calcium, and placebo in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and calcium supplements ameliorate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. A comparison of these agents to placebo may guide treatment selection. The goal of this pilot study was to compare fluoxetine and calcium to placebo.We enrolled 39 women with at least 3 moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms and functional impairment. The trial compared fluoxetine (10 mg twice daily), calcium carbonate (600 mg twice daily), and placebo over the course of 4 menstrual cycles. The Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Premenstrual Tension Scale, Clinical Global Impression-Severity and -Improvement scales, and Daily Record of Severity of Problems were used to measure symptoms.Symptom improvement was greatest for the fluoxetine group, although significance was achieved only for the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (β = -0.28; 95% confidence interval, -1.70 to -0.35; P = 0.02) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (β = -1.03; 95% confidence interval= -1.70 to -0.35; P = 0.04). The Cohen d effect sizes for fluoxetine relative to placebo were between 0.80 and 2.08, whereas the effect sizes for calcium were only between 0.10 and 0.44.Fluoxetine had clear therapeutic benefit for premenstrual syndrome, whereas the effect of calcium was much smaller. Results of this pilot do not support the need for a larger study that would compare these compounds.


New acetylene based histamine H3 receptor antagonists derived from the marine natural product verongamine.
New histamine H3 receptor antagonists were developed using an acetylene moiety as a replacement for the amide-oxime functionality of verongamine 5. Optimization of receptor binding was performed by following aliphatic Topliss tree guidelines. These new H3 ligands demonstrate excellent blood-brain barrier penetration.


The role of ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines in regeneration of the frog sciatic nerve.
The current study examined both in vivo and in vitro the effects of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), on regeneration of sensory axons from a local crush of the adult frog sciatic nerve. If daily injections of DFMO started at the same time as crushing and continued throughout the regeneration period (7 days) the outgrowth in vivo of new sensory axons was reduced by about 30%. If DFMO injections started 2 days after crushing, the outgrowth distance did not differ from control values. The sensory axons of a cultured frog sciatic nerve with the attached spinal ganglia start to regenerate from a local crush applied 7 days after the start of the incubation. Five days after crushing the outgrowth distance was 4.5 mm. At the end of the culturing period (7 + 5 days) both the putrescine and spermidine concentrations in the ganglia had increased about 2.5 times, whereas the spermine concentration remained constant. The presence of 10 mM DFMO throughout the culturing period, 7 + 5 days, almost depleted putrescine and prevented the spermidine increase in the ganglia without affecting the regeneration distance. In the nerve putrescine was only reduced by 55% and the other polyamines were unaffected by DFMO. The results show that DFMO influences the early onset of regeneration in vivo. The in vitro results indicate that this is not due to a close mechanistic relationship between the perikaryonal ODC/polyamine system and nerve regeneration. The question of whether polyamines are of local importance for regeneration of the frog sciatic nerve cannot be answered by the present results.


Preparative separation of arsenate from phosphate by IRA-400 (OH) for oxygen isotopic work.
The paper reports about a series of tests carried out to find out the optimal conditions for the preparative separation of arsenate and phosphate from natural waters, using the anion exchange resin Amberlite IRA-400 (OH). Freundlich isotherms have been constructed on basis of data obtained by stirring different amounts of resin (0.05-1.00 g) with solutions containing 1mg/L As and 10mg/L P in form of arsenate and phosphate and the effect of pH and P/As ratio on adsorption was investigated. It was found that at these concentrations 0.5 g of IRA-400 (OH) can adsorb quantitatively arsenate and phosphate within 1h. In a range of 3.6-11.1, pH seems to have no influence on the adsorption behavior of the resin, but at pH 1.5 the adsorption of both arsenate and phosphate drops to values close to zero. Experiments with solutions with P/As ratios in a range between 1 and 30 have shown that the concentration ratios have also little effect on adsorption. An efficient selective desorption of the anions could be achieved with 2 mol/L HNO3 or HCl, but the use of HCl is impracticable if the separation aims at precipitating arsenate for oxygen isotopic work. The reported adsorption/ desorption properties of the resin are supported also by data obtained by investigating the resin particles with a scanning electron microscope equipped with a fluorescence detection device.


Hypertension clinical outcomes in a nurse practitioner managed care setting.
Hypertension is a costly and disabling community health problem that can be managed effectively by nurse practitioners. This case study is an example of positive outcomes in hypertension managed by nurse practitioners.


Reduced renal clearance of oxypurinol during a 400 calorie protein-free diet.
A decrease in dietary protein intake lowers the clearance of a number of substances excreted principally by the kidney including uric acid and oxypurinol, the major metabolite of allopurinol. We studied the kinetics of uric acid and oxypurinol in seven healthy volunteers on a normal protein diet (2600 calories; 100 g protein) followed by a 400 calorie, protein-free diet. A 600 mg dose of allopurinol was given orally after 6 days of the normal protein diet and again after 2 days of the 400 calorie, protein-free diet. Two major findings emerged: first, the renal clearance of oxypurinol was reduced from 21.2 +/- 1.9 ml/min during the normal protein diet to 12.3 +/- 1.2 ml/min (P less than .05) during the 400 calorie, protein-free diet, and second, there was a striking diurnal difference in oxypurinol renal clearance with a 41% decrease in the oxypurinol clearance at night (8 PM to 8 AM) versus day (8 AM to 8 PM) on the 400 calorie, protein-free diet.


Inhibitory effect of 22-oxa-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, maxacalcitol, on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell lines.
Effective chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-proliferative activity on pancreatic cancer cell lines of the vitamin D(3) analog, 22-oxa-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), maxacalcitol, with that of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), calcitriol, with analysis of vitamin D receptor status and the G(1)-phase cell cycle-regulating factors. Antiproliferative effects of both agents were compared using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method and by measuring the tumor size of xenografts inoculated into athymic mice. Scatchard analysis of vitamin D receptor contents, and mutational analysis of receptor complementary DNA were performed. Levels of expression of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21 and p27, were analysed by western blotting. In vitro, maxacalcitol and calcitriol markedly inhibited the proliferation and caused a G(1) phase cell cycle arrest with the appearance of numerous domes. In vivo, maxacalcitol inhibited the growth of BxPC-3 xenografts more significantly than calcitriol, without inducing hypercalcemia. Responsive cells had abundant functional vitamin D receptors. However, Hs 766T, showing no response to either agent, had the second highest receptor contents with no abnormalities in its primary structure deduced by receptor complementary DNA. In the responsive cells, p21 and p27 were markedly up-regulated after 24h of treatment with both agents. In non-responsive cells, no such changes were observed. In conclusion, maxacalcitol and calcitriol up-regulate p21 and p27 as an early event, which in turn could block the G(1)/S transition and induce growth inhibition in responsive cells, and maxacalcitol may provide a more useful tool for the chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer than calcitriol because of its low toxicity.


Fibroblast contraction of collagen lattices in vitro: inhibition by chronic inflammatory cell mediators.
Fibroblast-populated collagen lattices (FPCL), prepared in petri dishes with serum-containing culture medium and incubated at 37 degrees C, undergo progressive and symmetric contraction (reduction in size) over a period of days. The in vitro contraction process requires viable cells with intact cytoskeletal elements, is associated with cell elongation, and is believed to represent a fibroblast function which also occurs in vivo during wound healing and tissue fibrosis. We report that soluble mediators elaborated by chronic inflammatory cells cultured in vitro, when added to FPCL, inhibit lattice contraction. Granulomas, isolated from the liver of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice, secrete a factor(s) with an estimated molecular weight between 13,700 and 43,000 daltons (gel filtration: Sephadex G-200) and pI = 6 (preparative isoelectrofocusing in granular gel) which inhibits lattice contraction but is not toxic to fibroblasts. Supernatants (cell-free conditioned culture medium) of cultured macrophages isolated from these granulomas also contain this activity. The contraction inhibitory activity present in granuloma culture supernatants is abrogated by the addition of indomethacin to the lattices, while the addition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) alone to lattices inhibits contraction. Furthermore, culture supernatants interfere with fibroblast elongation in lattices. We propose that the ability of fibroblasts to contract collagen lattices in vitro and a fibrotic mass in vivo may be regulated by soluble products of chronic inflammatory cells, including macrophages. This process may be mediated by fibroblast-derived prostaglandins which alter cytoskeletal functions and has implications for understanding regulation of tissue fibrogenesis in a variety of diseases.


Video analysis of the locomotory behaviour of Aedes aegypti and Ae. japonicus mosquitoes under different temperature regimes in a laboratory setting.
Mosquito-borne diseases impose a high burden on human and animal health. Temperature strongly influences the physiology and life cycle of mosquitoes, but also the development and/or propagation of the pathogens they transmit. Thus, the vector capacity of mosquitoes depends strongly on temperature and their behavioural thermoregulation through microhabitat selection. Expanding on a previous study of static thermal preferences, the locomotory dynamics of temperate Aedes japonicus (reared from eggs collected in the field) and tropical Ae. aegypti (from a laboratory colony) was investigated at constant temperatures (10 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C) and in temperature gradients (10-20 °C, 20-30 °C, 30-40 °C). Blood-fed or non-blood-fed female mosquitoes were released in groups of 15 individuals into a Plexiglas box positioned on two thermoregulators connected by an aluminium plate to automatically monitor by video analysis mosquito flying, walking and resting duration, covered distances and velocity. Mosquitoes were predominantly resting, followed by walking and flying. At constant 10 °C, flights were rare and brief, and walking was slow. Most activity was observed at 25 °C for Ae. japonicus and 40 °C for Ae. aegypti. In the 30-40 °C gradient, activity of Ae. aegypti increased towards the cold end, suggesting active avoidance of very high temperatures. In the 20-30 °C gradient, edge effects were prominent, nevertheless revealing a greater proportion of mosquitoes gathered at the cooler end. Video analysis showed that this effect was not caused by a cold trap but represents true thermal preference. In the coolest gradient (10-20 °C), mosquitoes were active in all sectors without displaying a preference for either side. Overall, both the tropical and temperate mosquito species preferred cooler temperatures and actively avoided the hottest temperatures. Further studies with infected mosquitoes should provide important insights for developing models of vector-borne disease outbreaks.


Prior associations affect bumblebees' generalization performance in a tool-selection task.
A small brain and short life allegedly limit cognitive abilities. Our view of invertebrate cognition may also be biased by the choice of experimental stimuli. Here, the stimuli (color) pairs used in the match-to-sample tasks affected the performance of buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). We trained the bees to roll a tool, a ball, to a goal that matched its color. Bees trained with a yellow-and-orange/red stimuli pair took more training bouts to reach our color-matching criterion than those trained with a blue-and-yellow stimuli pair. When assessing the bees' concept learning ability in a transfer test with a novel color, the bees trained with blue and yellow (novel color: orange/red) were highly successful, the bees trained with blue and orange/red (novel color: yellow) did not differ from random, and those trained with yellow and orange/red (novel color: blue) failed the test. These results highlight that stimulus salience can affect our conclusions on test subjects' cognitive ability. Therefore, we encourage paying attention to stimulus salience (among other factors) when assessing the cognition of invertebrates.


Development and evaluation of a social robot platform for therapy in autism.
People with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) have difficulty in managing interpersonal relationships and common life social situations. A modular platform for Human Robot Interaction and Human Machine Interaction studies has been developed to manage and analyze therapeutic sessions in which subjects are driven by a psychologist through simulated social scenarios. This innovative therapeutic approach uses a humanoid robot called FACE capable of expressing and conveying emotions and empathy. Using FACE as a social interlocutor the psychologist can emulate real life scenarios where the emotional state of the interlocutor is adaptively adjusted through a semi closed loop control algorithm which uses the ASD subject's inferred "affective" state as input. Preliminary results demonstrate that the platform is well accepted by ASDs and can be consequently used as novel therapy for social skills training.


Attributes of host-specificity better explain the diversified wood-boring longhorn beetles in tropical SW China than plant species diversity.
A long-debated question in ecology is whether the hyper-diversity of tropical plant-feeding insects is a direct consequence of high tropical plant diversity or should be attributed to increases in host plant specialization. In this study, we used Cerambycidae (the wood-boring longhorn beetles whose larval stages feed on the xylems of trees and lianas) and plants as study materials to explore which hypothesis is more favoured. Multiple analyses were used to show the differences in host specificity of Cerambycidae in tropical and subtropical forests. From these analyses, we found that the alpha diversity of beetles in tropical forests was significantly higher than that in subtropical forests but not in plants. The relationship between plants and beetles was also closer in tropical areas than in subtropical areas. Our results imply that the wood-boring longhorn beetles show higher degrees of niche conservatism and host-specificity in tropical forests than in subtropical forests. The high diversity of wood-boring longhorn beetles in tropical forests might be explained to a large extent by their more finely partitioned diet breadth.


Proarrhythmic responses during electrophysiologic testing.
Antiarrhythmic drugs may worsen ventricular arrhythmias in certain patients. This effect, termed proarrhythmia, aggravation or provocation of arrhythmia, can be investigated with either noninvasive or invasive techniques. Using electrophysiologic study, 160 patients with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation were evaluated during treatment with 432 different antiarrhythmic regimens. Proarrhythmic responses were noted in 68 drug trials (16%), and at least 1 event was observed in 51 patients (32%). Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia was converted to sustained ventricular tachycardia in 17% of these studies. Hemodynamically stable ventricular tachycardia was converted to an arrhythmia that required cardioversion for termination in 5% of the studies. Ventricular tachyrhythmia was more easily induced in 12% of trials. These proarrhythmic responses were not related to changes in QRS duration, QT interval or JT interval measured at baseline or to changes produced by antiarrhythmic drugs.


Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Anifrolumab in Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results of a Phase II Open-Label Extension Study.
To investigate long-term safety and tolerability of anifrolumab, a human monoclonal antibody to the type I interferon (IFN) receptor subunit 1, in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This 3-year, multinational, open-label extension study included adult patients who completed treatment (48 weeks of anifrolumab or placebo; 12-week follow-up) in the MUSE phase IIb randomized controlled trial (RCT). Patients initially received 1,000 mg of anifrolumab intravenously every 4 weeks, which was reduced to 300 mg every 4 weeks based on the benefit/risk profile established in the MUSE trial. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed monthly. Exploratory end points included the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI), pharmacodynamics, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Of the 246 patients who completed the RCT, 218 (88.6%) enrolled in the open-label extension study, of which 139 (63.8%) completed 3 years of treatment. Approximately 69.7% of patients reported ≥1 AE during the first year of open-label extension treatment. Frequency and patterns of serious AEs and AEs of special interest over 3 years were consistent with those reported for 1 year of treatment in the RCT. Few patients (6.9%) discontinued treatment due to AEs. No new safety signals were identified. Improvement in the SLEDAI-2K was sustained over 3 years. SDI and Short Form 36 health survey scores remained stable. Neutralization of type I IFN gene signatures was maintained in the IFN-high population, and C3, C4, and anti-double-stranded DNA showed trends toward sustained improvement. Long-term anifrolumab treatment demonstrates an acceptable safety profile with sustained improvement in SLE disease activity, HRQoL, and serologic measures.


Immunodepression in Taenia crassiceps infection: restoration of the in vitro response to sheep erythrocytes by activated peritoneal cells.
The in vitro response to sheep erythrocytes of mesenteric lymph node cells from mice infected with the larval cestode Taenia crassiceps is significantly depressed and can be restored to control levels by addition of activated peritoneal cells depleted of functional T or B lymphocytes. Adherent mesenteric lymph node cells from infected mice are unable to reconstitute the in vitro response to sheep erythrocytes of normal nonadherent cells. The responses of mesenteric lymph node cells from infected mice to the T-lymphocyte mitogens concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin and the B-lymphocyte mitogen lipopolysaccharide are normal. Mesenteric lymph node cells from infected mice do not suppress the in vitro response to sheep erythrocytes of normal mesenteric lymph node cells. These results suggest that the immunodepression in T. crassiceps-infected mice is primarily the result of alterations in functional accessory cells.


Radiation therapy for resistant sternal hydatid disease.
Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infectious disease for which there are known treatment procedures and effective antibiotics; however, there are resistant cases that do not respond to medication or surgery. We report a case diagnosed as hydatid disease of the chest wall and treated with radiation therapy (RT) after medical and surgical therapy had failed. In conclusion, RT represents an alternative treatment modality in resistant cases.


Occupational amputations in Illinois 2000-2007: BLS vs. data linkage of trauma registry, hospital discharge, workers compensation databases and OSHA citations.
Workplace amputation is a widespread, disabling, costly, and preventable public health problem. Thousands of occupational amputations occur each year, clustering in particular economic sectors, workplaces, and demographic groups such as young workers, Hispanics, and immigrants. To identify and describe work related amputations amongst Illinois residents that occur within Illinois as reported in three legally mandated State databases; to compare these cases with those identified through the BLS-Survey of Occupational Illnesses and Injuries (SOII); and to determine the extent of direct intervention by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for these injuries in the State. We linked cases across three databases in Illinois - trauma registry, hospital discharge, and workers compensation claims. We describe amputation injuries in Illinois between 2000 and 2007, compare them to the BLS-SOII, and determine OSHA investigations of the companies where amputations occurred. There were 3984 amputations identified, 80% fingertips, in the Illinois databases compared to an estimated 3637, 94% fingertips, from BLS-SOII. Though the overall agreement is close, there were wide fluctuations (over- and under-estimations) in individual years between counts in the linked dataset and federal survey estimates. No OSHA inspections occurred for these injuries. Increased detection of workplace amputations is essential to targeting interventions and to evaluating program effectiveness. There should be mandatory reporting of all amputation injuries by employers and insurance companies within 24h of the event, and every injury should be investigated by OSHA. Health care providers should recognise amputation as a public health emergency and should be compelled to report. There should be a more comprehensive occupational injury surveillance system in the US that enhances the BLS-SOII through linkage with state databases. Addition of industry, occupation, and work-relatedness fields to the Electronic Health Record, the Uniform Billing form, and national health surveys would allow better capture of occupational cases for prevention and for assigning bills to the right payer source.


Five-fold twinned β-PbF2 nanocrystals in oxyfluoride glass ceramics.
Oxyfluoride glass ceramics (GCs) doped with trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln3+) have been prepared using a conventional melting-quenching method and studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). β-PbF2 nanocrystals (NCs) doped with Ln3+ ions (β-PbF2:Ln3+) in GCs were released from the GCs by etching off the glass matrix. β-PbF2:Ln3+ NCs can be clearly observed by eliminating the influence of the glass matrix. The nanotwinned structures of β-PbF2:Ln3+ NCs, including two-fold twinned NCs and five-fold twinned NCs, were examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The five-fold twinned phenomenon in metal fluorides with strong ionicity in oxyfluoride GCs is reported for the first time. Based on detailed analysis of the twinned NC structure, the twinning mechanism of β-PbF2:Ln3+ NCs was proposed. Ln3+ ions and 'sublattice melting' of fluorine ions (F-) in β-PbF2 play extremely important roles in the formation of five-fold twinned β-PbF2:Ln3+ NCs. The nanotwinned structures reported here may have far-reaching significance with respect to the further application of oxyfluoride glass ceramics doped with rare-earth elements and NC fabrication.


Pentose-phosphate shunt activity and red blood cell malonyldialdehyde levels in haemodialysis and in CAPD patients.
The baseline concentrations of MDA in the RBC membranes and the MDA production in the erythrocytes following stimulation with ascorbate and cyanide are compared in a group of uraemic patients on chronic haemodialysis and in one treated with CAPD. Lower baseline concentrations and smaller production of MDA following in vitro stimulation, point to a better function of the pentose-phosphate shunt in CAPD patients than in haemodialysis.


Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in household contacts, Pune, India.
The study was undertaken to detect the risk of infection, if any, among 193 household contacts of 40 hospitalised hepatitis patients (group I) with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in their blood. As a control group, 103 household contacts of 27 hospitalised hepatitis patients who were negative for HBsAg (group II) were investigated. The family contacts of the former group had a significantly higher prevalence of HBV infection than those of the latter group (P less than .001). Significant differences were observed both in the prevalence of HBsAg (P less than .05) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) (P less than .025) between the two groups. IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-Hbc-IgM) was detected in 32 out of the 39 (82%) sera tested from the patients of group I with HBsAg. A statistically significant difference (P less than .005) of HBV prevalence was also found in the contacts of these 32 patients suffering from acute hepatitis B as compared to the contacts of the patients of group II. Overall, the children of the first group showed a significantly higher prevalence of HBsAg as compared to the second group. All the children with HBsAg were positive for HBeAg also, but were negative for anti-HBc-IgM. Anti-HBs was detected in a significantly larger number of adult females. Spouses were found to be affected more than other relatives. A significant difference (P less than .025) was noted in the number of families having HBV markers in group I (80.0%) as compared to those in group II (48.1%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Evaluation of cardiac manifestations in hypothyroidism: documentation of reversibility].
To detect the cardiac manifestations due to the state of hypothyroidism and reversibility after euthyroidism. Thirteen patients with documented primary hypothyroidism were evaluated through the echocardiography and other noninvasive techniques. A new evaluation was performed six months after thyroid hormone therapy. Most of the changes were reversed after the patients became euthyroid. The main finding was the echocardiographic measurement of the velocity of circumferential fiber shortening that showed a significant positive linear correlation with serum thyroid hormones. These data demonstrate the existence of a hypothyroid cardiomyopathy.


Immediate and long-term prognostic significance of a first anterior versus first inferior wall Q-wave acute myocardial infarction. Secondary Prevention Reinfarction Israeli Nifedipine Trial (SPRINT) Study Group.
Of 3,981 patients with a first Q-wave acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 1,929 (48%) had an anterior and 1,724 (43%) an inferior wall AMI. These 2 groups were well-matched with respect to age, gender and relevant history. The in-hospital mortality rate was 18%, and the 1- and 5-year post-discharge mortality rates were 9 and 25%, respectively, in patients with anterior wall AMI compared with the corresponding rates of 11, 6 and 19% in those with inferior wall AMI (p < 0.0001 for each category). The frequency of recurrent nonfatal AMI in the year after the index AMI was 8% in the patients with anterior wall AMI compared with 4% in those with inferior wall AMI (p < 0.0001). By multiple logistic regression analysis of events, anterior wall AMI was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality only. The findings indicate that the anatomic location of a Q-wave AMI influences immediate and short-term survival of patients with a first Q-wave AMI.


Correction to: detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the slaughterhouse, sewage and river waters of the Qinghai Tibetan plateau area (QTPA), China.
The authors of this article would like to state that C. environmental is not a species, but rather a group of un-identified Cryptosporidium isolates from the environment. It is referred to in the literature as Cryptosporidium environmental sequence and not as a species.