Preoperative embolization therapy for esophageal operation.
Since 1993, we have performed preoperative embolization therapy (PET) in an attempt to augment the blood flow of the gastric tube and prevent anastomotic leakage after esophageal resection. The clinical effects and complications associated with PET are reported. The femoral artery was punctured and the left gastric artery, right gastric artery, and splenic artery underwent embolization, leaving the right gastroepiploic artery as the only patent feeding artery for the stomach. PET was performed in 54 patients, and data concerning blood flow of the stomach before and after the construction of the gastric tube were available in 51 patients. Of the 25 patients who were operated in the same period without undergoing PET, similar data were available in 20 patients. In the group of patients who underwent PET, the blood flow of the gastric tube after its construction was 67% of the value measured at the upper part of the stomach just after opening the abdominal cavity. For those who were not pretreated by PET, it declined to 33%. PET for esophageal cancer is a safe procedure that contributes to the decrease in the frequency of anastomotic dehiscence after esophageal operation, owing to the augmented tissue blood flow of the upper portion of the stomach following the construction of gastric tubes.


Linkage and QTL mapping for tuber shape and specific gravity in a tetraploid mapping population of potato representing the russet market class.
Tuber shape and specific gravity (dry matter) are important agronomic traits in potato processing and impact production costs, quality, and consistency of the final processed food products such as French fries and potato chips. In this study, linkage and QTL mapping were performed for these two traits to allow for the implementation of marker-assisted selection to facilitate breeding efforts in the russet market class. Two parents, Rio Grande Russet (female) and Premier Russet (male) and their 205 F1 progenies were initially phenotyped for tuber shape and specific gravity in field trials conducted in Idaho and North Carolina in 2010 and 2011, with specific gravity also being measured in Minnesota in 2011. Progenies and parents were previously genotyped using the Illumina SolCAP Infinium 8303 Potato SNP array, with ClusterCall and MAPpoly (R-packages) subsequently used for autotetraploid SNP calling and linkage mapping in this study. The 12 complete linkage groups and phenotypic data were then imported into QTLpoly, an R-package designed for polyploid QTL analyses. Significant QTL for tuber shape were detected on chromosomes 4, 7, and 10, with heritability estimates ranging from 0.09 to 0.36. Significant tuber shape QTL on chromosomes 4 and 7 were specific to Idaho and North Carolina environments, respectively, whereas the QTL on chromosome 10 was significant regardless of growing environment. Single marker analyses identified alleles in the parents associated with QTL on chromosomes 4, 7, and 10 that contributed to significant differences in tuber shape among progenies. Significant QTL were also identified for specific gravity on chromosomes 1 and 5 with heritability ranging from 0.12 to 0.21 and were reflected across environments. Fully automated linkage mapping and QTL analysis were conducted to identify significant QTL for tuber shape and dry matter in a tetraploid mapping population representing the russet market class. The findings are important for the development of molecular markers useful to potato breeders for marker-assisted selection for the long tuber shape and acceptable dry matter required by the potato industry within this important market class.


Sex differences in the end-state comfort effect in pre-adolescent children.
There has been recent interest in the developmental trajectory of the end-state comfort effect (ESCE) in young children. However, potential sex differences have yet to be examined in the overturned glass task. We examined the ESCE using this task in a large sample (N=232) of typically-developing elementary school children (111 girls, 121 boys) in grades 1-5 (approximately 7-11years old). We sought to determine whether there were similarities or differences in performance between boys and girls. Children picked up an overturned drinking glass from a table, turned the glass upright, and then poured water into it from a measuring cup. Three trials were performed, and the use of an initial awkward thumb-down grip to pick up the glass was taken as evidence for the ESCE. There were non-significant main effects for sex and grade, but a significant interaction between factors. Boys increased in sensitivity to end-state comfort across the five grades while girls showed a decrease from grades 1-3, followed by an increase between grades 3 and 5. Taken together, the results indicate the presence of adult-like motor planning for the overturned glass task by the 4th grade (i.e., age 10), but also suggest the presence of a motor reorganization in girls, at around the 2nd or 3rd grade (i.e., 8 or 9years of age).


Performance and metabolism in repeated sprint exercise: effect of recovery intensity.
This study investigated the effects of a moderate (MI) and a low intensity (LI) active recovery (both compared to a passive recovery) on repeated-sprint performance and muscle metabolism. Nine, male, subjects performed three repeated-sprint cycle tests (6 x 4 s sprints, every 25 s) in a semi-randomized, counter-balanced order. Recovery after each sprint for the MI and LI trials, respectively, was 60 W (approximately 35% VO(2max)) and 20 W (approximately 20% VO(2max). Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis pre- and immediately post-test during the MI and LI trials to determine adenosine triphosphate (ATP), phosphocreatine (PCr) and lactate (MLa(-)) content. Compared to passive, significant reductions in peak power of 3.4-6.0% were recorded in the MI trial (4 of 6 sprints; P < 0.05) and reductions of 3.5-3.7% in the LI trial (2 of 6 sprints; P < 0.05), with no differences between the two active trials. No significant differences were evident in ATP, PCr and MLa(-) between the two active recovery trials. In summary, peak power indices during the repeated-sprint test were inferior in the MI and LI active recovery trials, compared to passive. The minimal differences in performance and muscle metabolites between the MI and LI trials suggest that any low-to-moderate level of muscle activation will attenuate the resynthesis of PCr and the recovery of power output during repeated short-sprint exercise.


The effect of long-term caloric restriction on function of T-cell subsets in old mice.
The effect of caloric restriction (from weaning to old age) on CD3-stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte proliferation and calcium mobilization was examined. Young ad libitum (ad lib) fed, old ad lib fed, old calorically restricted, and old calorically restricted mice which were fed ad lib during the last 6 weeks of their life (restricted/refed) were compared in both BDF1 [(C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1] and C57BL/6 mice. Proliferation of CD4+ cells was lower in old ad lib animals than in young animals; this difference was not seen in CD8+ cells. Those CD4+ cells which did proliferate in old ad lib animals underwent similar cell cycle progression as young cells. In calorically restricted and calorically restricted/refed animals, CD4+ cell proliferation was similar to the young animals, and CD8+ cells showed a higher proliferative capacity than cells from either young or old ad lib mice. Differences in proliferative capacity were not correlated with alterations in transmembrane signaling efficiency as peak [Ca2+]i was reduced in both T-cell subsets in all groups of old mice relative to young mice. Additionally, reduced [Ca2+]i was observed in the CD8+ subset for which there was no deficit in proliferation, and the enhanced proliferation seen in old restricted and old restricted/refed mice did not manifest as increased [Ca2+]i mobilization. The percentage of CD4+ cells from both mouse strains was reduced in all groups of old mice compared with young mice, while the percentage of CD8+ cells was generally similar in young and all groups of old mice. Our studies would suggest that lifelong caloric restriction of mice prevents the age-associated decrease in T-cell proliferative capacity but that the enhanced proliferation of these cells is not due to increased efficiency of transmembrane signaling.


Effects of obstructive sleep apnea on autonomic cardiac control during sleep.
The present study investigated whether autonomic control of the heart for persons with low and high levels of sleep apnea/hypopnea differed between sleep stages and across the sleep period. Electrocardiography and impedance cardiography of 24 patients referred to polysomnography were recorded through the night. A mixed repeated-measures and between-subjects, quasi-experimental design was utilized. Heart period, high frequency heart rate variability, and pre-ejection period were computed, respectively, as measure of heart rate and estimates of parasympathetic and sympathetic control. The cardiac and autonomic measures for participants with low apnea-hypopnea indices were compared to those of patients with high rates of apnea-hypopnea across the sleep period and sleep stages. Cardiac rates of the two groups decreased incrementally through the sleep period. Cardiovascular measures during sleep from the group with high rates of apnea-hypopnea indicated larger parasympathetic activation in relation to wake baseline for epochs without arousals than from the group with low apnea-hypopnea rates. Parasympathetic activation during nonrapid-eye movement (non-REM) sleep (sleep stage 2) was significantly greater than during REM sleep. Higher levels of apnea-hypopnea seem to be associated with increased parasympathetic control, especially during lighter, non-REM sleep. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is a compensatory response to oxygen desaturation caused by disturbed breathing.


Cardiac arrest during total knee replacement using a long-stem prosthesis.
Sudden cardiac arrest, a rare and often fatal complication of total joint replacement, usually occurs during the insertion of polymethyl methacrylate cement and a prosthesis. We describe a cardiac arrest during insertion of a customized long-stem prosthesis (without the use of a tourniquet) for revision of an earlier total knee replacement. We attribute this complication to the "fat embolism syndrome" (FES)--hypoxemia from an acute pulmonary embolism composed of fat and marrow elements extruded into the venous circulation--coupled with systemic hypotension from absorption of the cement monomer. The syndrome appears to be more common when long-stem prostheses are used. Hypoxemia also correlates with the release of tissue-thromboplastic products as well as the bone marrow elements. Phase 1 of the syndrome consists of particulate obstruction of the pulmonary circulation that causes cor pulmonale and bradycardia or other dysrhythmia. Phase 2 is characterized by respiratory and neurologic manifestations associated with the classic conception of the syndrome. Intraoperative increases in pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery occlusion pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance during unexplained hypoxemia should alert the clinician to the possibility of FES. Proper diagnosis relies on recognizing the three most common clinical manifestations: hypoxemia, neurologic derangements, and fever. Other manifestations of FES are petechiae, thrombocytopenia, anemia, lipuria, changes on ECG, tachycardia, and dyspnea.


Fine needle aspiration biopsy proves increased T-lymphocyte proliferation in tumor and decreased metastatic infiltration after treatment with doxorubicin bound to PHPMA copolymer carrier.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is an easy method with an option of repetitive withdrawal of cell material. First, mice were inoculated with mouse T-lymphoma, after 10 d the samples from tumor, lymph nodes and spleen gained by FNAB and excision were analyzed by flow cytometry. Tumor progression was compared to the control group simultaneously. Then, 10 d after tumor cell inoculation free doxorubicin (DOX) or different PHPMA DOX conjugates were injected. Cell material was analyzed to detect subpopulations of lymphocyte infiltrate, and levels of cytokines in correlation with progression or regression of the disease. FNAB has no influence on the tumor's growth or survival of experimental animals. After treatment with PHPMA conjugates there was a significant increase of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in tumor microenvironment compared to controls or free DOX, but only in mice with confirmed macroscopic regression of tumor within two weeks. Mice treated with conjugates showed significantly lower cancer infiltration of lymph nodes and spleen. FNAB provides a great benefit to in vivo monitoring of cell changes directly in the tumor after treatment. The number of infiltrating T-lymphocytes increases in correlation with consecutive tumor eradication after treatment with PHPMA. This proves that not only direct cytotoxic but also imunostimulating effect are necessary for successful treatment.


Mammalian Pum1 and Pum2 Control Body Size via Translational Regulation of the Cell Cycle Inhibitor Cdkn1b.
Body and organ size regulation in mammals involves multiple signaling pathways and remains largely enigmatic. Here, we report that Pum1 and Pum2, which encode highly conserved PUF RNA-binding proteins, regulate mouse body and organ size by post-transcriptional repression of the cell cycle inhibitor Cdkn1b. Binding of PUM1 or PUM2 to Pumilio binding elements (PBEs) in the 3' UTR of Cdkn1b inhibits translation, promoting G1-S transition and cell proliferation. Mice with null mutations in Pum1 and Pum2 exhibit gene dosage-dependent reductions in body and organ size, and deficiency for Cdkn1b partially rescues postnatal growth defects in Pum1-/- mice. We propose that coordinated tissue-specific expression of Pum1 and Pum2, which involves auto-regulatory and reciprocal post-transcriptional repression, contributes to the precise regulation of body and organ size. Hence PUM-mediated post-transcriptional control of cell cycle regulators represents an additional layer of control in the genetic regulation of organ and body size.


Euphosantianane A⁻D: Antiproliferative Premyrsinane Diterpenoids from the Endemic Egyptian Plant Euphorbia Sanctae-Catharinae.
Euphorbia species are rich in diterpenes. A solvent extraction of Euphorbia sanctae-catharinae, a species indigenous to the Southern Sinai of Egypt, afforded several premyrsinane diterpenoids (1⁻4) as well as previously reported metabolites (5⁻13) that included three flavonoids. Isolated compounds were chemically characterized by spectroscopic analysis. Identified compounds were bioassayed for anti-proliferative activity in vitro against colon (Caco-2) and lung (A549) tumor cell lines. Compound 9 exhibited robust anti-proliferative activity against A549 cells (IC50 = 3.3 µM). Absolute configurations for 8 versus 9 were determined by experimental and TDDFT-calculated electronic circular dichorism (ECD) spectra.


Analysis of White Matter Damage in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis via a Novel In Vivo MR Method for Measuring Myelin, Axons, and G-Ratio.
Myelin and axon volume fractions can now be estimated via MR imaging in vivo, as can the g-ratio, which equals the ratio of the inner to the outer diameter of a nerve fiber. The purpose of this study was to evaluate WM damage in patients with MS via this novel MR imaging technique. Twenty patients with relapsing-remitting MS with a combined total of 149 chronic plaques were analyzed. Myelin volume fraction was calculated based on simultaneous tissue relaxometry. Intracellular and CSF compartment volume fractions were quantified via neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging. Axon volume fraction and g-ratio were calculated by combining these measurements. Myelin and axon volume fractions and g-ratio were measured in plaques, periplaque WM, and normal-appearing WM. All metrics differed significantly across the 3 groups (P < .001, except P = .027 for g-ratio between periplaque WM and normal-appearing WM). Those in plaques differed most from those in normal-appearing WM. The percentage changes in plaque and periplaque WM metrics relative to normal-appearing WM were significantly larger in absolute value for myelin volume fraction than for axon volume fraction and g-ratio (P < .001, except P = .033 in periplaque WM relative to normal-appearing WM for comparison between myelin and axon volume fraction). In this in vivo MR imaging study, the myelin of WM was more damaged than axons in plaques and periplaque WM of patients with MS. Myelin and axon volume fractions and g-ratio may potentially be useful for evaluating WM damage in patients with MS.


Functional Classification of the Gut Microbiota: The Key to Cracking the Microbiota Composition Code: Functional classifications of the gut microbiota reveal previously hidden contributions of indigenous gut bacteria to human health and disease.
The last decade has seen an explosion of research on the gut microbiota-the trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gut. It is now clear that interindividual diversity in microbiota composition plays an important role in determining susceptibility to a wide variety of diseases. However, identifying the precise changes in microbiota composition that play causal roles has remained a largely unrealized goal. Here, we propose that functional classifications of microbes based on their interactions with and effects on the host-particularly the host immune system-will illuminate the role of the microbiota in shaping human physiology. We outline the benefits of "functional" classification compared to phylogenetic classifications, and review current efforts at functional classification of the microbiota. Finally, we outline a theoretical framework for classifying host-microbiota interactions. Future advances enabling broader functional classifications of the microbiota promise to revolutionize our understanding of the role of gut microbes in health and disease.


Tracking HSC Origin: From Bench to Placenta.
Reporting in Developmental Cell, Pereira et al. (2016) use in vitro lineage reprogramming insights to inform understanding of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) development in vivo. They find Prom1(+)Sca1(+)CD34(+)CD45(-) hemogenic precursors, akin to fibroblast-derived hemato-vascular precursors, in mouse placenta and embryo. The cells mature into transplantable HSCs in culture.


[3H]acetylcholine release from the phrenic nerve is increased or decreased by activation or desensitization of nicotine receptors.
Nicotinic agonists (nicotine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) increased [3H]acetylcholine release when the pre-exposure time was short (20 s). This effect was antagonized by pretreatment with d-tubocurarine (d-TC), which indicates a receptor-mediated effect. After a longer pre-exposure time (3 min) 10 microM nicotine significantly decreased the evoked [3H]acetylcholine release, probably because desensitization of the nicotine autoreceptors had abolished the nicotinic autofacilitation of transmitter release.


Penile Abscess: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
A case of penile abscess after amphetamine injection into the penis is reported. A 45-year-old male patient was successfully treated with surgical drainage and antibiotics. There were no 3-month consequences of treatment at follow-up, and the patient maintained potency, without any penile deformity. The aetiology, diagnosis, and management of penile abscesses are discussed.


Arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries with coronary arteries from a single aortic sinus.
The reimplantation of the coronary arteries from a single aortic sinus (single sinus coronary artery) in an arterial switch operation remains a technically challenging procedure. The technique of coronary transfer in this situation should be individualized depending on coronary ostial anatomy. We reviewed our techniques of coronary reimplantation with early and midterm results. Among 103 patients who underwent arterial switch operations from March 1994 to June 2004, 16 (15.5%) had single sinus coronary artery (median age, 9 days; mean body weight, 3.5 kg). Fourteen patients (14/16, 87.5%) had coronary arteries from right facing sinus (sinus 2). Of these 14 patients, 11 had separate ostia including intramural course of the left coronary artery (n = 9) and 3 had single ostium. Two patients (2/16, 12.5%) had coronary arteries from left facing sinus (sinus 1) with single ostium. Aortic arch obstruction was associated in 5 patients. All 5 single sinus coronary arteries with single ostium were reimplanted with the trap-door technique. Of the 11 patients with separate ostia, 8 underwent coronary transfer with the aortocoronary flap technique and 3 with the double-button technique. Two of the 3 patients who underwent the double-button technique required left coronary artery bypass using left subclavian artery free graft as the salvaging procedure. There was one early death (1/16, 6.3%), which occurred during our earlier experience, in a patient who had arch anomaly and intramural left coronary artery. There was no late death. All but one patient had good ventricular function. All single sinus coronary artery with single ostium can be transferred with the trap-door technique with excellent results. The aortocoronary flap technique in those with separate ostia with or without intramural left coronary artery may be a good option. However, reimplantation of the intramural left coronary artery using separate coronary buttons should be performed with great care.


Impact of Risk Factors on COVID-19 Outcomes in Unvaccinated People With Rheumatic Diseases: A Comparative Analysis of Pandemic Epochs Using the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry.
Approximately one third of individuals worldwide have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. Although studies have investigated risk factors linked to severe COVID-19 among unvaccinated people with rheumatic diseases (RDs), we know less about whether these factors changed as the pandemic progressed. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated individuals in different pandemic epochs corresponding to major variants of concern. Patients with RDs and COVID-19 were entered into the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry between March 2020 and June 2022. An ordinal logistic regression model (not hospitalized, hospitalized, and death) was used with date of COVID-19 diagnosis, age, sex, race and/or ethnicity, comorbidities, RD activity, medications, and the human development index (HDI) as covariates. The main analysis included all unvaccinated patients across COVID-19 pandemic epochs; subanalyses stratified patients according to RD types. Among 19,256 unvaccinated people with RDs and COVID-19, those who were older, male, had more comorbidities, used glucocorticoids, had higher disease activity, or lived in lower HDI regions had worse outcomes across epochs. For those with rheumatoid arthritis, sulfasalazine and B-cell-depleting therapy were associated with worse outcomes, and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were associated with improved outcomes. In those with connective tissue disease or vasculitis, B-cell-depleting therapy was associated with worse outcomes. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes were similar throughout pandemic epochs in unvaccinated people with RDs. Ongoing efforts, including vaccination, are needed to reduce COVID-19 severity in this population, particularly in those with medical and social vulnerabilities identified in this study.


Antibacterial and osteoinductive biomacromolecules composite electrospun fiber.
Bone implant materials have been widely used in bone therapy. However, bone infections caused by bacteria can damage the healing and repairing ability of bone tissue, which remains a major problem to be solved in clinical bone regeneration with implants. In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were uniformly distributed on the inner of Polylactic acid and Gelatin composite fibers (PLLA and Gel, biological macromolecules) by co-electrospinning for improving anti-infection ability and osseointegration. The optimized experimental conditions for this method were having PLLA/Gel mass ratio of 90:10 and Ag content of 7%. Ag-NPs acted as heterogeneous nucleation sites for promoting the nucleation and growth of calcium phosphorus on the surface of composite fiber. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells adhered and proliferated well on the surface of the composite fiber, and the positive fluorescence staining indicated the existence of osteoblasts. Vascular endothelial cells had a good adherence and proliferation on the surface of composite fiber, showing good angiogenic properties. Antibacterial rate of the composite fiber was all over 97% against Monilia albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showing good antibacterial property. A multi-functional biomacromolecules composite fiber was constructed and shown good bioactivity, osteoinductivity, angiogenic and antibacterial properties.


Water quality functioning of lowland permeable catchments: inferences from an intensive study of the RIVER KENNEt and upper River Thames.
This paper brings together information on the water quality functioning of the River Kennet and other parts of the upper River Thames in the south east of England. The Kennet represents a groundwater fed riverine environment impacted by agricultural and sewage sources of nutrient pollution. Descriptions of the general water quality of the area, nutrient sources, sinks and within river processes are provided together with biological responses to driving issues of agriculture, sewage treatment and climatic change. Models are developed and applied to assess the key processes involved for a highly dynamic system and to provide initial estimates of the likely responses to environmental change. Furthermore, the economic aspects of pollution control are reviewed, together with legislation issues, which are presented within the context of a landmark case known as the 'Axford Inquiry', the implications of which extend to regional and national dimensions. The paper concludes with a discussion on the present state of knowledge, key issues and future research on the science and management of groundwater fed nutrient impacted riverine systems.


NOx removal with efficient recycling of NO2 from iron-ore sintering flue gas: A novel cyclic adsorption process.
Conventional flue gas nitrogen oxides (NOx) abatement technologies commonly convert NOx into harmless compounds, while less effort has been made to recycle NO2 as a profitable chemical in many industries. Towards this end, adsorption is a promising technology for which an advanced technique for NO2 desorption and efficient sorbent regeneration provides the key step for success in practical applications. This work reports a novel cyclic adsorption process for NOx removal with recycling of NO2 from iron-ore sintering flue gas of a steel plant. This process using self-prepared and validated pelletized Na-ZSM-5 zeolites as low-cost sorbents involves NOx catalytic adsorption and reversible desorption using multiple hot gas circulations (GC) within the enclosed fixed bed followed by scavenging and purge at mild conditions. In comparison to conventional cyclic processes, greater amount of recyclable NO2 was obtained, rendering the NOx recovery of >92% and the mean NO2 concentration of >2% significantly enriched from original 20 ppm in feed gas. A robust adsorption-desorption performance with appreciable NOx working capacity was achieved for up to 16 cycles. The key role of the segmentation of GC in boosting NOx regenerability was addressed, providing an economical three-tower strategy for continuous NO2 production for practical use.


Neuropathological diagnosis with stereotactic biopsies. Possibilities, difficulties and requirements.
The present paper is based on stereotactic biopsies (SB) of 870 patients during the last 20 years. Approximately 700 patients suffered with brain tumour. Dementias and various diseases such as vasculopathies, leucoencephalopathies and inflammatory lesions were diagnosed in the other cases. Three groups of problems can be diagnosed with SB: 1) deeply located brain lesions; 2) early stages of lesions and diffuse or multiple lesions detected with imaging techniques; 3) some progressive dementing or degenerative diseases. Multiple (generally 4 to 6) SB should be taken in the vicinity and various parts of the lesion; they should be numbered, described separately and located exactly on an image of the brain. Handling the SB with care and the quality of the processing are important. Previous contact between neurosurgeon and neuropathologist can improve the accuracy of the diagnosis, which is reliable in the majority of cases, without producing undesirable brain damage.


Cultural adaptability as an attribute of therapies: the case of Morita psychotherapy.
Morita psychotherapy, a form of therapy developed in Japan some sixty years ago, has survived extensive changes in Japanese society, and is now enjoying popularity in the United States. This gives us an opportunity to look closely at the concept of 'cultural fit' between an important therapeutic technique and its social milieu, and to speculate about recent changes in American culture that may account for the growing popularity of Moritism. In contrast to Western style 'talking therapies' like psychoanalysis, Morita psychotherapy is relatively group-centered, ritualistic, and behavioristic. On would expect to find these features in a Japanese therapy, but their acceptance in America suggests that previously popular Western techniques may not be optimum for handling certain problems of the post-industrial American. McLuhan, Peacock, Douglas, and others have suggested some emerging traits of Western character that might shed some light on this question.


Associations between neck and shoulder discomfort (Katakori) and job demand, job control, and worksite support.
To examine the association of neck and shoulder discomfort (Katakori) with somatization and work-related factors (job demand, job control, and worksite support) in Japanese workers. Cross-sectional data from 2,022 Japanese workers were analyzed using a logistic regression model to examine the association between Katakori and somatization. A multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the association between Katakori and work-related factors (long working hours, job control, and support from colleagues and supervisors) after adjusting for possible confounding factors. The odds of Katakori were higher among respondents with somatic symptoms than among those without (OR = 2.81 and 95% CI 2.10-3.75 for 1 symptom vs. no symptoms; OR = 3.86 and 95% CI 2.92-5.12 for 2+ symptoms vs. no symptoms). Lack of worksite support was significantly associated with Katakori (adjusted OR = 2.62; 95% CI 1.79-3.83). Long working hours and a lack of job control were not significantly associated with Katakori. Katakori may be a form of somatization. A significant association was observed between Katakori and lack of worksite support from colleagues or supervisors. An increase in the social support provided at work may decrease the prevalence of this condition and improve workers' well-being, but more research is needed to substantiate this hypothesis.


Prevalence and predictors of fatigue after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Fatigue is a common and disabling sequel after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). At present, prevalence estimates of post-aSAH fatigue in the chronic phase are scarce and vary greatly. Factors from the acute phase of aSAH have hitherto barely been associated with post-aSAH fatigue in the chronic phase. Prospective study assessing prevalence of fatigue using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) in patients who were living independently 1 to 7 years after aSAH. We compared demographic, medical, and radiological variables from the acute phase of aSAH between patients with and without fatigue (FSS ≥ 4 versus < 4) and searched for predictors of fatigue among these variables applying univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Of 726 patients treated for aSAH in the period between January 2012 and December 2017, 356 patients completed the assessment. The mean FSS score was 4.7 ± 1.7, and fatigue was present in 69.7%. The frequency of patients with fatigue did not decline significantly over time. Univariable analysis identified nicotine use, loss of consciousness at ictus (LOCi), rebleed prior to aneurysm repair, reduced consciousness to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 14, large amounts of subarachnoid blood, the presence of acute hydrocephalus, and severe vasospasm as factors that were significantly associated with fatigue. In multivariable analysis, nicotine use, reduced GCS, and severe vasospasm were independent predictors that all more than doubled the risk to develop post-aSAH fatigue. Fatigue is a frequent sequel persisting several years after aSAH. Nicotine use, reduced consciousness at admission, and severe vasospasm are independent predictors of fatigue from the acute phase of aSAH. We propose inflammatory cytokines causing dopamine imbalance to be a common denominator for post-aSAH fatigue and the presently identified predictors.


Chlordimeform-induced alterations in endocrine regulation within the male rat reproductive system.
The acaricide chlordimeform has been reported to have adverse effects in mammals that may be mediated by an interaction with alpha-adrenergic receptors. Since the hormonal signals involved in the regulation of reproductive function are themselves under hypothalamic adrenergic control, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of acute exposure to this compound on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Male rats given two intraperitoneal injections of chlordimeform-HCl (20 or 50 mg/kg) spaced 12 hr apart showed 24-hr declines in serum gonadotropins at 50 mg/kg that were paralleled by a drop in testosterone. These changes returned to control levels by 96 hr. Thyroid-stimulating hormone exhibited a dose-response decline that was accompanied by a similar decrease in serum thyroid hormone levels. The norepinephrine-stimulated secretion in vitro of gonadotropin-releasing hormone from hypothalamic explants was suppressed at the higher dose, while LH release from pituitary fragments in culture was unaffected. Although measurements of the in vitro release of other pituitary hormones suggest that there could be some direct pituitary effects of the compound, it appears likely that chlordimeform is able to influence endocrine regulation adversely within the reproductive system by interfering with hypothalamic alpha-adrenergic activity.


Foam nickel-PDMS composite film based triboelectric nanogenerator for speed and acceleration sensing.
As a new energy conversion technology, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can use the coupling of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction effect to convert tiny mechanical energy into electrical energy, powering small electronic devices. In this paper, a vibration sensing triboelectric nanogenerator (V-TENG) based on a foam nickel-PDMS composite film was prepared, which can convert low frequency and small-amplitude mechanical energy into electrical energy, and the open circuit voltage of V-TENG can reach 3.6V at a vibration frequency of 4 Hz. In addition, the V-TENG can be used as a self-powered speed/acceleration sensor to detect speed changes in the range of 0.3 m/s to 1.5 m/s and acceleration changes in the range of 3 m/s2 to 13 m/s2.


Indispensable yet invisible: A qualitative study of the roles of carers in infection prevention in a South Indian hospital.
We investigated the roles of patient carers in infection-related care on surgical wards in a South Indian hospital from the perspective of healthcare workers (HCWs), patients, and their carers. Ethnographic study included ward-round observations (138 hours) and face-to-face interviews (44 HCWs, 6 patients/carers). Data (field notes, interview transcripts) were coded in NVivo 12 and thematically analyzed. Data collection and analysis were iterative, recursive, and continued until thematic saturation. Carers have important, unrecognized roles. At the study site, institutional expectations are formalized in policies, demanding a carer to always accompany in-patients. Such intense presence embeds families in the patient care environment, as demonstrated by their high engagement in direct personal (bathing patients) and clinical care (wound care). Carers actively participate in discussions on patient progress with HCWs, including therapeutic options. There is a misalignment between how carers are positioned by the organization (through policy mandates, institutional practices, and HCWs expectations), and the role that they play in practice, resulting in their role, though indispensable, remaining unrecognized. Current models of patient and carer involvement in infection prevention and control are poorly aligned with sociocultural and contextual aspects of care. Culture-sensitive infection prevention and control policies which embrace the roles that carers play are urgently needed.


A case report of the new Polyzene™-F COBRA PzF™ Nanocoated Coronary Stent System (NCS): Addressing an unmet clinical need.
Because of anticipated antiplatelet medication risks, patients who are not DES candidates or who are at particularly high risk for bleeding events have been targeted initially for treatment with the COBRA PzF Coronary Stent System. We report the case of a successful experience with a new, Polyzene™-F COBRA PzF™ Coronary Stent System, designed to impart thrombo-resistance and reduce inflammation, to achieve shorter dual antiplatelet therapy duration while reducing restenosis incidence in a high risk patient with atrial fibrillation.


Differential tolerance to morphine's immunomodulatory effects following continuous administration.
Rats were continuously infused with either morphine or saline via an osmotic minipump for 20 consecutive days. Effects on immune status were assessed on the twentieth day of the chronic administration period following a bolus injection of morphine administered 1 h prior to sacrifice. The morphine injection suppressed measures of splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity, mitogen-stimulated T-cell proliferation, and gamma-interferon (IFN) production in rats that received saline via the minipump. In rats that received chronic morphine via the minipump, the morphine injection also suppressed mitogen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and gamma-IFN production but did not suppress NK cell activity. These data indicate that chronic morphine administration via osmotic minipumps leads to differential tolerance to the immunomodulatory effects of morphine. These findings support previous results indicating differential tolerance development within the immune system following chronic morphine administration via the drinking water.


Nucleic acid intercalating drug. The structure of 9-hydroxy-2,5,11- tetramethylpyrido[4,3-b]carbazolium (9-hydroxy-2,6- dimethylellipticinium) chloride monohydrate.
C19H19N2O.Cl. H2O, Mr = 344.6, triclinic, P1, alpha = 12.980 (1), b = 9.454 (2), c = 7.148 (1) A, alpha = 75.23 (2), beta = 99.73 (3), gamma = 91.83 (2) degree, V = 835.9 A3, Z = 2, Dm = 1.35 (2), Dx = 1.369 Mg m-3, lambda (Cu Ka) = 1.54178 A, mu = 2.11 mm-1, F(000) = 364, T 298 k, R 0.059 for 2767 observed reflections. Antitumour drug that displays one of the highest DNA affinities (4 x 10(6) M 1) among ellipticine derivatives. The structure analysis confirms the intercalation hypothesis. There is stacking of centrosymmetrically related parallel molecules along c, alternately spaced by 3.43 and 3.48 A. The crystal structure confirms the desolvation effect of the sixth nitrogen position.


Progression of a series of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated for 7 years with natalizumab using the "no evidence of disease activity" parameter.
The safety and effectiveness of natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has been demonstrated in clinical trials. However, due to the limitations of these trials, it is important to know how the condition behaves under long-term clinical practice conditions. To determine the long-term effectiveness of natalizumab in patients with RRMS by means of annual evaluation of the "no evidence of disease activity" (NEDA) parameter, which includes number of relapses, disability (measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale), and brain MRI parameters. We performed a retrospective study of patients with RRMS from 3 centres who were treated with one or more doses of natalizumab. Each year, we evaluated NEDA status and safety based on the percentage of patients who discontinued treatment with natalizumab and experienced adverse reactions. The study included 89 patients, most of whom received treatment for 2 to 4 years, with a follow-up period of up to 7 years. Natalizumab significantly reduces the radiological and clinical progression of the disease, as well as the annual rate of relapses. The NEDA parameter demonstrates the effectiveness of the drug, with values of 75.28% for year one and 66.67% for year 7. Twenty-five patients (28.1%) dropped out after a median of 4 years. Fourteen of these patients (56%) dropped out due to the appearance of anti-JC virus antibodies, either in isolation or associated with another cause. Four dropouts (16%) were due to treatment ineffectiveness, with one patient dying due to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Natalizumab is highly effective as measured by the NEDA long-term remission parameter.


A simple method to estimate restoration volume as a possible predictor for tooth fracture.
Many dentists cite the fracture risk posed by a large existing restoration as a primary reason for their decision to place a full-coverage restoration. However, there is poor agreement among dentists as to when restoration placement is necessary because of the inability to make objective measurements of restoration size. The purpose of this study was to compare a new method to estimate restoration volumes in posterior teeth with analytically determined volumes. True restoration volume proportion (RVP) was determined for 96 melamine typodont teeth: 24 each of maxillary second premolar, mandibular second premolar, maxillary first molar, and mandibular first molar. Each group of 24 was subdivided into 3 groups to receive an O, MO, or MOD amalgam preparation design. Each preparation design was further subdivided into 4 groups of increasingly larger size. The density of amalgam used was calculated according to ANSI/ADA Specification 1. The teeth were weighed before and after restoration with amalgam. Restoration weight was calculated, and the density of amalgam was used to calculate restoration volume. A liquid pycnometer was used to calculate coronal volume after sectioning the anatomic crown from the root horizontally at the cementoenamel junction. True RVP was calculated by dividing restoration volume by coronal volume. An occlusal photograph and a bitewing radiograph were made of each restored tooth to provide 2 perpendicular views. Each image was digitized, and software was used to measure the percentage of the anatomic crown restored with amalgam. Estimated RVP was calculated by multiplying the percentage of the anatomic crown restored from the 2 views together. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare estimated RVP with true RVP. The Pearson correlation coefficient of true RVP with estimated RVP was 0.97 overall (P</=.0001). Coefficients for comparisons stratified by tooth type, restoration type, and restoration size groups were all greater than 0.90 (P</=.0001). Within the limitations of this study, the high correlation between estimated RVP and true RVP indicated that estimated RVP was an accurate method to quantify the relative volume of restorative material in coronal tooth structure. The fact that it can be done in a nondestructive manner makes it attractive for clinical situations.


Obesity and temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) is the most common non-dental pain complaint in the maxillofacial region, which presents a variety of symptoms and signs, including temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and masticatory muscle pain, joint noise, tinnitus, headaches, irregular or restricted mandibular function, masticatory difficulty, and restricted mouth opening. When comes to the relationship between obesity and TMD, it has remained controversial and inconsistent, therefore, we first conducted this meta-analysis to estimate the unclear relationship between obesity and TMD. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Subjects were divided into five groups according to BMI level in this study, including the normal weight group: 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25, overweight group: 25 ≤ BMI < 30, obesity group: BMI ≥ 30, control group: BMI < 25, and overweight and obesity group: BMI ≥ 25. Statistics analyses were conducted using Stata (15.0). The number of PROSPERO was CRD42022368315. Eight studies were included in this study, and six articles with a total of 74,056 participants were synthesized for meta-analysis. Compared to normal weight individuals, overweight and obesity together decreased the risk of TMD (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.46-0.95), and it was significantly decreased by obesity alone (OR = 0.58). Moreover, it was lower in obesity compared with control subjects (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.73-0.94). Furthermore, in overweight and obese individuals, it was much lower in obesity than in overweight (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.71-0.94). Obesity is not a risk factor for TMD, and maybe a protective factor for TMD, of which patients with larger BMI are less likely to suffer from TMD pain. Therefore, the value of BMI should be taken into consideration in the assessment of TMD.


Does grafting coronary arteries with only moderate stenosis affect long-term mortality?
Stenting coronary arteries with non-ischemia-producing moderate stenosis leads to worse outcomes than leaving them unstented. We sought to determine whether grafting coronary arteries with angiographically moderate stenosis is associated with worse long-term survival than leaving them ungrafted. From 1972 to 2011, 55,567 patients underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); 8531 had a single coronary artery with moderate (50%-69%) stenosis, bypassed in 6598 (77%) and not bypassed in 1933 (23%). These arteries were grafted with internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) in 1806 patients (27%) and with saphenous veins (SVs) in 4625 (70%). Mean follow-up for all-cause mortality was 13.0 ± 9.7 years. Survival was similar for patients with and without a graft to the moderately stenosed coronary artery (P = .3): 97%, 76%, 43%, and 18% at 1, 10, 20, and 30 years among patients receiving no graft; 97%, 74%, 41%, and 18% among those receiving an SV graft; and 98%, 82%, 51%, and 23% among those receiving an ITA graft. After adjusting for patient characteristics, SV grafting versus nongrafting of moderately stenosed coronary arteries was associated with similar long-term mortality (P = .2), whereas ITA grafting was associated with 22% lower long-term mortality (hazard ratio 0.78; 68% confidence interval 0.75-0.82; P < .0001). Grafting coronary arteries with angiographically moderate stenosis is not harmful. Instead, ITA grafting of such coronary arteries is associated with lower long-term mortality. Thus, after placing the first ITA to the left anterior descending, the second ITA should be placed to the second most important coronary artery, even if it is moderately stenosed.


Thromboxane synthetase inhibitors as pharmacological tools: differential biochemical and biological effects on platelet suspensions.
The comparative effects of three so called "thromboxane-synthetase-inhibitors" (imidazole, N-0164, and U-51605) on arachidonate metabolism and on platelet aggregation were studied. All three compounds blocked platelet microsomal thromboxane synthesis from prostaglandin endoperoxides without affecting platelet adenyl cyclase. Imidazole, blocked thromboxane synthesis in intact platelets either from arachidonic acid or PGH2, without affecting aggregation. U-51605 simultaneously inhibited thromboxane synthesis and platelet suspension aggregation. N-0164 inhibited aggregation probably at extracellular sites, at concentrations that did not alter arachidonate or PGH2 metabolism. High concentrations of N-0164 simultaneously inhibited PG cyclo-oxygenase and thromboxane synthetase. The lack of specificity of these compounds requires that other actions of these compound must be considered when they are used as pharmacological tools to inhibit thromboxane synthetase.


Blockade by met-enkephalin antiserum of analgesia induced by substance P in mice.
In the tail-flick test in mice, the intraventricular administration of Substance P (10-5,000 ng/mouse) produced a naloxone-reversible analgesic effect of rapid onset and long duration. The dose-response curve was bell-shaped, the analgesic effect being smaller after the largest doses. The analgesia was blocked by concomitant intraventricular administration of the antibody against met-enkephalin but not by the antibody against beta-endorphin. In the hot plate assay, Substance P produced analgesia in mice with high sensitivity to pain, and hyperalgesia in mice with lower sensitivity to pain than normal. The analgesia was blocked by the antibody against met-enkephalin but the hyperalgesia or the scratching response were not modified by the antiserum. The results appear to indicate a dual effect, analgesic or hyperalgesic, of Substance P in mice, the former probably being mediated by release of met-enkephalin.


Experimental infection in mice with Treponema hyodysenteriae.
Nineteen of 22 female mice (CF1 strain) inoculated intragastrically with Treponema hyodysenteriae developed cecal and colonic lesions consisting of catarrhal inflammation, edema, and occasional hemorrhage.


Pharmacological concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone improve the efficacy of in vitro germ cell differentiation in men with maturation arrest.
To examine whether in vitro differentiation of germ cells from men with maturation arrest is improved by augmenting FSH and T concentrations above the values effective in samples from men with normal spermatogenesis. Prospective, controlled in vitro study. Private assisted reproduction centers and a university department. Men with meiotic or postmeiotic maturation arrest. Testicular spermatid extraction, in vitro culture of testicular biopsy samples, intraoocyte injection of elongated spermatids, embryo culture and transfer. Progression of in vitro germ cell differentiation, fertilization, and pregnancy outcomes with in vitro cultured germ cells. In some cases of meiotic and postmeiotic maturation arrest, more advanced germ cell stages were achieved by in vitro culture in the presence of 500 IU/L FSH as compared with 50 IU/L FSH. The beneficial effect of 500 IU/L FSH was further potentiated by a simultaneous increase of T concentration from 1 to 10 microM. Fertilizations with germ cells recovered after incubation with these pharmacological hormone concentrations gave rise to viable embryos and the births of five healthy babies. Pharmacological concentrations of FSH and T are beneficial for in vitro maturation of germ cells from some men with in vivo maturation arrest.


Grasping the Lithium hype: Insights into modern dental Lithium Silicate glass-ceramics.
Lithium-based glass-ceramics are currently dominating the landscape of dental restorative ceramic materials, with new products taking the market by storm in the last years. Though, the difference among all these new and old products is not readily accessible for the practitioner, who faces the dilemma of reaching a blind choice or trusting manufacturers' marketing brochures. To add confusion, new compositions tend to wear material terminologies inherited from vanguard dental lithium disilicates, disregarding accuracy. Here we aim to characterize such materials for their microstructure, crystalline fraction, glass chemistry and mechanical properties. Eleven commercial dental lithium-based glass ceramics were evaluated: IPS e.max® CAD, IPS e.max® Press, Celtra® Duo, Suprinity® PC, Initial™ LiSi Press, Initial™ LiSi Block, Amber® Mill, Amber® Press, N!CE®, Obsidian® and CEREC Tessera™. The chemical composition of their base glasses was measured by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and Inductive Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), as well as the composition of their residual glass by subtracting the oxides bound in the crystallized fraction, characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement, and quantified accurately using the G-factor method (QXRD). The crystallization behavior is revealed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves. Elastic constants are provided from Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) and the fracture toughness measured by the Ball-on-Three-Balls method (B3B- K Ic). The microstructure is revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The base glasses showed a wide range of SiO2 /Li2O ratios, from 1.5 to 3.0, with the degree of depolymerization dropping from ½ to 2/3 of the initial connectivity. Materials contained Li2SiO3+Li3PO4, Li2SiO3+Li3PO4+Li2Si2O5, Li2Si2O5+Li3PO4+ Cristobalite and/or Quartz and Li2Si2O5+Li3 PO4+LiAlSi2O6, in crystallinity degrees from 45 to 80 vol%. Crystalline phases could be traced to their crystallization peaks on the DSC curves. Pressable materials and IPS e.max® CAD were the only material showing micrometric phases, with N!CE® and Initial™ LiSi Block showing solely nanometric crystals, with the rest presenting a mixture of submicrometric and nanometric particles. Fracture toughness from 1.45 to 2.30 MPa√m were measured, with the linear correlation to crystalline fraction breaking down for submicrometric and nanometric crystal phases. Dental lithium-based silicate glass-ceramics cannot be all put in the same bag, as differences exist in chemical composition, microstructure, crystallinity and mechanical properties. Pressable materials still perform better mechanically than CAM/CAM blocks, which loose resistance to fracture when crystal phases enter the submicrometric and nanometric range.


Mendelian randomization highlights the causal association of obesity with periodontal diseases.
The underlying mechanisms connecting obesity and periodontal diseases remain unclear. This study investigates the potential causal association of obesity with periodontal diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of obesity traits including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and WC adjusted for BMI (WCadjBMI) from large-scale genome-wide association studies were screened for instrumental variables. The single trait periodontitis and the combined trait comprising periodontitis and loose teeth were adopted as surrogates for periodontal diseases. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), series of sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR were employed to determine the association of obesity with periodontal diseases. IVW results showed that per 1-SD increment in BMI (odds ratio, OR = 1.115; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.064-1.169; p < .001) and WC (OR = 1.117; 95% CI = 1.052-1.185; p < .001), but not WCadjBMI, were significantly associated with an increased risk of periodontitis/loose teeth. Moreover, the MR estimates were consistent across other MR sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR. However, a causal association of obesity with the single trait periodontitis was not identified. The presented evidence supports previous epidemiological findings by showing a potential causal association of genetic liability to obesity with periodontal diseases. The biological mechanisms underlying this association warrant further investigation.


A comparative ecophysiological study on the effects of waterlogging and submergence on dune slack plants: growth, survival and mineral nutrition in sand culture experiments.
The effects of waterlogging and submergence on the growth, survival and mineral nutrition of four pioneer plants from wet dune slacks are compared. The results reveal a correlation between growth and nutrient acquisition under waterlogged conditions, survival under submerged conditions and 'root porosity'. Growth reduction due to waterlogging may be effected by a reduction in uptake and transport of major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Harmful effects of submergence in more or less flooding-sensitive species can be alleviated to some extent by growing them in mixed culture with Juncus maritimus Lamk.


Quantification of mechanical properties in long-term in vivo used silicone catheter lines according to DIN 10555-3.
Totally implantable central venous access port devices are crucial for intravenous application of chemotherapeutics and long-term therapy for chronic disease. Common complications include thrombosis and device fracture related to altered material properties through exposure in situ. This study exhibits whether uniaxial tensile properties (DIN 10555-3) of in vivo used catheters prove inferior to unused catheters. 5 unused, originally packed silicone catheters were cut into 6 segments of 50 mm: 3 segments each were cleaned via cleaning solution (n = 15) while 3 segments were left unattended (n = 15). Distal segments (50 mm) of long-term in vivo used silicone catheters were cleaned before testing (n = 33). Overall mechanical behavior was tested in a custom-made self-centering, torsion free carrier. Maximum force stress at failure, strain at failure and Young's modulus were determined and statistically analyzed. Unused catheters showed no significant difference in testing. in vivo used catheters exhibited 20% lower maximal force than unused catheters (p < 0.001), strain at break (p 〈0,001), and 7% higher elastic modulus (p = 0.004; power: 0.845). Due to a constant cross section area, stress at failure was proportional to maximum force (p < 0.001). Relation between determined parameters and dwell times was non-significant. In vivo long-term used silicone catheters showed significantly lower ultimate strength than unused ones. It is likely that in situ altering changes the mechanical properties of catheters and may potentially lead to failure.


Regulation of 24-hydroxylase activity in mouse skin fibroblast by cholecalciferol derivatives, triamcinolone acetonide and a calcium modulating agent, nicardipine.
Mouse skin fibroblasts in culture were used to study the regulation of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3) induced 24 hydroxylase (24-OH-ase) under the influence of 3 agents: (1) 24,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (24,25(OH)2D3), 62.5 10(-9) M, which led to a significant decrease in the 1,25(OH)2D3-induced 24-OH-ase, probably acted through a nuclear effect mediated by the 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor protein. (2) Triamcinolone acetonide (10(-6)M) which was found to increase the 24-OH-ase enhancement induced by 1.25 and 6.25 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 whereas it did not alter the effect of 31.2 nM 1,25(OH)2D3. (3) A factor which is likely to induce changes in the cell calcium transport or in the Ca pool sizes, i.e. a calcium channel blocker, nicardipine. The effect of 1.25 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 on 24-OH-ase activity was increased by nicardipine (20 microM) which was found to reduce the effect of 6.25 nM 1,25(OH)2D3. The rate of DNA synthesis (measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation) was increased after incubation of fibroblasts with 1,25(OH)2D3 (1.25 nM) plus triamcinolone acetonide (10(-6) M), although it was reduced by nicardipine in comparison with 1,25(OH)2D3 alone. So the effects of these agents on the 1,25(OH)2D3 induced 24-hydroxylase were shown to be independent of the rate of DNA synthesis.


Long term impact of Hurricane Sandy on hospital admissions of older adults.
In the weeks and months following a disaster, acute illness and injuries requiring hospital admission increase. It is not known whether disaster exposure is associated with increased risk for hospitalization in the years after a disaster. We examined the extent to which disaster exposure is associated with hospitalization two years after Hurricane Sandy. The analyses fill a clinical gap in our understanding of long-term physical health consequences of disaster exposure by identifying older adults at greatest risk for hospitalization two years after disaster exposure. Survey data from a longitudinal panel study collectedbefore and after Hurricane Sandy were linked with Medicare inpatient files in order to assess the impact of Hurricane Sandy on hospital admissions two years following the hurricane. We found that people who reported experiencing a lot of fear and distress in the midst of Hurricane Sandy were at an increased risk of being hospitalized two years after the hurricane [Hazard Ratio = 1.75; 95% CI (1.12-2.73)]. Findings held after controlling for pre-disaster demographics, social risks, chronic conditions, hospitalizations during the year before the hurricane, and decline in physical functioning. These findings are the first to show that disaster exposure increases the risk for hospital admissions two years after a disaster. Controlling for known risk factors for hospitalization, older adults who experience high levels of fear and distress during a disaster are more likely to be hospitalized two years following the disaster than older adults who do not have this experience.


Identification of fetal nucleated red blood cells in the maternal circulation during pregnancy using anti-hemoglobin-epsilon antibody.
To investigate the use of anti-hemoglobin-epsilon antibody in order to identify fetal cells in the maternal circulation during pregnancy. 48 blood samples were obtained from pregnant women, 26 in the 1st trimester and 22 in the 2nd trimester. Magnetic activated cell sorting was used for fetal cell enrichment followed by immunophenotyping with a monoclonal antibody against hemoglobin-epsilon. FISH with X, Y and 21 chromosome-specific probes was performed in 29 cases. The mean number of epsilon-positive cells was 9.2 (range 2-23) in the 1st trimester, 4.8 (range 3-13) in the 2nd trimester and 22 (range 15-28) in pregnancies with Down syndrome. No significant difference was noted in the number of epsilon-positive nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) isolated from carriers and noncarriers of beta-thalassemia. FISH analysis was successful in 24 cases. In 4 cases with known male fetuses, an average of 4.7 epsilon-positive cells showed a Y signal. In 4 cases with Down syndrome, all epsilon-positive cells showed 3 signals for chromosome 21. Anti-hemoglobin-epsilon antibody has increased specificity for fetal NRBCs and should be preferentially used to improve noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of chromosome abnormalities from fetal cells in maternal blood.


Broiler chicken response to xylanase and fermentable xylooligosaccharide supplementation.
A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary fiber (DF), xylanase (XYL), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and a combination of XYL and xylooligosaccharides (STBIO) on chicken growth performance, N-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), and nutrient availability, characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and cecal content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). A 35-day experiment was performed on 1,920 as hatched Ross 308 broiler chicks, reared in 96 pens and fed ad libitum. Experimental diets were split into 2 phases: starter (0-21 d) and finisher (22-35 d). There were 2 basal diets, first contained 54% maize and in the second, 5% of the maize was replaced by wheat bran as DF. The diets were split into 4 batches: one of them was used as a control, and each of the others were supplemented either with XYL or XOS or with the STBIO. Each diet was fed to 12 pens following randomization. The data were analyzed in GenStat (20th edition) by ANOVA using a 2 × 4 factorial design. The addition of STBIO improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and increased weight gain (WG) from 21 to 35 d and from 0 to 35 d (P < 0.05). The inclusion of DF had a negative effect on N and fat retention coefficients at 35 d as well as AMEn and dry matter retention at 21 and 35 d. At 21 d, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) retention was increased when xylanase and STBIO were added to the diet (P < 0.001) and at d 35 the highest retention was noted when the diet was supplemented with DF and XYL or STBIO (P = 0.001). There was no dietary effect on jejunum histomorphometry (P > 0.05). The addition of DF increased the concentration of cecal SCFA in particular valeric and propionic acid at 35-day-old birds (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that addition of STBIO in diet could provide benefits in terms of fiber degradation, WG, and feed efficiency.


Building Synthetic Transmembrane Peptide Pores.
Membrane protein pores have demonstrated applications in nanopore technology. Previous studies have mostly focused on β-barrel protein pores, whereas α-helix-based transmembrane protein pores are rarely explored in nanopore applications. Here, we developed a synthetic transmembrane peptide pore built entirely from short synthetic α-helical peptides. We examined the formation of a stable uniform ion-selective pore in single-channel electrical recordings. Furthermore, we show that cyclodextrins (CDs) block the peptide pores and determine the kinetics of CD binding and translocation. We suggest that such designed synthetic transmembrane pores will be useful for several applications in biotechnology, including stochastic sensing.


Percutaneous Venous Reconstruction for Central Thrombosis-Associated Chylothorax: A Safe and Efficacious Option.
Central thrombosis-associated chylothorax is underrecognized in children and frequently refractory to conservative management. Central venous catheterizations are the predominate cause. We present 3 cases highlighting endovascular techniques used to treat persistent chylous effusions. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).


Use of the pulse transit time trend to relate tidal breathing and central respiratory events.
Central sleep apnoea (CSA) is a respiratory event where cessation of breathing effort and airflow occurs. Numerous lumped models have related the physical phenomena in the arterial tree to properties of the arterial wall. However, a limited model is available that describes pulse transit time (PTT) oscillations during CSA and tidal breathing. Data from 28 children (22 males; aged 6.2 +/- 3.6 years) were obtained during overnight polysomnography. Using a lumped-element model, PTT fluctuations during both respiratory events were described and compared with actual experimental data. 222 valid CSA and 222 tidal breathing events were acquired and analysed. For the tidal breathing, undamped PTT oscillations of 3.89 s were predicted while actual data showed a mean value of 3.68 +/- 0.83 s. Conversely, a damped PTT trend was observed during CSA as predicted by the model. The results attained showed that clustered CSA occurrences led to an increase of 7.23 +/- 3.34 per cent in PTT baseline value while the model predicted 7.86 +/- 2.63 per cent. The marginal increase in PTT baseline was expected since the blood pressure and heart rate decreased during such occurrences. The findings herein suggest that the described model has the potential to describe respiratory event characteristics of a sleeping child.


On the question of cyclic GMP as the mediator of the effects of acetylcholine on the heart.
The effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on cyclic GMP levels, contractile force, and glycogen metabolism were investigated in the perfused rat heart. While both agents produced time- and concentration-dependent increases in cyclic GMP, only acetylcholine significantly decreased contractile force. Neither agent altered the basal cyclic AMP concentration, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio, or phosphorylase activity. When dosages were adjusted to give approximately equal increases in cyclic GMP, acetylcholine attenuated the effect of epinephrine on contractile force and glycogen phosphorylase activity while nitroprusside did not antagonize the action of the beta-adrenergic agent on either parameter. The data suggest that increased cardiac cyclic GMP is not sufficient to completely explain the action of acetylcholine on either contractile force or its antagonism of epinephrine-induced increases in force or glycogen phosphorylase activity.


Design, synthesis, and biological evaluations of phenylpropiolic acid derivatives as novel GPR40 agonists.
GPR40, also known as free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), is a member of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) family and has emerged as an attractive target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. So far, most of the synthetic GPR40 agonists, including several drug candidates discontinued in clinical trials, were derived from the phenylpropionic acid scaffold. For discovering novel GPR40 agonists with diverse chemical structures, a series of phenylpropiolic acid derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated under a battery of bioassays. Compound 9, the most potent compound in this series, exhibited submicromolar agonist activity and similar agonistic efficacy compared to that of TAK-875. In addition, compound 9 was able to dose-dependently amplify glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic β-cell line MIN6, which could be reversed by a selective GPR40 antagonist GW1100. In addition, compound 9 was found to have potent glucose-lowering effects during an oral glucose tolerance test in normal C57BL/6 mice.


Interplay between redox status and inflammasome activation.
Several inflammation-related processes, including inflammasome activation and interleukin (IL)-1β secretion, are dependent on redox signaling. However, the type of redox response involved as well as the relevant role of pro-oxidant and antioxidant events are matters of intense debate. By comparing leukemic myeloid cells, healthy monocytes and macrophages, as well as monocytes from patients carrying mutations in members of the Nod-like receptor (NLR) gene family, we have drawn a model that reconciles previous conflicting hypotheses. We propose that the redox state of resting inflammatory cells determines the type and extent of redox response to pattern recognition receptor stimulation, which in turn dictates the efficiency of inflammasome activation. The impact on genetic and acquired inflammatory diseases will be discussed.


Determinants and barriers to junior faculty well-being at a large quaternary academic medical center: A qualitative survey.
Increasing levels of burnout among trainees and faculty members at all levels is a major problem in academic medicine. Junior faculty members may be at unique risk for burnout and have unique needs and barriers that contribute to attrition, job satisfaction, and overall workplace well-being. Twenty-seven faculty members at the assistant professor level at a large, quaternary referral academic medical institution were interviewed. A qualitative analyst with no reporting relationship to faculty was used as the proctor. Seven scripted questions targeting faculty well-being and institutional barriers to well-being were administered, and the responses were coded for common themes between respondents. Respondents most commonly identified clinical work (26%), research (19%), and teaching (19%) as the best aspects of their job. Among respondents, 3% stated they were not able to devote as much time as they would like to work they enjoyed and found most meaningful. Of these respondents, 44% cited "insufficient help" as the root cause. Also, 33% stated time spent writing and managing institutional review board requirements was a major contributor, and 22% cited both clinical volume/performance benchmarks and administrative responsibilities as significant barriers. The most common responses to departmental factors that can be improved included moving meetings to during the workday versus after hours, establishing a similar value system/metric for all faculty, and providing more opportunities to interact with faculty across divisions. The most common barriers to change identified were difficulty hiring research support, patient volume and clinical demands, and a pervasive culture of continuing to work after the workday has ended. At an institutional level, provision of childcare and promotion of basic science research were identified as areas for improvement. More actionable items were identified at the departmental rather than institutional level (53 vs 34). Junior faculty well-being is most affected at the department level. Qualitative data collection from junior faculty regarding barriers to well-being and academic/clinical productivity can be invaluable for departments and institutions seeking to make cultural or systemic improvements.


Guilty by dissociation: Part A: Development of a rapid Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)-MS/MS methodology for the analysis of regioisomeric diphenidine-derived Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
This study describes the first reported development of a rapid, generic gradient Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) methodology with targeted triple quadrupole MS/MS using electrospray positive ionisation to detect and unambiguously confirm the identity of 33 substituted 1, 2-diarylethamine (or diphenidine) derivatives in solid drug samples. The in-house synthesised library included a range of derivatives possessing either electron donating/withdrawing substituents, commonly included in combinatorial libraries, of varying size and lipophilicity on the phenyl ring. These test probes were used to investigate if their order of elution and that of their regioisomers were dependent on the position and type of the substituent on the phenyl ring. In addition, investigations into the retention mechanism of the diphenidines under reverse-phase UHPLC conditions were undertaken. Common adulterants found within seized bulk samples were assessed to prove that the methodology was specific, and the developed UHPLC-MS/MS (tG = 10 min) protocol was applied to confirm the identity of the psychoactive components within four seized bulk samples provided by law enforcement.


Gender, biology, and behaviorDifferent: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist Frans de Waal Norton, 2022. 408 pp.
There is much to learn from a primatologist's framework for gender diversity.


Selection and validation of suitable reference gene for qPCR gene expression analysis in lamb testis cells under Sheep pox virus infection.
Virus infection alters host gene expression, therefore ideal and stable reference housekeeping genes are required to normalise the expression of other expressed host genes in quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The suitable reference gene may vary in response to different viral infections in different hosts or cells. In the present study, we cultured primary lamb testis cells (LTC) and assessed the expression stability of seven widely used housekeeping genes (B2M, HMBS, HPRT1, HSP-90, POLR2A, 18s_RNA, GAPDH) as reference genes in Sheeppox virus (SPPV) infected and control (uninfected-0h) LTC at 0.5h, 4.0h, 8.0h, and 12.0h post-infection) using NormFinder, Bestkeeper, geNorm, and the comparative ΔCT method in RefFinder based on their expression levels. Analysis revealed that HSP90, 18s_RNA, HPRT, POLR2A, and B2M were the most stable genes from the panel in the individual analysis group in 0h, 0.5h, 4.0h, 8.0h, and 12.0h, respectively. Furthermore, B2M was shown to be the most stable reference gene in the combined control with the respective and overall infected groups, except the control group of 4.0hpi of SPPV infection. In this study, we selected the most suitable reference genes in LTC for particular time points of SPPV infection. The identified most suitable housekeeping gene can be used during normalization of expression of other targeted genes at aspecific time point of SPPV infection.


Classification and Prediction of Typhoon Levels by Satellite Cloud Pictures through GC-LSTM Deep Learning Model.
Typhoons are some of the most serious natural disasters, and the key to disaster prevention and mitigation is typhoon level classification. How to better use data of satellite cloud pictures to achieve accurate classification of typhoon levels has become one of classification the hot issues in current studies. A new framework of deep learning neural network, Graph Convolutional-Long Short-Term Memory Network (GC-LSTM), is proposed, which is based on the data of satellite cloud pictures of the Himawari-8 satellite in 2010-2019. The Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) is used to process the irregular spatial structure of satellite cloud pictures effectively, and the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network is utilized to learn the characteristics of satellite cloud pictures over time. Moreover, to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the model, the prediction effect and model stability are compared with other models. The results show that: the algorithm performance of this model is better than other prediction models; the prediction accuracy rate of typhoon level classification reaches 92.35%, and the prediction accuracy of typhoons and super typhoons reaches 95.12%. The model can accurately identify typhoon eye and spiral cloud belt, and the prediction results are always kept in the minimum range compared with the actual results, which proves that the GC-LSTM model has stronger stability. The model can accurately identify the levels of different typhoons according to the satellite cloud pictures. In summary, the results can provide a theoretical basis for the related research of typhoon level classification.


Inhibition of Ca2+-activated and voltage-dependent K+ currents by 2-mercaptophenyl-1,4-naphthoquinone in pituitary GH3 cells: contribution to its antiproliferative effect.
Quinones have been shown to possess antineoplastic activity; however, their effects on ionic currents remain unclear. The effects of 2-mercaptophenyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-MPNQ), menadione (MD) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4 NQ) on cell proliferation and ionic currents in pituitary GH3 lactotrophs were investigated in this study. 2-MPNQ was more potent than menadione or 1,4-naphthoquinone in inhibiting the growth of GH3 cells. 2-MPNQ decreased cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 3 microM. In whole-cell recording experiments, 2-MPNQ reversibly caused an inhibition of Ca2+-activated K+ current (I(K(Ca)) in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 value for 2-MPNQ-induced inhibition of I(K(Ca)) was 7 microM. In the inside-out configuration of single channel recording, 2-MPNQ (30 microM) applied intracellularly suppressed the activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK(Ca)) channels but did not modify single channel conductance. Menadione (30 microM) had no effect on the channel activity, whereas 1,4-naphthoquinone (30 microM) suppressed it by about 26%. Both 2-MPNQ and thimerosal suppressed the dithiothreitol-stimulated channel activity. 2-MPNQ also blocked voltage-dependent K+ currents, but it produced a slight reduction of L-type Ca2+ inward current. However, unlike E-4031, 2-MPNQ (30 microM) did not suppress inwardly rectifying K+ current present in GH3 cells. Under the current clamp configuration, the presence of 2-MPNQ (30 microM) depolarized the cells, and increased the frequency and duration of spontaneous action potentials. The 2-MPNQ-mediated inhibition of K+ currents would affect hormone secretion and cell excitability. The blockade of these ionic channels by 2-MPNQ may partly explain its inhibitory effect on the proliferation of GH3 cells.


Acute lyme disease IgG N-linked glycans contrast the canonical inflammatory signature.
Lyme disease (LD) infection is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb). Due to the limited presence of this pathogen in the bloodstream in humans, diagnosis of LD relies on seroconversion. Immunoglobulins produced in response to infection are differentially glycosylated to promote or inhibit downstream inflammatory responses by the immune system. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycan responses to LD have not been characterized. In this study, we analyzed IgG N-glycans from cohorts of healthy controls, acute LD patient serum, and serum collected after acute LD patients completed a 2- to 3-week course of antibiotics and convalesced for 70-90 days. Results indicate that during the acute phase of Bb infection, IgG shifts its glycosylation profile to include structures that are not associated with the classic proinflammatory IgG N-glycan signature. This unexpected result is in direct contrast to what is reported for other inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, IgG N-glycans detected during acute LD infection discriminated between control, acute, and treated cohorts with a sensitivity of 75-100% and specificity of 94.7-100%.


Mycobacterium kansasii infection with multiple cutaneous lesions.
Mycobacterium kansasii infections of the skin are rarely seen and present variable clinical and histopathologic features. Laboratory identification of the organism is essential for proper diagnosis and selection of appropriate antimycobacterial medications. Antituberculous drugs are the standard treatment; however, therapy with tetracycline or minocycline is a provocative alternative.


Synthesis and biological study of new galanthamine-peptide derivatives designed for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
The Alzheimer's disease leads to neurodegenerative processes and affecting negatively million people worldwide. The treatment of the disease is still difficult and incomplete in practice. Galanthamine is one of the most commonly used drugs against the illness. The main aim of this work is design and synthesis of new derivatives of galanthamine comprising peptide moiety as well as study of their β-secretase inhibitory activity and the anti-aggregating effect. All new derivatives of galanthamine containing analogues of Leu-Val-Phe-Phe (Aβ17-Aβ20) were synthesized in solution using fragment and consecutive condensation approaches. The new derivatives were characterized by melting points, NMR, and HPLC/MS. They were tested in vitro for β-secretase inhibition activity by means of fluorescent method and were investigated in vitro for anti-aggregation activity on sheep platelet-rich plasma. Although the new compounds do not contain a structural element responsible for the β-secretase inhibition, five of them show high or good β-secretase inhibitory activity between 19.98 and 51.19% with IC50 between 1.95 and 5.26 nM. Four of the new molecules were able to inhibit platelet aggregation between 55.0 and 90.0% with IC50 between 0.69 and 1.36 µM. Four of the compounds were able to inhibit platelet aggregation and two of them have high anti-aggregating effects.


The juxtaglomerular apparatus of rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus.
The juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) of rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (DI) was studied. Plasma concentration of renin and angiotensin II, as well as serum sodium concentration and serum osmolality of DI rats are elevated. The morphological examination reveals no characteristic alteration of the epitheloid cells. The results show that the epitheloid cells are sufficiently adapted for the higher release of renin.


Fine structure of the eyes of orb-weavers, Argiope amoena L. Koch (araneae: argiopidae). 1. The anteromedial eyes.
The anteromedial eye of the web-building spider, Argiope amoena has been examined with light and electron microscopy. The eye consists of a cornea, a lens, a vitreous body and a retina. The retina contains 400 to 500 bipolar photoreceptor cells and pigment ce-ls which envelop the receptor cells. Microvilli extend laterally from the distal process of each receptor cell beneath the vitreous body. The microvilli interdigitate with those from neighboring processes to form rhabdoms. Multivesicular bodies occur in the rhabdomeric portion, and in an intermediate segment, between the rhabdomeric portion and the receptor cell body, are found mixed lamellar vesicular bodies and lamellar bodies. A single axon extends from the receptor cell. The site of origin of the axon from the cell varies depending on the location of the cell in the retina. The axon originates on the intermediate segment, or on the lateral surface or proximal end of the cell body. The axons join together in the postero-dorsal region of the eye and then extend to the first optic glomerulus as an ocellar nerve of about 3 mm in length. The pigment cells, whose cell bodies lie among those of the receptor cells or the axons, possess cytoplasmic prolongations which reach up to the vitreous body.


The dental health revolution: The dramatic improvement in dental health of school children in the northern metropolitan region of New South Wales.
There has been a dramatic improvement in the dental health of school children in the past 15 years. The proportion of children aged five to 12 years who have never experienced any dental decay increased nearly ten-fold from 3.8% in 1961 to over 35% in 1974. The proportion of children with active dental decay at routine school examinations has fallen from 92% to 22%. These improvements are probably due to improved oral hygiene and diet in combination with the usage of fluoride. Almost certainly, the availability of fluoride both in tablet form and delivered through town water supplies has been the predominant factor. These very large reductions in the incidence of dental decay amont children represent a modern triumph of preventive health care. Further improvements in dental health may be effected by the topical application of fluoride and reduced intake of refined sugar.


Association of rs2070600 in advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor with prognosis of heart failure.
Our objective was to investigate the association of common variants in the coding region of advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (RAGE) and the prognosis of heart failure (HF). A total of 3394 HF patients were continuously enrolled from January 2009 to August 2018 with a median follow-up of 20.4 months. Additionally, 2861 healthy subjects also participated in the study. By sequencing these two groups, we identified a common functional missense variant rs2070600 in the coding region of RAGE, which showed a significant association with the prognosis of HF [hazard ratio = 0.53, 95%, confidence interval (CI) = 0.30-0.94, P = 0.03], but no association with the risk of HF (odds ratio = 0.52, 95%, CI = 0.66-1.04, P = 0.106). A series of functional assays revealed that rs2070600-A, but not -G allele, suppressed the expression of RAGE protein by facilitating the binding of miR-125a-3p. Furthermore, the RAGE messenger RNA levels of human peripheral blood lymphocytes were reduced in subjects with the rs2070600-AA genotype compared with subjects with the rs2070600-GG or -AG genotypes. Additionally, our Western blot results from human heart tissue showed increased RAGE expression in HF samples compared with that in healthy donors. Our results demonstrate that the common missense variant rs2070600-A allele is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death and cardiac transplantation by facilitating the binding of miR-125a-3p.


The relationship between serum and cell type on the development of rat and pig cultured preadipocytes.
Stromal-vascular cells from rats and pigs were isolated from adipose tissue and used to measure preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Cells from rats and pigs were grown in either 2.5% pig serum or 2.5% rat serum. Cells were either supplemented or unsupplemented with insulin after five days of growth in culture. In these cultures, pig fat cells developed as discrete clusters while rat fat cells developed as loose clusters or as individual cells. Rat cells had greater levels of sn-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity compared to pig cells. Rat serum increased soluble protein in plated cells when compared to cells grown in pig serum. Pig serum increased glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase specific activity when compared to rat serum. In this system, there was no response to insulin. The cells grown in rat serum did not resemble adipocytes in regard to the presence of large lipid droplets (oil red 0 staining). These results demonstrate that rat and pig stromal-vascular cells in culture are morphologically different. Cells from both species, however, responded similarly to sera from either species showing that cells from rats and pigs responded to the growth and differentiation factors present in these sera.


Mapping of the newly identified biliverdin-IX beta reductase gene (BLVRB) to human chromosome 19q13.13-->q13.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
The human biliverdin-IX beta reductase gene (BLVRB) has been newly isolated from a human liver cDNA library. We now report the chromosome mapping of this gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization, using a 0.76-kb cDNA fragment as a probe. The BLVRB gene was localized to chromosome region 19q13.13-->q13.2.


ISG15 in cancer: Beyond ubiquitin-like protein.
ISG15, the product of interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene 15, is the first identified ubiquitin-like protein (Ubl), playing roles not only as an unconjugated form but also as a covalently conjugated form onto a target protein. ISG15 is not present in lower eukaryotes such as yeast, nematode (Caenorhabditis), or insect (Drosophila), indicating that the functions of ISG15 and ISG15 conjugation (ISGylation) are restricted to higher eukaryotes and have evolved with IFN signaling. Despite the highlighted complexity of ISG15 and ISGylation, increasing evidences have been emerging that ISG15 and ISGylation are implicated in a variety of pivotal cellular processes, involving protein translation, autophagy, exosome secretion, DNA repair, and immune modulation, which emphasizes the necessity of re-evaluation of ISG15 and ISGylation. In this review, we highlight current knowledge in the molecular understanding and physiological relevance of ISG15 and ISGylation and discuss new insights into how ISG15 is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer, which could contribute to therapeutic intervention in cancer.


Biochemical response to lamivudine treatment in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients in Iran.
To study the effect of a one-year lamivudine regimen in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Medical records of HBeAg negative hepatitis B patients who attended a hepatitis clinic in Tehran between March 2002-March 2004 were evaluated. The patients received 100 mg lamivudine tablets once daily for at least 12 mo. Liver enzymes and complete blood count were checked at baseline and the end of treatment (12th mo) and 6 mo after discontinuation of treatment. Of all patients, 24 were excluded. Of 71 patients left, 58 (81.7%) were men. Mean age of the patients was 38 +/- 14 years. Mean level of ALT in serum was 1437 +/- 205 nkat/L at baseline with a significant reduction at the end of treatment to a mean level of 723 +/- 92 nkat/L (P = 0.002). In 38 patients (53.5%), the ALT level was normal after one-year treatment. Five patients (7.3%) relapsed (biochemically) within 6 mo after discontinuing lamivudine therapy (the patients with good end of treatment response). Mean level of AST in serum was 1060 +/- 105 nkat/L at baseline which decreased significantly to 652 +/- 75 nkat/L at the end of treatment (P = 0.002). Over half (53.5%) of chronic hepatitis B patients with HBeAg negative have normal liver enzyme level at 12-mo lamivudine therapy.


Quality of life and daily management of children with rheumatic disease.
Appropriate management of the daily life of patients with rheumatic diseases is an important part of therapy for favorable results and a high quality of life. At home, gymnastic exercise, night splints and appropriate fun activities will help to preserve the function of affected joints of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Improvement of home fixtures according to patient disability will provide a higher quality of life for the patients. The patient should be helped to perform as many school activities as would normally be possible. Instructional charts for management of school life for patients with JRA and systemic lupus erythematosus is shown in this article. Cooperation with school personnel is also crucial to support the patient emotionally and physiologically. For the best long-term treatment and a good relationship between patient and physician, comprehensive management is essential. Not only physicians, but also psychiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and social workers should be involved in the treatment of children with rheumatic diseases.


Endothelial cell junctional integrity modulation by serotonin: an ultrastructural analysis.
We have reported previously that exogenous serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) alters cultured bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) structural integrity by modulating the assembly of stress fibers. In the present study a 5-HT stimulus-coupled change in BAEC junctional integrity was quantitated by determining the width and percentage of intercellular openings in a monolayer. BAEC treated with 5-HT at concentrations of 10(-9) M to 10(-3) M caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in interendothelial cell junctional openings compared to controls, with the greatest reduction induced at 10(-6) M (92% from control). Treatment of BAEC with histamine (10(-4) M) increased the junctional openings by 82% when compared to controls. This change could be prevented by either pretreatment of the monolayers with 5-HT or by adding 5-HT in conjunction with the histamine. To assess a direct interaction of 5-HT with actin filaments, cultured BAEC monolayers were extracted, treated with 5-HT, and processed for immunocytochemical localization of 5-HT using the Avidin-Biotin method. Electron microscopy revealed 5-HT antibody bound to actin filaments and dense in areas of filament intersection, which implies a role for internalized 5-HT in stimulating the assembly of an actin filament network. Collectively, these results suggest that 5-HT helps to regulate the endothelial junctional barrier by promoting actin filament formation and stability, which may in turn increase the junctional apposition between endothelial cells.


Nile blue A as a fluorescent stain for poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate.
Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate granules exhibited a strong orange fluorescence when stained with Nile blue A. Heat-fixed cells were treated with 1% Nile blue A for 10 min and were observed at an excitation wavelength of 460 nm. Glycogen and polyphosphate did not stain. Nile blue A appears to be a more specific stain for poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate than Sudan black B.


Corrigendum: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of girls in Germany. Results of the cross-sectional KiGGS Wave 2 study and trends.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.17886/RKI-GBE-2018-102.2.].


Virologic factors associated with failure to passive-active immunoprophylaxis in infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers.
In infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers, failure after passive-active immunization still occurs. The role of maternal hepatitis B DNA level and other risk factors in this setting remains unclear. This study retrospectively evaluated virologic and other risk factors associated with immunoprophylaxis failure in infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers. Between January 2007 and March 2010, we reviewed the clinical and virologic tests in 869 mother-infant pairs. All infants received the identical passive-active immunization schedule after birth. The failure infants (HBsAg positive at 7-12 months of age) were compared to infants who were HBsAg negative when tested during this time period. Among 869 infants, 27 (3.1%) infants were immunoprophylaxis failures and the other 842 (96.9%) infants remained HBsAg negative. When mothers' pre-delivery HBV DNA levels were stratified to <6, 6-6.99, 7-7.99 and ≥ 8 log(10) copies/mL, the corresponding rates of immunoprophylaxis failure were 0%, 3.2% (3/95), 6.7% (19/282) and 7.6% (5/66), respectively (P < 0.001 for the trend). All failure infants were born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive mothers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified maternal HBV DNA levels [odds ratio (OR) = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-3.30] and detectable HBV DNA in the cord blood (OR = 39.67, 95% CI: 14.22-110.64) as independent risk factors for immunoprophylaxis failure. All failure infants were born to HBeAg-positive mothers with HBV DNA levels ≥ 6 log(10) copies/mL. The presence of HBV DNA in cord blood predicted failure to passive-active immunization.


Impact of Concurrent Hospice Care on Primary Care Visits Among Children in Rural Southern Appalachia.
The purpose of the study was to test the effect of receiving pediatric concurrent hospice care on primary care visits. This retrospective study was limited to pediatric decedents younger than 21 years with a hospice service claim from 2011 to 2013. Our outcome of interest concerned whether concurrent hospice care impacted primary care visits. Of the 460 pediatric decedents in rural Southern Appalachia, 42% continued to visit their primary care provider during hospice enrollment, whereas 51% received concurrent hospice care. Concurrent hospice care was significantly related to pediatric primary care visits (β = 2.31; p < .001). Findings revealed that receipt of concurrent hospice care impacted primary care. Children in concurrent care were twice as likely to continue to receive care from their primary care provider. This finding is consistent with our hypothesis; however, the magnitude of the finding was unexpected given their residence in medically underserved areas.


Severe Thrombocytopenia Associated with Dengue Fever: An Evidence-Based Approach to Management of Thrombocytopenia.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness common in tropical and subtropical countries but very rare in the United States. Patients infected with dengue often present with thrombocytopenia. In the setting of dengue, platelet transfusions as a treatment for thrombocytopenia have no clear benefits in reduction of severe bleeding or improvement of the platelet count. Here, we present a case of a traveler infected with dengue virus and discuss the approach to treat thrombocytopenia.