Histamine may induce airway remodeling through release of epidermal growth factor receptor ligands from bronchial epithelial cells.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with airway remodeling, including hyperplasia of airway epithelial cells and airway smooth muscle cells, and goblet cell differentiation. We wished to address the potential role of histamine, a key biogenic amine involved in allergic reactions, in airway remodeling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway. Here, we demonstrate that histamine releases 2 EGFR ligands, amphiregulin and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), from airway epithelial cells. Amphiregulin and HB-EGF were expressed in airway epithelium of patients with asthma. Histamine up-regulated their mRNA expression (amphiregulin 3.2-fold, P<0.001; HB-EGF 2.3-fold, P<0.05) and triggered their release (amphiregulin EC(50) 0.50 μM, 31.2 ± 2.7 pg/ml with 10 μM histamine, P<0.01; HB-EGF EC(50) 0.54 μM, 78.5 ± 1.8 pg/ml with 10 μM histamine, P<0.001) compared to vehicle control (amphiregulin 19.3 ± 0.9 pg/ml; HB-EGF 60.2 ± 1.0 pg/ml), in airway epithelial cells. Histamine increased EGFR phosphorylation (2.1-fold by Western blot analysis) and induced goblet cell differentiation (CLCA1 up-regulation by real-time qPCR) in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. Moreover, amphiregulin and HB-EGF caused proliferation and migration of both NHBE cells and human airway smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that histamine may induce airway remodeling via the epithelial-derived EGFR ligands amphiregulin and HB-EGF.


[Effect of papaverine on monosaccharide and glycine transport in the small intestine in vitro].
Papaverin is shown to have a significant inhibitory effect on the intestinal transport systems for glucose, galactose and glycine but not for fructose. In vitro experiments have revealed that the inhibitory effect of papaverin on the glucose transport take place under mucosal application, nevertheless the serosal one is of a stimulatory character. Papaverin inhibits only the active component of the glucose transport.


Cerebrospinal fluid measurements suggest precursor availability and sex are involved in the control of biogenic amine metabolism in a primate.
Biogenic amine precursors and metabolites were measured in cisternal cerebrospinal fluid from 83 female and 55 male vervet monkeys. The results indicate that mean rates of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, and noradrenaline metabolism in the brain are higher in females than in males. They also suggest that under physiological circumstances tryptophan availability is involved in the control of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis while tyrosine availability is involved in control of both dopamine and noradrenaline metabolism. The similarities seen between our results on vervets and those seen with human cerebrospinal fluid suggest that the vervet is a useful primate to study.


Positioning of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography imaging in the management algorithm of hepatocellular carcinoma.
(18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) may detect primary lesions (PLs) and extrahepatic metastases (EHMs) only in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We investigated the requirement of PET and the optimal timing of PET scanning for accurate staging and treatment planning. We conducted a retrospective investigation of 64 HCC patients who underwent PET (median age, 74 years; male/female, 41/23; etiology, 46 hepatitis C virus/4 hepatitis B virus/4 alcoholic/10 others). To determine the best timing for PET examinations, we analyzed PET result-based recommended treatment changes and characteristics of patients with FDG-avid PLs or EHMs. FDG-avid PLs were detected by PET in 22 patients (34%): 18 with hypervascular PL, 11 with serum α-fetoprotein levels ≥ 200 ng/mL, and 11 beyond Milan criteria. EHMs were detected in 21 patients (33%: lymph nodes, 8; lung, 5; abdominal wall, 4; bone, 3; other organs, 4 [including overlapping]). Recommended treatments changed for 16 patients (25%) because of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage increases based on PET scanning. In multivariate analyses, serum α-fetoprotein levels ≥ 200 ng/mL and beyond Milan criteria were independent factors for FDG-avid PLs and a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of PLs of ≥ 4.0 was an independent factor for FDG-avid EHMs (P = 0.002, 0.008, and 0.045, respectively). PET allows detection of HCC spread in patients with elevated serum α-fetoprotein levels or those beyond Milan criteria and detects EHMs in patients with PLs with high SUVmax values. Optimally timed PET scans can complement conventional imaging for accurate staging and treatment strategy determination.


The Triple-E Model: Advancing Equestrian Research with Perspectives from One Health.
Equestrian sport has various welfare issues and educational needs. To address these complex interactions, we propose an integrated approach called the Triple-E Model, which focuses on the equine, equestrian, and environmental triad. A literature review of existing models suggests that complexities of these interactions are overlooked, despite the significant impact of equine industries on economics, healthcare, and animal welfare. This paper discusses current models and theories used to evaluate equine-equestrian-environmental interactions and introduces the Triple-E Model to foster multidisciplinary collaboration. Unlike the One Health triad, which focuses on disease emergence, transmission, and zoonosis, the Triple-E Model extends to non-infectious research, such as musculoskeletal injury. It promotes collaborative care and rehabilitation within the equestrian community by engaging multidisciplinary, multi-setting, and multi-sectoral teams. Given the nature of human-animal interaction and welfare considerations, this model fills the gap in understanding human-horse interactions. The paper highlights the limitations of existing models and explains how the Triple-E Model guides and encourages holistic team collaboration in the equestrian community.


Methadone maintenance in pregnancy: consequences to care and outcome.
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the outcomes of the pregnancies of 26 narcotic-addicted women who were enrolled in a methadone maintenance program. Of these women, 88% continued to use other drugs during their pregnancy, with opiates the most frequently used, and 56% of these women had urine toxicology screens positive for either heroin, cocaine, or benzodiazepines when they presented in labor. When these women were compared with a similar group of 37 pregnant polydrug users who were not in the methadone maintenance program and who delivered during the same 12-month period, there was no difference in the birth weights or in the infants' one- and five-minute Apgar scores. However, the women in the methadone maintenance program had more prenatal visits, more adequate prenatal care, and less anemia than the non-methadone maintenance program drug users. When these two drug-using groups were compared with a control group of pregnant women who delivered within the same time period, there was a significant difference in the birth weights of these two groups. This raises the question of the effectiveness of methadone maintenance programs in promoting fetal growth and well-being and in reducing polydrug use during pregnancy.


Workplace stress and discrimination effects on the physical and depressive symptoms of underrepresented minority faculty.
Evidence-based research and interventions to address systemic institutional racism have never been more urgent. Yet, underrepresented minority (URM) professionals in research institutions who primarily produce that evidence have remained abysmally low for decades. This unique study of URM university professors assesses factors-vocational strain, role overload, discrimination, coping strategies-that contribute to health and well-being, research productivity, and ultimately their retention in high impact research positions. We administered a web-based survey assessing demographics, workplace stressors, perceived discrimination, life events, coping strategies, and physical and depressive symptoms. Study participants include 404 faculty of whom 254 are African Americans, 99 are Mexican Americans, and 51 are Puerto Ricans. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to assess the associations between workplace stress, coping strategies, and symptoms. Results show that perceived discrimination, vocational strain, role overload, and life events directly affected physical symptoms, with self-care (p < 0.001) moderating these effects. Vocational strain and life events had direct effects on depressive symptoms with self-care (p < 0.05) and social support (p < 0.001) moderating these effects. Findings inform health care providers and university leaders about work stress and health conditions that may explain early morbidity and premature departures of URM faculty, and proffer institutional interventions to retain these faculty.


Endotracheal intubation with Optical Stylet Vs Macintosh Laryngoscope performed on a manikin by medical students: A prospective manikin trial.
To investigate laryngoscopic images, intubation time, intubation success, satisfaction and ease of use of a Macintosh laryngoscope and the Clarus optical stylet among inexperienced medical students. The prospective, experimental study was conducted at Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey, from May to June 2017, and comprised medical school term VI students who had never before carried out endotracheal intubation. A standardised oral presentation and demonstration of the intubation technique with each device were given. Elements measured were success rate of orotracheal intubation, successful intubation time, number of intubation interventions, Cormack-Lehane classification, usefulness and satisfaction with the devices. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. . Of the 94 subjects, 60(63.8%) were females. The overall mean age was 24.38±0.94 years. Compared to the direct laryngoscope, the optical stylet recorded a better success rate at first attempt (p<0.001), as well as with intubation time (p<0.001), pleasure (p<0.001) and usefulness (p<0.001). The use of an optical stylet increased endotracheal intubation success among inexperienced users.


The utility of initial procalcitonin and procalcitonin clearance for prediction of bacterial infection and outcome in critically ill patients with autoimmune diseases: a prospective observational study.
The diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) for patients with autoimmune diseases (AID) remains controversial and few studies focused on ICU patients. We sought to determine its diagnostic and prognostic values in this clowd. A prospective observational study was conducted in AID patients admitted to the ICU. Serum PCT levels were measured on ICU admission and subsequently at days 1, 3, 5 and 7, and peak PCT levels within 24 h (PCTpeak) were analyzed the utility for bacterial infection. The relationship of PCTpeak and SOFA score and severity of sepsis was performed correlation analysis. The change of PCT over time reflected as PCT clearance was compared to ICU 28-day mortality. One hundred twelve patients were divided into bacterial infection group (group I, n = 54) and nonbacterial condition group (group II, n = 58). The median PCTpeak (range, μg/L) was higher in the group I than that in the group II (1.95 [0.38-37.56] vs. 0.64 [0.05-7.83], p = 0.002). PCTpeak had the best single predictor of bacterial infection (area under the curve [AUC], 0.902, p < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 79.6 % and a specificity of 89.6 % at the threshold of 0.94 μg/L. PCTpeak was also positive correlation with severity of sepsis (r = 0.731, p = 0.002), but its correlation with SOFA score was only found in subjects with bacterial infection (r = 0.798, p < 0.001). Importantly, the 5-day PCT clearance (PCTc-d5), rather than absolute PCT values, could earlier discriminate survivors (n = 73) from nonsurvivors (n = 39) (68.8 ± 9.8 vs. 21.8 ± 17.5 %, p < 0.001, respectively). PCTc-d5 < 50 % was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio 5.1, 95 % confidence interval 3.5 to 7.5; p = 0.001). In critically ill patients with AID, elevated PCT levels are valuable for bacterial infection and are significantly positive correlation with the septic severity. Five-day PCT clearance may provide independent prognostic information. Larger, prospective trials are warranted to confirm the benefit.


Surgical Outcomes of Endoscopic Endonasal Versus Transcranial Resections of Adult Craniopharyngioma: A Meta-Analysis.
The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has been gaining popularity for resection of adult craniopharyngiomas. However, the safety and effectiveness of the procedure in comparison to the traditional transcranial approach (TCA) remains unestablished as previous reviews are outdated. A literature search without language restriction was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane database, and Web of Science from conception to July 9, 2021. Cohort studies and case series that compared EEA with TCA and assessed postoperative complications, recurrence, and 30-day mortality were included. Articles, where data for adult populations could not be extracted or calculated, were excluded. Article selection and data extraction in a predesigned data extraction form were conducted in duplicate. Pooled participant data were included in a random-effects model. The search yielded 227 articles, from which eight cohort studies containing 11,395 patients were included (EEA: 6,614 patients, TCA: 4,781 patients). Six studies were good quality and two were fair quality according to the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. There were significantly higher rates of cerebrospinal fluid leak (risk ratio [RR]=0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.32, p<0.00001, I²=0%) and lower rates of postoperative hypopituitarism (RR=1.40, 95% CI 1.30-1.51, p<0.00001, I²=0%), hydrocephalus (RR=6.95, 95% CI 5.78-8.36, p<0.00001, I²=0%), visual impairment (RR=1.52, 95% CI 1.34-1.73, p<0.00001, I²=0%), and 30-day mortality (RR=5.63, 95% CI 3.87-8.19, p<0.00001, I²=0%) after EEA. Non-significant lower rates of postoperative diabetes insipidus (RR=1.12, 95% CI 0.78-1.61, p=0.53, I²=85%) and recurrence of tumor (RR=2.69, 95% CI 0.35-20.81, p=0.34, I²=47%) were seen after EEA. EEA may be associated with reduced postoperative hypopituitarism, hydrocephalus, visual impairment, and 30-day mortality and higher rates of cerebrospinal fluid leak. These findings do not account for differences in tumor size and extension between the EEA and TCA cohorts. Further research on patients with comparable tumor characteristics is required to fully assess outcomes.


Spatial heterogeneity of myocardial perfusion and metabolism.
Left ventricular myocardium is characterized by a substantial spatial heterogeneity of both perfusion and metabolism. Under resting conditions, the transmural gradient of myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) from the subepi- to the subendocardial layer exceeds that of coronary flow, resulting in a lower subendocardial PO2, altered kinetics of oxidative phosphorylation, and enhanced free cytosolic adenosine. Within each layer, there is a major spatial variability of perfusion: Local flow rates in individual myocardial samples (200 mg) range from 20-250% of the mean myocardial blood flow. Low flow areas (< 50% of mean flow) display a rather low uptake of fatty acids and glucose; the uptake of these substrates increases in proportion to local flow. There is also a close relationship between local perfusion and the local turnover of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and, thus, MVO2 as was recently demonstrated using 13C NMR techniques. Consequently, within the well perfused left ventricular myocardium local MVO2 and, thus, energy turnover varies more than 3-fold between low and high flow areas. Low flow areas are not ischemic, since local lactate, adenosine, and ATP are comparable to mean flow areas. When coronary perfusion pressure is reduced, the transmural perfusion gradient reverses resulting in impaired energy status and enhanced adenosine predominantly in the subendocardium. This rise in local adenosine or lactate requires a decrease of the individual local flow by more than 50% of its preischemic value. It, thus, appears that not the absolute level of local flow predicts the impact of ischemia but its relative change.


Relation of aggressiveness of lipid-lowering treatment to changes in calcified plaque burden by electron beam tomography.
The comparative effects of more versus less aggressive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering (to </=80 vs >80 mg/dl) on calcified coronary plaque progression by electron beam tomography were evaluated in 182 consecutive asymptomatic patients after 1.2 years of treatment with statins alone or in combination with niacin. Despite the greater improvement in lipids in the </=80 versus >80 mg/dl groups, there were no differences in calcified plaque progression (9.3%/year vs 9.1%/year). We conclude that, with respect to LDL cholesterol lowering, "lower is better" is not supported by changes in calcified plaque progression.


Use of the falciform ligament flap for closure of the esophageal hiatus in giant paraesophageal hernia.
Laparoscopic repair of a giant paraesophageal hiatal hernia remains a challenging procedure. Several techniques have been developed in efforts to achieve tension-free reconstruction of the esophageal hiatus. In this report, we describe a technique whereby the falciform ligament is used as an autologous onlay flap to achieve tension-free closure of the crural defect of a giant paraesophageal hernia (GPEH). Use of the falciform ligament as a vascularized autologous onlay flap is a safe and effective procedure to obtain closure of the crural defect of a GPEH. The falciform ligament should be adequately mobilized from the anterior abdominal wall to prevent lateral tension on the flap, but care must be taken to avoid devascularization. Interrupted vertical mattress sutures are used to fix the falciform ligament to the left and right hiatal crurae.


Alteration of miRNA expression in early endothelial cells after exposure with sub-lethal sulfur mustard concentrations.
Sulfur mustard (SM) is known to induce chronic wound healing disorders as well as disturbed endothelial regeneration. It is known that wound healing as well as endothelial regeneration are controlled by micro-RNA (miRNA). As nothing is known today about the effect of SM onto miRNA expression we wanted to investigate whether there is an effect of sub-lethal concentrations of SM onto the miRNA expression of endothelial cells. Early endothelial cells (EEC) were incubated with different sub-lethal concentrations of sulfur mustard (SM) in-vitro. Cells were subsequently analyzed with respect to survival and colony-forming capacity. In addition, the nuclear structure was investigated with respect to apoptosis, micronuclei or abnormal forming using the MAA assay. Six hundred sixty-seven different miRNA species from both, treated and untreated EEC were quantified. The sub-lethal concentrations IC1, IC5 or IC10 were used. While performing the MAA assay the cells showed a time dependent change in nucleus structure from normal to abnormal, without significant changes in apoptosis being observed. In the colony-forming assay a weak cell proliferation capacity was revealed. Under all conditions they lost their capacity to form colonies. Out of 667 investigated miRNAs in total 66 showed a significant change in expression upon incubation with SM. 19 miRNAs were up-regulated and 47 down-regulated. The strongest correlation between SM concentration and up-regulation was found for mmu-miR-92a-3p* (hsa-miR-92a). Seven miRNAs showed a change in expression similar to endothelial cells from younger or older mice. The presented work demonstrates that sulfur mustard (SM) has an effect on miRNA expression in general. The observed changes in expression in early endothelial cells correlates to the known effects of SM. Further studies have to investigate if these findings are in direct dependence and if these relationships can be used to alleviate the sulfur mustard induced clinical damage.


Clinical Presentation of a Patient With Tuberculous Myocarditis: Case Report and Review of Literature.
Tuberculous myocarditis has a high mortality rate and is often associated with a delay in the diagnosis because of the low index of suspicion and insidious course. Most of the reported cases predominantly occur in young, immunocompetent patients. Delays in diagnosis may result in fatal complications. Through this case report, we aim to shed light on some of the clinical features of tuberculous myocarditis and promote a high index of suspicion for early diagnosis and timely management.


Bladder paraganglioma: A case of acute respiratory distress syndrome triggered by large bladder tumor transurethral resection with mild symptoms and atypical imaging.
Bladder paraganglioma is exceedingly rare, accounting for <0.05% of bladder tumors. This is a case of paraganglioma with no symptom other than palpitations during urination, with atypical imaging, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor. A 46-year-old man underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor for a bladder tumor 61 × 52 mm in size on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The patient only had micturition attacks and was suspected to have urothelial carcinoma on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient had acute respiratory distress syndrome after the operation which improved conservatively. The 123Iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, urinalysis, and pathological examination revealed bladder paraganglioma. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy and ileal neobladder reconstruction were performed. This study reported bladder paraganglioma with no symptoms other than micturition attacks in which acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.


Glucagon1-6 binds to the glucagon receptor and activates hepatic adenylate cyclase.
A fragment of glucagon encompassing its first six NH2-terminal residues (His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe) binds to the glucagon receptor and stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in rat liver plasma membranes. Glucagon1-6 is a partial agonist since it stimulates, at saturating concentrations, to the extent of 75% of the maximal activity given by the native hormone. The binding affinity and potency of glucagon1-6 are 0.001% the native hormone. Discussed are the implications of these findings on the structure-function relationships required for the action of glucagon and for preparing clinically useful analogs of the hormone.


[Progress of total ankle arthroplasty for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis].
To review the progress of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in treatment of end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (AOA). The domestic and foreign literatures about TAA in recent years were reviewed. The current status and progress of TAA were summarized from the results of traditional and computer-assisted TAA clinical outcomes. End-stage AOA often leads to severe pain and dysfunction, and arthrodesis is still the main selective treatment option. In recent years, with the advancement of surgical techniques and prosthesis design, TAA which can remain joint mobility has increased gradually, and the surgical results also have significant progress. Accurate prosthesis implant and mechanical alignment restoration are critical factors for TAA, and surgery-related malalignment is correlative to the prosthesis failure. Computer assisted patient-specific guide can simplify the TAA procedures and obtain the accuracy of tibia and talus osteotomy. The clinical efficiency of preoperative CT based patient-specific guide technology for TAA needs further clinical follow-up. Meanwhile, it is necessary to further develop intraoperative navigation and robotic surgery system suitable for TAA.


[ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome) after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Complications in two patients treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].
Complications were described in two patients with non Hodgkins lymphoma (large cell anaplastic lymphoma and histiocytoma malignum) after completion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Both patients died. In one of them it was established at autopsy that the cause of death was ARDS, while in the second case it was the clinical course which suggested the same diagnosis.


Identification of potential inhibitors based on compound proposal contest: Tyrosine-protein kinase Yes as a target.
A search of broader range of chemical space is important for drug discovery. Different methods of computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) are known to propose compounds in different chemical spaces as hit molecules for the same target protein. This study aimed at using multiple CADD methods through open innovation to achieve a level of hit molecule diversity that is not achievable with any particular single method. We held a compound proposal contest, in which multiple research groups participated and predicted inhibitors of tyrosine-protein kinase Yes. This showed whether collective knowledge based on individual approaches helped to obtain hit compounds from a broad range of chemical space and whether the contest-based approach was effective.


Patient-related healthcare costs for diarrhoea, Guillain Barré syndrome and invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis in Gondar, Ethiopia, 2020.
Globally, foodborne diseases result in a significant disease burden with low- and middle-income countries disproportionately affected. Estimates of healthcare costs related to foodborne disease can aid decision makers to take action to mitigate risks and prevent illness. However, only limited data on the African continent are available, especially related to more severe sequelae. We provide estimates of direct and indirect (non)-medical costs of patients with diarrhoea, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis (iNTS) in three healthcare facilities in Gondar, Ethiopia. We used healthcare data from patient records, interviews with family caregivers and 2020 healthcare resource unit costs. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. For diarrhoea, differences in mean and median transformed costs between healthcare facilities and etiologies (Campylobacter spp., enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica) were analysed with ANOVA and chi squared tests. Contribution of healthcare facility, dehydration severity, sex, age and living area to transformed costs was identified with linear regression. Results are in 2020 USD per patient. To extrapolate to national level, 2017 national incidence estimates were used. Mean direct medical costs were 8.96 USD for diarrhoea (health centre 6.50 USD, specialised hospital 9.53 USD, private clinic 10.56 USD), 267.70 USD for GBS, and 47.79 USD for iNTS. Differences in costs between diarrhoea patients were mainly associated with healthcare facility. Most costs did not differ between etiologies. Total costs of a diarrhoea patient in the specialised hospital were 67 USD, or 8% of gross national income per capita. For direct medical plus transport costs of a GBS and iNTS patient in the specialised hospital, this was 33% and 8%, respectively. Of the 83.9 million USD estimated national non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica related cost, 12.2% was due to iNTS, and of 187.8 million USD related to Campylobacter spp., 0.2% was due to GBS. Direct medical costs per patient due to GBS and iNTS were 30 respectively five times those due to diarrhoea. Costs of a patient with diarrhoea, GBS or iNTS can be a substantial part of a household's income. More severe sequalae can add substantially to cost-of-illness of foodborne hazards causing diarrheal disease.


Aerosolization flux, bio-products, and dispersal capacities in the freshwater microalga Limnomonas gaiensis (Chlorophyceae).
Little is known on the spreading capacities of Limnomonas gaiensis across freshwater lakes in Northern Europe. In this study, we show that the species could successfully be aerosolized from water sources by bubble bursting (2-40 particles.cm-3), irrespectively of its density in the water source or of the jet velocity used to simulate wave breaking. The species viability was impacted by both water turbulences and aerosolization. The survival rate of emitted cells was low, strain-specific, and differently impacted by bubble busting processes. The entity "microalga and bionts" could produce ethanol, and actively nucleate ice (principally ≤-18 °C) mediated soluble ice nucleation active proteins, thereby potentially impacting smog and cloud formation. Moreover, smallest strains could better cope with applied stressors. Survival to short-term exposure to temperatures down to -21 °C and freezing events further suggest that L. gaiensis could be air dispersed and contribute to their deposition.


Study of ongoing registered clinical trials on COVID-19: a narrative review.
The dangerous SARS-CoV-2 virus first emerged in China in December 2019 and has rapidly spread worldwide. Currently, it has affected more than 2,850,000 people. No vaccine or drug is available yet, and therefore researchers and scientists are striving to identify potential drugs or vaccines for combating this virus. We were unable to find any review of the literature or analysis on ongoing registered clinical trials that reported diagnostic tests, therapeutics, vaccines and devices for COVID-19 along with estimated enrollment, participants' ages, study type, start and completion date, status, treatment/intervention and country. To review ongoing trials relating to COVID-19. A systematic search for clinical trials was conducted in the ClinicalTrials.gov database up to April 12, 2020. A total of 339 trials relating to COVID-19 were analyzed and key information on each trial was recorded. Most of the trials were being conducted in the United States and completion of most of them was expected by May 2020. They were mostly on drugs and treatment, while a minority were on diagnostic tests. The analysis showed that hydroxychloroquine was investigated in most of the trials. The trials identified were categorized into five classes: a) diagnostic tests; b) therapeutics; c) biologics and vaccines; d) devices and products; and e) others. The trials identified have potential against COVID-19 that can be applied in treatment processes after the necessary investigations and experiments. Additionally, the items identified were organized in a proper way, which can assist in current research activities.


Household storage, surplus and supra-household storage in prehistoric and protohistoric societies of the Western Mediterranean.
The objective of this paper is to assess foodstuff storage throughout Recent Prehistory (5600-50 BCE) from the standpoint of the three different types (household, surplus and supra-household) identified in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The volumetric data of the underground silos serves as a proxy to evaluate the link between them and the agricultural systems and technological changes. The study also assesses the ability, and specifically, the will of the ancient communities of the northeastern Iberia to generate domestic and extra-domestic surpluses.


Effect of Using Ergobrass Ergonomic Supports on Postural Muscles in Trumpet, Trombone, and French Horn Players.
Though ergonomic supports are widely used for many groups of instruments, they are rare for brass instruments, despite the instruments' considerable weight. Musculoskeletal injury and postural problems are common among this group, and so, both adult and young players are likely to benefit from supports that reduce the load placed on the body. This study assessed the effects on postural muscle activity of a recently developed range of supports (Ergobrass) that use a rod to transfer the weight of the instrument to a harness or to the chair or floor. Twenty conservatoire students (mean age [SD], 20.9 ± 0.5 yrs) of the trumpet, french horn, or trombone used the supports while playing short brass studies, either sitting or standing. Surface electromyography recordings were made from key postural muscles, and their activity levels were compared with and without the support. Statistically significant reductions (typically 15-30%) were present in many of the muscles when using the supports, though in some players they were much larger. The number of muscles affected was least with the lightest instruments (the trumpet), with the effects mainly in the left deltoid and trapezius muscles. Reductions for the horn were bilateral, principally in biceps, pectoralis major, and deltoid; while in the trombone, they were confined to the left side (pectoralis major, posterior deltoid, and trapezius), as the right arm is in constant use to move the slide. The supports are effective in reducing postural muscle activity and may be of particular benefit to injured or young players.


Leucite-reinforced glass ceramic inlays luted with self-adhesive resin cement: a 2-year in vivo study.
Aim of the present prospective controlled clinical study was to compare the clinical performances of two different cementation procedures to lute IPS Empress inlays and onlays. Eighty-three IPS Empress restorations (70 class-II inlays, 13 onlays/47 premolars, 36 molars) were placed in 30 patients (19 females/11 males, mean age=39 years). Two cementation procedures were tested: group 1: forty-three restorations were luted with a self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX Unicem, RX, 3M ESPE); group 2: forty restorations were luted with an etch-and-rinse multistep adhesive (Syntac Classic, Ivoclar-Vivadent) and Variolink II low (SV, Ivoclar-Vivadent). All restorations were evaluated after 2 weeks (baseline=1st recall=R1, n=83), 6 months (R2, n=83), 1 year (R3, n=82), and 2 years (R4, n=82) by two independent blinded calibrated examiners using modified USPHS criteria. From R1 to R4, one failure occurred in the SV group (at R2) due to marginal enamel chipping. After 2 years of clinical service (R4), better marginal and tooth integrity (p<0.05) was found in group 2 (SV) compared to the use of the self-adhesive cement (RX, group 1), while no differences were found for all remaining investigated criteria (p>0.05). The absence of enamel in proximal boxes (10% with no enamel and 51% of the restorations with less than 0.5mm enamel width at the bottom of the proximal box) did not affect marginal performance (p>0.05). The self-adhesive resin cement RelyX Unicem showed clinical outcomes similar to a conventional multi-step cementation procedure after 2 years of clinical service for most of the tested criteria.


Choosing near-linear parameters in the four-parameter logistic model for radioligand and related assays.
Ten parameters extracted from six currently used parametrizations of the four-parameter logistic model, and one new proposal, were examined for their statistical behavior in nonlinear least-squares estimation in combination with ELISA and RIA data. Those which are adequately near-linear on the basis of the Lowry-Morton lambda statistic were identified and can be recommended for use in practice.


Procedural memory in schizophrenia assessed using a mirror reading task.
The preservation of procedural memory in individuals with schizophrenia has been confirmed by methods such as the Tower of Hanoi, pursuit rotor and mirror reading tests. However, the cognitive procedural memory of Japanese subjects with schizophrenia has never been assessed using mirror reading. To better determine the characteristics of cognitive procedural memory in schizophrenia, a Japanese version of the mirror reading task, consisting of cards with words written in Japanese katakana characters in mirror image, was administered to 18 Japanese patients with schizophrenia and 21 normal controls. The results indicated that the patients indeed learned the skill despite exhibiting lower overall performances in reading time than the controls, their scores displaying correlation with the severity of schizophrenic negative symptoms. This suggests that procedural memory for this task is retained in individuals with schizophrenia. It is important for them to use their preserved procedural memory for efficient rehabilitative efforts.


Feed-forward facilitation of glutamate release by presynaptic GABA(A) receptors.
Disynaptic GABAergic inputs from Schaffer collateral (SC) afferents on to the soma of glutamatergic CA1 pyramidal neurons are involved in feed-forward inhibition in the hippocampal neural circuits. Here we report the functional roles of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors on SC afferents projecting to CA1 pyramidal neurons. Muscimol (0.5 microM), a selective GABA(A) receptor agonist, increased SC-evoked EPSC amplitude and decreased paired-pulse ratio in the slice preparation, in addition, it facilitated spontaneous glutamate release on to mechanically dissociated CA1 pyramidal neurons in an external Ca2+-dependent manner. In field recordings, muscimol at low concentrations (< or = 0.5 microM) increased not only the excitability of SC afferents but glutamate release, however, it at high concentrations (> or = 1 microM) changed bidirectionally. These results suggest that the moderate activation of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors depolarizes SC afferents and enhances SC-mediated glutamatergic transmission. When endogenous GABA was disynaptically released by brief trains of stimulation of SC afferents, the axonal excitability in addition to glutamate release was increased. The effects of endogenous GABA on the excitability of SC afferents were blocked by either SR95531 or AMPA receptor blockers, which would be expected to block disynaptic feed-forward neural circuits. The present results provide a novel form of presynaptic modulation (feed-forward facilitation) of glutamatergic transmission by presynaptic GABA(A) receptors within the intrinsic hippocampal neural circuits.


Hydrogen Production Technology Promotes the Analysis and Prospect of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Development under the Background of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality in China.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have always been regarded as the main direction for developing new energy vehicles in the future due to their advantages of zero emission, high cruising range, and strong environmental adaptability. Currently, although the related technologies have gradually matured, there are still many factors hindering its development. One of the main reasons is that the price of hydrogen fuel increases the cost of using vehicles, which puts it at a competitive disadvantage compared with traditional fuel vehicles and pure electric vehicles. Herein, we summarize the recent development status of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at home and abroad, and analyze the cost and sustainability brought by the latest scientific research progress to the hydrogen production industry, which is derived from basic research on electrocatalysts used in industrial electrocatalytic water splitting with an alkaline electrolyte. Finally, the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles was analyzed and prospected, which is one of the main application fields of hydrogen in the future.


Iatrogenic or fracture-related nerve injuries in supracondylar humerus fracture: is treatment necessary for nerve injury?
Supracondylar humerus fractures are very common types of elbow fractures in children between the ages of three and ten years. Totally displaced supracondylar humerus fractures can be associated with neurovascular injuries, and treatment can be complicated by iatrogenic neurovascular injury, compartment syndrome, malunion, and elbow stiffness. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical outcome of nerve injuries associated with supracondylar humerus fractures in children observed over a period of seven years. Children with displaced supracondylar humerus fracture who were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous cross K-wire fixation were reviewed retrospectively at the Medical School Hospital of Yuzuncu Yil University from May 2004 to October 2012. There were 91 patients available for follow-up. Nerve injury was observed in 11 (12.1%) of 91 patients with supracondylar humerus fractures. In 10 (90.1%) of these 11 cases, nerve functions recovered completely (excellent outcome) and in one (9.9%) case partial recovery was seen (good outcome). Iatrogenic or fracture-related nerve injury in a supracondylar humerus fracture is a benign condition which may be resolved spontaneously and observation appears to be a good and valuable method for treatment of this complication.


Serum soluble TREM2 is an independent biomarker associated with coronary heart disease.
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a unique receptor expressed by macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque and is involved in the progression of atherosclerosis. Whether serum soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) levels has a relationship with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unclear. The cross-sectional study included 86 patients with CHD and 86 controls matched with age and sex. Demographic information, medication history, and laboratory data were collected. sTREM2 concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We compared the sTREM2 levels in two groups and constructed stepwise linear regression analysis for factors related to the sTREM2 level in patients with CHD; we further used the logistic regression model to evaluate the relationship between sTREM2 and CHD. The diagnostic value of sTREM2 and other biomarkers in CHD was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The serum level of sTREM2 in CHD patients is higher than that in controls. In CHD patients, the stepwise linear regression analysis found that sTREM2 levels were correlated with triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterols (HDL-C), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and smoking status. Logistic regression models showed that sTREM2 was associated independently with CHD after adjusted confounders. The ROC curve showed a sensitivity of 59.3% and specificity of 81.4% with an area under the curve of 0.781 (95% CI: 0.711-0.852) for the diagnosis of CHD with serum sTREM2 at a cut-off value of > 1104.894 pg/ml, indicating a higher diagnostic value than high sensitivity C reaction protein (hs-CRP) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB). In this study, we provide evidence that sTREM2 levels are elevated in CHD patients and are associated with various cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, sTREM2 demonstrates better diagnostic performance compared to traditional indicators in identifying CHD. These findings suggest that sTREM2 may serve as a potential biomarker for coronary heart disease.


Errors involved in the existing B-term expressions for the longitudinal diffusion in fully porous chromatographic media Part II: experimental data in packed columns and surface diffusion measurements.
Peak parking experiments have been performed on three RP-HPLC different columns, using two different components and a variable mobile phase composition. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the B-term diffusion expressions currently used in the literature (which are all Knox-type models) should be replaced by the effective diffusion expressions that have been developed in the frame of the effective medium theory (EMT). Although the EMT-expressions are not fully accurate either (the mathematics of the complex interactions between different diffusion zones that are in close contact are too demanding to catch them in an exact analytical expression), they at least are physically sound and do not violate Maxwell's basic law of diffusion. Further they also provide a much better approximation of the numerically calculated effective diffusivity in the theoretical test situation considered in part I. The present study shows that the values of the surface or stationary phase diffusion coefficient that are derived from peak parking models can depend heavily on the employed B-term model. The EMT-based B-term expressions lead to values of the surface diffusion coefficient that vary much less strongly with the phase retention factor than if one of the Knox-type models is used to analyze the data. This implies that, since all peak parking experiments that have been performed in the past have all been interpreted with a Knox-type model, the conclusions that have been drawn from these studies should all be moderated or at least revisited.


The human auditory brain stem: a comparative view.
This study compares human brain stem auditory centers with those of the cat in terms of their topography and cytoarchitecture. Graphic reconstructions of the brain stem pathway illustrate differences in configuration of human auditory centers, such as mediolateral elongation of the cochlear nuclei and rostral prolongation of the superior olivary complex. Greater human brain stem size creates a considerably longer auditory pathway: the distance traversed by axons passing from the cochlear nuclei to the ipsilateral inferior colliculus is approximately 14 mm in the cat and 35 mm in man, while the distance to the contralateral colliculus is about 22 mm in the cat and 46 mm in man. Neuronal groups which are well developed in the human brain stem are the populations of large relay neurons in the cochlear nuclei, the medial olivary nucleus, periolivary region, dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, and inferior colliculus. In contrast, a number of nuclei and cell groups are very poorly developed or absent in the human auditory system: these include several types of small neurons in the cochlear nuclei, the lateral olivary nucleus, nucleus of the trapezoid body, and ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus. The functional implications of these changes are discussed.


Epidemiological aspects of porcine rotavirus infection in Venezuela.
The prevalence of porcine rotavirus infection in Venezuela was studied from November 1980 to November 1981. Rotaviruses were identified in 21.3 per cent of 286 diarrhoeic samples analysed by electron microscopy and in none of the 48 controls. Rotaviruses were readily detected throughout the year, which may correspond to the absence of seasonal climatic variations in a tropical country such as Venezuela. Rotavirus infection was frequently observed in pigs that were two to six weeks old and was rare in younger animals. The age distribution of rotavirus infection correlated well with the presence of circulating antibodies, as measured by the complement fixation test. Sucking pigs less than two weeks old appeared to be protected from the infection by passive immunity; no antibodies were detected in the two- to three-week-old group, coinciding with an increased susceptibility to rotavirus infection. The antigenic specificity of the rotavirus isolates was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, using antibodies directed against the group-specific antigen of human rotavirus. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of viral double-stranded RNA revealed an heterogeneity on the electropherotype of selected samples obtained at different times during the study period.


A randomized controlled trial of lorcaserin and lifestyle counselling for weight loss maintenance: changes in emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and appetite.
Anti-obesity medication may help people maintain diet-induced reductions in appetite. The present exploratory analysis assessed the effects of lorcaserin on changes at 24 weeks post-randomization in emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and other measures of appetite (i.e. binge eating, cognitive restraint, disinhibition, hunger, preoccupation with eating and fullness). The parent study investigated the efficacy of combined lorcaserin and behavioural treatment in facilitating weight loss maintenance (WLM) in 137 adults (mean age = 46.1 years, 86.1% female, 68.6% black) who had lost ≥5% of initial weight during a 14-week, low-calorie diet (LCD) run-in. Participants were randomly assigned to lorcaserin or placebo and were provided with group WLM counselling sessions. Emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and appetite were measured at the start of the LCD (week -14), randomization (0) and week 24. From randomization, lorcaserin-treated participants had significantly greater improvements in emotion- and stress-related eating compared to placebo-treated participants (P = 0.04). However, groups did not differ significantly after randomization in changes in the frequency of food cravings, binge eating or other measures of appetite (Ps > 0.05). Compared to placebo, lorcaserin may improve emotion- and stress-related eating.


Correlation of Uptake Patterns on Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) and Treatment Response in Patients with Knee Pain.
To determine whether treatment response in patients with knee pain could be predicted using uptake patterns on single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images. Ninety-five patients with knee pain who had undergone SPECT/CT were included in this retrospective study. Subjects were divided into three groups: increased focal uptake (FTU), increased irregular tracer uptake (ITU), and no tracer uptake (NTU). A numeric rating scale (NRS-11) assessed pain intensity. We analyzed the association between uptake patterns and treatment response using Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Uptake was quantified from SPECT/CT with region of interest (ROI) counting, and an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) calculated agreement. We used Student's t-test to calculate statistically significant differences of counts between groups and the Pearson correlation to measure the relationship between counts and initial NRS-1k1. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined which variables were significantly associated with uptake. The FTU group included 32 patients; ITU, 39; and NTU, 24. With conservative management, 64 % of patients with increased tracer uptake (TU, both focal and irregular) and 36 % with NTU showed positive response. Conservative treatment response of FTU was better than NTU, but did not differ from that of ITU. Conservative treatment response of TU was significantly different from that of NTU (OR 3.1; p = 0.036). Moderate positive correlation was observed between ITU and initial NRS-11. Age and initial NRS-11 significantly predicted uptake. Patients with uptake in their knee(s) on SPECT/CT showed positive treatment response under conservative treatment.


The role of the partner in erectile dysfunction and its treatment.
Advances in pharmacological, mechanical, and surgical treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) now allow erectile function to be re-established in most men who experience this problem. However, re-establishing erectile function and re-establishing a satisfying sexual interaction with a partner are totally different objectives, and when the latter is not met, the man may re-present with treatment failure or withdraw from treatment altogether. All nontalking therapies focus on the penis as the dysfunctional element, and all too often clinicians fail to appreciate that ED can result from problems in the patient's partner and/or difficulties in their relationship. This article examines the role of the partner in the etiology, assessment, and treatment of ED.


Isolated teratozoospermia and in vitro fertilization.
To show whether increased amounts of spermatozoa used in insemination of preovulatory oocytes in isolated teratozoospermia according to Kruger's strict criteria gives good fertilization rates. This study was carried out from September 1993 to November 1994 for a total of 77 cycles, with sperm samples classified according to Kruger's strict classification. Group 1 (C; control) included 37 couples with normal sperm morphology (> 14% normal; SC). Group 2 (GP; good prognosis) included 18 couples (morphology, > or = 4 and < or = 14% normal) and group 3 (T; teratozoospermic) included 11 couples, with isolated teratozoospermia in the male partner (morphology, < 4% normal). No statistically significant difference was seen in the three groups regarding age, duration of infertility, aspirated follicles, oocytes collected, and embryos transferred. There is a statistically significantly difference (P < 0.001) in the number of spermatozoa used in insemination in group 3. In conclusion, a morphological classification using strict criteria in the assessment of sperm morphology is still very important, as increasing the sperm number of spermatozoa inseminated per oocyte may improve zona pellucida binding and give better IVF results.


Distress signals. Asking these tough questions will help boards to head off potential crises.
To look beyond financial metrics when assessing hospital performance, trustees should ask questions in key areas.


Efficacy and acceptability of an "App on sick newborn care" in physicians from newborn units.
There has been an increased emphasis on institutional births, and thus an increasing clinical work load for health care professionals in the recent past. Hence, continuing education, training, ongoing supervision, and mentorship of health care professionals working in these health facilities with easy access to guidelines in a cost effective manner has become a challenging task. With the increased emphasis on institutional births, and an increasing clinical work load, continuing education and training of health care professional managing these health facilities, their ongoing supervision, mentorship, with ready availability of guidelines in a cost effective manner becomes imperative and is a challenging task. Training opportunities can be linked to mobile electronic devices and 'Apps' to improve the care of seriously ill newborn. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative point of care tool- Android based App- 'AIIMS-WHO CC STPs' on the knowledge, skill scores, and satisfaction among Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) physicians managing sick neonates. The baseline knowledge and skill scores of pediatricians working in SNCUs in the state of Tamil Nadu, India (n = 32) were assessed by 25 multiple choice questions (MCQs) and by five Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) skill stations. The training was conducted in a single-day workshop using the app on four modules followed by post-training assessment of knowledge and skill scores after 3 weeks using the same. The satisfaction was assessed by mixed method approach using Likert's scale and focus group discussion (FGD) after 3 weeks. The mean knowledge scores [19.4 (2.6) vs. 10.7 (3.2); maximum marks (MM) 25, mean difference 8.7 (95 % CI 7.6 to 9.9)], and the composite mean skill scores [55.2 (5.8) and 42 (6.2), MM 75, mean difference 13.2 (95 % CI 10.4 to 15.9)] improved after training. The median (IQR) satisfaction score with the course was 4 (4 to 5) (Likert's scale). Focus group discussion revealed that the physicians were overall satisfied using the device. They expressed overall satisfaction on the teaching methodology using wall charts, simulators, and device. Training SNCU physicians on Android based App- 'AIIMS-WHO CC STPs' improved their knowledge and skills. This app may have a potential role as a supplement to other modalities in training doctors for improving newborn care.


Isolation and characterization of thymidylate synthetase mutants of Xanthomonas maltophilia.
Thymidylate synthetase mutants of Xanthomonas maltophilia ATCC 13270 were isolated on a solid minimal medium containing 50 mg/l thymidine and a high concentration of trimethoprim (500 mg/l). It was found that a high concentration of trimethoprim was required to prevent background growth of the wild-type strain. The isolated mutants could grow on thymidine or dTMP at a concentration of 50 mg/l while they were unable to grow on 1000 mg/l thymine or 50 mg/l deoxyuridine. Thymidylate synthetase activity was assayed in the wild-type cells and in the mutant cells but only the wild-type cells contained measurable enzyme activity.


The relevance of the non-canonical PTS1 of peroxisomal catalase.
Catalase is sorted to peroxisomes via a C-terminal peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1), which binds to the receptor protein Pex5. Analysis of the C-terminal sequences of peroxisomal catalases from various species indicated that catalase never contains the typical C-terminal PTS1 tripeptide-SKL, but invariably is sorted to peroxisomes via a non-canonical sorting sequence. We analyzed the relevance of the non-canonical PTS1 of catalase of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha (-SKI). Using isothermal titration microcalorimetry, we show that the affinity of H. polymorpha Pex5 for a peptide containing -SKI at the C-terminus is 8-fold lower relative to a peptide that has a C-terminal -SKL. Fluorescence microscopy indicated that green fluorescent protein containing the -SKI tripeptide (GFP-SKI) has a prolonged residence time in the cytosol compared to GFP containing -SKL. Replacing the -SKI sequence of catalase into -SKL resulted in reduced levels of enzymatically active catalase in whole cell lysates together with the occurrence of catalase protein aggregates in the peroxisomal matrix. Moreover, the cultures showed a reduced growth yield in methanol-limited chemostats. Finally, we show that a mutant catalase variant that is unable to properly fold mislocalizes in protein aggregates in the cytosol. However, by replacing the PTS1 into -SKL the mutant variant accumulates in protein aggregates inside peroxisomes. Based on our findings we propose that the relatively weak PTS1 of catalase is important to allow proper folding of the enzyme prior to import into peroxisomes, thereby preventing the accumulation of catalase protein aggregates in the organelle matrix.


An open source corpus and automatic tool for section identification in Spanish health records.
Electronic Clinical Narratives (ECNs) store valuable individual's health information. However, there are few available open-source data. Besides, ECNs can be structurally heterogeneous, ranging from documents with explicit section headings or titles to unstructured notes. This lack of structure complicates building automatic systems and their evaluation. The aim of the present work is to provide the scientific community with a Spanish open-source dataset to build and evaluate automatic section identification systems. Together with this dataset, the purpose is to design and implement a suitable evaluation measure and a fine-tuned language model adapted to the task. A corpus of unstructured clinical records, in this case progress notes written in Spanish, was annotated with seven major section types. Existing metrics for the presented task were thoroughly assessed and, based on the most suitable one, we defined a new B2 metric better tailored given the task. The annotated corpus, as well as the designed new evaluation script and a baseline model are freely available for the community. This model reaches an average B2 score of 71.3 on our open source dataset and an average B2 of 67.0 in data scarcity scenarios where the target corpus and its structure differs from the dataset used for training the LM. Although section identification in unstructured clinical narratives is challenging, this work shows that it is possible to build competitive automatic systems when both data and the right evaluation metrics are available. The annotated data, the implemented evaluation scripts, and the section identification Language Model are open-sourced hoping that this contribution will foster the building of more and better systems.


Investigation on Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infection influencing host haematological factors in tribal dominant and malaria endemic population of Jharkhand.
The study was undertaken to elucidate the association of host haematological and biochemical indices in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in order to explore whether these parameters are unique to disease or act as a potential diagnostic marker. Haematological and biochemical parameters in 106 malarial patients and 33 healthy subjects were evaluated. Following parameters were significantly lower in all infection types (P. vivax, P. falciparum and mixed infection); haemoglobin, blood sugar, PCV and blood urea, while ESR is significantly higher in all types of infection whereas serum bilirubin and creatinine are significantly higher except mixed and vivax infection, respectively. Interestingly, parasitaemia, temperature and age are significantly correlated with blood urea, blood sugar and ESR respectively in vivax infection whereas parasitaemia with PCV and blood sugar and age with PCV in falciparum infection. Malaria infected subjects exhibited alterations in some haematological parameters with low haemoglobin, blood sugar and PCV whereas elevated ESR and serum bilirubin being the important findings observed in our study. These evaluations could be considered to be reliable clinical and biochemical markers for promising diagnostic potential during clinical malarial infection in combination with other genetic and classical microscopic parameters. Haematological evaluation could help in prompt and accurate diagnosis and prevent disease progression by facilitating physicians in clinical correlation for better drug regime.


Observation of high nonlinearity in Bi doped BixIn35-xSe65 thin films with annealing.
The present work demonstrates the impact of thermal annealing on the structural, linear, and non-linear optical characteristics of thermally evaporated BixIn35-xSe65 (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 at%) thin films. The prominent crystalline phases have been developed for all annealed films at 450 °C whereas the films remain amorphous at 350 °C annealing. The XRD and Raman analysis showed the phase transformation of Bi-doped films and new Bi2Se3 phases developed upon annealing at 450 °C. The phase transformation induced change increased the linear and nonlinear properties with great extent as seen from the UV-visible optical studies. The direct and indirect optical bandgaps decreased with annealing temperature and also with Bi % content due to the formation of surface dangling bonds near the crystallite sites. The static linear refractive index and high-frequency dielectric constants were increased with annealing. The third-order non-linear susceptibility and non-linear refractive index were found to be greatly influenced by annealing temperature and increased with bismuth content. The FESEM micrographs also showed the phase transformation and EDX analysis showed the composition. The results obtained from the materials showed the potentiality to be useful for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications.


The Need for Precision Therapies as Determined by Genetic Signature for Cystic Fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic infant-onset disease [...].


Prenatal diagnosis and molecular cytogenetic characterization of hereditary complex chromosomal rearrangements in a Chinese family.
To report a family with an extremely rare and previously undescribed complexchromosomalrearrangement (CCR). To explore the molecular cytogenetic mechanism of 'octaradial chromosome'. G-banding karyotype analysis was performed on all the members of the family. Chromosomal microarray analysis(CMA) was performed on the five members of the family. This case presented with a karyotypically balanced CCR (46,XX,t(2;4;11;5)(p21;q34;q21;p15)). The familial CCR was stably transmitted across three generations. We report an extremely rare and previously undescribed complexchromosomal arrangement that is transmitted across three generations. The clinical outcome of this CCR is complex. Careful characterization of all the breakpoint regions is required for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.


Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Testing in Asia: The IAEA INCAPS-COVID Study.
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected management of cardiovascular disease around the world. The effect of the pandemic on volume of cardiovascular diagnostic procedures is not known. This study sought to evaluate the effects of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and safety practices in Asia. The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey to assess changes in cardiovascular procedure volume and safety practices caused by COVID-19. Testing volumes were reported for March 2020 and April 2020 and were compared to those from March 2019. Data from 180 centers across 33 Asian countries were grouped into 4 subregions for comparison. Procedure volumes decreased by 47% from March 2019 to March 2020, showing recovery from March 2020 to April 2020 in Eastern Asia, particularly in China. The majority of centers cancelled outpatient activities and increased time per study. Practice changes included implementing physical distancing and restricting visitors. Although COVID testing was not commonly performed, it was conducted in one-third of facilities in Eastern Asia. The most severe reductions in procedure volumes were observed in lower-income countries, where volumes decreased 81% from March 2019 to April 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic in Asia caused significant reductions in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures, particularly in low-income countries. Further studies on effects of COVID-19 on cardiovascular outcomes and changes in care delivery are warranted.


Long-term observation of baboons, rhesus monkeys, and chimpanzees inoculated with HIV and given periodic immunosuppressive treatment.
Baboons, rhesus monkeys, and chimpanzees were injected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and monitored for up to 4 years. Various immunosuppressive regimens were used during this time in attempts to induce development of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). No infectious virus was recovered or anti-HIV antibodies detected in the baboons and rhesus monkeys. Virus has been recovered from lymphocyte cultures of all five of the chimpanzees at intermittent periods following inoculation. The chimpanzees developed anti-HIV antibodies from 1 to 5 months after virus inoculation and had circulating antibodies that neutralized HIV. All the infected animals were capable of in vitro lymphocyte blastogenic responses to recombinant envelope and core HIV antigens. Despite immunosuppressive therapies and evidence of some immunologic abnormalities, none of the five chimpanzees has yet developed AIDS or a related disorder.


ATF-1 transcription factor regulates the expression of ccg-1 and cat-1 genes in response to fludioxonil under OS-2 MAP kinase in Neurospora crassa.
The ATF/CREB family transcriptional factors are regulated by stress-activated MAP kinase in yeast. The disruptants of the atf-1 gene, which encodes an ATF/CREB family transcriptional factor, were isolated and characterized in Neurospora crassa. The characteristic phenotypes in the os-2 MAP kinase strain, such as osmotic sensitivity and fludioxonil resistance, were not observed in the Deltaatf-1 strain; however, like the os-2 strain, up-regulation of the catalase gene cat-1 and the clock-controlled gene ccg-1 by treatment with fludioxonil (1 microg/mL) or 4% NaCl was almost completely abolished in the Deltaatf-1 strain. A gel shift assay indicated that ATF-1 bound to the cat-1 and ccg-1 promoters probably through the CRE motifs. The enzyme activity of large-subunit catalase CAT-1, the major conidial catalase, was not detected in the Deltaatf-1 strain, suggesting that the production of CAT-1 during formation of conidia is largely dependent on ATF-1. Among 11 clock-controlled genes, the expression of ccg-1, ccg-9, ccg-13, and ccg-14 was induced by fludioxonil in an OS-2-dependent manner; however, induction of ccg-13 and ccg-14 was observed in the Deltaatf-1 strain, suggesting the existence of another transcription factor regulated by OS-2. The homozygous cross between the Deltaatf-1 strains produced perithecia and ascospores; however, their ascospores never germinated. These findings suggest that ATF-1 acts as one of the transcriptional factors downstream of the OS-2 MAP kinase and probably regulates some genes involved in conidiation, circadian rhythm, and ascospore maturation in N. crassa.


The MT3 specificity resides on a novel human class II antigen distinct from the HLA-DR antigen and DC-like antigen.
The MT3 specificity is closely associated with the HLA-DR4, DR7, and DRw9, and is a supertypic specificity. To determine whether the MT3 specificity resides on a novel class II antigen, the MT3 antigen, DR antigen and the DC-like antigen from the DR4-, DR7- and DRw9-homozygous B lymphoid cell lines were identified and compared with one another by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis using alloantisera. The analysis revealed that each of the three antigens exists as a structurally distinct class II antigen in each cell line. The light chains of the MT3, DR and DC-like antigens are different in charge from one another. The molecular weight of the heavy chains of the MT3 and DR antigens is higher than that of the DC-like antigen. On the other hand, no electrophoretic differences are observed between the heavy chains of the MT3 and DR antigens. These results strongly suggest that the MT3 specificity resides on a light chain of a novel class II antigen distinct from the DR antigen and the DC-like antigen. These observations also support our previous proposition that the MT3 antigen belongs to the fourth group of the human class II antigens.


A new polymorphism in the gene for GAP43.
A new polymorphism has been identified in the 3'-untranslated region of the gene for GAP43. It is present with a frequency of 0.327 in the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humaine (CEPH) parents and is slightly lower in Alzheimer's (0.269) and Parkinson's (0.231) patients.


Effect of weak measurement on entanglement distribution over noisy channels.
Being able to implement effective entanglement distribution in noisy environments is a key step towards practical quantum communication, and long-term efforts have been made on the development of it. Recently, it has been found that the null-result weak measurement (NRWM) can be used to enhance probabilistically the entanglement of a single copy of amplitude-damped entangled state. This paper investigates remote distributions of bipartite and multipartite entangled states in the amplitudedamping environment by combining NRWMs and entanglement distillation protocols (EDPs). We show that the NRWM has no positive effect on the distribution of bipartite maximally entangled states and multipartite Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, although it is able to increase the amount of entanglement of each source state (noisy entangled state) of EDPs with a certain probability. However, we find that the NRWM would contribute to remote distributions of multipartite W states. We demonstrate that the NRWM can not only reduce the fidelity thresholds for distillability of decohered W states, but also raise the distillation efficiencies of W states. Our results suggest a new idea for quantifying the ability of a local filtering operation in protecting entanglement from decoherence.


Structure of bacterial phospholipid transporter MlaFEDB with substrate bound.
In double-membraned bacteria, phospholipid transport across the cell envelope is critical to maintain the outer membrane barrier, which plays a key role in virulence and antibiotic resistance. An MCE transport system called Mla has been implicated in phospholipid trafficking and outer membrane integrity, and includes an ABC transporter, MlaFEDB. The transmembrane subunit, MlaE, has minimal sequence similarity to other transporters, and the structure of the entire inner-membrane MlaFEDB complex remains unknown. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of MlaFEDB at 3.05 Å resolution, revealing distant relationships to the LPS and MacAB transporters, as well as the eukaryotic ABCA/ABCG families. A continuous transport pathway extends from the MlaE substrate-binding site, through the channel of MlaD, and into the periplasm. Unexpectedly, two phospholipids are bound to MlaFEDB, suggesting that multiple lipid substrates may be transported each cycle. Our structure provides mechanistic insight into substrate recognition and transport by MlaFEDB.


beta-endorphin: synthesis and biological activity of shortened peptide chains.
Three analogs of beta-endorphin have been synthesized by the solid-phase method: betac-endorphin-(1--5)-(28--31), betac-endorphin-(6--31) and betah-endorphin-(1--5)-(16--31). The analgesic activities of these synthetic peptides relative to that of the parent molecule are reported. All three peptides at high doses exhibit either no or much weaker analgesic activity than beta-endorphin. These data suggest that the entire beta-endorphin molecule is necessary for full in vivo analgesic activity.


Designing an effective counteradvertising campaign--California.
In this report, the author shares some of the basic lessons learned in conducting a tobacco education and prevention media campaign for the state of California over the past 9 years. She highlights the three most fundamental lessons: 1) the qualities to look for in an advertising/public relations agency, 2) the importance of integrating a media campaign with other tobacco control activities, and 3) the most successful advertising strategies.


Paediatric electroencephalograph: The benefits of guidelines.
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is an important but often over-relied upon investigation in evaluating paroxysmal events of childhood. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for epilepsy help clinicians decide which children should/should not have an EEG. Would introduction of these guidelines in our hospital change the ordering practices of our hospital clinicians? Would introduction reduce unnecessary tests and improve rapidity of obtaining an EEG? Paediatric EEG requests, results and, where possible, the patient hospital chart were reviewed before and after introduction of an EEG request form (Appendix I) which provided ordering advice as per the NICE epilepsy guideline. Patient age, sex, distance from hospital and ethnicity were reviewed. Also evaluated was clinical indication and time from ordering to performing the EEG. Prior to the new EEG form, 56% of the EEG requests fulfilled the NICE criteria; after its introduction, this increased to 83%. EEGs ordered within the NICE guidelines were abnormal on 61% of occasions, but when ordered outside of the guidelines they were abnormal only 4% of the time (P < 0.0001). After its introduction there was poor use of the new form in practice (only 29% of requests). However, the EEGs were more likely to meet ordering criteria and fewer tests were required, leading to more rapid turn-around times. This study demonstrates the value of using guidelines to improve timeliness and reduce over-utilisation of EEGs in general paediatric practice.


Cytochemical analysis of the chromatin of liver cell nuclei and nuclei of oval cells by means of the Feulgen hydrolysis curve in rats treated by thioacetamide.
The present study is an analysis of the Feulgen hydrolysis characteristics in nuclei of liver cells and oval cells in rats treated by thioacetamide (TAA) and of liver cells in control rats. The curves show a double-peaked pattern. A slower hydrolysis is noted in the first peak after TAA treatment. This suggests an alteration of the acid-labile part of the chromatin. The curve obtained in the oval cells is different from the one in the liver cells. The implications of these differences are discussed with respect to development of cholangiocarcinomas.


Hook-wire localization versus lipiodol localization for patients with pulmonary lesions having ground-glass opacity.
Accurate and safe preoperative localization is useful for video-assisted thoracic surgery of small pulmonary lesions with ground-glass opacity (GGO). However, the optimal localization method is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness and safety of the lipiodol and hook-wire localization techniques for video-assisted thoracic surgery of GGO lesions. This prospective, non-randomized comparative study was conducted between April 2014 and December 2016 at 8 qualifying university teaching hospitals. Two-hundred-fifty patients with pulmonary lesions having GGO were included. Patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the lipiodol (n = 125, 4 hospitals) or hook-wire group (n = 125, 4 hospitals) for preoperative localization procedures. Participants underwent preoperative localization via the lipiodol or hook-wire technique followed by thoracoscopic surgery. The primary endpoint was the procedure success rate. The procedure success rates (hook-wire vs lipiodol group) were 94.40% versus 99.16% (P = .08). Localization-related complications occurred in 53.60% versus 48.33% of patients (P = .49). Hemorrhage rates were significantly greater in the hook-wire group than in the lipiodol group (21.6% vs 5.83%, P < .001). The lipiodol procedure time was significantly longer than that of the hook-wire technique (20.69 ± 9.34 vs 17.15 ± 7.91 minutes, P = .001). The initially positive surgical resection margin was significantly greater in the hook-wire group than in the lipiodol group (10.89% vs 2.38%, P = .02). There was no significant difference in success rate between the hook-wire and lipiodol methods. However, the hemorrhage rate was significantly greater in the hook-wire group, whereas the hook-wire group showed greater initially positive surgical resection margins.


Vaginal bromocriptine for treatment of adenomyosis: Impact on magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasound.
Vaginal bromocriptine significantly reduces heavy menstrual bleeding and pain in women with diffuse adenomyosis. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether imaging findings of adenomyosis, as assessed by transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect changes induced by the bromocriptine treatment. Eighteen women, aged 35-50, with heavy menstrual bleeding reporting Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBLAC) scores >100 and diffuse adenomyosis according to both MRI and TVU were included. The subjects underwent treatment with vaginal bromocriptine for 6 months. MRI and TVU were performed at baseline and after 6 months of medication. Mean age of the participants was 44.8 years, 77.8 % reported PBLAC scores > 250 and 66.7 % reported moderate to severe pain during menstruation at baseline. As compared to baseline, TVU revealed a thinner maximal Junctional Zone (JZmax) (8.5 mm [5.2-14] vs 7.9 mm [5-11.2], p = 0.02) at 6 months. Asymmetric wall thickening was seen in 13 (72 %) at baseline, and in 6 (33 %) women at 6 months, p = 0.02. No significant changes were seen in irregular endometrial-myometrial border, presence of fan-shaped shadowing, cystic changes, striations, hyperechogenic islands or lesion extension. MRI showed no significant difference in JZmax (16.0 mm[12.1-27.7] vs 15.5 mm [9.5-25.8], p = 0.81), JZdifference (9.5 mm[4.8-21.6] vs 8.4[3.8-19.5], p = 1) or Ratio JZ/myometrium (0.6 [0.5-0.8] vs. 0.6[0.4-0.8], p = 0.9) at baseline vs 6 month. Cystic lesions in the JZ were found in 9 women (50 %) before, and in 5 women (28 %) at 6 months, p = 0.13. TVU showed a significant decrease in JZ max and a reduced number of women with asymmetric myometrial wall thickness. The changes seen in this small pilot study may indicate that vaginal bromocriptine have an impact on adenomyosis that is reflected in radiological appearance.


Audit of serum theophylline concentrations in patients from general practice.
From the repeat prescription register of a British general practice, 37 patients regularly taking theophylline preparations were identified. Measurement of their serum theophylline concentration showed that less than 25% of these patients were achieving a theophylline concentration in the therapeutic range. Reasons for this are discussed.


Evaluation of relationship between ruminal pH and the proportion of de novo fatty acids in milk.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ruminal pH and milk de novo fatty acid (DNFA) concentrations determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Data were collected from 18 multiparous Holstein cows fitted with a rumen cannula and fed 1 of the experimental diets differing in starch content (22.1 vs. 28.3%) with or without supplementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product in a previous study. Milk was sampled on d 7 and 21 after calving, and concentrations of milk fat, DNFA (C6 to C14), mixed-origin fatty acids (FA; C16:0 and C16:1), and preformed FA (≥C18) were estimated using Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. Ruminal pH was recorded in the ventral sac every 30 s continuously for 72 h on d 7 to 9 and 21 to 23 after calving. Daily maximum, nadir, and mean ruminal pH as well as duration and area below pH 5.8 were determined for each period. Milk DNFA (g/100 g of FA) was positively related to nadir (r = 0.428) and mean (r = 0.471) ruminal pH and negatively related to duration (r = -0.511) and area (r = -0.520) below pH 5.8. Milk fat content did not have a relationship with ruminal pH variables in this study. The regression lines for d 7 and 21 were similar, likely because plasma free FA concentrations were not different between d 7 and 21 (513 vs. 534 µEq/L) for the current data set. The coefficients of determination between DNFA and ruminal pH were greater for DNFA in total milk FA (g/100 g of FA) than in milk (g/100 g of milk), suggesting that DNFA in milk fat (g/100 g of FA) is an appropriate measurement variable that relates to ruminal pH even for cows in early lactation.


The effects of maternal mood on mother-infant interaction.
The effects of depressed mood on mother-infant interaction were studied in 30 mother-infant dyads using the Velten mood induction procedure. It was predicted that maternal depressed mood would induce dysphoria in the infants, disrupt the infants' natural responsiveness to their mothers, and interfere with the mothers' ability to manage the interaction. In addition, it was predicted that such deficits would be the result of depressed maternal mood and not simply due to any change in maternal mood. The results indicated that the infants were sensitive to depressed mood and were less contingently responsive to their mothers than were controls. Also, mothers in the depression induction condition were less successful in eliciting positive responses from their infants than were controls. These results have implications for the development of a helplessness vulnerability in infants and for the two-way direction of effect present in depressed mother-infant dyads.


Fetal heart rate and fetal activity patterns after vibratory acoustic stimulation at thirty to thirty-two weeks' gestational age.
Twenty pregnant women between 30 and 32 weeks' gestational age were studied to examine the effects of a 5-second external vibratory acoustic stimulus on the fetal heart rate, fetal heart rate variability, and fetal activity patterns. There was an immediate significant increase in the basal fetal heart rate for 10 minutes compared with controls. There was also a significant increase in the mean duration of fetal heart rate accelerations without any change in the number of fetal heart rate accelerations. There were no changes in long-term fetal heart rate variability, fetal breathing, and gross fetal body movements.


Comparison between PCR and detection of antigen in sera for diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis.
We evaluated the usefulness of PCR and antigen detection for the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis. Forty-four serum samples from patients with pulmonary aspergillosis (33 with pulmonary aspergilloma, 4 with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, 4 with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and 3 with aspergillus pyothorax) were used in this study. PCR detection of Aspergillus DNA in serum samples was successful in 39 patients. Galactomannan antigen was detected by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 25 patients and by latex agglutination test in 13 patients. Detection of Aspergillus DNA in serum samples by nested PCR had the highest sensitivity of the three methods tested for the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis.


Evolutionary autonomous agents: a neuroscience perspective.
In this article, I discuss the use of neurally driven evolutionary autonomous agents (EAAs) in neuroscientific investigations. Two fundamental questions are addressed. Can EAA studies shed new light on the structure and function of biological nervous systems? And can these studies lead to the development of new tools for neuroscientific analysis? The value and significant potential of EAA modelling in both respects is demonstrated and discussed. Although the study of EAAs for neuroscience research still faces difficult conceptual and technical challenges, it is a promising and timely endeavour.


Population-based survey of refractive error among school-aged children in rural northern China: the Heilongjiang eye study.
The prevalence of refractive error in the north of China is unknown. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of refractive error in school-aged children in a rural area of northern China. Cross-sectional study. The cluster random sampling method was used to select the sample. A total of 1700 subjects of 5 to 18 years of age were examined. All participants underwent ophthalmic evaluation. Refraction was performed under cycloplegia. Association of refractive errors with age, sex, and education was analysed. The main outcome measure was prevalence rates of refractive error among school-aged children. Of the 1700 responders, 1675 were eligible. The prevalence of uncorrected, presenting, and best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better eye was 6.3%, 3.0% and 1.2%, respectively. The prevalence of myopia was 5.0% (84/1675, 95% CI, 4.8%-5.4%) and of hyperopia was 1.6% (27/1675, 95% CI, 1.0%-2.2%). Astigmatism was evident in 2.0% of the subjects. Myopia increased with increasing age, whereas hyperopia and astigmatism were associated with younger age. Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism were more common in females. We also found that prevalence of refractive error were associated with education. Myopia and astigmatism were more common in those with higher degrees of education. This report has provided details of the refractive status in a rural school-aged population. Although the prevalence of refractive errors is lower in the population, the unmet need for spectacle correction remains a significant challenge for refractive eye-care services.


Photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethazine using a direct Z-Scheme AgI/Bi4V2O11 photocatalyst: Mineralization activity, degradation pathways and promoted charge separation mechanism.
Z-scheme heterojunction can not only promote the separation of photogenerated carriers, but also retain the strong redox potential of the system, which would greatly improve the photocatalytic performance of catalyst. Herein, a Z-scheme AgI/Bi4V2O11 heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared by a hydrothermal process combined with in situ coprecipitation process. Multiple techniques were employed to investigate the morphology, composition, chemical and electronic properties of the as-prepared samples. The obtained Z-scheme AgI/Bi4V2O11 heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic performance towards sulfamethazine (SMZ) degradation under visible light irradiation. Especially, the 20 wt% AgI/Bi4V2O11 composites exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for sulfamethazine (SMZ) degradation and 91.47% SMZ would be eliminated within 60 min. In comparison with NO3- and SO42-, the presence of Cl- and HCO3- presented more obviously inhibition effects on SMZ degradation. The possible degradation pathways of SMZ were speculated by identifying degradation intermediates. O2-, h+ and OH all involved in the photocatalytic degradation SMZ. The highly enhanced photocatalytic performance might be attributed to form Z-scheme junction between AgI and BVO, which are conducive to the efficient charges separation and maintain high redox potential. This work enriches Bi4V2O11-based Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic system and provides a reference for the preparation of effective Z-scheme junction photocatalysts.


Synthesis and effects of novel thiazole derivatives against thrombocytopenia.
5-(2-Pyridylsulfonyl)-2-thiazolamine (2) was effective both in mitomycin C (MMC)-induced thrombocytopenia and in an animal model of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). It also suppressed the increase of autoantibodies against platelets in the ITP model and showed no blood toxicity. Chemical modification of 2 led to the discovery of more potent compounds against MMC-induced thrombocytopenia.


Epidemiology of myocardial infarction in France: therapeutic and prognostic implications of heart failure during the acute phase.
The aim of this study was to assess the 1-year outcome of acute myocardial infarction, in current practice, according to the presence or absence of heart failure. This was an epidemiologic, prospective survey involving 2152 patients recruited in November 1995 from 312 French coronary care units. All consecutive patients admitted within 48 hours for confirmed acute myocardial infarction to the participating centers in November 1995 were included. For each patient, baseline parameters, as well as clinical course and therapeutic treatment during the first 5 days, were collected. For the purpose of this study, the diagnosis of heart failure required a left ventricular ejection fraction </=35% and/or a Killip class >1. During the 1-year follow-up, date and cause of death were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were analyzed with the log rank test. Cox multivariate analyses were used to assess the independent prognostic factors among 5-day survivors. Eight hundred twenty-one (38%) patients exhibited heart failure during the first 5 days after myocardial infarction. Patients with heart failure were 10 years older and were more likely to be hypertensive or diabetic; use of primary revascularization (33% vs 47%, P <.001) and beta-blockers (40% vs 79%, P <.001) was less frequent, whereas prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors was enhanced (56% vs 41%, P <.001). Mortality rate was strongly related to both left ventricular ejection fraction (P <. 001) and Killip class (P <.001). One-year mortality rate was 39.7% in patients with heart failure compared with 7.1% in patients without heart failure (P <.001). A significant reduction in mortality rates was observed with beta-blockers (risk ratio 0.63 [0. 45 to 0.89], P =.01) and ACE inhibitors (risk ratio 0.73 [0.54 to 0. 99], P =.04). It was more pronounced in patients with heart failure. Results of this French observational survey are in line with previous epidemiologic studies and with major therapeutic trials. Patients with heart failure after acute myocardial infarction constitute a high-risk group. They appear to derive a greater benefit from treatment with both beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors than from each class on its own.


The development of the spinal motor column in relation to the myotomal muscle fibers in the zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). I. Posthatching development.
The neuromuscular system in the trunk of larval and adult zebrafishes was studied by means of light and electronmicroscopical methods. Spinal motoneurons were identified with the horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport method. We correlated the differentiation and growth of the myotomal muscle with the number of motoneurons per spinal cord segment and the size of the motoneuron somata. The adult number of motoneurons is reached in an early larval stage, before the muscle fiber type differentiation in the myotomes is completed. The mean motoneuron size does not bear a clear correlation with the size of the myotomal muscle. In adult zebrafishes we could distinguish the motoneurons which innervate the superficial slow red and the deep fast white muscle fibers on the basis of soma size and position in the motor column. The motoneurons of the red muscle part are small; they are located in the ventrolateral part of the motor column. The motoneurons of the deep fast white fibers are large; they lie near the central canal.


The role of interplate locking on the seismic reactivation of upper plate faults on the subduction margin of northern Chile.
Quaternary deformation in the northern Chile forearc is controlled by trench parallel shortening along reactivated Mesozoic faults. Dextral strikes-slip is expressed in NW-SE striking faults of the Atacama Fault System, and reverse displacement dominates in E-W faults. This deformation results of the convergence in a concave-seaward continental margin. On September 11th, 2020, a Mw 6.3 earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks took place in the coastal region of northern Chile, revealing the reactivation of the deepest segment of a WNW-ESE striking upper plate fault. The reactivation of this fault occurred after the Mw 8.1 Iquique earthquake, and it seems to be connected to a N-S interplate locking segmentation of the plate margin, which is clearly shown by the locking pattern before the Iquique earthquake. This poses the question of how heterogeneous locking influences upper plate seismicity and how it relates to trench-parallel shortening.


Regional differences in the responsiveness of isolated arteries from cattle, dog and man.
Changes in tension of spiral strips from basilar, external carotid, temporal and muscle arteries from cattle, dog and man were monitored isometrically. Dose-response curves for 5-HT, noradrenaline and ergotamine indicated a variation in responsiveness between different arteries of the same species as well as between the same arteries of different species. When tested against 5-HT ergotamine consistently acted as non-competitive dualist but it antagonized responses to to noradrenaline only in peripheral arteries from dog and man. In all arteries from the carotid vasculature and in bovine muscle arteries the vasoconstrictor effects of ergotamine and noradrenaline were independent additive. It is suggested that the therapeutic value of ergotamine in the treatment of migraine headache is due to its selective vasoconstrictor activity in the external carotid vasculature mediated through independent additive vasoconstrictor effects of ergotamine and noradrenaline.


Molecular mechanisms of DNA damage recognition for mammalian nucleotide excision repair.
For faithful DNA repair, it is crucial for cells to locate lesions precisely within the vast genome. In the mammalian global genomic nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, this difficult task is accomplished through multiple steps, in which the xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) protein complex plays a central role. XPC senses the presence of oscillating 'normal' bases in the DNA duplex, and its binding properties contribute to the extremely broad substrate specificity of NER. Unlike XPC, which acts as a versatile sensor of DNA helical distortion, the UV-damaged DNA-binding protein (UV-DDB) is more specialized, recognizing UV-induced photolesions and facilitating recruitment of XPC. Recent single-molecule analyses and structural studies have advanced our understanding of how UV-DDB finds its targets, particularly in the context of chromatin. After XPC binds DNA, it is necessary to verify the presence of damage in order to avoid potentially deleterious incisions at damage-free sites. Accumulating evidence suggests that XPA and the helicase activity of transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) cooperate to verify abnormalities in DNA chemistry. This chapter reviews recent findings about the mechanisms underlying the efficiency, versatility, and accuracy of NER.


Hypoxemia after single-shot anesthesia in common marmosets.
It remains unknown how single-shot anesthesia influences physical parameters, especially respiratory function and blood oxygen level of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) which came to be used for laboratory research. We measured blood oxygen levels, both before and after oxygenation, in 13 common marmosets under two single-shot anesthesia conditions: ketamine/xylazine/atropine and alphaxalone. We found that SpO2 values decreased to about 80% in the ketamine/xylazine/atropine protocol and fell just below 90% in the alphaxalone protocol. We observed a clear decrease in PaO2 values under the anesthetized condition compared to the awake condition. Our data indicate that single-shot anesthesia may cause hypoxemia in marmosets. Previous studies on other non-human primate have reported no SpO2 decrease and hypoxemia; thus, our experiment suggests that marmosets may have a more fragile respiratory system and require intensive veterinary care during anesthesia.