Predictive value of antinuclear antibodies in autoimmune diseases classified by clinical criteria: Analytical study in a specialized health institute, one year follow-up.
Determination of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) is usually the initial test for the diagnosis of systemic rheumatic diseases (SRD). Assigning predictive values to positive and negative results of the test is vital because lack of knowledge about ANAs and their usefulness in classification criteria of SRD leads to inappropriate use. Retrospective study, ANA tests requested by different specialties, correlation to patients' final diagnosis. The prevalence of autoimmune disease was relatively low in our population yielding a low PPV and a high NPV for the ANA test. 40% of the patients had no clinical criteria applied prior to test. Coexistence of two or more autoimmune disorders affects prevalence and predictive values. Application of the test after careful evaluation for clinical criteria remarkably improves the positive likelihood ratio for the diagnosis.


CXCL10: a candidate biomarker in transplantation.
Interferon (IFN) γ-induced protein 10 kDa (IP-10) or C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family. This family of signaling molecules is known to control several biological functions and to also play pivotal roles in disease initiation and progression. By binding to its specific cognate receptor CXCR3, CXCL10 critically regulates chemotaxis during several immune-inflammatory processes. In particular, this chemokine controls chemotaxis during the inflammatory response resulting from allograft rejection after transplantation. Interestingly, a strong association has been described between CXCL10 production, immune response and the fate of the graft following allotransplantation. Enhanced CXCL10 production has been observed in recipients of transplants of different organs. This enhanced production likely comes from either the graft or the immune cells and is correlated with an increase in the concentration of circulating CXCL10. Because CXCL10 can be easily measured in the serum and plasma from a patient, the detection and quantitation of circulating CXCL10 could be used to reveal a transplant recipient's immune status. The purpose of this review is to examine the critical role of CXCL10 in the pathogenesis of allograft rejection following organ transplantation. This important role highlights the potential utilization of CXCL10 not only as a therapeutic target but also as a biomarker to predict the severity of rejection, to monitor the inflammatory status of organ recipients and, hopefully, to fine-tune patient therapy in transplantation.


Feeding in Preterm Neonates With Antenatal Doppler Abnormalities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we attempted to determine the most appropriate feed initiation and advancement practices in preterm neonates with antenatal Doppler abnormalities. We included randomized controlled trials comparing different feed initiation and advancement practices in neonates with antenatal Doppler abnormalities. The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched on February 25, 2022. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias tool, version 2. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RevMan 5.4 was used for data analysis. Of the 1499 unique records identified, 7 studies were eligible for inclusion (6 on feed initiation, 1 on feed advancement). Early enteral feeding did not increase NEC stage 2 or more [risk ratio (RR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-1.78; 6 studies, 775 participants] and mortality (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.47-1.48; 5 studies, 642 participants). A trend was noted towards an increase in feeding intolerance (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.98-1.56; 5 studies, 715 participants). There was a significant reduction in age at full enteral feeds, duration of total parental nutrition, and rates of hospital-acquired infections. Rapid feed advancement decreased the age at full enteral feeds without affecting other outcomes. The overall certainty of the evidence was rated low. Heterogeneity was not significant. There is low-certainty evidence that early feed initiation in preterm neonates with antenatal Doppler abnormalities does not increase rates of NEC and mortality. There is insufficient data on the speed of feed advancement.


Who, when, and how? Marine planning stakeholder involvement preferences--a case study of the Solent, United Kingdom.
The introduction of a marine planning system throughout English territorial waters over the next decade provides an opportunity for stakeholder input to the management of the marine environment. Stakeholder involvement has been identified as an important component of successful development and subsequent implementation of marine planning but it has to be recognised that the views and interest of stakeholders can vary greatly, thus the desire for involvement with the process is unlikely to be uniform. This paper presents the views of stakeholders within the Solent, United Kingdom on their potential involvement with the marine planning process. Interestingly, it highlights a strong variability of views within and across sectors. Assuming the situation in the Solent is typical of groups of stakeholders throughout the country, the lack of uniformity in the potential involvement from different stakeholders may present a challenge in achieving a representative and truly collaborative marine planning process.


Copper nanoclusters as peroxidase mimetics and their applications to H2O2 and glucose detection.
Copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) are found to possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity for the first time. Similar to nature peroxidase, they can catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine by H(2)O(2) to produce a nice blue color reaction. Compared with horseradish peroxidase, Cu NCs exhibits higher activity near neutral pH, which is beneficial for biological applications. The increase in absorbance caused by the Cu NCs catalytic reaction allows the detection of H(2)O(2) in the range of 10 μM to 1 mM with a detection limit of 10 μM. A colorimetric method for glucose detection was also developed by combining the Cu NCs catalytic reaction and the enzymatic oxidation of glucose with glucose oxidase. Taking into account the advantages of ultra-small size, good stability, and high biocompatibility in aqueous solutions, Cu NCs are expected to have potential applications in biotechnology and clinical diagnosis as enzymatic mimics.


Cocrystal Solubility Advantage and Dose/Solubility Ratio Diagrams: A Mechanistic Approach To Selecting Additives and Controlling Dissolution-Supersaturation-Precipitation Behavior.
Two of the main questions regarding cocrystal selection and formulation development are whether the will be stable and how fast can it dissolve the drug dose. Dissolving the drug dose may require cocrystals with a high solubility advantage over drug (SA = SCC/SD), but these may have limited potential to sustain drug supersaturation. Thus, we propose a twofold approach to mitigate the risk of drug precipitation by optimizing thermodynamic (SA) and kinetic factors (nucleation inhibitors). This risk can be evaluated by considering the cocrystal SA and drug dose/solubility ratio (D0D = Cdose/SD), which in tandem represent the maximum theoretical supersaturation that a cocrystal may generate, the driving force for drug precipitation, and the potential for dose-/solubility-limited absorption. cocrystals with SA and D0D values above critical supersaturation are prone to rapid precipitation, often negating their utility as a solubility enhancement tool. This work presents a mechanistic approach to controlling the dissolution-supersaturation-precipitation behavior of cocrystal systems, whereby relationships between SA, D0D, and the drug-solubilizing power of surfactants (SPD = SD,T/SD,aq) are used to fine-tune cocrystal-inherent supersaturation by rational additive selection. Experimental results with danazol-vanillin cocrystal demonstrate how SA, D0D, and SPD are key thermodynamic parameters to understanding the kinetic cocrystal behavior and how the risks of cocrystal development may be mitigated through the mechanistic formulation design.


Characterization and biological activities of melanin pigment from root endophytic fungus, Phoma sp. RDSE17.
Melanins are high molecular weight hydrophobic pigments which have gained popularity for their role in virulence against different pathogens. In the present study, we isolated and characterized the melanin pigment produced by a dark septate endophyte fungus Phoma sp. RDSE17, which was associated with the roots of an indigenous Oryza sativa cv. 'Chakhao amubi' in Manipur, Northeast India. The biological properties of purified melanin from the fungus were evaluated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancerous activities. The pigment was extracted from Phoma sp. by alkaline-acid hydrolysis method and confirmed as melanin through physico-chemical tests and spectral (UV, FTIR, and EPR) analysis. The analyses of the elemental composition indicated that the pigment possessed a low percentage of nitrogen (N) contents, and therefore, would not fall under DOPA class of melanin. Exposure of the fungus to melanin pathway inhibitors revealed a positive melanin inhibition by tricyclazole, but not by kojic acid. Thus, the melanin from Phoma sp. may be a member of the DHN family. Moreover, the purified melanin showed high DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical-scavenging activity with an EC50 of 69 µg/mL and inhibited human lung cancer cell (A549 cells) proliferation at 80 µg/mL. The present study demonstrates that melanin from Phoma sp. RDSE17 could be employed as a potential biological (antioxidant) and antimicrobial agent for inhibiting the growth of humans and phytopathogens.


Is per-protocol kidney biopsy required in lupus nephritis?
Baseline kidney biopsy is recommended in lupus nephritis (LN). Biopsy allows to classify different forms of LN and differentiate other forms of renal involvement, such as tubulo-interstitial nephritis or thrombotic microangiopathy. The indications for repeat biopsy are more controversial. Some authors feel that good clinical monitoring is sufficient to assess prognosis and make therapeutic decisions. Based on the recently demonstrated discordance between clinical and histological response, some physicians recommend per-protocol biopsies either at 6 months in stable patients to verify the response to induction therapy, or after one-to-two years to assess treatment efficacy and tune the duration of maintenance therapy. Others recommend repeating kidney biopsy in case of incomplete response or to discriminate between active and chronic lesions. By definition, a per-protocol kidney biopsy differs from a repeat biopsy in that the former is foreseen at fixed timepoints, regardless of the clinical response. Although any decision should always consider the patient's overall clinical condition, there are no doubts that repeat kidney biopsy represents a useful tool in difficult cases to evaluate treatment response, modulate treatment intensity, and predict long-term renal outcome both in quiescent lupus and during flares. How to harmonize per-protocol biopsies in the LN course remains challenging.


Characterization of the avian adenovirus penton base.
A portion of the fowl adenovirus 10 (FAV-10) penton base gene was located within a Sau3A genomic DNA fragment by the combination of a plasmid expression library and colony immunoassays with rabbit anti-FAV-10-sera. The coding portion of the sequence contained in the expression vector was mapped to a 11.6-kb Bg/II fragment and more precisely mapped to the right-hand end of the 11.6-kb fragment at map units 37.7 to 41.3. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the region revealed an open reading frame of 1575 bp with translation of the sequence producing a polypeptide of 525 amino acids in length. The polypeptide predicted from the open reading frame would have a molecular weight of 57.4 kDa. Analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed an overall homology of 41.8% with the human adenovirus 2 (HAV-2) penton base. However, a region near the center of the polypeptide (amino acids 219 to 311) showed a significantly greater level of homology to the HAV-2 penton base (71%). Time course experiments using mRNA confirmed that this gene is expressed at late times postinfection. Upon probing genomic DNA from other FAV serotypes the penton base coding region hybridized to all six different serotypes tested, indicating a relatively conserved DNA sequence among a variety of FAVs.


Antimicrobial drug resistance as determined by the E-test in Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari isolates from the ceca of broiler and layer chickens in Grenada.
One hundred and twenty five chickens from Grenada, consisting of 77 broilers and 48 layers were examined for carriage of thermophilic campylobacters in their ceca by culture. Seventy nine percent of chickens were positive for campylobacters, with an isolation rate of 93.5% for broilers and 56.3% for layers, the difference being significant. Sixty-four pure cultures comprising 39 Campylobacter coli, 21 Campylobacter jejuni, and 4 Campyilobacter lari isolates were tested for their resistance against 7 antibiotics using the E-test. None of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol and gentamicin. Resistance rates to other drugs were: ampicillin, 9.4%; ciprofloxacin, 12.5%; erythromycin, 3.1%; metronidazole, 9.4%, and tetracycline, 50% with MICs of >or=256 microg/mL for tetracycline. There were no significant differences in resistance rates between C. coli and C. jejuni. Multiple resistance to >or=2 drugs was seen in 15.6% of total isolates. All C. lari isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 3 of 4 isolates had multiple drug resistance. Overall, erythromycin, which is the drug of choice for treatment of Campylobacter infections in humans, is effective in vitro against 97% of chicken isolates in Grenada.


On the quantitative theory of reproductive effort in clonal plants: Refinements of theory, with evidence from goldenrods and mayapples.
Recently I proposed a quantitative theory which predicts the partition of resources between vegetative growth and seed production in highly rhizomatous clonal plants (Armstrong 1982, 1983). My basic premise was that this partition should be controlled by basic geometric properties of clonal growth. My conclusions were that the ratio of resources expended on seeds and rhizomes should be relatively constant in time and space, and that the value of this ratio should be predictable from a knowledge of the allometric relationships among certain morphological characters.In the present paper I first refine this theory to yield explicit ramet-level predictions directly applicable to clonal species with densely-packed canopies. These predictions are then tested using observations on goldenrods (Solidago altissima) and mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). In the Solidago studies, the ratio of infructescence weight to total rhizome weight was found to be asymptotically constant for the larger ramets in a clone, confirming an important prediction of the theory. A second prediction of the theory, that the ratio of infructescence weight to total rhizome weight should be constant across clones, was not confirmed using the goldenrod data. This observation may simply be due to measurement biases. An alternative hypothesis is that the prediction of this theory constitute an r-limit strategy, and so are applicable only in the limit of density independent growth. Data from Sohn and Policansky (1977) on mayapples support this latter interpretation.


Identification of miR-143-3p as a diagnostic biomarker in gastric cancer.
Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most common types of gastrointestinal cancers and has a high incidence and mortality around the world. To suppress the progression of GC, it is essential to develop diagnostic markers. MicroRNAs regulate GC development, but a clearer insight into their role is needed before they can be applied as a molecular markers and targets. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic value of differentially expressed microRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers for GC using data for 389 tissue samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and 21 plasma samples from GC patients. The expression of hsa-miR-143-3p (also known as hsa-miR-143) was significantly downregulated in GC according to the TCGA data and plasma samples. The 228 potential target genes of hsa-miR-143-3p were analyzed using a bioinformatics tool for miRNA target prediction. The target genes correlated with extracellular matrix organization, the cytoplasm, and identical protein binding. Furthermore, the pathway enrichment analysis of target genes showed that they were involved in pathways in cancer, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, and proteoglycans in cancer. The hub genes in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, were matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), CD44 molecule (CD44), and SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3). This study suggests that hsa-miR-143-3p may be used as a diagnostic marker for GC, contributing via the pathways involved in the development of GC.


A method of assigning scores to the components of a composite outcome: an example from the MITI trial.
After obtaining expert opinion to assign weights to the individual components of a composite outcome, scores are assigned in such a way as to reflect these weights as well as to optimize the power for specified alternatives.


Left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial size are associated with ischemic strokes among non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant users.
Ischemic strokes (IS) occurring in patients taking non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are becoming increasingly more frequent. We aimed to determine the clinical, echocardiographic, and neuroimaging markers associated with developing IS in patients taking NOACs for atrial fibrillation. From a quaternary care center, clinical/radiologic data were collected from consecutive NOAC users with IS and age-matched controls without IS. Brain MRIs were reviewed for markers of cerebral small vessel disease. Variables with significant differences between groups were entered into a multivariable regression model to determine predictors of IS. Among IS patients, a Cox regression analysis was constructed to determine predictors of IS recurrence during follow-up. 112 patients with IS and 94 controls were included in the study. Variables significantly different between groups included apixaban use, dabigatran use, prior cerebrovascular events, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial volume index, and severe white matter hyperintensities. After multivariable adjustment, prior cerebrovascular events (aOR 23.86, 95% CI [6.02-94.48]), HbA1c levels (aOR 2.36, 95% CI [1.39-3.99]), left ventricular hypertrophy (aOR 2.73, 95% CI [1.11-6.71]) and left atrial volume index (aOR 1.05, 95% CI [1.01-1.08]) increased the risk of stroke, whereas apixaban use appeared to decrease the risk (aOR 0.38, 95% CI [0.16-0.92]). Malignancy was associated with IS recurrence (aHR 4.90, 95% CI [1.35-18.42]) after adjustment for age and chronic renal failure. Prior cerebrovascular events, diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy, and increased left atrial size are risk factors for developing an IS among NOAC users.


Bioconversion of waste office paper to L(+)-lactic acid by the filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae.
L(+)-lactic acid production was investigated using an enzymatic hydrolysate of waste office automation (OA) paper in a culture of the filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae. In 4 d culture, 82.8 g/l glucose, 7 g/l xylose, and 3.4 g/l cellobiose contained in the hydrolysate were consumed to produce 49.1 g/l of lactic acid. The lactic acid yield and production rate were only 0.59 g/g and 16.3 g/l/d, respectively, only 75% and 61% of the results from the glucose medium. The low production rate from waste OA hydrolysate was elucidated by trials using xylose as the sole carbon source; in those trials, the lactic acid production rate was 7.3 g/l/d, only 28% that of glucose or cellobiose. The low lactic acid yield from waste OA hydrolysate was clarified by trials using artificial hydrolysates comprised of 7:2:1 or 7:1:2 ratios of glucose:cellobiose:xylose. For both, the lactic acid production rate of 17.4 g/l/d matched that of waste OA paper, while the lactic acid yield was similar to that of the glucose medium. This indicates that the production rate may be inhibited by xylose derived from hemicellulose, and the yield may be inhibited by unknown compounds derived from paper pulp.


Linear and angular measurements of computer-generated models: are they accurate, valid, and reliable?
Traditional advanced imaging modalities such as CT and MRI are limited in their ability to perform accurate linear distance and angular measurements regardless of anatomical orientation. The construction of 3D models has been used to perform anthropometric analyses as well as in the reconstruction of rapid prototypes. We hypothesized that such measurements would be precise to within 2 mm or 2 degrees of measurements performed with a coordinate measurement machine (CMM). We also hypothesized that there would be a high degree of interobserver reliability with these measurements. Multiple aluminum screws were implanted in various positions in three foam pelvises which were subsequently scanned by CT and rendered as 3D models using a commercially available software package (Mimics). Linear and angular measurements were performed using a CMM machine, the software package, and a dial caliper or goniometer. The deviation of the measurements from the CMM data was compared using ANOVA. The interobserver reliability of both the manual and computer-generated measurements was calculated. The mean difference between the CMM distances and those measured manually and with the software was 2.12 +/- 1.20 mm and 1.57 +/- 1.05 mm, respectively. The mean difference between the CMM angular measurements and the angular measurements performed manually and with the software was 4.07 +/- 4.70 degrees and 1.62 +/- 1.32 degrees, respectively. In all cases, the manual measurements were significantly less accurate (p < 0.0001) and there was a high degree of interobserver reliability. Computer-generated measurements taken from three-dimensionally reconstructed models are more accurate than manual measurements and are within 2 mm and 2 degrees of measurements performed with a CMM. These measurements have high interobserver reliability.


Purification, characterization and evaluation of extracellular peroxidase from two Coprinus species for aqueous phenol treatment.
Non-ligninolytic fungal peroxidases produced by Coprinus cinereus UAMH 4103 and Coprinus sp. UAMH 10067 were purified, characterized and evaluated as cost-effective alternatives to horseradish peroxidase for aqueous phenol treatment. Purified Coprinus peroxidases exhibited a molecular weight of 36 kDa on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Although the catalytic properties of the two Coprinus peroxidases were nearly identical in both crude and purified forms, the stabilities were substantially different. The peroxidase from Coprinus sp. UAMH 10067 was more stable at 50 degrees C and under basic conditions (up to pH 10) than the enzyme from C. cinereus UAMH 4103. The former enzyme also performed better at pH 9 than the latter one in aqueous phenol treatment. The phenol removal efficiency of the Coprinus peroxidase was comparable to those of previously studied plant peroxidases. The broader working pH and higher thermal and alkaline stability of the peroxidase from Coprinus sp. UAMH 10067 may be advantageous for its application to industrial wastewater treatment.


Anxiety in patients with epilepsy: systematic review and suggestions for clinical management.
Up to 50 or 60% of patients with chronic epilepsy have various mood disorders including depression and anxiety. Whereas the relationship between epilepsy and depression has received much attention, less is known about anxiety disorders. It is now recognized that anxiety can have a profound influence on the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. The relationship between anxiety disorders and epilepsy is complex. It is necessary to distinguish between different manifestations of anxiety disorder: ictal, postictal, and interictal anxiety. Preexisting vulnerability factors, neurobiological factors, iatrogenic influences (antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy surgery), and psychosocial factors are all likely to play a role, but with considerable individual differences. Despite the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in patients with epilepsy, there are no systematic treatment studies or evidence-based guidelines for best treatment practice. Nevertheless, a practical approach based on the temporal relationship between anxiety and epileptic seizures allows clinicians to consider appropriate treatment strategies to reduce the psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy.


A consortium's approach to developing an EPA-based community IPPE curriculum.
Currently, there are limited data on the use of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) within introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs). The objective of this study was to identify supporting EPA tasks community IPPE students should perform at the "Competent with Support" level to prepare them for advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). The Southeastern Pharmacy Experiential Education Consortium utilized a modified Delphi process to incorporate EPAs into community IPPE curricula to mirror the consortium's community APPE curricula. Community IPPE and APPE preceptors (N = 140) were invited to participate in focus groups and two surveys to identify and build consensus on EPA-based activities community IPPE students should perform to prepare them for APPEs. The primary outcome was development of an EPA-based community IPPE curriculum. Nine preceptors (6.43%) participated in a focus group, 34 preceptors completed survey one (24.29%), and 20 preceptors completed survey two (14.29%). The initial list of 62 tasks for 14 EPAs was tailored to reflect an IPPE student skill set. Survey consensus led to a community IPPE curricula with 12 required EPAs and 54 tasks (40 required and 14 suggested). The modified Delphi process provided a mechanism for preceptor collaboration with experiential programs to build consensus on community IPPE curricula redesigned around EPAs and supporting tasks. A unified IPPE curriculum adds value to colleges and schools of pharmacy with shared preceptors by improving continuity of experience, expectations, and evaluation of student learners and allows for targeted regional preceptor development.


Survival after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in infants and children with heart disease.
We investigated survival and predictors of mortality for infants and children with heart disease treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as an aid to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Children (<18 years) with heart disease who received extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation and were reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization database were evaluated. Patients were classified into one of 3 groups based on underlying cardiac physiology: single ventricle, 2 ventricles, and cardiac muscle disease. Patients with eligible procedure codes were assigned a Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 classification. Four hundred ninety-two patients were eligible for analysis, and 279 (57%) were assigned a Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 category. Overall survival was 42%. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, significant pre-extracorporeal predictors for mortality included single-ventricle physiology (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.4), a history of a stage 1-type procedure (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.2), and extreme acidosis (arterial blood gas pH < 7.01; odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.7). Right carotid artery cannulation was associated with decreased mortality risk (odds ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.9). During extracorporeal support, complications, including renal injury, evidence of neurologic injury, and persistent acidosis, were associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality. Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as an adjunct to cardiopulmonary resuscitation resulted in hospital survival in 42% of infants and children with heart disease. Underlying cardiac physiology and associated cardiac surgical procedures influenced mortality, as did pre-extracorporeal resuscitation status and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-associated complications.


Influences of perinatal dioxin load to visual motion and oddball stimuli examined with an EEG and MEG analysis.
With MEG and EEG the effect of perinatal dioxin load of 38 healthy 7- to 12-year-old children was studied to assess possible disturbances of visual development. Latencies and amplitudes of the motion (N2 with subcomponents) and oddball responses (N200 and P3b) were analysed after age correction. With increasing load, latencies increased and the amplitudes of the oddball components tended to be reduced. The latency increase between the high- and low-loaded children was about 13 ms (P<0.004) and the oddball response showed an amplitude decrease of 12% (P=0.009). It may be concluded that, during the end-80s/early-90s, exposure to background levels in industrialized regions seems to have resulted in small underdevelopment or damage to visual motion processing and visual cognition. Since dioxin pollution by incinerators still exists in many regions in developing countries and also still, although at a smaller scale, in the industrialized world, perinatal loads of similar magnitude and possibly more as measured in this study may occur and as a consequence might affect the developing brain.


Measuring and interpreting transposable element expression.
Transposable elements (TEs) are insertional mutagens that contribute greatly to the plasticity of eukaryotic genomes, influencing the evolution and adaptation of species as well as physiology or disease in individuals. Measuring TE expression helps to understand not only when and where TE mobilization can occur but also how this process alters gene expression, chromatin accessibility or cellular signalling pathways. Although genome-wide gene expression assays such as RNA sequencing include transposon-derived transcripts, most computational analytical tools discard or misinterpret TE-derived reads. Emerging approaches are improving the identification of expressed TE loci and helping to discriminate TE transcripts that permit TE mobilization from chimeric gene-TE transcripts or pervasive transcription. Here we review the main challenges associated with the detection of TE expression, including mappability, insertional and internal sequence polymorphisms, and the diversity of the TE transcriptional landscape, as well as the different experimental and computational strategies to solve them.


Evidence for co-invasion events: different chigger species (Actinotrichida, Trombidioidea: trombiculidae) share a host.
Cases of co-invasion of various chigger species parasitizing murids and cricetids in various habitats were analysed using morphological and molecular approaches. Here we provide evidence for 25 new cases of co-parasitism of chigger mites on rodent hosts (Myodes glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius) accounting for 8.6% of all host-parasite associations observed in this study. The results confirm higher incidence of co-parasitism in vertebrate-associated Parasitengona mites compared to arthropod-associated ones. Among factors influencing the occurrence of co-parasitism in Trombiculidae the body constitution and year-round availability of hosts associated with lower host specificity of larvae should be considered.


A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Nasal Immunization with Live Virulence Attenuated Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains Using Human Infection Challenge.
Rationale: Pneumococcal pneumonia remains a global health problem. Pneumococcal colonization increases local and systemic protective immunity, suggesting that nasal administration of live attenuated Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) strains could help prevent infections. Objectives: We used a controlled human infection model to investigate whether nasopharyngeal colonization with attenuated S. pneumoniae strains protected against recolonization with wild-type (WT) Spn (SpnWT). Methods: Healthy adults aged 18-50 years were randomized (1:1:1:1) for nasal administration twice (at a 2-wk interval) with saline solution, WT Spn6B (BHN418), or one of two genetically modified Spn6B strains, SpnA1 (Δfhs/piaA) or SpnA3 (ΔproABC/piaA) (Stage I). After 6 months, participants were challenged with SpnWT to assess protection against the homologous serotype (Stage II). Measurements and Main Results: 125 participants completed both study stages per intention to treat. No serious adverse events were reported. In Stage I, colonization rates were similar among groups: SpnWT, 58.1% (18 of 31); SpnA1, 60% (18 of 30); and SpnA3, 59.4% (19 of 32). Anti-Spn nasal IgG levels after colonization were similar in all groups, whereas serum IgG responses were higher in the SpnWT and SpnA1 groups than in the SpnA3 group. In colonized individuals, increases in IgG responses were identified against 197 Spn protein antigens and serotype 6 capsular polysaccharide using a pangenome array. Participants given SpnWT or SpnA1 in Stage I were partially protected against homologous challenge with SpnWT (29% and 30% recolonization rates, respectively) at stage II, whereas those exposed to SpnA3 achieved a recolonization rate similar to that in the control group (50% vs. 47%, respectively). Conclusions: Nasal colonization with genetically modified live attenuated Spn was safe and induced protection against recolonization, suggesting that nasal administration of live attenuated Spn could be an effective strategy for preventing pneumococcal infections. Clinical trial registered with the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN22467293).


Comparative studies on the effects of high-fat diet, endurance training and obesity on Ucp1 expression in male C57BL/6 mice.
Obesity triggers a variety of severe conditions, therefore deteriorates metabolism rate of adipose tissues and muscles. Uncoupling proteins which are highly stimulated by fatty acids are potential targets for anti-obesity agents through breaking the electron gradient in the mitochondrial matrix and creating imbalances in the electron transport chain, thereby increasing the amount of substrate used to produce energy. Therefore, the aim of present study is assessment of exercise and high fat diet on expression level of Ucp1 subcutaneous white and brown adipose tissues (scWAT & BAT) respectively. To perform experiments, 48 male C57BL/6 mice were divided to two major groups and fed with high fat diet (HFD) or low fat diet (LFD) during a period of 12 weeks. After the first intervention, each groups was divided into four groups randomly as (HF-EX), (HF-SED), (LF-EX), (LF-SED) [EX: exercise; SED: sedentary] in form of treadmill running for 45 min/day, 5 days/week during 8 weeks. One day after the last practice session, mice were sacrificed and Ucp1 expression was assessed on scWAT & BAT. Data indicated a down-regulation in scWAT Ucp1 in obese mice similar to what observed for the expression of Pgc1α. Both, BAT Ucp1 and Pgc1α mRNA decreased significantly in response to obesity and physical activity. Moreover, exercise caused significant decrease in scWAT mitochondrial proteins contradictory to BAT. Taken together, exercise exerted controversial effects compared with HFD and obesity on expression of Ucp1 and Pgc1α in scWAT dissimilar to BAT tissues, concluding that obesity may cause a resistance to exercise in terms of metabolic demands for scWAT tissue.


[Evaluation of the effectiveness of an intervention program in family caregivers of dependent persons, in the primary health care system].
Evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to family caregivers. Quasi-experimental study of type before/after, without control group. Primary care; 5 primary care centers of Castelló city. Between the month of January 2018 and the month of January 2019. 72 family caregivers, participants in a specific intervention recently implemented in the Department de Salut de Castelló. Training to family caregivers, seeking to improve knowledge of dependent care, and provide support. Ten group sessions of 120minutes. Descriptive of sociodemographic data. Comparison of the variables overload, low back pain, social support and health-related quality of life before-after the intervention. Variable response: caregiver overload. Bivariate and multivariate analysis. All family caregivers had baseline overload (59.93±14.71); 73.3% showed low back pain, with an average level of 5.13±2.56 and moderate disability (41.7%). 50% received little social support and a great impact on health-related quality of life, especially in terms of pain and anxiety. After the intervention, there was a significant improvement (P=.004) in social support, as well as positive descriptive changes in disability due to low back pain and health-related quality of life dimensions. No progress was found (P>.05) for the presence and level of low back pain, as well as overload levels. The resulting effective intervention to improve perceived social support. However, the low impact on other variables suggests reconsidering its contents, as well as encouraging new prospective studies that may offer more encouraging results.


Serologic dissection of HLA-D specificities by the use of monoclonal antibodies. II. Distinction between HLA-Dw2 and HLA-Dw12.
Three cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies, HU-11, HU-32, and HU-33, specific for human Ia-like antigens were used to analyze the two HLA-DR2-associated HLA-D specificities, HLA-Dw2 and HLA-Dw12. In the HLA-Dw2, DR2, MB1 homozygous B-cell line EB-CMG, the binding of radiolabeled HU-32 and HU-33 was strongly inhibited by the addition of nonlabeled HU-11, whereas no inhibition occurred in the HLA-Dw12, DR2, MB1 homozygous B-cell line EB-KT. To confirm this differential inhibition pattern further, F(ab')2 fragments were prepared from HU-11, and their ability to inhibit complement-dependent lysis mediated by HU-32 and HU-33 was assessed against a total of five homozygous typing cell lines homozygous for HLA-Dw2, DR2, MB1 or HLA-Dw12, DR2, MB1, including EB-CMG and EB-KT. Here again, the same differential inhibition pattern as that observed in the radiobinding inhibition assays was obtained. Thus, the data suggest that the two kinds of HLA-DR2-positive homozygous typing cell lines with distinct HLA-D specificity can be distinguished from each other by using solely serologic methods. This is the first clear-cut serologic distinction made between homozygous typing cells defining HLA-Dw2 and those defining HLA-Dw12, since no serologic means that enables one to distinguish one from the other has been available.


A genome-wide association study identifies a transporter for zinc uploading to maize kernels.
The Zn content in cereal seeds is an important trait for crop production as well as for human health. However, little is known about how Zn is loaded to plant seeds. Here, through a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identify the Zn-NA (nicotianamine) transporter gene ZmYSL2 that is responsible for loading Zn to maize kernels. High promoter sequence variation in ZmYSL2 most likely drives the natural variation in Zn concentrations in maize kernels. ZmYSL2 is specifically localized on the plasma membrane facing the maternal tissue of the basal endosperm transfer cell layer (BETL) and functions in loading Zn-NA into the BETL. Overexpression of ZmYSL2 increases the Zn concentration in the kernels by 31.6%, which achieves the goal of Zn biofortification of maize. These findings resolve the mystery underlying the loading of Zn into plant seeds, providing an efficient strategy for breeding or engineering maize varieties with enriched Zn nutrition.


Quantitative 1H NMR-analysis of technical octabrominated diphenylether DE-79 and UV spectra of its components and photolytic transformation products.
A quantitative analysis of the technical octabromo diphenylether mixture DE-79 is performed by (1)H NMR, avoiding any separation technique. The mass fractions are 36% BDE183, 19% BDE197, 13.1% BDE207, 9.1% BDE196, 7.3% BDE153, 6.2% BDE203, 2.2% BDE180, 1.6% BDE171, 1.2% BDE154 and 0.7% BDE206, considering an additional mass fraction of 1.3% BDE209 determined by HPLC analysis with a diode array detector (DAD). HPLC chromatograms of the BDEs in commercial decaBDE, octaBDE DE-79 and pentaBDE DE-71 and UV spectra of the components of DE-79 are presented. The photolysis of the octaBDE mixture DE-79, dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, by simulated sunlight is monitored by HPLC-DAD and observed to proceed mainly via debromination. Polybrominated dibenzofurans are identified from their UV spectra as significant intermediates.


Prevalence of serum anti-rubella virus antibodies among pregnant women in southern Italy.
To determine the prevalence of anti-rubella virus antibodies and the level of knowledge about congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) among pregnant women living in southern Italy. A seroepidemiologic study was conducted between July 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007. Five-hundred women resident in Messina were enrolled in the study; the participants were in the 4th to 39th week of pregnancy. Anti-rubella virus antibodies were assayed using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Demographic details, vaccination history, and participants' knowledge of the potential risks of rubella infection during pregnancy were assessed via questionnaire. On the basis of the questionnaire results, 70.4% of women were classed as immune to rubella virus infection; however, the prevalence of IgG anti-rubella virus antibodies measured in the participants' serum was 85.8%. Although 55.2% of women had undergone pre-pregnancy rubella screening, only 81 participants reported that they had been vaccinated before becoming pregnant. The participants' general knowledge about CRS was poor, as was their understanding of the importance of undergoing screening. The number of women at risk of rubella infection fell short of the national target set for elimination of CRS. Increased involvement and collaboration by all healthcare workers are, therefore, required to disseminate the information necessary to prevent CRS.


Lymphatic endothelial cell line (CH3) from a recurrent retroperitoneal lymphangioma.
An endothelial cell line derived from a massive recurrent chyle-containing retroperitoneal lymphangioma was isolated in monolayer culture. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry confirmed a close resemblance to blood vascular endothelium with typical cobblestone morphology, positive immunofluorescence staining for endothelial marker Factor VIII-associated antigen and fibronectin, and prominent Weibel-Palade bodies. The endothelial cells also exhibited other ultrastructural features characteristic of lymphatic endothelium, including sparse microvillous surface projections, overlapping intercellular junctions, and abundant intermediate filaments. This endothelial cell line represents a new source of proliferating lymphatic endothelium for future study, including structural and functional comparison to blood vascular endothelium.


Olanzapine for Non-Chemotherapy Related Nausea and Emesis in Patients with a Palliative Care Consult.
Current palliative care guidelines lack a specific treatment algorithm for nausea and emesis. Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic with antiemetic activity that's recommended in the guidelines for the treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, but outside of oncologic indications there is a lack of research. To describe the safety and efficacy of olanzapine for nausea and emesis in the palliative care domain, excluding patients actively undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. This retrospective chart review encompassed hospitalized adult patients from six hospitals across a large health system admitted from August 2020 through August 2021, with a palliative care consult, and being treated with olanzapine for nausea or emesis. Data was collected on antiemetic therapy affordability, the ability for patients to tolerate medications by mouth, and safety outcomes such as QTc prolongation and increased liver function tests. A total of 78 patients were included in the study. Olanzapine decreased the number of doses required of antiemetic medications, the median doses of antiemetic medications pre-olanzapine was 1.6 (IQR 0.8-2.8) and post-olanzapine was 0.6 (IQR 0-2.4) (P = 0.0006). After olanzapine was initiated, appetite was improved (P < 0.001), cost of antiemetic therapy was reduced by 65 cents per day (P = 0.059) and olanzapine was prescribed at discharge in 69% of patients. QTc prolongation was observed in 19% of patients, and increased ALT and AST were observed in 4.3% and 0%, respectively. This retrospective review demonstrated benefit to utilizing olanzapine for nausea and emesis in palliative care patients and should be considered to aid in symptom management.


Fetal hypothalamic brain grafts reduce the obesity produced by ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.
Bilateral destruction of the rat ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) produces a syndrome characterized by hyperphagia and obesity. In the present study we examined whether grafts of fetal hypothalamus could reverse the effects of this lesion. Three groups of adult rats received bilateral electrolytic lesions of the VMH. The first group of animals was then implanted with embryonic day 14-16 hypothalamic tissue by stereotaxic injection into the lesion sites. The second series of animals received comparable-sized grafts from a variety of non-hypothalamic regions of the fetal CNS. The third group experienced similar VMH lesions but did not receive any tissue grafts. After surgery, body weight and food consumption were recorded daily for up to 8 weeks. These measures were compared with similar ones obtained from non-operated rats. Hyperphagia and obesity were consistently observed in all of the lesioned animals not bearing transplants. An initial period of weight gain was also observed in animals receiving hypothalamic grafts, but the duration of the 'dynamic' phase of this syndrome was reduced. Consequently, these graft recipients exhibited significantly less weight gain. This depressed weight gain, however, did not coincide with a statistically significant decrease in hyperphagia. Transplantation of non-hypothalamic tissue also caused an attenuation of the VMH-lesion effect but this was more modest than that induced by homotopic grafts. The results of this experiment show that homotopic transplants can alter the dynamics of weight gain induced by bilateral VMH lesions. However, lesion-induced hyperphagia was not completely reversed in these grafted animals. The fact that other regions can exert a similar effect, though of lesser magnitude, suggests that a more general property of fetal CNS tissue may be involved.


The hypolipidemic activity of boronated nucleosides in male mice and rats.
The boronated nucleosides with varying bases and sugar moieties were shown to be potent hypolipidemic agents in rodents. The 3'- aminocynaoborane dideoxythymidine derivative caused reductions in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, tissue lipids, VLDL and LDL cholesterol levels while elevating HDL cholesterol levels in rodents. The agents suppressed rat hepatic acetyl CoA synthetase, HMG-CoA reductase, acyl-CoA cholesterol acyl transferase, phosphatidylate phosphohydrolase and lipoprotein lipase activities while elevating cholesterol-7alpha-hydroxylase activity from 25 to 100 muM.


Cell attachment, collagen binding, and receptor analysis on bovine articular chondrocytes.
The purpose of this study was to investigate collagen receptors on primary bovine articular chondrocytes from full-thickness and different layers of bovine articular cartilage. Cytometric studies with antibodies showed that approximately 56% of the chondrocytes from the superficial layer and 29% of the chondrocytes from the deep layer bound anti-annexin V. A similar tendency was found for alpha5 and beta1 integrin antibodies. Flow cytometric analysis initially detected annexin V on chondrocytes following isolation; the level of detection subsequently decreased by 24 hours, whereas that of alpha5 and beta1 integrins increased. Treatment of chondrocytes with collagenase at 24 hours restored the initially high epitope recognition of annexin V, indicating masking of annexin V by newly formed collagen matrix. There was little effect on detection levels for beta1 integrin. Contrary to the specific matrix receptor expression, chondrocytes from superficial and deep layers differed little in attachment to immobilized types I and II collagens. However, the attachment was more effectively inhibited with anti-annexin V than with integrin antibodies. Competition studies with preparations of soluble collagens revealed a preferential binding of bovine type-II collagen compared with bovine type-I collagen. Anti-annexin V antibodies inhibited binding of type-II collagen more effectively than anti-alpha5 or anti-beta1 integrin antibodies. Evidently, under the in vitro conditions of this study, annexin V is the quantitatively predominant type-II collagen receptor on bovine articular chondrocytes. This opens a discussion of the possibly dualistic metabolic/mechanical annexin V-integrin receptor elements.


Green synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives by using zinc boron nitride catalyst and their application from DFT (B3LYP) study.
A new zinc-based boron nitride (Zn-BNT) material was synthesized from boron nitride and zinc acetate in 95% yield. The morphological and spectroscopic properties of Zn-BNT were elucidated by SEM, XRD, BET, DSC-TGA, and FT-IR. Zn-BNT catalyzed the synthesis of benzimidazoles (3a-3h) through a reaction between o-phenylenediamine and different aromatic aldehydes under microwave conditions for 15 min. The compounds were purified by silica-gel chromatography. The synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and elemental analysis. Zn-BNT was reused eight times with only a 5% loss of catalytic activity. Furthermore, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (3f) was selected for a computational study of the IR and NMR spectrum, which matched the experimentally generated spectra. The HOMO-LUMO gap was 4.48, and the Fukui function analysis showed high activity in the reactive sites.


Aging and the family.
Characteristics of family and household structure are examined in this paper to shed light on an important aspect of the life conditions of older persons in countries at different levels of development. Using various measures, both direct and indirect, the analysis showed the existence of a nuclear household as a predominant family form. Extended household families are more common in Asian countries, especially India, than in other regions for which data are available. While available cross-national data do not enable us to assess the extent to which older persons reside in households with their children, headship rates indicate that the majority of male older persons continue to maintain their position as heads of households in later life and that female headship increases with age. This is confirmed by analysis of data on marital status, which show higher proportions of males currently married than for females and sharply higher widowhood levels for females. Marriage at older ages seems to be relatively low. A general trend within most developed countries is toward increasing independent living, especially for females, and a sharp decline in both males and females living in a household with relatives.


Extended DNA Fibers for High-Resolution Mapping.
DNA fiber-FISH is an easy and simple light microscopic method to map unique and repeat sequences relative to each other at the molecular scale. A standard fluorescence microscope and a DNA labeling kit are sufficient to visualize DNA sequences from any tissue or organ. Despite the enormous progress of high-throughput sequencing technologies, DNA fiber-FISH remains a unique and indispensable tool to detect chromosomal rearrangements and to demonstrate differences between related species at high resolution. We discuss standard and alternative steps to easily prepare extended DNA fibers for high-resolution FISH mapping.


Single chain variable fragment antibodies block aggregation and toxicity induced by familial ALS-linked mutant forms of SOD1.
Approximately 10% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are familial (known as FALS) with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, and ~25% of FALS cases are caused by mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). There is convincing evidence that mutant SOD1 (mtSOD1) kills motor neurons (MNs) because of a gain-of-function toxicity, most likely related to aggregation of mtSOD1. A number of recent reports have suggested that antibodies can be used to treat mtSOD1-induced FALS. To follow up on the use of antibodies as potential therapeutics, we generated single chain fragments of variable region antibodies (scFvs) against SOD1, and then expressed them as 'intrabodies' within a motor neuron cell line. In the present study, we describe isolation of human scFvs that interfere with mtSOD1 in vitro aggregation and toxicity. These scFvs may have therapeutic potential in sporadic ALS, as well as FALS, given that sporadic ALS may also involve abnormalities in the SOD1 protein or activity.


Potential toxicity mechanism of MoS2 nanotube in the interaction between YAP65 WW domain and PRM.
With the widespread application of Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) in biomedicine, its mechanism of action with biomolecules has attracted increasing attention. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the effect of MoS2 nanotube on the binding of the signal protein YAP65, an important Yes kinase-associated protein domain (WW domain), to the proline rich motif ligand (PRM). We designed four systems based on the different initial binding modes among WW domain, PRM and MoS2 nanotube, and observed two ways to affect the binding of WW domain to PRM. The first pathway, the active site in WW domain was occupied by MoS2 nanotube, which prevents WW domain from binding to PRM. In the second pathway, WW domain was bound to PRM with residues W17 and F29 instead of the two highly conserved residues (Y28 and W39), forming an unstable combination. These two results might cause WW domain to lose its original function or to pass the mistaken signal. However, MoS2 nanotube did not destroy the structure and binding of WW domain and PRM in the composite. These findings shed light on the interaction between MoS2 nanotube and signal protein system, while providing another valuable insight into the potential nanotoxicity of MoS2 nanotube.


Very long chain fatty acid beta-oxidation by subcellular fractions of normal and Zellweger syndrome skin fibroblasts.
Very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) beta-oxidation was compared in homogenates and subcellular fractions of cultured skin fibroblasts from normal individuals and from Zellweger patients who show greatly reduced numbers of peroxisomes in their tissues. beta-Oxidation of lignoceric (C24:0) acid was greatly reduced compared to controls in the homogenates and the subcellular fractions of Zellweger fibroblasts. The specific activity of C24:0 acid beta-oxidation was highest in the crude peroxisomal pellets of control fibroblasts. Fractionation of the crude mitochondrial and the crude peroxisomal pellets on Percoll density gradients revealed that the C24:0 acid oxidation was carried out entirely by peroxisomes, and the peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity was missing in Zellweger fibroblasts. In contrast to the beta-oxidation of C24:0 acid, the beta-oxidation of C24:0 CoA was observed in both mitochondria and peroxisomes. We postulate that a very long chain fatty acyl CoA (VLCFA CoA) synthetase, which is different from long chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase, is required for the effective conversion of C24:0 acid to C24:0 CoA. The VLCFA CoA synthetase appears to be absent from the mitochondrial membrane but present in the peroxisomal membrane.


Screening for depression in palliative cancer patients attending a pain and symptom control clinic.
Depression in palliative care patients is often underrecognized. Screening can increase case recognition. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of depression in palliative cancer patients attending a pain and symptom control clinic and to investigate the validity and utility of a depression visual analogue scale in detecting depression in the advanced cancer outpatient population. One hundred and thirty-two oncology outpatients who came for consultation at a multidisciplinary pain and symptom control clinic were asked and agreed to complete the Brief Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (BZSDS; Dugan et al., 1998) and depression visual analogue scale (DVAS). The majority of participants (72%) indicated clinically significant depressive symptoms according to the BZSDS (21% in the "mild" depressive symptoms range, 32% in the "moderate" range, and 19% in the "severe" range). Participants indicated low endorsement rates of items related to overt manifestation of depression (e.g., sadness, tearfulness, irritability, and suicide ideation). The DVAS showed high correlation with the BZSDS (r = .82) and is a potentially useful screening instrument for detecting depressive disorder in palliative care cancer patients. The results of the study underline the importance of routine screening to detect depressive disorder in palliative care patients to improve their quality of care. The depression visual analogue scale was found to be an effective simple screening tool, easy to administer and use.


Estimation of the Unbiodegradable Fraction of Thickened Waste Activated Sludge.
The study investigated the unbiodegradable fraction of particulate chemical oxygen demand (PCOD) in thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) using semicontinuous-flow completely-mixed anaerobic digesters. A laboratory-scale semicontinuous stirred tank reactor was used to investigate TWAS anaerobic biodegradability at hydraulic retention time of 16.7 d to 33.3 d and organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.21 kg COD/m3•d to 3.47 kg COD/m3•d. The COD and volatile suspended solids (VSS) removal for TWAS were 37% to 44% and 39% to 42% at an OLR of 1.27 and 3.47 kg COD/m3•d, respectively. Using a biomass yield (<inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="00819-ilm01.gif"/>) of 0.29 g COD biomass/g COD substrate, decay rate (<inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="00819-ilm02.gif"/>of 0.015 d-1; and a solids retention time (SRT) of 16.7 d; two linear fits correlating the difference between effluent biomass; and effluent particulate COD with influent total COD, the unbiodegradable fractions of PCOD and VSS were estimated from the slopes of the linear fits to be in the range of 0.26 to 0.28.


Comparative study of the possible protective effects of cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
This study aimed to assess the protective effect of cinnamic acid (CA) and cinnamaldehyde (CD) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. A single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg), injected intraperitoneally to male rats, caused significant increases in serum urea, creatinine levels, and lipid peroxides measured as the malondialdehyde content of kidney, with significant decreases in serum albumin, reduced glutathione, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) of kidney as compared with the control group. On the other hand, administration of CA (50 mg/kg, p.o.) or CD (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days before cisplatin ameliorated the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity as indicated by the restoration of kidney function and oxidative stress parameters. Furthermore, they reduced the histopathological changes induced by cisplatin. In conclusion, CA and CD showed protective effects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity where CD was more effective than CA; affects that might be attributed to their antioxidant activities.


Coaches' experiences of injury prevention in youth elite athletes: An interview study of 10 coaches.
Injury prevention is important to reduce the high injury risk in youth elite athletes studying at sports high schools. Coaches are considered important in youth elite sports and injury prevention. The aim was to investigate perceptions and experiences of injury prevention among coaches at sports high schools. A manifest qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used based on ten semi-structured interviews with coaches who work at sports high schools. An overarching theme "Coaches of youth athletes value injury prevention but have limited knowledge and support" was identified and five main categories were formed. Coaches perceived themselves to play an important role in injury prevention, yet they described limited time for knowledge acquisition and highlighted the close collaboration with other professions as a key in injury prevention. A coach's knowledge and support are critical factors in injury prevention of youth elite athletes. Evidence-based as well as non-evidence-based approaches are used, and the biopsychosocial perspective was not always taken into consideration. A need for more interprofessional collaboration and knowledge acquisition regarding injury prevention is warranted.


Risk score-guided multidisciplinary team-based Care for Heart Failure Inpatients is associated with lower 30-day readmission and lower 30-day mortality.
Using augmented intelligence clinical decision tools and a risk score-guided multidisciplinary team-based care process (MTCP), this study evaluated the MTCP for heart failure (HF) patients' 30-day readmission and 30-day mortality across 20 Intermountain Healthcare hospitals. HF inpatient care and 30-day post-discharge management require quality improvement to impact patient health, optimize utilization, and avoid readmissions. HF inpatients (N = 6182) were studied from January 2013 to November 2016. In February 2014, patients began receiving care via the MTCP based on a phased implementation in which the 8 largest Intermountain hospitals (accounting for 89.8% of HF inpatients) were crossed over sequentially in a stepped manner from control to MTCP over 2.5 years. After implementation, patient risk scores were calculated within 24 hours of admission and delivered electronically to clinicians. High-risk patients received MTCP care (n = 1221), while lower-risk patients received standard HF care (n = 1220). Controls had their readmission and mortality scores calculated retrospectively (high risk: n = 1791; lower risk: n = 1950). High-risk MTCP recipients had 21% lower 30-day readmission compared to high-risk controls (adjusted P = .013, HR = 0.79, CI = 0.66, 0.95) and 52% lower 30-day mortality (adjusted P < .001, HR = 0.48, CI = 0.33, 0.69). Lower-risk patients did not experience increased readmission (adjusted HR = 0.88, P = .19) or mortality (adjusted HR = 0.88, P = .61). Some utilization was higher, such as prescription of home health, for MTCP recipients, with no changes in length of stay or overall costs. A risk score-guided MTCP was associated with lower 30-day readmission and 30-day mortality in high-risk HF inpatients. Further evaluation of this clinical management approach is required.


Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning Enables Estimation of Articular Cartilage Structural, Compositional, and Functional Properties.
To differentiate healthy from artificially degraded articular cartilage and estimate its structural, compositional, and functional properties using Raman spectroscopy (RS). Visually normal bovine patellae (n = 12) were used in this study. Osteochondral plugs (n = 60) were prepared and artificially degraded either enzymatically (via Collagenase D or Trypsin) or mechanically (via impact loading or surface abrasion) to induce mild to severe cartilage damage; additionally, control plugs were prepared (n = 12). Raman spectra were acquired from the samples before and after artificial degradation. Afterwards, reference biomechanical properties, proteoglycan (PG) content, collagen orientation, and zonal (%) thickness of the samples were measured. Machine learning models (classifiers and regressors) were then developed to discriminate healthy from degraded cartilage based on their Raman spectra and to predict the aforementioned reference properties. The classifiers accurately categorized healthy and degraded samples (accuracy = 86%), and successfully discerned moderate from severely degraded samples (accuracy = 90%). On the other hand, the regression models estimated cartilage biomechanical properties with reasonable error (≤ 24%), with the lowest error observed in the prediction of instantaneous modulus (12%). With zonal properties, the lowest prediction errors were observed in the deep zone, i.e., PG content (14%), collagen orientation (29%), and zonal thickness (9%). RS is capable of discriminating between healthy and damaged cartilage, and can estimate tissue properties with reasonable errors. These findings demonstrate the clinical potential of RS.


[172 consecutive total gastrectomies for gastric cancer with Roux-en-Y loop reconstruction and without fistulization of the esophago-jejunal anastomosis].
In the treatment of gastric cancer total gastrectomy (TG) is one of the most important operation and the esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage is the most important early complication. In our series of 172 consecutive TGs (all controlled with Gastrografin-Rx in fifth postoperative day) we did not have any anastomotic fistula, independently from age, stage, type of limphadenectomy and visceral demolition. We believe that the correct technical performance is the most important factor in the esophagojejunal anastomosis.


Sports activities enhance the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms in schoolchildren.
To evaluate the association between sports activities and allergic symptoms, especially rhinitis, among schoolchildren. This longitudinal survey of schoolchildren collected data from questionnaires regarding allergic symptoms based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) program and sports participation that were distributed to the parents of children at all 12 public primary schools in Ohmi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Data were collected annually from 2011 until 2014, when the children reached 10 years of age. Blood samples were obtained in 2014, and the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)E specific to four inhalant allergens were measured. Data from 558 children were analyzed. At 10 years of age, prevalence of asthma and eczema did not differ significantly, while rhinitis was significantly higher (p = 0.009) among children who participated in sports. Prevalence of rhinitis increased as the frequency or duration of sports participation increased (p < 0.01). The prevalence of new-onset rhinitis increased significantly among 10-year-olds with increasing duration of participation in sports (p = 0.03). Among those who participated in continuous sports activities, the prevalence of rhinitis was significantly higher with prolonged eczema (p = 0.006). Sports activities did not increase sensitization to inhalant allergens. Sports activities enhance the prevalence of rhinitis in schoolchildren. Prolonged eczema, together with sports participation, further promotes the symptoms. The mechanisms of these novel findings warrant further investigation.


Estimation of the increased risk of human infertility from alterations in semen characteristics.
Although many toxicants lower sperm counts in exposed men, there is no means of estimating the resulting increase in infertility. A mathematical model was developed to provide such estimates, using sperm counts (i.e., concentration) as an indicator of fertility potential. Continuous functions were fit to published distributions of sperm counts of men from fertile and infertile couples. A distribution of sperm counts for the overall population was constructed from these two functions. Equations were derived for calculating the infertility risk for a man with a given sperm count and the incidence of infertility in an exposed population. The increase in infertility was calculated for a proportional reduction of all sperm counts within a population and for a group of workers exposed to dibromochloropropane.


The effect of nerve growth factor and its antibody on mast cells in vivo.
Repeated subcutaneous administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) into newborn rats caused an increase in number and size of free and tissue-adherent mast cells (MCs). In vivo and in vitro autoradiographic studies show that MCs exhibit specific binding sites for NGF. Peritoneal MCs of adult rats exposed to high titers of endogenous (autoimmunization) and exogenous NGF antibodies showed severe cytological alterations and decreased in number. Light and electron microscopic studies revealed that MC destruction took place slowly (7-10 days) and required continual exposure to high titers of NGF antibodies. The role played by NGF in the hematopoietic cell lineage is at present under study in our laboratory.


Facing up to programmatic challenges created by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Three decades after the emergence of HIV, we have made great strides in our response to the epidemic, from prevention of transmission to testing and treatment. However, it is still common in high-prevalence settings for people to not know their HIV status, and estimates are that globally, a mere 36% of those eligible for treatment are receiving it. On top of this, for every person with HIV entering treatment, two more are infected. The operational obstacles to overcoming the challenges and fully implementing proven strategies are numerous. The operational research and implementation sciences aim to provide a sound basis for how to maximize the use of limited resources by investigating the best models to deliver services and implement programmes in various settings and contexts. In this special issue, the Journal of the International AIDS Society intends to highlight some of the operational and programmatic challenges that are faced in sub-Saharan Africa, home to the largest population living with HIV. Our hope is that readers gain insight into some of the challenges associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic and a changing environment in the region, and become familiar with some applications of operational research and implementation science in HIV healthcare settings.


Unique patellofemoral alignment in a patient with a symptomatic bipartite patella.
A symptomatic bipartite patella is rarely seen in athletic adolescents or young adults in daily clinical practice. To date, only a limited number of studies have focused on patellofemoral alignment. The current study revealed a unique patellofemoral alignment in a patient with a symptomatic bipartite patella. Twelve patients with 12 symptomatic bipartite patellae who underwent arthroscopic vastus lateralis release (VLR) were investigated (10 males and two females, age: 15.7±4.4years). The radiographic data of contralateral intact and affected knees were reviewed retrospectively. From the lateral- and skyline-view imaging, the following parameters were measured: the congruence angle (CA), the lateral patellofemoral angle (LPA), and the Caton-Deschamps index (CDI). As an additional parameter, the bipartite fragment angle (BFA) was evaluated against the main part of the patella in the skyline view. Compared with the contralateral side, the affected patellae were significantly medialized and laterally tilted (CA: P=0.019; LPA: P=0.016), although there was no significant difference in CDI (P=0.877). This patellar malalignment was found to significantly change after VLR (CA: P=0.001; LPA: P=0.003) and the patellar height was significantly lower than in the preoperative condition (P=0.016). In addition, the BFA significantly shifted to a higher degree after operation (P=0.001). Patients with symptomatic bipartite patellae presented significantly medialized and laterally tilted patellae compared with the contralateral intact side. This malalignment was corrected by VLR, and the alignment of the bipartite fragment was also significantly changed. Level IV, case series.


Acute tolerance to rate-decreasing effects of single doses of ethanol.
Acute tolerance occurs when behavioral impairment is greater at a given blood ethanol concentration (BAC) on the ascending versus descending limb of the BAC-time curve following administration of a single dose of ethanol, however studies utilizing learned behaviors have not been widely reported. We assessed acute tolerance to single doses of ethanol in five Lewis rats responding under a fixed-ratio (FR8) schedule of food presentation. Response rates for food during 1-min components (ending 2, 4, 11, 18, 33, and 57 min after ethanol administration) were determined, and BAC was measured immediately after each component using a rat breathalyzer. Ethanol (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.2 g/kg, i.p.) produced dose-related decreases in responding for food that tended to recover over time for all but the highest dose tested. Similarly, dose-related increases in BAC were also observed. Using either an analysis that expressed impairment per unit BAC on the ascending limb versus the descending limb (by assessing the area under the curve (AUC) for behavior and BAC on each limb), the slope of the function that relates the behavioral effect to BAC (each expressed as percent maximum effect), or a variant of the Mellanby method (hysteresis), acute tolerance was observed following a dose of 0.4 g/kg ethanol. Though behavior appeared to recover on the descending limb following higher doses (especially 0.6 and 0.8 g/kg), acute tolerance to these doses was not present.


NKT cells in immunoregulation of tumor immunity: a new immunoregulatory axis.
CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells have at least two subsets: type I, semi-invariant TCRalpha chain-expressing (Valpha14Jalpha18 in mice, Valpha24Jalpha18 in humans), and type II, variable TCRalpha chain-expressing. The protective role of NKT cells in tumor immunosurveillance and immunity has been well documented but paradoxically, there are also studies ascribing a suppressive role to these cells. Recent studies have resolved this paradox by revealing distinct roles for the two types of NKT cells, whereby type I NKT cells enhance anti-tumor responses and type II NKT cells suppress these responses. The finding of cross-regulation between the two types of NKT cells suggests a new immunoregulatory axis. Consideration of the cross-talk of NKT cells along with the well-defined suppression by regulatory T cells could provide new insights into cancer immunotherapy.


Is FOB screening really the answer for lowering mortality in colorectal cancer?
In the three trials that tested screening with biennial fecal occult blood test (FOBT), follow-up of control patients for colorectal cancer (CRC) differed: in the Minnesota (United States) trial, the follow-up was equivalent to patients in the intervention groups, while in the Nottingham (United Kingdom) and Funen (Denmark) trials, control patients just received usual care. In the two latter trials, mortality from colorectal cancer was lower in subjects with interval colorectal cancer than in control subjects, while in the Minnesota trial, survival was equivalent in patients with interval CRC and in control patients. We examined whether better disease awareness of subjects allocated to the intervention group contributed to changes in colorectal cancer mortality observed in the FOBT trials. In the Nottingham and Funen trials, we evaluated the amount of colorectal cancer mortality reduction attributable to better survival of subjects in whom an interval colorectal cancer developed. In the Minnesota trial, we examined whether earlier detection of colorectal cancer in control subjects could explain the small (6%) reduction in colorectal cancer mortality observed with biennial FOBT. In the Nottingham and Funen trials, about one-quarter of the reduction in colorectal cancer mortality could be attributed to better awareness of patients with interval colorectal cancer. After correction for the effects of disease awareness, the absolute reduction in colorectal cancer mortality due to FOBT itself was 12% instead of 16%, and was no longer statistically significant (P>0.05). The results from biennial FOBT in the Minnesota trial published in 1993 would probably have been similar to those obtained in the Nottingham and Funen trials if disease awareness had not influenced the stage at diagnosis of colorectal cancers found in the control group. Better awareness of colorectal cancer contributes to the reduction of colorectal cancer mortality and should be encouraged. Because of a study design effect, the decrease in colorectal cancer mortality attributable to the FOBT itself is about 25% lower than that reported in the Nottingham and Funen trials. Therefore, recommending general population screening with biennial FOBT is still an open question.


Chondrogenic differentiation of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in type I collagen-hydrogel for cartilage engineering.
A potent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population was recently isolated from the Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cord (UC). The aim of the current experiments was to determine the potential of human UC-derived MSC (UC-MSC) in cartilage healing. Chondrogenic differentiation of collagen hydrogel-embedded cells was induced in standard chondrocyte conditioning medium and further detected by real-time PCR, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry analyses. Cell viability and apoptosis of the MSCs in the collagen I hydrogels were monitored using apoptosis detection kit. Cells isolated from UC were positive for MSC biomarkers and negative for haematopoietic lineage and endothelial biomarkers and possess the capacity to differentiate along osteogenic lineage. UC-MSCs embedded in collagen hydrogel can undergo chondrogenesis characterised by significantly increased expressions of collagen II, aggrecan, COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) and sox9 after exposed cells-embedded hydrogels to chondrogenic factors. The most of cells remained viable throughout the hydrogels after 3 weeks of cultivation in chondrogenic differentiation medium. Collagen hydrogel can provide an appropriate 3-D environment for the chondrogenesis of UC-MSCs. UC-MSCs embedded in biocompatible scaffold may have great potential for cartilage engineering.


Retraction: Role of miR-132/methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 in the regulation of neural stem cell differentiation.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.290908].


Bis(N-adamantyl-N'-ethyl-imidazolium) tetra-bromido-manganate(II).
The title compound, (C15H23N2)2[MnBr4], comprises two N-adamantyl-N'-ethyl-imidazolium cations and one tetra-hedral [MnBr4]2- anion. Next to Coulombic inter-actions, weak hydrogen bonds of the type C-H⋯Br consolidate the crystal packing, building up a three-dimensional network.


Rapid imaging of lung cancer using a red fluorescent probe to detect dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase activities.
Rapid identification of lung-cancer micro-lesions is becoming increasingly important to improve the outcome of surgery by accurately defining the tumor/normal tissue margins and detecting tiny tumors, especially for patients with low lung function and early-stage cancer. The purpose of this study is to select and validate the best red fluorescent probe for rapid diagnosis of lung cancer by screening a library of 400 red fluorescent probes based on 2-methyl silicon rhodamine (2MeSiR) as the fluorescent scaffold, as well as to identify the target enzymes that activate the selected probe, and to confirm their expression in cancer cells. The selected probe, glutamine-alanine-2-methyl silicon rhodamine (QA-2MeSiR), showed 96.3% sensitivity and 85.2% specificity for visualization of lung cancer in surgically resected specimens within 10 min. In order to further reduce the background fluorescence while retaining the same side-chain structure, we modified QA-2MeSiR to obtain glutamine-alanine-2-methoxy silicon rhodamine (QA-2OMeSiR). This probe rapidly visualized even borderline lesions. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase were identified as enzymes mediating the cleavage and consequent fluorescence activation of QA-2OMeSiR, and it was confirmed that both enzymes are expressed in lung cancer. QA-2OMeSiR is a promising candidate for clinical application.


The effect of UV irradiation on human-derived Giardia lamblia cysts.
The effect of UV irradiation on human-derived Giardia lamblia cysts (WB isolate, cultivated using the gerbil model, and purified to homogeneity) was assessed using a 254nm collimated beam protocol. The infection kinetics of UV-exposed cysts were directly compared to the infection kinetics of control (non-UV-exposed) cysts. This demonstrated that a UV dose at 254 nm resulted in significant inactivation of the Giardia cysts. Up to 2 log (99%) inactivation was observed at a UV dose of approximately 10 mJ cm(-2) (range 9.3-11.7 mJ cm(-2)). Higher UV doses (between 20 and 40 mJ cm(-2)) resulted in up to 3 log (99.9%) inactivation of the cysts. The actual inactivation at these dose levels could be higher, but for this study the maximum quantifiable limit of cyst inactivation was up to 3 logs (99.9%). Chemical actinometry using the Rahn potassium iodide actinometer was used to confirm the UV dose delivered. No correlation between a PI/DAPI vital dye viability assay and the infectious dose assay was observed. The vital dye viability assay demonstrated no inactivation. Future work using an alternative UV delivery systems including a demonstration-scale device is recommended and more work with a variety of isolates is warranted.


Does mode of delivery impact the course of cervical dysplasia in pregnancy? A review of 219 cases.
The prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in pregnancy is about 1%. The aim of this study was to analyze the regression, persistence and progression rates of cervical dysplasia in pregnancy and the impact of delivery mode. In this retrospective study, data from pregnant patients with abnormal cytology findings, who presented to a colposcopic outpatient clinic of a university hospital within the last 10 years, were analyzed. Information on cytology, histology and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) status during pregnancy and postpartum and mode of delivery was collected. 219 women, who were assessed with cytology and /or biopsy antepartum and postpartum between January 2010 and July 2020, were included in the study. Antepartum patients presented with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in 37% and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in 53%. During pregnancy biopsy was performed in 78 patients (36%). Postpartum evaluation revealed an overall regression rate of 39%. Persistence rates were especially high in the HSIL group with 70 %. HSIL regressed in 28 %. Progression to invasive disease was rare and seen in two patients postpartum only. 141 women delivered vaginally (VD) and 51 received a cesarean section (CS). Regression rates were similar: 36 % and 47 %. There was no significant difference in progression or persistence rates. Our study demonstrates that mode of delivery does not influence the course of SIL. SIL show high rates of regression and persistence, progression to invasive disease is rare.


Cumulative radiation exposure and cancer risk of patients with ischemic heart diseases from diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures.
To present a detailed analysis of the cumulative radiation exposure and cancer risk of patients with ischemic heart diseases (IHD) from diagnostic and therapeutic imaging. For 1219 IHD patients, personal and examination data were retrieved from the information systems of a university hospital. For each patient, cumulative organ doses and the corresponding effective dose (E) resulting from all imaging procedures performed within 3 months before and 12 months after the date of the diagnosis were calculated. The cumulative lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of the patients to be diseased by radiation-related cancer was estimated using sex-, age-, and organ-specific risk models. Among the 3870 procedures performed in the IHD patients, the most frequent were radiographic examinations (52.4%) followed by coronary catheter angiographies and percutaneous cardiac interventions (41.3%), CT scans (3.9%), and perfusion SPECT (2.3%). 87% of patient exposure resulted from heart catheter procedures. E and LAR were significantly higher in males than females (average, 13.3 vs. 10.3 mSv and 0.09 vs. 0.07%, respectively). Contrary to the effective dose, the cancer risk decreased markedly for both sexes with increasing age. Although IHD patients were partially exposed to considerable amounts of radiation, estimated LARs were small as compared to their baseline risk to develop cancer in the remaining life.


Salmonella O antigen-specific oligosaccharide-octyl conjugates activate complement via the alternative pathway at different rates depending on the structure of the O antigen.
Artificial Salmonella serogroup B, D or Cl-specific glycolipids were prepared by covalently linking oligosaccharides corresponding to two O-antigen repeating units, obtained by phage enzyme hydrolysis of native O-antigenic polysaccharides, to octyl residues. Sheep erythrocytes coated with the artificial glycolipids were studied for their ability to consume C3, when incubated in C4- deficient guinea pig serum. Salmonella C1 (0-6,7) glycolipid-coated erythrocytes consumed C3 40% more efficiently than Salmonella D (0-9,12) glycolipid-coated erythrocytes, and 10-times more efficiently than Salmonella B (0-4,12) glycolipid-coated erythrocytes. These results resemble C3 consumption by Salmonella C1, D, and B cells and by sheep erythrocytes coated with purified lipopolysaccharides of these O-specificities. The results prove directly that in a particulate system C3 activation via the alternative pathway depends on the structural properties of the O-antigenic side chain. Structures as small as octasaccharides, or as two O-antigenic repeating units, are sufficient for triggering C3 activation, but the magnitude of activation depends on the nature of the monosaccharides. Apparently, neither the core oligosaccharide nor Lipid A of lipopolysaccharide are required for C3 activation via the alternative pathway.


Nucleotide sequences of the PA and PB1 genes of B/Ann Arbor/1/66 virus: comparison with genes of B/Lee/40 and type A influenza viruses.
The complete sequences of the PA and PB1 genome RNA segments of B/Ann Arbor/1/66 virus have been determined. The PA vRNA is 2308 bases long. Its complementary RNA has a single open reading frame of 2187 bases, capable of encoding a PA protein of 726 amino acids with a molecular weight of 83,175 Da. The predicted PA polypeptide has an overall net charge of -7.5 at pH 7.0. The PB1 vRNA is 2369 bases long. Its complementary RNA has a single open reading frame of 2277 bases, capable of encoding a PB1 protein of 752 amino acids with a molecular weight of 84,332 Da. The predicted PB1 polypeptide has an overall net charge of +18.5 at pH 7.0. Sequence homology comparisons of the PA and PB1 polypeptides from B/Ann Arbor/1/66 virus to the PA and PB1 polypeptides of type A influenza virus reveal respective homologies of approximately 38 and 60%. This high cross-type homology (61%) was previously reported for the PB1 protein of B/Lee/40 virus (Kemdirim et al., 1986). The cross-type homology for the PA protein is similar to that of other non-polymerase proteins, but is substantially lower than that seen for the PB1 protein. Thus, the high cross-type homology that exists for the PB1 gene does not appear to be a characteristic of all polymerase genes.


Presence of glycerol and fatty acids in the C-terminal end of a variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma equiperdum.
The composition of the C-terminal end of a variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma equiperdum (BoTat-1 VSG) has been examined. It has been reported for two Trypanosoma brucei VSGs (Holder, A.A., Biochem. J. (1983), 209, 261-262) that ethanolamine was involved in binding the C-terminal amino acid to an oligosaccharide side chain. Tryptic glycopeptides were prepared from BoTat-1 VSG and analyzed. One of them was found to contain ethanolamine and consequently was assumed to be C-terminal. It was shown that the glycopeptide also included phosphate, glycerol and fatty acids. The fatty acid composition was representative of that of glycerolipids. All the results suggest that the end of the molecule is a core of phosphatidylethanolamine.


Acute myocardial infarction in a young adult patient with simultaneous total occlusion of double coronary arteries.
We report an otherwise healthy 16-year-old male patient with simultaneous double vessel acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography (CAG) showed simultaneous total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the left circumflex artery (LCX). Emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed on the diseased lesions. After PCI, coronary artery aneurysms were found in both the LAD and LCX. The patient was discharged after a 56-day hospitalization. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification at discharge was II. Medical therapy became ineffective over time because of exacerbated ischemic mitral regurgitation; successful mitral annuloplasty was performed. The post-operative course was uneventful.


The P-wave terminal force in embolic strokes of undetermined source.
The Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) is a recently developed clinical construct which describes stroke patients for whom the embolic source remains undetermined despite recommended investigations. The aim of the study was to characterize the ESUS population according to the abnormality in the P-wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1). We retrospectively identified consecutive patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke who met the ESUS diagnostic criteria. The PTFV1 was obtained from the admission 12-lead ECG. Increased PTFV1 was defined a value >5000μV·ms. Baseline and diagnostic work-up findings were compared between the PTFV1 patient groups. Among 109 patients with ESUS, 31 (28.4%) had evidence of increased PTFV1. The patients with the ECG-defined left atrial abnormality had higher rates of hypertension (77.4% versus 55.1%; p=0.031), history of prior stroke or TIA (35.5% versus 16.7%; p=0.032), and moderate to severe left atrial enlargement (29.0% versus 7.7%; p=0.004) and ventricular hypertrophy (35.5% versus 16.7%; p=0.032), whereas they were less likely to have patent foramen ovale (9.7% versus 28.2%, p=0.038) and unstable sub-stenotic atherosclerosis of aortic arch and cranial arteries (12.9% versus 32.1%, p=0.041). The abnormally increased PTFV1 was observed in about one third of patients with ESUS and it was inversely associated with artery-to artery and paradoxical potential sources of stroke. Left atrial cardiopathy could be involved in the ESUS pathogenesis and the ECG-defined abnormality could point towards the risk of cardiac embolism.


Predation, thermoregulation, and wing color in pierid butterflies.
This paper explores two hypotheses about the relationships among predation, thermoregulation, and wing color in butterflies: First, that butterflies are susceptible to predation during thermally marginal periods (e.g., cool weather) when effective thermoregulation and flight are not possible; second, that Pieris butterflies are relatively unpalatable to visual predators, supporting the idea that the white wing pigment of Pieris represents aposematic coloration. Field experiments with Pieris and Colias in 1984 and 1985 demonstrate that substantial predation may occur during the morning period before butterflies are able to actively fly. Circumstantial evidence is presented to suggest that at least some of the predation is by small, cursorial mammals. Feeding experiments in the field using Grey Jays as predators indicate that Pieris napi and P. occidentalis are less palatable than other sympatric butterflies, including confamial Colias alexandra. These and previous results suggest that Pieris are edible but less preferred as prey by birds, and that the degree of palatibility may vary among Pieris species. The relatively low palatability of these Pieris is consistent with the hypothesis that their white pigmentation represents aposematic coloration; however, the cues by which potential bird predators might discriminate against Pieris have not been established.


Effect of adjuvant reserpine treatment on catecholamine metabolism in schizophrenic patients under long-term neuroleptic treatment.
The clinical and biochemical effects of adjuvant reserpine treatment were investigated in 12 chronic schizophrenic patients on long-term neuroleptic medication. The global severity of the symptoms using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale did not change significantly in the whole group, however, a moderate decrease in positive symptoms (factors though disturbance, activation and hostile-suspiciousness) was observed for 5 patients. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) noradrenaline levels showed a consistent decrease, but other biochemical parameters (CSF dopamine metabolites, platelet MAO and serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities) did not change significantly. The changes of clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters did not show any correlation.


The effect of palm oil or canola oil on feedlot performance, plasma and tissue fatty acid profile and meat quality in goats.
Twenty-four entire male Kacang kid goats were fed diets containing 3% canola (n=12) or palm oil (n=12) supplements for 16 weeks. The goats had an initial live weight of 14.2±1.46 kg and were fed a mixed ration ad libitum (10.4 MJ/ME and 14% crude protein). There was no difference in feedlot performance due to diet. Inclusion of canola oil reduced (P<0.05) kidney fat weight and increased (P<0.05) linolenic acid (18:3n-3) concentration in the blood plasma, m. longissimus lumborum (LL), liver, and kidney. The palm oil diet increased (P<0.05) myristic (14:0) and palmitic (16:0) acid content in the blood, but this did not alter these fatty acids in the LL muscle. Lipid oxidative substances in the liver and LL from palm oil fed kids were higher (P<0.05) than those from canola supplemented kids. The incorporation of canola oil into the goats' diet increased muscle omega-3 fatty acid content, but lipid oxidation was lowered in the blood and muscle LL.


A randomized controlled trial of daily text messages versus monthly paper diaries to collect bleeding data after intrauterine device insertion.
Bleeding data in contraceptive trials are often collected using daily diaries, but data quality may vary due to compliance and recall bias. Text messaging is a widespread and promising modality for data collection. This trial randomized participants 1:1 to use text messages or paper diaries to report on bleeding experienced during the 90 days after intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. Participants chose either the copper T380A or the 52-mg levonorgestrel IUD. Our primary outcome was number of days of reported bleeding data. We hypothesized that data gathered with daily text messages would have fewer missing values than paper diaries. Intention to treat analyses used the rank-sum test to compare medians. Two hundred thirty women enrolled, and randomization yielded groups similar in baseline characteristics. Twenty percent of participants provided no bleeding data; of these, 77% were assigned to paper diaries. With 90 days of reporting, approximately 20% in each group provided complete bleeding data. The text group reported a median of 82 days [interquartile range (IQR) 40-89] and the paper group reported a median of 36 days (IQR 0-88) (p≤.001). The number of responses received decreased gradually over the 90-day period but was always higher in the text group. Women who had attained higher levels of education did well regardless of data collection modality, while response rates of text messages were greater among those with a high school education or less (p<.01). Participants reporting bleeding via text messages provided more complete data than women using paper diaries. Depending on resources and population of interest, text messages may be a useful modality to improve data collection for patient-reported outcomes.


Giant ossifying chondroma of skull.
We report a rare case of giant ossifying chondroma of skull arising from temporoparietal region in a 14-year-old female, which was successfully excised. While reviewing world literature few cases of extracranial chondromas arising from the skull base were found.