Perceptions and acceptability of HPV vaccination among parents of female adolescents 9-14 in China: A cross-sectional survey based on the theory of planned behavior.
HPV vaccine uptake remains low in China, especially among girls. Recently, China has initiated a pilot program on HPV immunization for girls 9-14. From November to December 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of girls 9-14 in China through a web-based anonymous online questionnaire survey. Descriptive epidemiological analysis was used to analyze parental acceptability. Hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation modeling were to determine associated factors. A total of 5623 participants were included in the analysis. 21.2% girls had received HPV vaccine, and 94.3% parents intended to receive vaccination for their daughters, the Kappa values between them was -0.016. 31.9% of vaccinated mothers had received HPV vaccine for their daughters, vaccination history had a positive impact on behavior (β = 0.048). Attitude (β = 0.186), subjective norms (β = 0.148) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.648) had a positive impact on intention. Vaccination intention mediated the relationships between attitude (β = 0.044), subjective norms (β = 0.035), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.154) with behavior. There is a gap between vaccination intention and behavior in parents of girls 9-14. Perceived behavior control had a strong association on HPV vaccination behavior.


Vitamin E can promote spermatogenesis by regulating the expression of proteins associated with the plasma membranes and protamine biosynthesis.
Vitamin E is generally believed to promote the production of ovine sperm mainly through its antioxidant effect. Our previous studies have shown that some non-antioxidant genes may also be key in mediating this process. The objective of this study was to identify key candidate proteins that were differentially expressed in response to a treatment with Vitamin E. Prepubertal ovine testicular cells were isolated and divided into two groups. They were either treated with 800 μM Vitamin E (based on our previous results) or used as a non-treated control. After 24 h, all the cells were harvested for proteomic analysis. We found 115 differentially expressed proteins, 4 of which were up-regulated and 111 were down-regulated. A GO term enrichment analysis identified 127 Biological Process, 63 Cell Component and 26 Molecular Function terms that were enriched. Within those terms, 13, 11 and 26 terms were significantly enriched, respectively. Terms related to membrane and enzyme activity including the inner acrosomal membrane, signal peptidase complex, cysteine-type endopeptidase activity, etc., were also markedly enriched, while none of the KEGG pathways were enriched. We found that many of the differentially expressed proteins, such as CD46 (membrane cofactor protein), FLNA (Filamin A), DYSF (Dysferlin), IFT20 (Intraflagellar transport 20), SPCS1 (Signal peptidase complex subunit 1) and SPCS3 (Signal peptidase complex subunit 3) were related to the acrosomal and plasma membranes. A parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis verified that Vitamin E improved spermatogenesis by regulating the expression of FLNA, SPCS3, YBX3 and RARS, proteins that are associated with the plasma membranes and protamine biosynthesis of the spermatozoa.


What's causing toxicity in sediments? Results of 20 years of toxicity identification and evaluations.
Sediment toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods have been used for 20 yr to identify the causes of toxicity in sediments around the world. In the present study, the authors summarize and categorize results of 36 peer-reviewed TIE studies (67 sediments) into nonionic organic, cationic, ammonia, and "other" toxicant groups. Results are then further categorized according to whether the study was performed in freshwater or marine sediments and whether the study was performed using whole-sediment or interstitial-water TIE methods. When all studies were grouped, nonionic organic toxicants, either singly or in combination with other toxicants, were implicated in 70% of all studies. When studies were divided into interstitial-water TIE methodology compared with whole-sediment TIE methodology, results indicated that studies performed using interstitial-water TIE methods reported nonionic organic toxicity slightly more often than toxicity from cationic metals (67% compared with 49%). In contrast, studies using whole-sediment TIE methods report nonionic organic chemical toxicity, either singly or in combination with another toxicant, in 90% of all sediments tested. Cationic metals play a much smaller role in whole-sediment TIE studies-fewer than 20% of all sediments had a metals signal. The discrepancy between the 2 methods can be attributed to exposure differences. Contrary to earlier findings, ammonia generally plays only a minor role in sediment toxicity.


Catheter ablation of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia.
Idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) characterized by right bundle branch block, left axis morphology, response to verapamil and inducibility from the atrium in patients without structural heart disease may represent a distinct clinical entity. We report our experience with catheter ablation of this uncommon arrhythmia using radiofrequency energy (RF) and/or direct current (DC) shocks. Six men and 2 women, aged 16-50 years (mean +/- SD, 32 +/- 13), had recurrent VT for 16 +/- 16 years with a mean frequency of 4 +/- 3 episodes/year. Three patients had syncope during VT. None had identifiable structural heart disease. Catheter ablation was guided by earliest endocardial activation, presence of a high frequency presystolic potential and/or pacemapping of the left ventricle. The left ventricle was accessed via a retrograde aortic approach in 6 patients, a transeptal approach in 1 patient, and a combined approach in the remaining patient. All patients had inducible right bundle branch block morphology, left axis VT with a mean cycle length (CL) of 361 +/- 61 ms. A presystolic potential preceding ventricular activation and the His potential during VT was identified in 4 patients. All ablation sites were identified in a relatively uniform location, in the inferoapical left ventricle. Noninducibility of VT was obtained with RF in 3 patients and with DC in 5 patients. In 1 patient, DC delivery after unsuccessful RF prevented further inducibility. Similarly, RF was successful in 1 patient in whom an initial DC attempt was ineffective. Mean total procedure time was 282 +/- 51 minutes and mean total fluoroscopy time was 40 +/- 15 minutes. There were no complications. One patient treated with DC shock had recurrence of VT during treadmill test the day after ablation and refused repeat ablation. During a mean follow-up of 17 +/- 13 months, no VT recurrences or other cardiovascular events occurred. In conclusion, catheter ablation in the inferoapical left ventricle is an effective treatment for this type of ILVT. RF energy can be safely complemented by low energy DC shocks when the former is ineffective.


Recent therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury treatment: possible role of stem cells.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in significant dysfunction and disability. A series of treatments have been proposed to prevent and overcome the formation of the glial scar and inhibitory factors to axon regrowth. In the last decade, cell therapy has emerged as a new tool for several diseases of the nervous system. Stem cells act as minipumps providing trophic and immunomodulatory factors to enhance axonal growth, to modulate the environment, and to reduce neuroinflammation. This capability can be boosted by genetical manipulation to deliver trophic molecules. Different types of stem cells have been tested, according to their properties and the therapeutic aims. They differ from each other for origin, developmental stage, stage of differentiation, and fate lineage. Related to this, stem cells differentiating into neurons could be used for cell replacement, even though the feasibility that stem cells after transplantation in the adult lesioned spinal cord can differentiate into neurons, integrate within neural circuits, and emit axons reaching the muscle is quite remote. The timing of cell therapy has been variable, and may be summarized in the acute and chronic phases of disease, when stem cells interact with a completely different environment. Even though further experimental studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action, the therapeutic, and the side effects of cell therapy, several clinical protocols have been tested or are under trial. Here, we report the state-of-the-art of cell therapy in SCI, in terms of feasibility, outcome, and side effects.


Proteomic analysis of low-abundant integral plasma membrane proteins based on gels.
To characterize low-copy integral membrane proteins and offer some methods for human liver proteome projects, we fractionated highly purified rat liver plasma membrane (PM). PM was purified through two sucrose density gradient centrifugations, and treated with 0.1 M Na(2)CO(3), chloroform/methanol and Triton X-100. Proteins were separated by electrophoresis and submitted to mass spectrometry analysis. Four hundred and fifty-seven non-redundant membrane proteins were identified, of which 23% (105) were integral membrane proteins with one or more transmembrane domains. One hundred and fifty-three (33.5%) had no location annotation and 68 were unknown-function proteins. The proteins from different fractions were complementory. A database search for all identified proteins revealed that 53 proteins were involved in the cell communication pathway. More interestingly, more than 50% of the proteins had a protein abundance index concentration of less than 0.1 mol/l, and 12% proteins a concentration 100 times less than that of arginase 1 and actin.


A viral coat glycoprotein (gp52MuMTV) has detergent-sensitive and detergent-resistant epitopes in the same molecule.
Two monoclonal antibodies (IIB5 and IC12) specific for the gp52 coat glycoprotein of mouse mammary tumor virus are directed against epitopes on the gp52 that are sensitive to a non-ionic detergent, Nonidet P-40. There are other epitopes on this molecule that are stable in the detergent, as seen in immunoprecipitation studies with other anti-gp52 monoclonal antibodies (VE7, IIIA1, IVC11).


Acquisition of fundamental laparoscopic skills: is a box really as good as a virtual reality trainer?
Laparoscopic surgery requires working in a three-dimensional environment with a two-dimensional view. Skills such as depth perception, hand to eye co-ordination and bimanual manipulation are crucial to its efficacy. To compare the efficiency of training in laparoscopic skills on a VR simulator with a traditional box trainer. Twenty medical students were recruited. An initial training session on the relevant anatomy and steps of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was given. Baseline skills were recorded using a pre-training laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the VR trainer. Parameters measured were: (1) total time taken (mins); (2) number of movements right and left instrument; (3) path length (cms) of right and left instrument was recorded. Ten students trained on a VR simulator, and ten on a box trainer, for three hours each. The box trainer group exercises were based on the Royal College of Surgeons core laparoscopic skills course, and the VR trainer exercises were based on the Simbionix LapMentor basic skills tasks. Following this both groups were reassessed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the VR trainer. Both groups showed improvement in all measured parameters. A student T-test at 95% confidence interval showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups pre and post training. Both the VR and box trainer are effective in the acquisition of laparoscopic skills.


The characterization of alpha-bungarotoxin receptors on the surface of parasympathetic neurons in the frog heart.
Receptors for alpha-bungarotoxin are found on the surface of parasympathetic neurons in the frog cardiac ganglion by light microscopic autoradiography. Competition studies suggest that these receptors are cholinergic and indicate that they are also recognized by neuronal bungarotoxin (kappa-bungarotoxin). These receptors are outnumbered by those recognized exclusively by neuronal bungarotoxin. Unlike neuronal bungarotoxin receptors, alpha-bungarotoxin receptors are not concentrated at synaptic sites. Fluorescence techniques fail to find evidence for clusters of alpha-bungarotoxin receptors anywhere on the neuronal surface. The possible function of these receptors, which apparently do not play a role in fast synaptic transmission, is discussed.


CD4-1 and CD4-2 single positive are two major CD4 lymphocyte subpopulations in ginbuna crucian carp Carassius auratus langsdorfii.
In this study, we established a murine cell line that expresses ginbuna crucian carp (ginbuna) CD4-2 and used it to develop an anti-CD4-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb). An established mAb, named D5, showed good reactivities to BALB/c 3T3 cells expressing CD4-2 and a lymphocyte population in the ginbuna leukocytes. Gene expression analysis showed that D5+ cells express CD4-2 and TCRβ genes but not CD4-1 and IgM genes, meanwhile May Grunwald-Giemsa staining of sorted D5+ cells had the typical morphology of lymphocytes. Two-color immunofluorescence analysis with anti-CD4-1 mAb (6D1) and anti-CD4-2 mAb (D5) by flow cytometry revealed that the percentages of CD4-1 single positive (SP) and CD4-2 SP lymphocytes were comparatively higher than CD4-1/CD4-2 double positive (CD4 DP) lymphocytes in all tissues examined in ginbuna. The highest percentage of CD4-2 SP cells (∼40%) was found in the thymus, while the head-kidney exhibited the highest percentages of CD4-1 SP (∼30%) and CD4 DP (∼5%) cells. These findings indicated that ginbuna CD4+ lymphocyte population consists of two major subpopulations (CD4-1 SP and CD4-2 SP) and a minor subset (CD4 DP).


Eco-hydrology driven fire regime in savanna.
Fire is an important evolutionary force and ecosystem consumer that shapes savanna composition. However, ecologists have not comprehensively explained the functioning and maintenance of flammable savannas. A new minimal model accounting for the interdependence between soil saturation, biomass growth, fuel availability and fire has been used to predict the increasing tree density and fire frequency along a Mean Annual Rainfall (MAR) gradient for a typical savanna. Cyclic fire recurrence is reproduced using a predator prey approach in which fire is the "predator" and vegetation is the "prey". For the first time, fire frequency is not defined a priori but rather arises from the composition of vegetation, which determines fuel availability and water limitation. Soil aridity affects fuel production and fuel composition, thus indirectly affecting the ecosystem vulnerability to fire and fire frequency. The model demonstrates that two distinct eco-hydrological states correspond to different fire frequencies: (i) at low MAR, grass is abundant and the impact of fire on the environment is enhanced by the large fuel availability, (ii) at higher MAR, tree density progressively increases and provides less fuel for fire, leading to more frequent and less destructive fires, and (iii) the threshold MAR that determines the transition between the two states and the fire frequency at high MAR are affected by the vulnerability of trees to grass fire. The eco-hydrology-driven predator-prey model originally predicts that the transition between dry and wet savanna is characterized by a shift in wildfire frequency driven by major differences in soil moisture available for plants and savanna structure. The shift and the role of fire in conserving savanna ecosystems could not have been predicted if fire was considered as an external forcing rather than an intrinsic property of the ecosystem.


Right ventricular dysfunction in chronic lung disease.
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction arises in chronic lung disease when chronic hypoxemia and disruption of pulmonary vascular beds increase ventricular afterload. RV dysfunction is defined by hypertrophy with preserved myocardial contractility and cardiac output. RV hypertrophy seems to be a common complication of chronic and advanced lung disease. RV failure is rare, except during acute exacerbations of chronic lung disease or when multiple comorbidities are present. Treatment is targeted at correcting hypoxia and improving pulmonary gas exchange and mechanics. There are no data supporting the use of pulmonary hypertension-specific therapies for patients with RV dysfunction secondary to chronic lung disease.


The effects of red krypton and green argon laser on the foveal region. A clinical and experimental study.
The destruction of senile neovascular membranes in the central avascular region of the macula by argon laser is difficult and associated with complications. Yellow pigment in this region absorbs the blue component of the conventional argon laser radiation. In this study, the authors used lasers of different wavelengths: red krypton and green argon. Optical and electron microscopic studies on nonhuman primates were performed at 1 hour and 6 weeks. Maximum damage was seen at the level of the internal choroid with krypton laser and at the level of the pigment epithelium with green argon laser. A clinical and angiographic study showed that the destruction of the juxtafoveal neovascular membranes by both lasers was possible. Our clinical experience suggests that the red krypton laser offers a better alternative for treatment of neovascular membranes located near the foveola than the green argon laser.


Reliable and uniform thin-film transistor arrays based on inkjet-printed polymer semiconductors for full color reflective displays.
Stable uniform performance inkjet-printed polymer transistor arrays, which allow demonstration of flexible full-color displays, were achieved by new ambient processable conjugated copolymer semiconductor, and OTFT devices incorporating this material showed high mobility values>1.0 cm2 V(-1) s(-1). Bias-stress stability of the devices was improved with a channel-passivation layer, which suppresses the density of trap states at the channel interface.


The Predictive Value of Elliptical Neck Parameters and Oversizing Ratio for Type Ia Endoleaks after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.
To assess the predictive value of geometric parameters for type Ia endoleak (T1AEL) after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and to determine the range of optimal oversizing ratio (OSR) in patients with an elliptical cross-section of the aneurysm neck. A propensity score-matched case-control study was conducted. Case patients were those who were diagnosed with T1AEL and control patients were those who did not have T1AEL after endovascular aneurysm repair during the period from 2012 to 2018. Geometric and oversizing parameters were compared based on both 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional measurements. Net reclassification improvement was used to measure the prediction increment of an elliptical model (major axis OSR, neck length, and severe neck angulation) compared with that of the conventional model (OSR 2D, neck length, and severe neck angulation). Nineteen case patients and 111 control patients were included. The median OSR 2D of patients with T1AEL was 17% (interquartile range, 15%-22%), but the median major axis OSR was only 7% (interquartile range, 5%-12%). For the geometric parameters, axis difference had the highest area under the curve (AUC) (0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.84) for predicting T1AEL. For the elliptical oversizing parameters, the major axis OSR had an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.78-0.97), with a cutoff value of 13%. The elliptical model had a higher discriminating ability for T1AEL than the conventional model (AUC 0.91 vs 0.86, respectively; P = .045), with an improved reclassification ability (net reclassification improvement, 27.93%; 95% CI, 19.22%-36.64%; P < .0001). Elliptical aneurysm neck cross-section, assessed by the difference between axis dimensions in the plane orthogonal to the centerline, was associated with an increased risk of T1AEL. The prescription of major axis oversizing of at least 13% can significantly reduce the risk of T1AEL formation in patients with an elliptical aneurysm neck.


Techniques of intestinal transplantation in rat.
Two surgical models of intestinal transplantation in the rat are described. One is the implantation of fetal and newborn intestine as free grafts into the omentum of adult recipients, the other the adult intestine transplantation as an accessory graft using vascular anastomoses. A hundred and sixteen small-bowel transplantations were done; 36 of which were fetal intestine (group I), 40 of newborn intestine (group II), and 40 of adult intestine (group III). In the fetal and newborn intestinal transplantation, we emphasize the practices that allowed us to avoid ischemic and traumatic injury to the graft. In the adult intestine transplantation with vascular anastomoses, we heighten the modifications in the surgical technique that made the operation easier and the strategies used to prevent hypothermia and hypovolemic shock. Once experienced with the two chosen surgical techniques, transplantation using an avascular segment became much easier and quicker than transplantation with vascular anastomoses.


Critical analysis of outcome determinants affecting repair of intact aneurysms involving the visceral aorta.
Visceral (mesenteric and/or renal) ischemia/reperfusion phenomena likely contribute to the greater operative risk associated with pararenal and lower thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair. To differentiate the relative adverse effects of aortic clamp level, visceral ischemic duration, and various pre- and perioperative factors shared with infrarenal aneurysm patients, a comparative analysis of early and late outcomes after open repair of intact infrarenal and visceral aortic aneurysms was undertaken. A retrospective review of our university experience from 1993-1999/2002 revealed 549 patients (mean age 70 +/- 8 years, 11% female) undergoing open repair of intact, degenerative aneurysms of the infrarenal (n = 391, 71%), juxtarenal (n = 78, 14%), suprarenal (n = 35, 7%), and type IV (n = 40, 7%) and type III (n = 5, 1%) TAA segments. All pararenal aneurysms required suprarenal (SR) or supravisceral (SV, above celiac or superior mesenteric artery) clamp placement. Concomitant renal reconstruction was done in 30% of visceral aortic and 3% of open infrarenal aneurysm repairs. Thirty-day adverse outcomes [death, renal failure (creatinine 2 x baseline or new dialysis), visceral (bowel, hepatic, renal, spinal cord, multiple organ dysfunction), and nonvisceral (cardiac, pulmonary, procedural) complications] were analyzed relative to patient and operative factors using univariate comparisons and multivariate stepwise logistic regression. Perioperative mortality rates varied significantly between aneurysm locations (infrarenal 2.1%, juxtarenal 2.6%, suprarenal 11.4%, TAA 13.3%; p < 0.01) and for clamp locations (infrarenal 2.1%, SR 3.0%, SV 10.8 %; p < 0.01) but were not different between juxtarenal (1.8% vs. 4.4 %) and SR (9.1% vs. 12.5%) aneurysms requiring SR or SV clamping, respectively. Visceral ischemic time (VIT) during SR or SV clamping, and not clamp location, was the only independent predictor of operative mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 10.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4-29]. Sensitivity analyses revealed VIT > 32 min to be the strongest predictor of early death. Visceral complication or renal failure affected 34% and 23% of visceral aortic (5% dialysis) and 7% and 5% (1% dialysis) of infrarenal repairs, respectively. VIT > 32 min, SV clamp placement, diabetes, and inflammatory aneurysm repair were each predictive of visceral complications and/or renal failure. Five-year survival rate was similar after visceral aortic (70%) and infrarenal (75%) repairs but negatively impacted only in patients with prior infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and recurrent aneurysms (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.2-6.9). The high incidence of early adverse outcomes following repair of pararenal and lower thoracoabdominal aneurysms is primarily associated with excessive periods of renal and/or gut ischemia during visceral aortic clamp placement. However, nearly equivalent early and late survival was seen for visceral aortic and infrarenal repairs when VIT < 32 min was achieved.


Inhibition of CX3C receptor 1-mediated autophagy in macrophages alleviates pulmonary fibrosis in hyperoxic lung injury.
To investigate the role of CX3CR1 in hyperoxic lung injury induced pulmonary fibrosis. Hyperoxic lung injured mice were used as the disease model. Pulmonary fibrosis was determined by H&E and Masson's staining. Autophagy was investigated by western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and transmission electron microscopy. We observed that increased CX3CR1 expression corresponded with increased pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, silencing of CX3CR1 significantly alleviated the fibrosis when compared to the control. We observed that exposure of mouse to hyperoxic environment increased macrophage levels along with an increased CD11b expression in the lung tissues. Subsequently, we also observed an increased expression of LC3-II and decreased p62 expression in hyperoxic mice models, suggesting the potential role of hyperoxia induced autophagy. CD11b and LC3/CX3CR1 were expressed and co-localized in a manner indicating CX3CR1 indeed does regulate macrophage autophagy in the hyperoxic lung injury model. We observed a decrease in hyperoxia-associated fibrosis, along with a decrease in autophagy when we used 3-MA (autophagy inhibitor) in our hyperoxic lung injury model. To elucidate the pathway through which CX3CR1 regulated autophagy, we further analyzed the Akt1 pathway. Our experimental results indicated that the Akt1 inhibitor (A-674563) did significantly decrease macrophage autophagy and fibrosis in hyperoxic mice models. Thus, our data indicates a novel role of CX3CR1 in regulation of macrophage autophagy and promotion of pulmonary fibrosis in hyperoxic lung injured mice.


Outcomes of parental investment in high-risk children.
This study assesses the combined effects of children's early medical risk (e.g., preterm status) and parental investment levels (time spent in provision of care to target children as opposed to other family members) on children's response to novel, potentially distressing stimuli. While engaged in play activities, children were exposed to stimuli that were either neutral (a speaker on television with a calm voice) or threatening (a speaker with an angry voice). A significant interaction between children's risk status and parental investment was found only for threatening stimuli. High-risk children with high-investing parents showed high visual engagement with potentially threatening responses, whereas high-risk children with low-investing parents were more likely to show visual avoidance. No comparable effects were found for low-risk children. Findings were interpreted as showing that high-risk children with a history of high parental investment are more likely to attend to potentially threatening events, an adaptive response in the presence of reliable support.


Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina: prognostic factors, treatment patterns, and outcomes.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the vagina is a rare malignancy with limited data to guide treatment. We evaluated prognostic factors and outcomes for patients with primary vaginal SCCA treated with definitive radiation therapy at a single institution. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients treated for primary vaginal SCCA from 1959 to 2011. Ninety-one patients with primary vaginal SCCA were treated with definitive radiation therapy. Thirty-eight patients had FIGO stage I, 28 stage II, 13 stage III, and 12 stage IV disease. The mean total dose was 70.1 Gy. Two-year overall survival (OS), locoregional control rate (LRC), and distant metastasis-free survival by stage were, respectively: stage I: 96.2%, 80.6%, 87.5%; stage II: 92.3%, 64.7%, 84.6%; stage III: 66.6%, 44.4%, 50.0%; and stage IV: 25.0%, 14.3%, 25.0%. Treatment with total dose over 70 Gy was associated with improved OS (p=0.0956) and LRC (p=0.055). There was a significant difference in median dose received by patients who developed grade 3/4 toxicity compared to those who did not (82.9 Gy versus 70.0 Gy, p=0.0019). None of the 10 patients treated with IMRT experienced locoregional recurrence or grade 3/4 toxicity. Tumor size larger than 4 cm was associated with worse OS (p=0.0034) and LRC (p=0.006). Our analysis suggests that the optimal dose for definitive treatment of SCCA of the vagina lies between 70 and 80 Gy. Treatment with IMRT may allow for dose escalation with reduced toxicity and excellent LRC. Tumor size over 4 cm is associated with inferior outcomes and may require additional treatment modalities.


Synthesis and structure determination of [8(-13)C]guanosine 5'-diphosphate.
A combined chemical and enzymatic synthesis of [8(-13)C]guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP) from H13COOH is described. About 35 mg nucleotide was obtained from 500 mg H13COOH. Analysis of the [8(-13)C]GDP by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and by 13C NMR confirmed that one atom of 13C was incorporated at the 8-position of the guanine ring at 90 +/- 10% enrichment. The chemical shift of the C(8) was 140.2 ppm downfield from internal trimethylsilylpropionate at neutral pH and room temperature, with a spin-spin coupling 1J(13C(8)-H(8] of 217 Hz and a 3J(13C(8)-H(1'] of 3.9 Hz.


Pars plana vitrectomy for severe penetrating injury with posterior segment involvement.
We studied 50 consecutive cases of severe penetrating ocular trauma with posterior segment involvement for which vitreous surgery and scleral buckling were performed as secondary reparative procedures. Eyes with a better prognosis, such as those with anterior segment injuries alone and intraocular foreign bodies, were excluded. Of 50 eyes, 31 (62%) had a successful outcome. There was a significant difference in visual outcome between those eyes that had received blunt and sharp penetrating trauma. Visual acuity of 20/50 or better was more frequently attained in eyes with sharp penetrating trauma (P = .002). Thirty-three eyes had initial retinal detachment; 17 (52%) were successfully repaired. Blunt penetrating trauma produced retinal detachment more frequently than sharp penetrating trauma (22 of 29 vs 11 of 21). Retinal detachment was more often successfully repaired after sharp penetrating trauma (8 of 11 vs 9 of 22). Contusive damage to the choroid and retina limited final visual and anatomic results after blunt rupture of the globe.


Platelet transfusion and tranexamic acid to prevent bleeding in outpatients with a hematological disease: A Dutch nationwide survey.
There is scarce evidence about the effectiveness of anti-bleeding measures in hematological outpatients experiencing persistent severe thrombocytopenia. We aim to describe clinical practice and clinicians' considerations on the administration of prophylactic platelet transfusions and tranexamic acid (TXA) to outpatients with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or aplastic anemia (AA) in the Netherlands. We conducted an online survey among members of the Dutch Society for Hematology. The survey was filled out by 73 respondents. Prophylactic platelet transfusions are widely used in acute leukemia and MDS outpatients receiving disease-modifying treatments (87%-98% of respondents). TXA is predominantly prescribed in case of bleeding (tendency) (71%-88% of respondents). Conditions potentially increasing bleeding risks highly variably influence clinicians' decision making on anti-bleeding regimens, which includes a wide range in adhered platelet thresholds. Considering that both the contribution of prophylactic platelet transfusions as well as TXA to limiting bleeding is insufficiently evidence-based, there is an urgent need for trials on optimal anti-bleeding strategies in this outpatient population, which should encompass efficacy, logistic, financial, and quality-of-life aspects.


Novel grading system for quantifying upper-airway obstruction on sleep endoscopy.
The aim of this study was to present a novel anatomically comprehensive and clinically applicable system for the quantification of sleep endoscopy findings in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Fifty-five adult patients with a polysomnographic diagnosis of OSAHS were referred for midazolam-induced sleep endoscopy following failure of continuous positive airway pressure. Five anatomical sites of possible obstruction along the upper airway were documented: nose/nasopharynx (N), uvulopalatine plane (P), tongue base (T), larynx (L), and hypopharynx (H). Each involved site was assigned a severity grade of 1 (partial obstruction) or 2 (complete obstruction). The digits representing the obstruction pattern at each level were then added to yield a severity index (SI). The SI for each patient was determined by two independent observers. Findings were correlated with the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and body mass index (BMI). The SI was significantly correlated with the RDI (R=0.746, Pearson; P<0.0001) and predicted disease severity with 65% accuracy. There was no association with BMI. By site, the tongue base and hypopharynx were significantly correlated with obstruction severity; obstruction in the tongue base predicted disease severity with a sensitivity of 68.8 and sensitivity of 81.1. Our easy-to-use endoscopic grading system provides physicians with an accurate picture of the pattern of the upper-airway system obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. It is a promising tool for estimating the location and severity of upper airway disease and may have implications for treatment planning.


Enhancement of 2-acetylaminofluorene liver carcinogenesis in rats fed a choline-devoid diet.
The effects of feeding a choline-devoid (CD) or a choline-supplemented (CS) diet on the induction of liver tumors in rats by 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a CD or a CS diet containing 0.0075% AAF. Three to eight animals were killed 1, 3, 4 and 6 months thereafter. Well to moderately well differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas developed in 50% and 75% of rats fed the CD + AAF diet for 4 and 6 months, respectively. Cholangiocarcinomas developed, after 6 months, in 38% of the animals. No tumor developed in rats fed the CS + AAF diet. The results extend to AAF those previously obtained with DL-ethionine and azaserine showing that feeding a CD diet greatly potentiates the induction in rats of liver tumors by chemical carcinogens.


Olfactory identification deficiency and WCST performance in men with schizophrenia.
Several studies using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), which requires forced choice olfactory identifications, have reported olfactory identification deficits in patients with schizophrenia. This report examines the possible links between olfactory identification (usually attributed to the orbitofrontal cortex) and executive functions (usually attributed to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) in 24 male patients with schizophrenia and 21 male comparison subjects. Olfactory performance was investigated under two conditions: spontaneous identification and forced choice identification. Executive function was assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Compared with controls, patients with schizophrenia exhibited a higher average number of cigarettes smoked per day, lower spontaneous identification scores on olfactory performance, and a higher percentage of perseverative errors on the WCST; there was a significant relationship between the two performance measures. Simpson-Angus scores, neuroleptic drug treatment levels, and scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were not correlated with either olfactory measure. The lack of correlation between the forced choice olfactory identification score and the WCST score is consistent with findings in previous studies that used the UPSIT. By contrast, use of a spontaneous identification condition to assess olfactory performance did produce a significant association with WCST performance.


Kyphoplasty in the treatment of occult and non-occult metastatic vertebral tumors.
To compare the efficacy and safety of kyphoplasty (KP) in the treatment of occult metastatic vertebral tumors (OMVT) and non-occult metastatic vertebral tumors (MVT).From January 2013 to December 2017, 65 cases of occult metastatic vertebral tumors and 82 cases of metastatic vertebral tumors were selected and divided into 2 groups. After KP, they were followed up by a year of outpatient visits and telephone calls. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, the amount of bone cement injected, the change of vertebral height and the incidence of complications were recorded, compared and analyzed by SPSS software. t test was used to compare the differences between the same group of patients at different times and between the 2 groups of patients.In the OMVT group, the operation time was 24.52 ± 4.24 minutes, the fluoroscopy time was 10.18 ± 1.53 minutes and the volume of bone cement was 3.62 ± 0.93 ml. The VAS score decreased from 7.26 ± 01.08 preoperatively to 2.77 ± 0.93 postoperatively (P < .01). The ODI score decreased from 64.89 ± 9.05 preoperatively to 25.82 ± 4.63 postoperatively (P < .01). In the MVT group, the operation time was 26.63 ± 4.61 minutes, the fluoroscopy time was 11.04 ± 2.15 minutes and the volume of bone cement was 4.09 ± 1.10 ml. The VAS score decreased from 7.73 ± 0.94 preoperatively to 3.22 ± 0.80 postoperatively (P < .01). The ODI score decreased from 69.20 ± 7.14 preoperatively to 28.02 ± 4.40 postoperatively (P < .01). The vertebral height of MVT patients was significantly improved after operation (P < .01), but there was no difference in OMVT patients (P > .05).Occult metastatic vertebral tumors can be detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and KP may be more effective and safer in the treatment of OMVT.


Intravenous tranexamic acid vs. sublingual misoprostol in high-risk women for postpartum haemorrhage following cesarean delivery; a randomised clinical trial.
This study compares the effectiveness of administering sublingual misoprostol combined with oxytocin to that of IV tranexamic acid combined with oxytocin to reduce intra and post-operative blood loss in high-risk women for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) following cesarean section (CS). About 315 high-risk pregnant women undergoing CS participated in this trial. They were randomly assigned into three groups; tranexamic group, misoprostol group, and control group, according to the medication given in the operative theatre. All patients received oxytocin intraoperatively. They were assessed regarding intraoperative blood loss, the incidence of PPH, and the reduction in haemoglobin and hematocrit values. Both tranexamic and misoprostol groups had similar results in reducing intra and post-operative blood loss. However, the reduction in haemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in tranexamic and misoprostol groups compared to the control group (-0.78 ± 0.57 vs. -0.83 ± 0.52 vs. -1.32 ± 0.57 gm/dl, P < 0.001 and - 3.05 ± 1.28 vs. -3.06 ± 1.13 vs. -4.94 ± 1.82%, P < 0.001 respectively). In addition, the estimated blood loss was significantly lower in the tranexamic and misoprostol groups compared to the control group (641.6 ± 271.9 vs. 617.9 ± 207.4 vs. 1002.4 ± 340.7 ml, P < 0.001). Both tranexamic acid and misoprostol are equally capable of reducing blood loss, but the results were significantly better compared to using oxytocin alone in high-risk patients. Registered at www. govon07/10/2019 with registration number NCT04117243.


Distinct roles for hindbrain and paraxial mesoderm in the induction and patterning of the inner ear revealed by a study of vitamin-A-deficient quail.
The hindbrain and cranial paraxial mesoderm have been implicated in the induction and patterning of the inner ear, but the precise role of the two tissues in these processes is still not clear. We have addressed these questions using the vitamin-A-deficient (VAD) quail model, in which VAD embryos lack the posterior half of the hindbrain that normally lies next to the inner ear. Using a battery of molecular markers, we show that the anlagen of the inner ear, the otic placode, is induced in VAD embryos in the absence of the posterior hindbrain. By performing grafting and ablation experiments in chick embryos, we also show that cranial paraxial mesoderm which normally lies beneath the presumptive otic placode is necessary for otic placode induction and that paraxial mesoderm from other locations cannot induce the otic placode. Two members of the fibroblast growth factor family, FGF3 and FGF19, continue to be expressed in this mesodermal population in VAD embryos, and these may be responsible for otic placode induction in the absence of the posterior hindbrain. Although the posterior hindbrain is not required for otic placode induction in VAD embryos, the subsequent patterning of the inner ear is severely disrupted. Several regional markers of the inner ear, such as Pax2, EphA4, SOHo1 and Wnt3a, are incorrectly expressed in VAD otocysts, and the sensory patches and vestibulo-acoustic ganglia are either greatly reduced or absent. Exogenous application of retinoic acid prior to 30 h of development is able rescue the VAD phenotype. By performing such rescue experiments before and after 30 h of development, we show that the inner ear defects of VAD embryos correlate with the absence of the posterior hindbrain. These results show that induction and patterning of the inner ear are governed by separate developmental processes that can be experimentally uncoupled from each other.


Patch dynamics of a foraging assemblage of bees.
The composition and dynamics of foraging assemblages of bees were examined from the standpoint of species-level arrival and departure processes in patches of flowers. Experiments with bees visiting 4 different species of flowers in subalpine meadows in Colorado gave the following results: 1) In enriched patches the rates of departure of bees were reduced, resulting in increases in both the number of bees per species and the average number of species present. 2) The reduction in bee departure rates from enriched patches was due to mechanical factors-increased flower handling time, and to behavioral factors-an increase in the number of flowers visited per inflorescence and in the number of inflorescences visited per patch. Bees foraging in enriched patches could collect nectar 30-45% faster than those foraging in control patches. 3) The quantitative changes in foraging assemblages due to enrichment, in terms of means and variances of species population sizes, fraction of time a species was present in a patch, and in mean and variance of the number of species present, were in reasonable agreement with predictions drawn from queuing theory and studies in island biogeography. 4) Experiments performed with 2 species of flowers with different corolla tube lengths demonstrated that manipulation of resources of differing availability had unequal effects on particular subsets of the larger foraging community. The arrival-departure process of bees on flowers and the immigration-extinction process of species on islands are contrasted, and the value of the stochastic, species-level approach to community composition is briefly discussed.


Injury profiles in pedestrian motor vehicle trauma.
One hundred fifteen consecutive pedestrians who were struck by motor vehicles were studied to determine the magnitude and patterns of the injuries sustained. The mortality rate was 22%, and 17 of 25 patients who died did so during the initial resuscitative efforts, primarily due to head, chest, and or abdominal injury. The average Injury Severity Score (ISS) among all patients was 20; however, it was significantly higher (46) in nonsurvivors. The majority of the victims were men (72%), and the average age of all patients was 35 years. As the patient's age increased, so did the likelihood of mortality, fractures, and prolonged hospital stay. Blood alcohol levels were measured in 85 patients, 65% of whom had detectable levels (mean, 0.25 mg/dL). There was no correlation between the presence of alcohol and mortality, ISS, head injury, or number of fractures. The most frequently injured organ system was musculoskeletal (77%), followed by head (34%), abdomen (21%), and chest (15%). The most common fractures seen were tibia-fibular (39), pelvis (35), and femur (31). Hospital stay averaged 11 days, and patients charges averaged $16,900.


Endophytic filamentous fungi from a Catharanthus roseus: Identification and its hydrolytic enzymes.
This paper reported on the various filamentous fungi strains that were isolated from a wild grown Catharanthus roseus. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular technique through a Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA sequencing method using internal transcribed spacer (ITS), these fungi had been identified as a Colletotrichum sp., Macrophomina phaseolina, Nigrospora sphaerica and Fusarium solani. The ultrastructures of spores and hyphae were observed under a Scanning Electron Microscope. The hydrolytic enzyme test showed that all strains were positive in secreting cellulase. Colletotrichum sp. and F. solani strains also gave a positive result for amylase while only F. solani was capable to secrete protease. These fungi were putatively classified as endophytic fungi since they produced extracellular enzymes that allow them to penetrate plant cell walls and colonize with symbiotic properties.


N-acetyldopamine oligomers from Periplaneta americana with anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects and their spatial distribution visualized by mass spectrometry imaging.
Periplaneta americana is a medicinal insect that has been applied to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a long time. Its modern preparation, Xinmailong injection, was adopted for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). The bioactive constituents of P. americana and their correlation with its traditional uses need further investigation. This study aimed to elucidate the N-acetyldopamine (NADA) oligomers from P. american, determine their spatial distribution, and investigate their anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects to provide scientific evidence supporting the clinical use of this medicinal insect. NADA oligomers were isolated from the CH2Cl2: CH3OH (2:1) extract of P. americana, through sequential chromatographic methods including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, preparative HPLC, and chiral-phase separation. Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, chiral resolution, and calculated electronic circular dichroism analysis. With the aid of atmospheric pressure scanning matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AP-SMALDI MSI), the isolated compounds in a spatial profile within P. americana were identified. NO production was measured to assess anti-inflammatory activity. Vasorelaxant activity assessments were performed on the norepinephrine-precontracted 3rd-order mesenteric arteries. Seven new NADA trimers, peridopamines A-G (1-7), two new NADA dimers, peridopamines H and I (8 and 9), and six known NADA derivatives (10-15), were obtained from P. americana. The trimers and dimers were detected and showed similar pattern of distribution with accumulation in peripheral and rigid parts of P. americana, based on quasimolecular ion AP-SMALDI MS images of sections from the whole body and dissected areas of the insect. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects of isolated compounds were investigated. Compounds 8 and 9 presented significant and moderate anti-inflammatory potentials, respectively. Compounds 8, 10, 12 and 15 possess significant vasorelaxant potentials at concentrations correlated with EC50 values of 6.7-23.7 μM. Fifteen NADA oligomers were isolated from P. americana. The distribution of these compounds was visualized by AP-SMALDI imaging experiments and NADA oligomers were mainly observed in peripheral parts. Bioassays showed that the tested compounds had anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant activities, which indicated that NADA oligomers are active ingredients of this insect-based TCM and have potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.


Effect of ultrasonication on the stability and storage of a soy protein isolate-phosphatidylcholine nanoemulsions.
Phosphatidylcholine-soybean protein isolate (PC-SPI) nanoemulsions were prepared by ultrasonication. The effects of preparation conditions (SPI and PC addition, ultrasonic power and time) on the structural properties of the nanoemulsions and their storage stability were investigated. The results showed that the most optimal adsorption capacity and adsorption tightness at the oil-water interface under optimal conditions (1.5% SPI, 0.20% PC, 500 W ultrasonic power and 9 min ultrasonic time) were exhibited by the SPI-PC conjugate, which demonstrated that this nanoemulsions can be categorized as a high-quality emulsion suitable for research. To test its stability, and the high-quality nanoemulsion of β-carotene was stored. After degradation of the nanoemulsions during storage, β-carotene was released. The β-carotene retention rate of the high-quality emulsion was maintained above 86% at different temperatures in the absence of light for up to 30 days. This study provides new information for the development of transport and stability systems for nanoemulsions.


Reasons for Declining Preconception Expanded Carrier Screening Using Genome Sequencing.
Genomic carrier screening can identify more disease-associated variants than existing carrier screening methodologies, but its utility from patients' perspective is not yet established. A randomized controlled trial for preconception genomic carrier screening provided an opportunity to understand patients' decisions about whether to accept or decline testing. We administered a survey to potential genomic carrier screening recipients who declined participation (N = 240) to evaluate their reasons for doing so. Two thirds of women declined participation. We identified major themes describing reasons these individuals declined to participate; the most common were time limitation, lack of interest, not wanting to know the information, and potential cause of worry or anxiety. Most women eligible for genomic carrier screening indicated that their reasons for opting out were due to logistical issues rather than opposing the rationale for testing. As expanded carrier screening and genomic sequencing become a more routine part of clinical care, it is anticipated there will be variable uptake from individuals for this testing. Thus, the advancement of clinical carrier screening from single genes, to expanded screening panels, to an exome- or genome-wide platform, will require approaches that respect individual choice to receive genetic testing for reproductive risk assessment.


Electromechanical spectroscopy of cartilage using a surface probe with applied mechanical displacement.
This study focuses on an approach for the nondestructive assessment of cartilage degeneration in vivo by quantitation of bulk material properties based on measurements made at the top surface of the tissue. A model of an electromechanical coupled poroelastic medium [Sachs and Grodzinsky (1989) Physicochem. Hydrodyn. 11, 585-614] is used to interpret the behavior of a diagnostic probe configuration suitable for such surface measurements of cartilage electromechanical and poroelastic properties via arthroscopy. The response of a planar layer of tissue to a periodic displacement imposed at the articular surface is described. This displacement produces a periodic electric streaming potential and mechanical stress in the bulk and at the surface of the tissue layer with the same frequency and wavelength as the imposed displacement. Using boundary conditions and parameter values relevant to cartilage, the results show that surface measurements of the stress and potential can be used to determine bulk material properties including tissue thickness, moduli, hydraulic permeability, and electrokinetic coupling coefficients. The relation between the temporal frequency and spatial wavelength of the surface excitation and the amplitude, phase, and penetration depth of the stress and potential is investigated numerically and asymptotically. Good agreement has been found between the long wave limit (with parameter values taken from the literature) and compression-induced streaming potential data from previous experiments in uniaxial confined compression. The results show that use of independently imposed temporal frequency and spatial wavelength may enable detection and imaging of focal regions of cartilage degeneration via nondestructive surface spectroscopy.


Fixing bad links. Preventing misconnections in your hospital.
Misconnecting lines and cables can have deadly consequences. Equipment designs that reduce the risks are gradually becoming available, but much of the burden for safe connections still falls on the hospital. Read our current recommendations for protecting your patients.


Modulatory Role of SIRT1 and Resistin as Therapeutic Targets in Patients with Aortic Valve Stenosis.
Inflammatory is one of the main cause of aortic valve stenosis (AS), so discovering novel biomarkers for the targeted therapy of inflammation could be an attractive strategy in AS prevention. The objectives of our study were to clarify the modulatory role of resistin and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) before and after surgery and also to evaluate the therapeutic effects of resveratrol. Nineteen AS patients and 15 healthy subjects were studied as the case and control groups, respectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and cultured to determine the levels of resistin and SIRT1 and the effects of resveratrol on them. Significant increase in resistin expression was observed in the patients compare to the control (p ≤0.01), and this upregulation was augmented 72 h following surgery (p ≤0.01). The SIRT1 expression decreased in the AS group compare to the control but this reduction was not significant. Aortic valve replacement caused a higher decrease in the protein (p ≤0.01) and mRNA level (p ≤0.05) of SIRT1. Resveratrol in the AS group significantly diminished the resistin level (p ≤0.05) but increased the SIRT1 level (p ≤0.001). In our patients with AS, the resistin level was increased, whereas the expression of SIRT1 was reduced and surgery augmented these alterations. Resveratrol improved inflammation in the PBMCs of the patients through the SIRT1/resistin pathway. These findings suggest that pharmacological therapy with resveratrol might be a novel approach to alleviating inflammation in patients with AS.


Learning From Experience: Qualitative Analysis to Develop a Cognitive Task List for Vaginal Breech Deliveries.
Achieving clinical competence in managing safe vaginal breech delivery (VBD) is challenging in contemporary obstetrics. Novel educational strategies are required, as exposure of obstetric trainees to VBD remains limited. The aim of this study was to identify the verbal and non-verbal skills required to manage VBD through filmed demonstration by experts. Labour and delivery nursing staff at three large university-affiliated hospitals identified clinicians whom they considered skilled in VBD. Obstetricians consistently identified were invited to participate in the study. Participants were filmed performing a VBD on a birth simulator while discussing their assessment, technique, and providing clinical pearls based on their experience. Two study members reviewed all videos and documented verbal and non-verbal components of the assessment, grouped them into common themes, and produced an integrated summary. This was circulated to all participants and reviewed by senior obstetricians from outside Canada. Seventeen clinicians were identified; 12 (70%) consented to participation. Themes identified were meticulous assessment and pre-pregnancy counselling; roles of the multidisciplinary team; need for careful and appropriate communication with parents; specific techniques of the delivery; and postpartum care and documentation. A clinical task list was generated based on this analysis. Derived from clinicians with extensive experience, we have developed a comprehensive task list outlining the important features involved in safe VBD. Common themes in the experts' teaching for safe VBD included rigorous antepartum selection and counselling, appreciation for when to convert to Caesarean section, and a "hands off" delivery technique.


Functions of different receptor systems in the reptilian labyrinth.
Different biopotentials, following a mechanical stimulus, were recorded from single hair cells of the reptilian labyrinth, with electronoptically circumscript localizations: 1. From the apical cell pole, the receptor potential, intracellular or from the ciliary surface, within the physiological range proportional to stimulus amplitude, frequency or phase, without delay, and with no real threshold of mechanosensitivity, as measured by ciliary displacement amplitude or velocity. 2. From the synaptic zone, in the basal region of the hair cell, or from contacting nerve endings, the synaptic potentials, local excitatory or inhibitory processes, respectively, with measurable latencies and with non-linear distortion. 3. From the (dendritic) endings of the first afferent neuron (or neurons), spike-shaped action potentials, synchronized by the (excitatory) synaptic potentials. Characteristic curves were plotted as a quantitative representation of the mechano-electric input-output relations of the different types of hair cells. For proceeding morphological and physiological system analysis, the comparison of the different submammalian inner-ear receptor systems gives us some new possibility of a closer correlation between ultrastructure and function.


Antiproliferative effect of alkylglycerols as vehicles of butyric acid on colon cancer cells.
The anticarcinogenic activity of synthetic 1-O-octadecyl-2,3-dibutyroilglycerol (D-SCAKG) in tumor-cell line of colonocytes (SW620) was performed. The effect of the previously digested D-SCAKG under in vitro intestinal conditions was compared to the bioactivity of non-digested D-SCAKG. Antiproliferative activity of each individual product from digestion (1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol; 1-O-octadecyl glycerol; butyric acid) was also performed. The impact of solubilization of lipid products within micellar structures was also tested. The 1-O-octadecyl glycerol was the most active compound, followed by 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol, D-SCAKG and butyric acid. The 1-O-octadecyl glycerol and butyric acid were the only molecules that showed antiproliferative effect in absence of micelles. Digested D-SCAKG was 4-fold more effective than non-digested D-SCAKG. A synergism between 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol and 1-O-octadecyl glycerol was evidenced. As summary, the synthetic D-SCAKG seems to be an interesting antitumoral lipid against colonocytes, especially after previous intestinal digestion, and mainly due to the synergism of the major products, namely 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol and 1-O-octadecyl glycerol. At the same time, 1-O-octadecyl-2-butyroilglycerol would constitute a stable esterified form of butyric acid for its vehiculization.


Intensity threshold for 60-Hz magnetically induced behavioral changes in rats.
Experiments were conducted to further investigate the effect of 60-Hz cyclotron-resonance exposures on rats performing on a multiple FR-DRL schedule. The previously reported temporary loss of DRL baseline response, when measured as a function of A.C. magnetic intensity, was found to have a threshold. Utilizing the component of A.C. magnetic intensity parallel to the D.C. field, we report this threshold as (0.27 +/- 0.10) x 10(-4) Trms.


A staphylococcal radioimmunoassay for detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
A radioimmunoassay (RIA) which depends on the property of protein A of Stapbylococcus aureus to combine with the Fc-fragment of immunoblobulins was developed. This technique was employed to measure antibodies in human and various animal sera. It coulb be demonstrated that the staphylococcal RIA was at least as sensitive as the previously decribed radioimmunoprecipitation technique in detecting antibodies to M.pneumoniae in human sera. In addition, antibodies to M. pneumoniae could be demonstrated in sera of hamsters intranasally inoculated with the organisms. Antibodies could also be demonstrated in rabbit sera after immunization with M.pneumoniae. The test proved to the considerably more sensitive than conventional tests for detection of antibodies to the organisms. The test requires only small amounts of reagents and is relatively inexpensive.


Implementation of a standardized clinical pathway in a dedicated posterior urethral valves clinic: short-term outcomes.
To determine if the implementation of a posterior urethral valves (PUV) clinic and standardized management pathway improves the short-term kidney outcomes of infants with PUV. From 2016-2022, 50 consecutive patients were divided into groups after the implementation of the clinic (APUV, n = 29) and before (BPUV, n = 21) during a comparable timeframe. Assessed data included age at initial visit, timing and type of surgery, frequency of follow-up visits, medications, nadir creatinine, and development of CKD/kidney failure. Data are shown as median with interquartile range (IQR) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). APUV had higher rates of prenatal diagnoses (12/29 vs. 1/21; p = 0.0037), earlier initial surgical intervention (8 days; IQR 0, 105 vs. 33 days; IQR 4, 603; p < 0.0001), and higher rates of primary diversions (10/29 vs. 0/21; p = 0.0028). Standardized management led to earlier initiation of alpha blockers (326 days; IQR 6, 860 vs. 991; IQR 149, 1634; p = 0.0019) and anticholinergics (57 days; IQR 3, 860 vs. 1283 days; IQR 477, 1718; p < 0.0001). Nadir creatinine was reached at earlier ages in APUV (105 days; IQR 2, 303 vs. 164 days; IQR 21, 447; p = 0.0192 BPUV). One patient progressed to CKD5 in APUV compared to CKD3, CKD5 and one transplant in BPUV. Implementing the PUV clinic with standardized treatment expedited postnatal management and resulted in a higher number of cases detected prenatally, a shift in primary treatment, younger ages at initial treatment, reduced time to nadir creatinine, and timely initiation of supportive medications. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.


Missense mutation of VKORC1 leads to medial arterial calcification in rats.
Vitamin K plays a crucial role in the regulation of vascular calcifications by allowing activation of matrix Gla protein. The dietary requirement for vitamin K is low because of an efficient recycling of vitamin K by vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1). However, decreased VKORC1 activity may result in vascular calcification. More than 30 coding mutations of VKORC1 have been described. While these mutations have been suspected of causing anticoagulant resistance, their association with an increase in the risk of vascular calcification has never been considered. We thus investigated functional cardiovascular characteristics in a rat model mutated in VKORC1. This study revealed that limited intake in vitamin K in mutated rat induced massive calcified areas in the media of arteries of lung, aortic arch, kidneys and testis. Development of calcifications could be inhibited by vitamin K supplementation. In calcified areas, inactive Matrix Gla protein expression increased, while corresponding mRNA expression was not modified. Mutation in VKORC1 associated with a limited vitamin K intake is thus a major risk for cardiovascular disease. Our model is the first non-invasive rat model that shows spontaneous medial calcifications and would be useful for studying physiological function of vitamin K.


Gag-positive reservoir cells are susceptible to HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte mediated clearance in vitro and can be detected in vivo [corrected].
Resting CD4+T cells infected with HIV persist in the presence of suppressive anti-viral therapy (ART) and are barriers to a cure. One potential curative approach, therapeutic vaccination, is fueled by recognition of the ability of a subset of elite controllers (EC) to control virus without therapy due to robust anti-HIV immune responses. Controllers have low levels of integrated HIV DNA and low levels of replication competent virus, suggesting a small reservoir. As our recent data indicates some reservoir cells can produce HIV proteins (termed GPR cells for Gag-positive reservoir cells), we hypothesized that a fraction of HIV-expressing resting CD4+T cells could be efficiently targeted and cleared in individuals who control HIV via anti-HIV cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). To test this we examined if superinfected resting CD4+T cells from EC express HIV Gag without producing infectious virus and the susceptibility of these cells to CTL. We found that resting CD4+T cells expressed HIV Gag and were cleared by autologous CD8+T cells from EC. Importantly, we found the extent of CTL clearance in our in vitro assay correlates with in vivo reservoir size and that a population of Gag expressing resting CD4+T cells exists in vivo in patients well controlled on therapy.


A method for evaluation of the electric potential field of a neuron with time-dependent surface potential.
Results of the mathematical simulation of the extracellular electric field of the neuron are presented, yielding the formula describing the time and space dependence of the extracellular potential. The general method of the evaluation of the formulae is presented, which is applicable for any computation of the electric field surrounding a body having time-dependent surface potential. The implementation of the resulting formulae in FORTRAN IV for the special case of neuronal model is presented, including the list of input and output data. The possible applications of the suggested method are studied in concluding discussion.


Subcellular localization and characterization of estrogenic pathway regulators and mediators in Atlantic salmon spermatozoal cells.
Much progress has been made regarding our understanding of aromatase regulation, estrogen synthesis partitioning and communication between the germinal and somatic compartments of the differentiating gonad. We now know that most of the enzymatic and signaling apparatus required for steroidogenesis is endogenously expressed within germ cells. However, less is known about the expression and localization of steroidogenic components within mature spermatozoa. We have assembled a sperm library presenting 197,015 putative transcripts. Co-expression clustering analysis revealed that 6687 genes were present at higher levels in sperm in comparison to fifteen other salmon tissue libraries. The sperm transcriptome is highly complex containing the highest proportion of unannotated genes (45%) of the tissues analyzed. Our analysis of highly expressed genes in late-stage sperm revealed dedication to tasks involving chromatin remodeling, flagellogenesis and proteolysis. In addition, using various different embedding and microscopic techniques, we examined the morphology of salmon spermatozoa and characterized expression and localization of several estrogenic regulatory and signaling proteins by immunohistochemistry. We provide evidence for the endogenous synthesis and localization of aromatase (CYP19A and CYP19B1) and potential mediators of estrogen [i.e., ER-alpha and soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC)] or phosphate (i.e., CREB and FOXL2A) signaling. Partitioning of select transcripts that encode AR-beta, FSH and the LH receptor, but not AR-alpha, LH or the FSH receptor, further points to localized specificity of function in the steroidogenic circuitry of the sperm cell. These results open new avenues of investigation to further our understanding of the intra- and intercellular regulatory processes that guide sperm development and biology.


Quality of life after fracture-related infection of the foot.
Fracture related infection (FRI) of the foot is a serious hazard. Despite successful therapy, the physiological and psychological involvement seems to be high. Therefore, we aim to analyze the impact of an FRI of the foot on the quality of life after successful surgical therapy and infect eradication. In total, 25 patients from two German hospitals treated for FRI of the foot between March 2011 to January 2020 were retrospectively included. Quality of life was assessed by the German Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the EuroQol five-dimension three-level questionnaire (EQ-5D) as well as the ICD-10 based psychological symptom rating (ISR), and compared to a norm obtained from the general population of Germany. 3.0 years (range 0.7-7.9 years) following final surgery after fracture-related infection of the foot, the mean physical health component score (PCS) of the SF-36 was 35.6 ± 12.3, and the mean mental health component score (MCS) of the SF-36 reached a value of 41.3 ± 12.9. Both values were significantly lower than in the general population of Germany (p< .019). The mean scores of the ISR of the cohort crossed the threshold of mild symptom burden in total, as well as for the subscales depression and somatization. The mean EQ-5D VAS rating (62.1 ± 18.6) and the EQ-5D index value (0.66 ± 0.27) were significantly lower in comparison to a score of 72.9 ± 1.0 and 0.88 obtained from an age-matched reference population (p < .01). FRI of the foot represents a major burden for the patient. Physical and mental well-being of affected patients is restricted albeit successful treatment in terms of infect eradication and bone union has been achieved after a mean follow-up of 3.0 years. A patient-centered treatment approach focusing on improvement of quality of life during and after treatment is therefore warranted.


Synthesis of new analogs of echinocandin B by enzymatic deacylation and chemical reacylation of the echinocandin B peptide: synthesis of the antifungal agent cilofungin (LY121019).
The antifungal antibiotic, echinocandin B (ECB), was modified by a sequential procedure in which the initial step involved enzymatic removal of the native N-linoleoyl group from the N-terminus using an Actinoplanes utahensis culture. The resulting product, ECB nucleus, was reacylated using active esters or acid halides of various substituted acids to give a series of ECB analogs. These analogs possessed anti-Candida activity both in vitro and in vivo (mice). Other studies have shown that one of these, cilofungin, the 4-n-octyloxybenzoyl-ECB analog (LY121019), has excellent anti-Candida activity, low toxicity and is superior to other available antifungal antibiotics.


Preparation of core-shell structured CaCO3 microspheres as rapid and recyclable adsorbent for anionic dyes.
Core-shell structured CaCO3 microspheres (MSs) were prepared by a facile, one-pot method at room temperature. The adsorbent dosage and adsorption time of the obtained CaCO3 MSs were investigated. The results suggest that these CaCO3 MSs can rapidly and efficiently remove 99-100% of anionic dyes within the first 2 min. The obtained CaCO3 MSs have a high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (211.77 m2 g-1). In addition, the maximum adsorption capacity of the obtained CaCO3 MSs towards Congo red was 99.6 mg g-1. We also found that the core-shell structured CaCO3 MSs have a high recycling capability for removing dyes from water. Our results demonstrate that the prepared core-shell structured CaCO3 MSs can be used as an ideal, rapid, efficient and recyclable adsorbent to remove dyes from aqueous solution.


Mechanisms of autoprotection and the role of stress-proteins in natural defenses, autoprotection, and salutogenesis.
We hypothesize that in all physiotherapeutically oriented procedures of naturotherapy -- such as helio-, climate-, thalasso- or hydrotherapy or certain forms of physical exercise -- the transient expression of stress-proteins (heat-shock proteins, HSPs) is an important element of salutogenesis. These therapeutical procedures all cause a transitory 'disturbance' by an unspecific stressor that leads to functional responses. These functional responses can be trained and thus increase the forces and the capacity for resistance of the organism. The autoprotective mechanisms which we want to deal with in more detail are based on the functions of the heat-shock proteins (HSPs, stress-response proteins, 'chaperones') and represent archaic autoprotective responses. In addition, more complex mechanisms of autoprotection seem to have evolved that may play a role in the natural defenses against disease and which show a hierarchy of various genomically conserved strategies with different time-constants and time windows. This becomes apparent by studying autoprotective responses of the cardiovascular system of warm-blooded animals under ischemic stress. Recent extensive experimental protocols and clinical observations in elucidating the molecular basis of cardiac ischemia show that powerful autoprotective mechanisms are involved in the phenomena of 'hibernation', 'stunning', and 'ischemic preconditioning'. The system of the heat-shock proteins may therefore be regarded as a basic model for the principle of autoprotection and salutogenesis.


Efficacy of nonopioid analgesics and regional techniques for perioperative pain management in laparoscopic gynecological surgery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
The optimal approach for perioperative pain management in laparoscopic gynecological surgery is unclear due to a lack of comprehensive analysis, which limits the development of evidence-based enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis to support clinical decision-making for optimal analgesia. This study conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and CINAHL from inception to 3 December 2021, and updated on 19 August 2022. Randomized controlled trials comparing the perioperative use of nonopioid analgesics and regional techniques in adults undergoing elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery under general anesthesia were included in the analysis, either alone or in combination. The co-analgesic interventions during the perioperative period for the intervention and control groups of each eligible study were also considered. We assessed the risk of bias using the Risk of Bias 2 tool and evaluated the certainty of evidence using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) approach. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to estimate the efficacy of the analgesic strategies. The primary outcomes were pain score at rest and cumulative oral morphine milligram equivalents at 24 h postoperatively. Overall, 108 studies with 9582 participants and 35 different interventions were included. Compared with inert treatments, combinations of two or more interventions showed better efficacy and longer duration in reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption within 24 h than monotherapies, and showed stepwise enhanced effects with increasing analgesic modes. In combination therapies, regional techniques that included peripheral nerve blocks and intraperitoneal local anesthetics, in combination with nonopioid systemic analgesics, or combining local anesthetics with adjuvant drugs, were found to be more effective. Monotherapies were found to be mostly ineffective. The most effective peripheral nerve blocks were found to be ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with adjuvant and ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block. These results provide robust evidence for the routine use of regional techniques in combination with nonopioid analgesics in perioperative pain management. However, further better quality and larger trials are needed, considering the low confidence levels for certain interventions.


Integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics to characterise the response of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) to progressive drought stress.
Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) Hsiao (A. mongolicus) is an important traditional Chinese herb that is cultivated on a large scale in northwestern China. Understanding plant responses to drought has important effects on ecological environment recovery and local economic development. Here, we combined transcriptomics (Illumina Hiseq 2000) and metabolomics ((1)H-NMR) to investigate how the roots of two-year-old A. mongolicus responded to 14 days of progressive drought stress. The dried soil reduced the relative water content (RWC) of the leaves and biomass, induced the differential expression of a large fraction of the transcriptome and significantly altered the metabolic processes. PCA analysis demonstrated that the sucrose, proline, and malate metabolites contributed greatly to the separation. Strikingly, proline was increased by almost 60-fold under severe stress compared to the control. Some backbone pathways, including glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glutamate-mediated proline biosynthesis, aspartate family metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism, were significantly affected by drought. An integrated analysis of the interaction between key genes and the altered metabolites involved in these pathways was performed. Our findings demonstrated that the expression of drought-responsive genes showed a strong stress-dose dependency. Analysis of backbone pathways of the transcriptome and metabolome revealed specific genotypic responses to different levels of drought. The variation in molecular strategies to the drought may play an important role in how A. mongolicus and other legume crops adapt to drought stress.


Renin-dependent renal parenchymatous hypertension detected by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor renography.
Hypertension secondary to an activated renin-angiotensin system without renal artery stenosis can be detected by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor renography. Two cases of renin-mediated hypertension without major or branch vessel stenosis supplying the kidney with parenchymatous disease were discovered by ACE inhibitor renography.


Acclimation to warmer temperature reversibly improves high-temperature hypoxia tolerance in both diploid and triploid brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis.
Rising temperature leads to reduced oxygen solubility and therefore increases the risk of exposure to harmful hypoxic condition for fish in their natural aquatic environments and in aquaculture. The goal of this study was to determine whether acclimation to warmer temperature can improve high-temperature hypoxia tolerance in fish, using sibling diploid and triploid brook charr as the experimental model. Triploid fish are used for aquaculture and fisheries management because they are sterile, but they are known to have reduced thermal and hypoxia tolerance compared to conventional diploids. Fish were pre-acclimated to either 15 °C (optimum temperature for diploids) or 18 °C and then assessed for high-temperature hypoxia tolerance by rapidly increasing temperature to pre-determined levels (up to 30 °C), holding fish at these temperatures for one hour, and then using compressed nitrogen to drive oxygen out of the water. Hypoxia tolerance was expressed as both the oxygen tension at loss of equilibrium and the time taken to reach this endpoint following the start of the trial. Acclimation to 18 °C improved hypoxia tolerance at high temperatures but this advantage was lost after reacclimation to 15 °C. Although 18 °C acclimation improved the hypoxia tolerance of triploids, it remained inferior to that of diploids under identical test conditions. Somatic energy reserves (estimated as condition factor and hepatosomatic index), cardiac output (relative ventricular mass) and oxygen carrying capacity of the blood (hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit) did not markedly affect high-temperature hypoxia tolerance.


Isolation and characterization of an exopolymer produced by Bacillus licheniformis: In vitro antiviral activity against enveloped viruses.
The exopolymer (EPSp) produced by the strain B. licheniformis IDN-EC was isolated and characterized using different techniques (MALDI-TOF, NMR, ATR-FTIR, TGA, DSC, SEM). The results showed that the low molecular weight EPSp contained a long polyglutamic acid and an extracellular teichoic acid polysaccharide. The latter was composed of poly(glycerol phosphate) and was substituted at the 2-position of the glycerol residues with a αGal and αGlcNH2. The αGal O-6 position was also found to be substituted by a phosphate group. The antiviral capability of this EPSp was also tested on both enveloped (herpesviruses HSV, PRV and vesicular stomatitis VSV) and non-enveloped (MVM) viruses. The EPSp was efficient at inhibiting viral entry for the herpesviruses and VSV but was not effective against non-enveloped viruses. The in vivo assay of the EPSp in mice showed no signs of toxicity which could allow for its application in the healthcare sector.


Physical activity in the post-pubertal period is associated with maintenance of pre-pubertal high bone density-- a 5-year follow-up.
To evaluate the association between physical activity (PA) and skeletal growth in girls during adolescence. A 5-year, observational, population-based study (Reykjavik, Iceland). Seventy-eight Caucasian girls, mean age 13.4+/-1.0 (mean+/-SD) years at baseline. Bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) and bone width (cm) were measured in the forearm by single-photon absorptiometry at baseline and with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry after 3 and 5 years, when lumbar spine, femoral neck (FN) and total body were also evaluated. Half of the physically active girls were compared with the other half of less active girls. BMD in physically active girls was higher in the forearm at both baseline (P=0.001) and after 5 years (P=0.04) in comparison with less active girls. BMD was higher for the total body (P=0.0001), spine L2-L4 (P=0.02) and FN (P=0.002) in the active girls at age 18. The accrual of forearm BMD and bone width from age 13 to 18 was no different when comparing the two groups. Pre-pubertal PA is associated with high BMD at age 13 and continued PA is associated with maintenance of high BMD until age 18.


The effect of the head-up position on cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Experimental studies of head-up positioning (HUP) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have had some degree of conflicting published results. The current study aim was to analyze and reconcile those discrepancies in order to better clarify the effects of HUP CPR compared to conventional supine (SUP) CPR. Three databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library) were searched comprehensively (from each respective database's inception to May 2021) for articles addressing HUP CPR. The primary outcome to be observed was cerebral perfusion pressure (CerPP), and secondary outcomes were mean intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), coronary perfusion pressure (CoPP) and frequencies of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Seven key studies involving 131 animals were included for analysis. Compared to SUP CPR, CerPP (MD 10.37; 95% CI 7.11-13.64; p < 0.01; I2 = 58%) and CoPP (MD 7.56; 95% CI 1.84-13.27, p = 0.01; I2 = 75%) increased significantly with HUP CPR, while ICP (MD - 13.66; 95% CI - 18.6 to -8.71; p < 0.01; I2 = 96%) decreased significantly. Combining all study methodologies, there were no significant differences detected in MAP (MD - 1.63; 95% CI - 10.77-7.52; p = 0.73; I2 = 93%) or frequency of ROSC (RR 0.9; 95% CI 0.31-2.60; p = 0.84; I2 = 65%). However, in contrast to worse outcomes in studies using immediate elevation of the head in a reverse Trendelenburg position, study outcomes were significantly improved when HUP (head and chest only) was introduced in a steady, graduated manner following a brief period of basic CPR augmented by active compression-decompression (ACD) and impedance threshold (ITD) devices. In experimental models, gradually elevating the head and chest following a brief interval of circulatory priming with ACD and ITD devices can enhance CoPP, lower ICP and improve CerPP significantly while maintaining MAP. This effect is immediate, remains sustained and is associated with improved outcomes.


Prediction of very early major bleeding risk in acute pulmonary embolism: an independent external validation of the Pulmonary Embolism-Syncope, Anemia, and Renal Dysfunction (PE-SARD) bleeding score.
The Pulmonary Embolism-Syncope, Anemia, and Renal Dysfunction (PE-SARD) bleeding score was derived to predict very early major bleeding (MB) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Before adoption into practice, the score requires external validation in different populations. We independently validated the PE-SARD score in a prospective multicenter Swiss cohort of 687 patients aged ≥65 years with acute PE. The PE-SARD score uses 3 variables (syncope, anemia, and renal dysfunction) to classify patients into 3 categories of increasing bleeding risk. The outcomes were very early MB at 7 days (primary) and MB at later time points (secondary). We calculated the PE-SARD score for each patient and classified the proportion of patients as being at low, intermediate, and high risk. To assess discrimination and calibration, we calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, respectively. The prevalence of MB was 2.0% (14/687) at 7 days and 14.0% (96/687) after a median follow-up of 30 months. The PE-SARD score classified 40.2%, 42.2%, and 17.6% of patients as low, intermediate, and high risk for MB, respectively. The frequency of observed very early MB at 7 days was 1.8% in low-, 2.1% in intermediate-, and 2.5% in high-risk patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.48-0.56) at 7 days and increased to 0.60 (95% CI, 0.56-0.64) at the end of follow-up. Score calibration was adequate (p > .05) over the entire follow-up. In our independent validation, the PE-SARD score did not accurately predict very early MB and may not be transportable to older patients with PE.


Utilization of lipidic food waste as low-cost nutrients for enhancing the potentiality of biofuel production from engineered diatom under temperature variations.
The scarcity of natural fossil fuels presents a promising opportunity for the development of renewable microalgae-based biofuels. However, the current microalgae cultivation is unable to effectively address the high costs of the production of biofuels. To tackle this challenge, this study focused on recruiting engineered Phaeodactylum tricornutum (FabG-OE) to enhance biomass accumulation and lipid production by employing food waste hydrolysate under temperature variations. The biomass and lipid accumulations of FabG-OE were improved effectively in mixed culture medium and food waste hydrolysate at a volume ratio (v/v) of 80:20 at 30 °C. It was found that oxidative stress might contribute to the overexpression of lipogenic genes, thereby leading to lipogenesis at 30 °C. Upscaling cultivation of FabG-OE at 30 °C using a semi-continuous strategy and batch strategy was conducted to achieve 0.73 and 0.77 g/L/d of biomass containing 0.35 and 0.38 g/L/d of lipid, respectively. In summary, these findings provide valuable insights for advancing microalgae-based biofuel production.


Interest of the cellular population data analysis as an aid in the early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a high contagiousness requiring isolation measures. At this time, diagnosis is based on the positivity of specific RT-PCR and/or chest computed tomography scan, which are time-consuming and may delay diagnosis. Complete blood count (CBC) can potentially contribute to the diagnosis of COVID-19. We studied whether the analysis of cellular population data (CPD), provided as part of CBC-Diff analysis by the DxH 800 analyzers (Beckman Coulter), can help to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cellular population data of the different leukocyte subpopulations were analyzed in 137 controls, 322 patients with proven COVID-19 (COVID+), and 285 patients for whom investigations were negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-). When CPD of COVID+ were different from controls and COVID- patients, we used receiver operating characteristic analysis to test the discriminating capacity of the individual parameters. Using a random forest classifier, we developed the algorithm based on the combination of 4 monocyte CPD to discriminate COVID+ from COVID- patients. This algorithm was tested prospectively in a series of 222 patients referred to the emergency unit. Among the 222 patients, 86 were diagnosed as COVID-19 and 60.5% were correctly identified using the discriminating protocol. Among the 136 COVID- patients, 10.3% were misclassified (specificity 89.7%, sensitivity 60.5%). False negatives were observed mainly in patients with a low inflammatory state whereas false positives were mainly seen in patients with sepsis. Consideration of CPD could constitute a first step and potentially aid in the early diagnosis of COVID-19.


Early experience and domestication affect auditory discrimination learning, open field behaviour and brain size in wild Mongolian gerbils and domesticated laboratory gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus forma domestica).
The influence of early experience and strain differences on auditory discrimination learning, open field behaviour and brain size was investigated in wild-type Mongolian gerbils (strain Ugoe:MU95) raised in the wild (wild F-0) or in the laboratory (wild F-1) and in domesticated Laboratory Gerbils (LAB). Adult males were conditioned for 10 days in a shuttle box go/no-go paradigm to discriminate two frequency-modulated tones. Significant learning was established within 5 days in wild F-0 and within 3 days in wild F-1 and LAB. Spontaneous jumps in the shuttle box (inter-trial crossings) were frequently seen in wild F-0 and F-1, but rarely in LAB. All groups exhibited nearly the same ability to remember after 2 weeks without training. In the open field test applied on 5 consecutive days, no differences in locomotion patterns and inner field preferences were found. Rearing frequency decreased over 5 days in wild gerbils. Running distances (4-6m/min) were similar in wild F-0 and LAB, but higher in wild F-1. The ratio of brain size to body weight did not differ between wild F-0 and F-1, but was 17.1% lower in LAB. Correspondingly high brain weights in wild F-1 and F-0 support our domestication hypothesis and negate any serious effect of early experience or captivity on brain size in Mongolian gerbils. In contrast, wild F-1 raised in the laboratory show a rapid improvement in learning performance, indicating that early experience rather that genetic differences between strains affect shuttle box discrimination learning in gerbils.


Changes in spinal cord reflexes following subchronic exposure to soman and sarin.
The organophosphorus agents soman and sarin were administered subchronically and the spinal monosynaptic (MSR) and dorsal root (DRR) reflexes were assessed in spinal cord-transected cats. Neither soman nor sarin produced behavioral signs of delayed neurotoxicity. However, both soman and sarin significantly reduced the area under the MSR and DRR with only minimal changes in the excitability of the potentials as determined using quipazine, a serotonin agonist. The changes observed in these reflexes resulting from soman or sarin exposure are discussed in relation to alterations in the central terminals of primary afferent neurons.


Antimicrobial effect of linalool and α-terpineol against periodontopathic and cariogenic bacteria.
Linalool and α-terpineol exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against periodontopathic and cariogenic bacteria. However, their concentration should be kept below 0.4 mg/ml if they are to be used as components of toothpaste or gargling solution. Moreover, other compounds with antimicrobial activity against periodontopathic and cariogenic bacteria should be used in combination.


Localization of a gene for Fukuyama type congenital muscular dystrophy to chromosome 9q31-33.
Fukuyama type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD) is an autosomal recessive severe muscular dystrophy associated with an anomaly of the brain. Twenty-one FCMD families, 13 of them with consanguineous marriages, were analysed by genetic linkage analyses with polymorphic microsatellite markers to map the FCMD gene. Significant lod scores were obtained with the markers D9S58 (Zmax = 5.81 at theta = 0.06), D9S59 (Zmax = 4.33 at theta = 0.02), and HXB (Zmax = 3.28 at theta = 0.09) on chromosome 9q31-33. Multipoint analysis placed FCMD between D9S58 and D9S59, with a maximum lod score of 16.93. These markers will be useful for presymptomatic, prenatal and carrier diagnosis of family members carrying FCMD, and they represent important resources for the identification of a gene responsible for FCMD.


1,2-H shift in copper-chlorocarbenoid intermediate during CuCl/bpy-promoted stereoselective dechlorination of 2,2,2-trichloroethyl alkyl ethers to (Z)-1-alkoxy-2-chloroethenes.
Reaction of 2,2,2-trichloroethyl alkyl ethers with 2 molar equiv of CuCl/bpy in refluxing DCE yielded (Z)-1-alkoxy-2-chloroethenes stereoselectively as the major product via 1,2-H shift in copper-chlorocarbenoid intermediate. 2,2,2-Trichloroethyl carboxylates undergo a radical 1,2-acyloxy shift under similar conditions.


The influence of prostaglandin E1 on systemic and pulmonary haemodynamics after aortic surgery.
The influence of a peroperative prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion on systemic and pulmonary haemodynamics in a porcine model of aortic surgery was studied. Twenty-four pigs were randomised to PGE1 (100 ng/kg/min) or 0.9% Saline as placebo. Haemaccel was then infused to maintain a central venous pressure (CVP) of greater than 4 less than 6 mmHg and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) of greater than 3 less than 5 mmHg. Standardised aortic surgery consisted of midline laparotomy, small bowel exteriorisation, 1.5 h aortic clamping and 1 h shock before resuscitation. Serial measurements of blood pressure (BP), cardiac output (CO), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), pulmonary shunt (A-V shunt), and arterial PO2 (PaO2) were recorded during and three days after surgery. Volume loading with Haemaccel prevented a significant fall in initial BP on PGE1 at 95.1 +/- 48 mmHg compared to 102 +/- 4.9 mmHg in control animals with similar CO in the two groups. Following release of the aortic clamp all animals became profoundly hypotensive with BP falling to 74.6 +/- 3.0 and 68.7 +/- 3.2 mmHg for PGE1 and placebo respectively, but CO was protected in those animals receiving PGE1 at 1.92 +/- 0.04 compared to 1.67 +/- 0.1 L/min/m2 on placebo and remained significantly higher following resuscitation and three days later (P less than 0.05). PGE1 also reduced the marked rise in pulmonary vascular resistance to 922 +/- 84 dynes-s/cm5/m2 during shock in control animals to only 555 +/- 30 (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Preferences in 'Jalapeño' Pepper Attributes: A Choice Study in Mexico.
According to Mexican growers of 'Jalapeño' peppers, its commercialization is the primary limitation. Thus, consumer knowledge is critical to develop added-value strategies. The objective of this study was to identify 'Jalapeño' quality attributes to determine consumer preferences and willingness to pay, based on socioeconomic characteristics. A nationwide face-to-face survey was carried out using the discrete choice experiment method. The survey included 1200 consumers stratified by gender, age and region. Heterogeneity analysis using the probabilistic segmentation model revealed three types of consumers: A price-sensitive segment, non-demanding consumers without specific preferences and selective consumers with a preference shifted toward specific 'Jalapeño' characteristics. Thus, detail-oriented producers must compete through price strategies, based on the marketplace (markets on wheels, grocery stores, or supermarkets) and through some quality attributes preferred by selective consumers. Therefore, results suggest that farmers should grow the correct varieties with appropriate agronomic management to cope consumer preferences. This paper contributes to the growing body of the 'Jalapeño' literature by explicitly investigating consumer preferences and willingness to pay for them.


The dark side of social support: understanding the role of social support, drinking behaviors and alcohol outlets for child physical abuse.
The purpose of this study is to examine how parental drinking behavior, drinking locations, alcohol outlet density, and types of social support (tangible, emotional, and social companionship) may place children at greater risk for physical abuse. Data on use of physical abuse, drinking behaviors, types of social support, social networks, and demographic information were collected via telephone interviews with 3,023 parent respondents in 50 cities in California. Data on alcohol outlet density were obtained by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Multilevel Poisson models were used to analyze data for the drinking levels in the entire sample and dose-response drinking models for drinkers. Social companionship support was related to more frequent use of physical abuse. Having a higher percentage of social companionship support network living within the neighborhood was related to more frequent physical abuse in the full sample. This relationship was moderated by on-premise alcohol outlet density. With regards to drinking behaviors, drinking behaviors from ex-drinkers to frequent heavy drinkers used physically abusive parenting practices more often than lifetime abstainers. The dose-response models show that each additional drinking event at a bar or home/party was related to more frequent use of physical abuse. Practitioners working with parents who abuse their children should be aware that not all social support is beneficial. Findings build evidence that child maltreatment is influenced by the interaction between individual and ecological factors.