Targets and Laminar Distribution of Projection Neurons with 'Inverted' Morphology in Rabbit Cortex.
This study examines the axonal projections of so-called inverted pyramids and other neurons with their major dendritic shaft oriented in the direction of the white matter ('inverted cells') in the adult rabbit cortex. Single injections of horseradish peroxidase wheat germ agglutinin were made into cortical or subcortical sites. The resulting retrograde labelling in the cortex was analysed and the distribution across areas and layers of inverted cells contributing to each of these projections was estimated. In addition, the radial distribution of inverted cells was independently determined from rapid Golgi-impregnated and Nissl-stained material. All three procedures revealed that inverted cells lay overwhelmingly in infragranular layers, but congregated at the border between layers 5 and 6. Inverted cells, identified by retrograde labelling, seldom furnished non-telencephalic centres; in contrast, these cells constituted a major source for the projections to the ipsi- or the contralateral cortex, the claustrum or the nucleus caudatus. In general, each set of inverted cells (when defined by its specific destination as a group) was located below the typically oriented cells whose axons were aimed at the same target. Thus, the inverted cells of the rabbit cortex are characterized not only by their unique morphology and their corticocortical, corticoclaustral and corticostriatal projections, but also by their distinctive radial locations. These findings suggest that inverted cells, even though possibly composed of different cell types, are a specific class of projection neurons.


Ethical and Public Health Implications of Targeted Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus.
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common congenital infection and is associated with sensorineural hearing loss, developmental delays, and visual impairment. The clinical presentation of cCMV is variable, and the majority (80%-90%) of newborns will never manifest any clinical symptoms. Given the clinical heterogeneity of cCMV infection, it is challenging to identify which newborns may benefit from testing. Recently, certain states have implemented a targeted screening program in which newborns who fail the newborn hearing screen are tested for cCMV. Clinicians and legislative bodies have been propelled into debates about the ethical and moral permissibility of a targeted cCMV screening approach. Those who oppose this screening approach describe undue burden on patients, families, and the health care system because the majority of newborns who fail the newborn hearing screen and have cCMV will not go on to have any sequelae related to cCMV, including hearing loss. However, those who support this screening approach cite the importance of early detection and ongoing surveillance for hearing loss and developmental delays in this high-risk group of newborns. This debate will be considered by experts in the field.


[Fast track antibiotic protocol in acute appendicitis].
The increase of antimicrobial resistances, has affected the efficacy of antimicrobial triple therapy, increasing appendicitis morbidity. We decided to change to a fast-track protocol of 72 hours of Cefuroxime-Metronidazol or Ertapenem. to know if our infectious morbidity rate has improved and if early dischargement is possible. Analytic historic cohort study: Historical cohort (HC): patients intervened of appendicitis between October 2005 and October 2006. Current cohort (CC): started in June 2007. A data collection protocol is designed for both groups. Homogeneity among cohorts is proved and data are analysed (a=0,05). Statistics are analyzed by SPSS 15.0. 226 patients were controlled, being 110 complicated appendicitis (HC: 61/135; AC: 49/91). There are no differences among cohorts about evolution time, temperature and leukocytes rate at admission, interval to intervention, use of laparoscopy, drainage or antimicrobial prophylaxis. There is difference about the use of pre-surgical ultrasound. Admission rate has been reduced in 2.82 days, from 8.41 days in HC to 5.58 with the new antimicrobial protocol (median 7 to 4). The relative risk of developing intraabdominal abscess is 0.366 (HC: 15.7%; CC: 6.4%) (p=0.145) and readmission rate has been reduced from 9.8% to 0% (p=0.028). In 33% of cultures we have found different levels of antimicrobial resistance. No Enterococcus has been isolated. 1) Infectious morbidity rate has decreased with the new therapy. 2) Antimicrobial resistance and new antibiotics have exceeded Triple antimicrobial therapy. 3) It is possible an early dischargement in perforated appendicitis without an increasing of readmission rate. 4) We must know the bacterial flora in order to adapt our antibiotic therapy.


Self-discrepancies in mind perception for actual, ideal, and ought selves and partners.
Defining and measuring self-discrepancies in mind perception between how an individual sees their actual self in comparison to their ideal or ought self has a long but challenging history in psychology. Here we present a new approach for measuring and operationalizing discrepancies of mind by employing the mind perception framework that has been applied successfully to a variety of other psychological constructs. Across two studies (N = 265, N = 205), participants were recruited online to fill in a modified version of the mind perception survey with questions pertaining to three domains (actual, ideal, ought) and two agents (self versus partner). The results revealed that participants idealized and thought they ought to have greater agency (the ability to do) and diminished experience (the ability to feel) for both themselves and their partner. Sex differences were also examined across both studies, and while minor differences emerged, the effects were not robust across the collective evidence from both studies. The overall findings suggest that the mind perception approach can be used to distill a large number of qualities of mind into meaningful facets for interpretation in relation to self-discrepancy theory. This method can breathe new life into the field with future investigations directed at understanding self-discrepancies in relation to prosocial behaviour and psychological well-being.


Subfornical organ insulin receptors tonically modulate cardiovascular and metabolic function.
Insulin acts within the central nervous system through the insulin receptor to influence both metabolic and cardiovascular physiology. While a major focus has been placed on hypothalamic regions, participation of extrahypothalamic insulin receptors in cardiometabolic regulation remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that insulin receptors in the subfornical organ (SFO), a forebrain circumventricular region devoid of a blood-brain barrier, are involved in metabolic and cardiovascular regulation. Immunohistochemistry in mice revealed widespread insulin receptor-positive cells throughout the rostral to caudal extent of the SFO. SFO-targeted adenoviral delivery of Cre-recombinase in insulin receptorlox/lox mice resulted in sufficient ablation of insulin receptors in the SFO. Interestingly, when mice were maintained on a normal chow diet, deletion of SFO insulin receptors resulted in greater weight gain and adiposity, relative to controls, independently of changes in food intake. In line with this, ablation of insulin receptors in the SFO was associated with marked hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia. Selective removal of SFO insulin receptors also resulted in a lower mean arterial blood pressure, which was primarily due to a reduction in diastolic blood pressure, whereas systolic blood pressure remained unchanged. Cre-mediated targeting of SFO insulin receptors did not influence heart rate. These data demonstrate multidirectional roles for insulin receptor signaling in the SFO, with ablation of SFO insulin receptors resulting in an overall deleterious metabolic state while at the same time maintaining blood pressure at low levels. These novel findings further suggest that alterations in insulin receptor signaling in the SFO could contribute to metabolic syndrome phenotypes.


Enteropathogen antibody dynamics and force of infection among children in low-resource settings.
Little is known about enteropathogen seroepidemiology among children in low-resource settings. We measured serological IgG responses to eight enteropathogens (Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica, Salmonella enterica, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter jejuni, norovirus) in cohorts from Haiti, Kenya, and Tanzania. We studied antibody dynamics and force of infection across pathogens and cohorts. Enteropathogens shared common seroepidemiologic features that enabled between-pathogen comparisons of transmission. Overall, exposure was intense: for most pathogens the window of primary infection was <3 years old; for highest transmission pathogens primary infection occurred within the first year. Longitudinal profiles demonstrated significant IgG boosting and waning above seropositivity cutoffs, underscoring the value of longitudinal designs to estimate force of infection. Seroprevalence and force of infection were rank-preserving across pathogens, illustrating the measures provide similar information about transmission heterogeneity. Our findings suggest antibody response can be used to measure population-level transmission of diverse enteropathogens in serologic surveillance.


A comparative study on the monovalent and divalent cation separation of polymeric films and membranes from salt solutions under diffusion-dialysis.
This study deals with selective separation of mono- and divalent cations from aqueous salt solutions using polymeric films based on polyethylene (PE) and polyamide6 (PA6), and two different commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The diffusion rates (D) of ions (Na+ and Ca2+), separation factors (α) and ion rejections (R) of the films and NF membranes are examined comparatively as well as their surface morphology and hydrophilicity. It is observed that the diffusion rates of Na+ are in the range of 0.7-1.8 × 10-8cm2 .s-1 in the decreasing order of PE > NF90 > NF270 > PA6 while Ca2+ shows diffusion rates of 7.4-18.4 × 10-8 cm2 .s-1 in the increasing order of NF270 > NF90 ≈ PA6 > PE. Rejection values of the polymeric films and NF membranes against to Na+ and Ca2+ vary between 90% and 99.6%.The highest α(Ca2+/Na+) is found to be 20 for PA6 film. D, α, and R value of both polymeric films and NF membranes are strongly affected by the existence of osmosis during diffusion-dialysis and the sizes of hydrated sodiu and calcium ions. In conclusion, the film based on PA6 may be a good alternative for selective separation of mono- an divalent cations.


A single phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer targeting VP24 protects rhesus monkeys against lethal Ebola virus infection.
Ebola viruses (EBOV) cause severe disease in humans and nonhuman primates with high mortality rates and continue to emerge in new geographic locations, including several countries in West Africa, the site of a large ongoing outbreak. Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) are synthetic antisense molecules that are able to target mRNAs in a sequence-specific fashion and suppress translation through steric hindrance. We previously showed that the use of PMOs targeting a combination of VP35 and VP24 protected rhesus monkeys from lethal EBOV infection. Surprisingly, the present study revealed that a PMOplus compound targeting VP24 alone was sufficient to confer protection from lethal EBOV infection but that a PMOplus targeting VP35 alone resulted in no protection. This study further substantiates recent data demonstrating that VP24 may be a key virulence factor encoded by EBOV and suggests that VP24 is a promising target for the development of effective anti-EBOV countermeasures. Several West African countries are currently being ravaged by an outbreak of Ebola virus (EBOV) that has become a major epidemic affecting not only these African countries but also Europe and the United States. A better understanding of the mechanism of virulence of EBOV is important for the development of effective treatments, as no licensed treatments or vaccines for EBOV disease are currently available. This study of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) targeting the mRNAs of two different EBOV proteins, alone and in combination, demonstrated that targeting a single protein was effective at conferring a significant survival benefit in an EBOV lethal primate model. Future development of PMOs with efficacy against EBOV will be simplified if only one PMO is required instead of a combination, particularly in terms of regulatory approval.


Visual and hearing impairment in elderly patients hospitalized for rehabilitation following hip fracture.
In a prospective study, we assessed the prevalence and significance of visual and hearing impairment in 896 patients who were hospitalized for rehabilitation following hip fracture. Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity equal to worse than 6/60 in the better of the two eyes. Hearing impairment was defined as mean decibel level equal to or higher than 60 in the better of the two ears. Visual impairment was found in 210 patients (23.4%) and hearing impairment was found in 231 patients (25.8%). Simultaneous visual and hearing impairment was seen in 72 patients (8%). In univariate analysis, the absolute efficacy of rehabilitation was significantly lower in patients with visual impairment compared to those without (p = 0.00001) and in patients with hearing impairment compared to those without (p = 0.002). However, in multivariate analysis, visual, but not hearing, impairment was found to be independently associated with the absolute efficacy of rehabilitation (p = 0.001). In light of these results, we propose that in the first phase of rehabilitation, patients' visual acuity needs to be optimized.


Gallstone disease in women younger than 30 years.
The relation between symptomatic cholelithiasis in women under 30 years of age and pregnancy, obesity and oral contraceptive use was retrospectively studied. A total of 885 cholecystectomies were carried out in an English district hospital. In the age group under 30 years the female-male ratio was 9.7:1 vs 2.3:I in the total group (p less than 0.01). Gallstones were present in 39 women with a previous pregnancy and in 14 women without pregnancy. Compared to an age and sex matched control group of appendicectomies a relative risk of 1.6 was found for pregnancy related gallstone disease requiring cholecystectomy (p less than 0.05). 455 Cholecystectomies were carried out in a Dutch academic hospital. The female-male ratio in the group younger than 30 years was 7.0:I vs 2.3:I in the total group (p less than 0.01). In the Dutch group more women under 30 years were operated on than in the English group: 23% vs 10% (p less than 0.001). There was no significant association between symptomatic gallstones and previous pregnancies in the Dutch group (p = 0.07). Gallstone disease occurs earlier in women than in men. There appears to be a relationship between early symptomatic cholelithiasis and pregnancy in the English group only. No relationship could be found between cholelithiasis and obesity or oral contraceptive use in either group.


Improved Immuno-PET Imaging of HER2-Positive Tumors in Mice: Urokinase Injection-Triggered Clearance Enhancement of 64Cu-Trastuzumab.
Immuno-positron emission tomography (immuno-PET) is expected to improve the specificity of small chemical tracers such as 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Whole antibodies significantly accumulate in target molecule-expressing tumors but frequently persist too long in the blood circulation for imaging purposes. We investigated the utility of whole antibodies, 64Cu-labeled via a urokinase-substrate linker, and their exogenous urokinase-responsive cleavage to enhance clearance of immuno-PET probes from the blood and shorten the time required to develop adequate imaging contrast. Specifically, we used 64Cu-labeled trastuzumab in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumor-bearing mice. 64Cu-labeled trastuzumab with a urokinase-cleavage site (64Cu-CB-TE1A1P-USL-trastuzumab) was synthesized using a bifunctional chelator incorporating an urokinase substrate peptide. Urokinase cleavage was analyzed in vitro by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and radio-gel permeation-high-performance liquid chromatography. Improvements in radioisotope clearance and HER2-imaging by urokinase injection were evaluated by PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies in A431 tumor-bearing mice. 64Cu-CB-TE1A1P-USL-trastuzumab was cleaved into smaller radioactive fragments by 20 000 IU/mL urokinase treatment in vitro at an efficacy of ∼95%. The probe targeted HER2 in A431 tumors in mice within 24 h post-injection, and approximately two-thirds of the probe in the blood circulation was eliminated via renal clearance of radioactive fragments after three urokinase injections. Therefore, the tumor/blood ratio increased 3.0-fold. Without urokinase injection, the tumor accumulation of 64Cu-CB-TE1A1P-USL-trastuzumab slowly increased, and the blood radioactivity decreased over 72 h. However, the tumor/blood ratios in mice after three urokinase injections were higher at 24 h than those in mice without injections at 72 h. The results indicate that our approach shortened the time required to develop adequate imaging contrast of immuno-PET by >2 days. Therefore, this approach can benefit high-sensitivity imaging under lower radioactive decay conditions and can decrease patient radiation exposure. In addition, it could reduce other adverse effects of radioimmunotherapy.


Optic nerve colobomas of autosomal-dominant heredity.
Fifteen members of a family had congenital colobomas of the optic nerves, all of which were bilateral. The bolobomas appeared as enlargement of the physiologic cup with severely affected eyes having huge cavities in the site of the disc. A variable amount of glial tissue was present within the colobomas. Either macular or extramacular serous detachment or sequelae were present in 21 of the 30 affected eyes, and often led to total blindness. Radioisotope cisternography in one patient failed to implicate cerebrospinal fluid as the source of the subretinal fluid. The disorder is apparently inherited as an autosomal dominant.


Fabrication and electromagnetic performance of talc/NiTiO3 composite.
In this study, the electromagnetic (EM) performance of talc/NiTiO3 composite was evaluated. The morphology of talc displayed a lamella structure; there were many nanoparticles of NiTiO3 coated on the talc lamella. Thermal destruction occurred, which increased the surface area from 2.51 m2 g-1 to 79.09 m2 g-1 at the calcined stage at 650°C. The presence of NiTiO3 increased dielectric loss and magnetic loss of talc. The calculation of EM wave absorption of talc/NiTiO3 obtained a maximum reflection loss of -11.94 dB at the thickness of 6.85 mm; the optimum thickness for microwave absorption is 6.3-7.3 mm. This study revealed a new approach for fabricating an EM absorber and broadening applications of both talc and NiTiO3 in EM absorption.


Imaging molecular interactions in living cells.
Hormones integrate the activities of their target cells through receptor-modulated cascades of protein interactions that ultimately lead to changes in cellular function. Understanding how the cell assembles these signaling protein complexes is critically important to unraveling disease processes, and to the design of therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in live-cell imaging technologies, combined with the use of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, now allow the assembly of these signaling protein complexes to be tracked within the organized microenvironment of the living cell. Here, we review some of the recent developments in the application of imaging techniques to measure the dynamic behavior, colocalization, and spatial relationships between proteins in living cells. Where possible, we discuss the application of these different approaches in the context of hormone regulation of nuclear receptor localization, mobility, and interactions in different subcellular compartments. We discuss measurements that define the spatial relationships and dynamics between proteins in living cells including fluorescence colocalization, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. These live-cell imaging tools provide an important complement to biochemical and structural biology studies, extending the analysis of protein-protein interactions, protein conformational changes, and the behavior of signaling molecules to their natural environment within the intact cell.


Association between objectively measured physical activity, chronic stress and leukocyte telomere length.
Physical activity (PA) attenuates chronic stress and age-related and cardiovascular disease risks, whereby potentially slowing telomere shortening. We aimed to study the association between seven-day objectively measured habitual PA, chronic stress and leukocyte telomere length. Study participants were African (N.=96) and Caucasian (N.=107) school teachers of the Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans study. All lifestyle characteristics (including PA) were objectively measured. The general health questionnaire and serum cortisol were assessed as psychological and physical measures of chronic stress. Leukocyte telomere length was measured using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Africans had significantly shorter telomeres (P<.0001) and greater psychological distress (P=0.001) than Caucasians, whereas no group difference was seen for cortisol levels. Higher age (ß=-0.28 [-0.40, -0.16, P≤0.000), higher alcohol consumption (ß=-0.21 [-0.36, -0.08], P=0.003) and increased central obesity (ß=-0.17 [-0.30, -0.03], P=0.017) were all significantly associated with shorter telomeres. Habitual PA of different intensity was not significantly associated with markers of chronic stress or telomere length. However, more time spent with light intensity PA time was significantly and independently correlated with lower waist circumference (r=-0.21, P=0.004); in turn, greater waist circumference was significantly associated shorter telomeres (β=-0.17 [-0.30, -0.03], P=0.017). Habitual PA of different intensity was not directly associated with markers of chronic stress and leukocyte telomere length in this biethnic cohort. However, our findings suggest that light intensity PA could contribute to lowered age-related disease risk and healthy ageing by facilitating maintenance of a normal waist circumference.


Clinical value of entire-circumferential intraoperative frozen section analysis for the complete resection of superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
We aimed to evaluate the clinical value of an entire-circumferential intraoperative frozen section analysis (e-IFSA) for the complete resection of superficial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue. A total 276 specimens from 51 patients with pT1-2, N0, mucosal or submucosal invasion SCC were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the e-IFSA and the added value of the e-IFSA to iodine staining. The e-IFSA results were compared with the final histologic results obtained using permanent sections. All specimens for the e-IFSA were taken over the entire circumference 5 mm outside from the iodine unstained areas. The outline of the main resected specimen after taking these outer mucosal specimens were defined as the surgical margins determined by iodine staining alone. The e-IFSA results were in excellent agreement with final histological results (Cohen's kappa value: 0.85) and the e-IFSA showed high sensitivity (100%) and high negative predictive value (100%). The actual complete resection rate with an e-IFSA was 100% (51/51), and no patient required additional resection after surgery. In contrast, 10/51 patients (20%) patients showed residual atypical mucosal epithelium at or beyond the margin determined by iodine staining alone; this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002). The 5-year local control rate and 5-year overall survival rate after this procedure were both 100%. An e-IFSA has additional value when performed in conjunction with iodine staining. An e-IFSA would be useful for achieving complete resection of superficial SCC of the tongue.


Subtractive method of optical thin-film interference filter design.
A fast automatic synthesis program based on interference minus filters is described. It yields the parameters of a number of individual filters that together match any desired spectral transmittance curve, providing that the spectral range over which the latter is defined is not excessive. It is shown that in practice many of these components can be combined without significantly affecting the performance. When used alone, the program may yield solutions consisting of a large number of layers. It is demonstrated that far fewer layers are needed if intermediate solutions obtained with this program are refined using other automatic synthesis programs. The program is illustrated by a number of rather difficult hypothetical problems.


The impact of comorbid depression on recovery from personality disorders and improvements in psychosocial functioning: results from a randomized controlled trial.
Depressive disorders often co-occur with personality disorders. The extent to which depressive disorders influence treatment outcome in personality disorders remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of co-morbid depression on recovery from personality disorders and improvements in psychosocial functioning. This study drew data from a randomized-controlled trial in which patients (N = 320) with cluster-c (92%), paranoid, histrionic and/or narcissistic personality disorders received schema-therapy, treatment-as-usual, or clarification-oriented psychotherapy. Recovery from personality disorders at three-year follow-up and improvements in psychosocial functioning over a course of three years was predicted by the diagnostic status of depressive disorders at baseline using mixed model regression analyses. Based on the number of axis-I and axis-II disorders, personality disorder severity and global symptomatic distress and functioning a baseline severity index was computed and included in subsequent analyses to test the specificity of baseline depression in predicting outcomes. Patients with co-occurring depression reported higher baseline severity compared to patients without co-occurring depression. Depression at baseline was associated with lower recovery rates at three-year follow-up (p = 0.01) but this effect disappeared after controlling for baseline severity. Patients with depression at baseline reported higher psychosocial impairments throughout treatment (p < 0.001). Depression at baseline did not moderate treatment effects except for one psychosocial outcome measure. In conclusion, depression is associated with lower recovery rates from personality disorders but this effect disappears when general severity is taken into account. Patients with primarily cluster-c personality disorders and co-occurring depression might benefit from additional depression treatment in terms of improved psychosocial functioning.


Direct identification and typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by PCR.
We have developed a rapid PCR assay that types strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by generating distinct DNA fingerprints directly from primary cultures. This assay allows strain identification analogous to that achieved by the standard restriction fragment length polymorphism method, and fingerprints are obtained in less than 8 h. This assay does not require subculturing, DNA purification, restriction digestion, Southern blotting, or nucleic acid hybridization. Rapid and precise identification of M. tuberculosis strains permits immediate molecular epidemiologic studies. The assay can be converted to a computer-automated system by employing fluorescently labeled PCR primers and the Perkin-Elmer DNA sequencer so that unknown-specimen fingerprints are identified by computer comparison to a database of M. tuberculosis strain fingerprints.


[Radioautographic study of melanin synthesis in cells of the pigmented epithelium of the retina in adult tritons following surgical removal of the retina].
The results are given for the autoradiographic study of melanin synthesis in the pigment epithelium cells of eye retina in the adult newts by the incorporation of 3H-dioxyphenylalanine (3H-DOPA). The synthesis of melanin began 4--8 days after the operation in the peripheral parts of the eye and but it was not observed in the central region of the eye fundus even 25 days alter the operation. A suggestion is put forward to the effect of the existence of different mechanisms for the initiation of melanin synthesis in these subpopulations of pigment epithelium.


Vulnerabilities at First Sex and Their Association With Lifetime Gender-Based Violence and HIV Prevalence Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Engaged in Sex Work, Transactional Sex, and Casual Sex in Kenya.
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) experience high rates of HIV early in their sexual life course. We estimated the prevalence of HIV-associated vulnerabilities at first sex, and their association with lifetime gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV. We conducted a cross-sectional biobehavioral survey among AGYW (14-24 years) in Mombasa, Kenya in 2015. We compared the prevalence of first sex vulnerabilities across AGYW who self-identified as engaging in sex work (N = 408), transactional sex (N = 177), or casual sex (N = 714) and used logistic regression to identify age-adjusted associations between first sex vulnerabilities and outcomes (GBV after first sex; HIV). The median age at first sex was 16 years (interquartile range 14-18). A total of 43.6% received gifts or money at first sex; 41.2% and 11.2% experienced a coerced and forced first sex, respectively. First sex vulnerabilities were generally more common among AGYW in sex work. GBV (prevalence 23.8%) and HIV (prevalence 5.6%) were associated with first sex before age 15 [GBV adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0 to 1.9; HIV AOR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.3]; before or within 1 year of menarche (GBV AOR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0 to 1.7; HIV AOR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.6); and receipt of money (GBV AOR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4 to 2.5; HIV AOR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.4). HIV-associated vulnerabilities begin at first sex and potentially mediate an AGYW's trajectory of risk. HIV prevention programs should include structural interventions that reach AGYW early, and screening for a history of first sex vulnerabilities could help identify AGYW at risk of ongoing GBV and HIV.


Developing school psychologists as agents of social justice: a qualitative analysis of student understanding across three years.
This study employed a cohort-sequential design with four cohorts over 3 years to investigate school psychology graduate trainees' (n=37) understanding of social justice. Using consensual qualitative research methods, participants' perspectives on social justice writ large, social justice as it applies to school psychology, and effective aspects of social justice training in their graduate training program were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews. Field-based training though service-learning in diverse communities provided trainees with exposure to experiences that were viewed as instrumental in their understanding of social justice in general and as it applies to school psychology. Trainees described aspects of the training program that were viewed as conducive to educating school psychologists as agents of social justice. Based on findings from the study, a descriptive model of school psychology training for social justice is proposed.


Frontal EEG asymmetry as predictor of physiological responses to aversive memories.
Evidence suggests that asymmetry in frontal electrical activity predicts responses to aversive experiences, such that higher left-sided activity might dampen responses to trauma reminders. We measured frontal asymmetry at rest and during viewing of a trauma film, and assessed startle responses to film-reminder images. To explore potential moderators, we compared two films (Study 1; N = 64) and modulated reappraisal (Study 2; N = 72). As expected, left frontal activation during film viewing predicted dampened responses in individuals who viewed a staged road accident. However, this effect tended to be reversed when a genocide documentary was used. In Study 2, all participants viewed the genocide film. Left frontal activity at rest again predicted higher startle responses, while reappraisal did not moderate the effects. Thus, the type of trauma film plays a crucial role in the effects of frontal asymmetry, which warrants further critical investigation.


Classifying substance use disorder treatment facilities with co-located mental health services: A latent class analysis approach.
The Affordable Care Act calls for increased integration and coordination of behavioral health services, as people with co-occurring disorders (CODs), meeting criteria for both substance use and psychiatric disorders, are overrepresented in treatment samples. Nationwide estimates of mental health (MH) service co-location in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities are needed. We empirically derived a multiple-indicator categorization of services for CODs in SUD treatment facilities. We used latent class analysis to categorize 14,037 SUD treatment facilities in the United States and territories included in the 2012 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Latent class indicators included MH screening and diagnosis, MH support services, psychiatric medications, groups for CODs, and psychosocial approaches. Multinomial logistic regression compared facility-identified primary focus (i.e., SUD, MH, mix of SUD-MH, and general/other) and other facility characteristics across classes. A four-class solution was chosen with the following classes: Comprehensive MH/COD Services (25%), MH without COD Services (25%), MH Screening Services (21%), and Limited MH Services (29%). The former two classes with co-located MH services were less likely to report a SUD-primary focus than the latter classes reporting only MH screening or Limited MH Services. Only the Comprehensive MH/COD Services class also had a high probability of providing special groups for CODs. Approximately half of SUD treatment facilities were in classes with co-located mental health services, but only a quarter provided comprehensive COD services. Future studies should assess differences in patient experiences and treatment outcomes across facilities with and without COD services.


Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a Portuguese population: mutations in the myosin-binding protein C gene.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disease and is often a consequence of mutations in the myosin-binding protein C gene (MYBPC3). Until now, however, no systematic review has been published on mutations of this gene in a Portuguese population. In a Portuguese population of HCM patients: 1) to determine the prevalence of mutations in the MYBPC3 gene; 2) to characterize the mutations genetically; 3) to analyze the phenotype and compare it with the genotype-phenotype correlations for mutations in this gene described in the literature. We studied 45 consecutive index patients with HCM (41 with familial HCM). In each patient, we performed a genetic study to detect mutations in the MYBPC3 gene. Once a mutation was identified and genetically characterized, a broad phenotypic evaluation was performed. The genetic and clinical data were then compared with those described in the literature. Of the 45 patients, 5 (11.1%) showed mutations in the MYBPC3 gene (2 deletions and 3 missense mutations), all in patients with familial HCM. Of these, 4 were 'new' mutations: Ala 522 Thr (exon 17); Gli 1205 Asp (exon 32); Lis 505 Del (exon 17) and Lis 813 Del (exon 25). The other mutation, Arg 502 Gln (exon 17), had been previously described in the literature. Three of the 5 mutations were located in exon 17. Four of these 5 patients were symptomatic, mainly with heart failure and supraventricular arrhythmias. No patient was at high risk for sudden cardiac death. Most of the patients had non-obstructive HCM. The ECG, echocardiogram, Holter monitoring and treadmill exercise test showed highly variable results, reflecting the heterogeneity typical of this disease. In a Portuguese population of 45 HCM patients, 5 (11.1%) had mutations in the MYBPC3 gene (3 missense mutations--theoretically less frequent in the MYBPC3 gene--and 2 deletions). Four of these were 'new' mutations and 3 of them were located in exon 17 (which may be a 'hot spot' for MYBPC3 gene mutations in the Portuguese population). In all the patients, the phenotypic expression was different from that usually described for these mutations; in 3 of our patients, the clinical manifestations and penetrance were of early onset and one patient had a highly symptomatic form of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. These data reflect the large number of exceptions to the classic genotype-phenotype correlations in HCM, highlighting the role of other factors, genetic and non-genetic, in regulating penetrance, clinical expression and prognosis in each family and in each individual patient.


Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010: implications for cardiovascular disease.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provides science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk of major chronic diseases by diet and physical activity. The primary emphasis is on food-based recommendations that meet energy and nutrient needs. The DGA is made in the context of a total diet designed to reduce the incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity. In addition, the DGA also targets cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. DGA recommends nutrient-dense foods including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean protein foods including seafood, and vegetable oils. This dietary pattern beneficially affects blood lipids and other CVD risk factors. Foods and nutrients to limit include solid fats (saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids), dietary cholesterol, added sugars, refined grains, and sodium. Healthy dietary patterns that emphasize nutrient-dense foods will significantly benefit public health, in part, by reducing CVD risk.


Microscope-Integrated Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in the Operating Room in Young Children With Retinal Vascular Disease.
Intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) has gained traction as an important adjunct for clinical decision making during vitreoretinal surgery, and OCT angiography (OCTA) has provided novel insights in clinical evaluation of retinal diseases. To date, these two technologies have not been applied in combination to evaluate retinal vascular disease in the operating suite. To conduct microscope-integrated, swept-source OCTA (MIOCTA) in children with retinal vascular disease. In this case report analysis, OCT imaging in pediatric patients, MIOCTA images were obtained during examination under anesthesia from a young boy with a history of idiopathic vitreous hemorrhage and a female infant with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. Side-by-side comparison of research MIOCT angiograms and clinically indicated fluorescein angiograms. In 2 young children with retinal vascular disease, the MIOCTA images showed more detailed vascular patterns than were visible on the fluorescein angiograms although within a more posterior field of view. The MIOCTA system allowed visualization of small pathological retinal vessels in the retinal periphery that were obscured in the fluorescein angiograms by fluorescein staining from underlying, preexisting laser scars. This is the first report to date of the use of MIOCTA in the operating room for young children with retinal vascular disease. Further optimization of this system may allow noninvasive detailed evaluation of retinal vasculature during surgical procedures and in patients who could not cooperate with in-office examinations.


An approach to the management of paroxysmal laryngospasm.
To review the presentation, risk factors and management of paroxysmal laryngospasm. Retrospective review of cases. A teaching hospital otolaryngology department with a subspecialty interest in airway disorders. All patients diagnosed with laryngospasm over a two-year period were reviewed. Information was obtained about disease presentation, risk factors, management and symptom resolution. Laryngospasm was diagnosed in nine women and six men. The average age at presentation was 56+/-6.5 years, and there was an 80 per cent association with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Proton pump inhibitors led to complete symptom resolution in six patients and to partial symptomatic relief, requiring no further treatment, in a further four patients. Of the remaining five patients unresponsive to proton pump inhibitor therapy, two continued to experience syncopal episodes due to laryngospasm. Both these patients achieved complete remission after laryngeal botulinum toxin injection. Symptoms recurred after three to four months and were successfully treated with a repeat injection. The primary risk factor for spontaneous laryngospasm is laryngopharyngeal reflux. Symptoms are distressing and may be relieved in most cases by treatment aimed at suppressing gastric acid secretion. Laryngeal botulinum toxin injection appears to be a viable treatment modality in selected patients with refractory symptoms.


Profile of GERD in the adult population of a northeast urban community.
An observational, cross-sectional, epidemiology study of the characteristics of GERD in a large northeast urban population was performed using a self-responding 84-question survey. Four-hundred and ten surveys were completed from a population sample with demographics comparable to those of the 1990 US Census data. No differences in heartburn frequency (monthly) were found between white or black, male or female respondents. Heartburn was significantly (P = 0.01) less common in those over age 60 (36.9%) than in young (47.7%) or middle-age (57.3%) respondents. Impact of heartburn on social activities was less (P = 0.002) in the over 60 group (4.9%) compared with the young (19.3%) or middle-age (20.0%) groups. Although 49.8% of respondents were familiar to the term GERD, few were aware that swallowing difficulty (17.3%), asthma (9.3%) or hoarseness (11.5%) were possible symptoms and similar numbers considered stroke (33.2%) and cancer (31.7%) to be complications of GERD. Frequency of GERD symptoms in the United States is unaffected by gender or race but is lower in the elderly.


[The Prestige of Housewives in Germany-A Quantitative-Empirical Analysis of Differential Perceptions].
The employment rate of women has increased markedly over the past decades, both internationally and in Germany, whereas the classic male breadwinner model is eroding. Against this background, using current survey data, the aim of this study is to examine the social prestige of the shrinking group of housewives whose main activity is domestic and family work. The analyses address, on the one hand, the question of how high their reputation is generally rated by the population in Germany and, on the other hand, whether the perceptions differ systematically by raters' sociodemographic characteristics. The empirical findings show that the reputation of housewives in Germany is generally rated higher than that of the unemployed and of those in helper jobs but lower than for those in professional jobs at the skilled level. Moreover, the assessments of housewives' prestige vary significantly according to the social group (birth cohort, level of education, labor force participation, gender) to which the respondents belong. Further analyses of interaction effects also reveal a differentiated interaction of the gender variable with the other structural group characteristics. The paper concludes with a detailed discussion of the results and an outlook on future research.


Endoderm and mesoderm reciprocal signaling mediated by CXCL12 and CXCR4 regulates the migration of angioblasts and establishes the pancreatic fate.
We have discovered that angioblasts trigger an early inductive event in pancreatic differentiation. This event occurs soon after gastrulation, before the formation of blood vessels. Morphological studies revealed that Lmo2-expressing angioblasts reside in proximity to the somitic mesoderm and the gut endoderm from which pancreatic progenitors arise. The chemokine ligand CXCL12 expressed in the gut endoderm functions to attract the angioblasts that express its receptor CXCR4. Angioblasts then signal back to the gut endoderm to induce Pdx1 expression. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments for CXCL12 and CXCR4 were performed to test their function in blood vessel formation and pancreatic differentiation. The ectopic expression of Cxcl12 in the endoderm attracted the angioblasts and induced ectopic Pdx1 expression, resulting in an expanded pancreatic bud and an increased area of insulin-expressing cells. By contrast, in chick embryos treated with beads soaked in AMD3100, an inhibitor of CXCR4, the migration of angioblasts towards the Cxcl12-expressing gut endoderm was arrested, causing a malformation of blood vessels. This led to the generation of a smaller pancreatic bud and a reduced area of insulin-expressing cells. Taken together, these results indicate that the gut endoderm and angioblasts attract each other through reciprocal CXCL12 and CXCR4 signaling. This has a pivotal role in the fate establishment of the pancreatic progenitor cells and in the potentiation of further differentiation into endocrine β-cells.


Rh(III)-Catalyzed meta-C-H Olefination Directed by a Nitrile Template.
A range of Rh(III)-catalyzed ortho-C-H functionalizations have been developed; however, extension of this reactivity to remote C-H functionalizations through large-ring rhodacyclic intermediates has yet to be demonstrated. Herein we report the first example of the use of a U-shaped nitrile template to direct Rh(III)-catalyzed remote meta-C-H activation via a postulated 12-membered macrocyclic intermediate. Because the ligands used for Rh(III) catalysts are significantly different from those of Pd(II) catalysts, this offers new opportunities for future development of ligand-promoted meta-C-H activation reactions.


[Basic emergency].
The increasing demand of health care and lack of its accessibility, in the scope of the National Health Service, are the most determining factors for the use of emergency departments. These facts are reproducible in the town of Espinho in spite of its two emergency consultations working at the same time, open consultation in the primary cares and hospital unit for emergency consultation, twenty meters distant from each other. This study attempt to investigate the reasons why the inhabitants of Espinho choose the institution, based on the opinion survey performed during the first fortnight of July 2002. The purpose of the study was to verify whether the different perception of the illness severity was related to the choice of the institution by the inhabitants of Espinho. In general, the results have shown that the inhabitants of Espinho knew how both consultations work and their choice was a consequence of their expectation at the moment. The patient s self-evaluation of his health condition has proved to be a very important predictor in the choice made. Thus, the open consultation in the primary cares is adjusted to give assistance to the chronic disease, while the emergency unit is prepared for the acute disease. The patients were more pleased with the performance of the emergency unit, which may be used in interventions to improve some aspects of health services and care and concerning the resources of health professionals.


[Prenatal development of human retinal vessels].
Feeding of the retina, whose thickness does not exceed 130 mu km, is possible at the account of chriocapillary diffusion. Should this threshold be topped (approximately by the 3.5th prenatal month), it will result in a relative hypoxia of the uttermost internal strata of the retina, which induces the appearance of new feeding source, i.e. retinal vessels. First, dense cellular steaks of the sequential fusiform cells originating from the visual-stem depth located near the wall of a. hyaloidea emerge in the surface retinal strata. These cells (angioblasts) formed the peripapillary plexus, shaped as a vascular pattern, and represented a non-lumenized prototype, or matrix, of a future capillary network. Later, main arterioles emerged, in the outward direction from them, and after that venules took shape from the above network through a partial reduction of vessels and a redistribution of blood circulation. The second deep capillary stratum was formed rather through a prolongation and "sagging" of the surface capillary loops than through gemmation; it is common for the entire retina and, unlike the surface stratum, is not divided by main arterioles into adjoining segments. By the 8th fetal-life month the evolution of the retinal bloodstream is not entirely completed, though it resembles, to a great extent, a definitive one.


Neurologic manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections: diverse spectrum of diseases. A report of six cases and review of the literature.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections of varying severity. It is also responsible for producing a wide spectrum of nonpulmonary manifestations including neurologic, hepatic, cardiac, and hematologic diseases. The neurologic manifestations are reported to be the most common nonpulmonary manifestations. We describe six patients demonstrating the protean neurologic manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Four patients presented with the central nervous system manifestations of pyramidal and extrapyramidal tract dysfunction, seizures, cognitive abnormalities, and cerebellar dysfunction. Two patients presented with transverse myelitis. The outcome of this condition ranges from normal to severe residual deficits. Increased awareness of this disease entity may facilitate early diagnosis and thereby expedite starting appropriate therapy that may modify the outcome.


Cutaneous vasculitis associated with acute and chronic hepatitis.
We encountered 11 patients who had rashes associated with hepatitis. Five of six acute hepatitis cases, but only one of five chronic hepatitis cases, were related to hepatitis B. Nine of the 11 patients had rash in the absence of clinically overt liver disease. Skin biopsy specimens showed histologic evidence of cutaneous vascular injury; specimens of urticarial and maculopapular rashes, which were seen in this series only with acute hepatitis, showed a primarily lymphocytic venulitis with focal necrosis, while palpable purpura, which was seen in this series only in chronic hepatitis, showed a primarily neutrophilic necrotizing vasculitis involving small vessels. One patient had lichen planus-like lesions. Demonstration of vascular deposits of immunoglobulins, complement, and fibrin in skin, as well as hypocomplementemia, circulating immune complexes, and mixed cryoglobulinemia, in these patients suggests that cutaneous lesions associated with liver disease resulted from immune complex-mediated vascular injury.


The Relationship between the Level of Fatness and Fitness during Adolescence and the Risk Factors of Metabolic Disorders in Adulthood.
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between the level of obesity and physical fitness (PF) during adolescence and the risk factors of metabolic disorders during adulthood. In the current analysis, 3,993 Korean adults (mean age, 38.70 +/- 1.69 years) were recruited. The level of body index (BI) and PF were examined during adolescence through high school record, and their health examination data, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose (FG), total cholesterol (TC), and current body mass index (BMI) were obtained from National Health Insurance Corporation Data. Gender-specific analyses were administered to compare health exam data across the level of BI, the level of PF, and a mixed level of BI and PF. Most obese males during high school had statistically higher SBP, DBP, FG, and BMI in adulthood, and most obese females had higher BMI, as compared to most lean males or females. Least fit males during high school had statistically higher BMI in adulthood, and least fit females had statistically higher SBP, DBP, FG, TC, and BMI, as compared to most fit males or females. There was a significant relationship between the mixed level of BI and PF and SBP, DBP, TC and current BMI in both genders. Maintaining a healthy level of body weight and PF during adolescence is recommended to prevent the development of metabolic diseases in adulthood.


[Evaluation of some immunological indexes in children with allergic diseases and obesity].
Study some immunological indexes in children with allergic diseases depending on bodyweight and clinical manifestations of allergy. A correlation analysis of relationship of indexes of natural resistance (phagocytosis, complement), immunoglobulin level and main lymphocyte populations with body weight in 214 children aged 12 - 17 years with various allergic diseases (rhinitis/ rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma) was carried out. The children were divided into groups based on body mass index (BMI): 73 (34%) children with normal weight, 74 (35%) overweight and 67 (31%) obese. The analysis has shown that the frequency of detection of children with obesity is the highest for age 12 - 14 years. With the increase of age the number of obese children decreases (OR - 9.0; 95% CI: 1.56 - 51.87; p = 0.008 and OR - 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08 - 0.94; p = 0.04, respectively). An interrelation of BMI with clinical exacerbations of allergy was detected. Out of 166 patients with allergic diseases combined with bronchial asthma excessive weight was detected in 62 (37%), obesit--in 57 (34%) and normal weigh--in 47 (28%). In a group of 48 children with allergy without asthma excessive weight was noted in 12 (25%), obesit--in 10 (21%) and normal weigh--in 26 (54%) of patients. In children with bronchial asthma excessive weight occurs almost 3 times more frequently than in children with allergy and without asthma. Differences could not be detected in 3 groups of children when immune status indexes were compared, except total IgE and NK cell levels. Total IgE level was the highest in obese children (2.7 log), differed significantly from the level in obese (2.46 log) and normal weight (2.37 log, r = 0.32, p < 0.05) children. The relative content of NK cells in blood of obese children was significantly higher than in children withnoormal and excessive weight (r = 0.41). The analysis of significant correlation coefficient indexes detected correlative associations of some immunological indexes with BMI. In overweight children a negative relation between the level of complement and BMI (r = -0.61) and positive relation with phagocytosis index (r = 0.58) were detected. Obesity in children with allergic diseases is associated with an increase of conjugation of immunological indexes manifesting in an increase of number of natural killers (NK), phagocytosis indexes, increased total IgE level against the background of negative interrelation with the main populations of lymphocytes, that in general influences aggravation of allergopathology in the form of a higher frequency of detection of atopic bronchial asthma.


Distribution of sequences common to the 25--28S-ribonucleic acid genes of Xenopus laevis and Neurospora crassa.
The extent of homology between the nucleotide sequence of L-rRNA (the major RNA component of the larger ribosomal subparticle) of a lower eukaryote (Neurospora crassa) and an amphibian (Xenopus laevis) was investigated by utilizing rDNA (DNA coding for rRNA) of X. laevis cloned in plasmids pMB9 and pML2, and rDNA of N. crassa cloned in bacteriophage lambda. Hybridization studies revealed that sequences common to both N. crassa and X. laevis L-rRNA comprise a total of approx. 1050 /+- 200 nucleotides. The thermal stability of the X. laevis rDNA.N. crassa L-rRNA hybrid was 5 degrees C lower than that of the X. laevis rDNA.X. laevis L-rRNA duplex, indicating the presence of fewer than 10% mismatches in homologous sequences. X. laevis rDNA was analysed by means of restriction endonucleases and hybridization with 125I-labelled N. crassa L-rRNA. Most (at least 95%) of the conserved sequences were present in a 3000-base-pair fragment produced by restriction with endonucleases HindIII and BamHI. This fragment, which includes the 3'-OH terminus of the L-rRNA-coding region, was used as an adaptor in the construction of a bacteriophage-lambda recombinant. One section of the recombinant phage terminating in a HindIII-specific site was obtained from bacteriophage lambda plac5 (after restriction with endonuclease HindIII). A second section terminating in a BamHi-specific site was obtained from bacteriophage lambda 540 (after restriction with endonuclease BamHI). These two parts were joined by means of the X. laevis rDNA fragment. Further analysis of cloned rDNA by means of restriction endonucleases confirmed that conserved sequences were widely distributed throughout the 3000-base-pair fragment produced by HindIII and BamHi endonucleases. A 3400-base-pair fragment of N. crassa rDNA cloned in a bacteriophage lambda [Cox & Peden (1979) Mol. Gen. Genet. 174, 17--24] was restricted with endonucleases. The products were hybridized with 125I-labelled X. laevis L-rRNA. Conserved sequences were shown to be distributed over a range of approx. 1600--2700 base-pairs. Hence, in neither X. laevis nor N. crassa L-rRNA can be conserved sequences from a single block; instead regions of high and low (or no) homology must be intermingled. Both N. crassa rDNA and X. laevis rDNA were found to hybridize with Drosophila melanogaster L-rDNA sequences. Those rDNA fragments with sequences common to X. laevis and N. crassa L-rRNA also hybridized with D. melanogaster L-rRNA probe. Thus the same set of conserved sequences may be present in all three species.


Impaired reductive regeneration of ascorbic acid in the Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rat.
Ascorbic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring major antioxidant that is essential for the scavenging of toxic free radicals in both plasma and tissues. AA levels in plasma and tissues have been reported to be significantly lower than normal in diabetic animals and humans, and might contribute to the complications found at the late stages of diabetes. In this study, plasma and hepatic AA levels and AA regeneration were studied in the Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rat (GK rat) to elucidate the mechanism of decreasing plasma and hepatic AA levels in diabetes. AA concentrations in the plasma and liver were significantly lower in GK than in control rats. AA levels in primary cultured hepatocytes derived from GK rats were lower than those derived from control Wistar rats with or without dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) in the medium. Among various enzyme activities that reduce DHA to AA, the NADPH-dependent regeneration of AA in the liver was significantly suppressed in GK rats. Northern blot analysis revealed that only the expression of 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR) was significantly suppressed in these rats. These results suggest that decreased AA-regenerating activity, probably through decreased expression of AKR, contributes to the decreased AA levels and increased oxidative stress in GK rats.


[Microflora study of the intestinal cavity and mucosa normally and after gamma irradiation].
Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are numerically prevalent in the microflora of the mucous membrane in mice and guinea-pigs. Some opportunistic microorganisms (Proteus, enterococci, aerobic bacilli, clostridia in mice; streptococci, yeast, enterococci in guinea-pigs) can mainly be found in the cavity of the large intestine, only small amounts of these microorganisms (10(2)), if any, are present on the mucous membrane. In the course of postradiation dysbacteriosis in mice and guinea pigs all opportunistic microorganisms which inhabit the cavity of the large intestine, proliferating actively, disseminate into the small intestine and, probably, invade the mucous membrane. Such microorganism as Escherichia, Proteus, Clostridium, normally absent in intact animals, appear in the intestine of guinea of guinea pigs subjected to irradiation. At the same time lactobacilli and bifidobacteria sharply decrease in number.


Stress-related, posttraumatic chronic pain syndrome: criteria for diagnosis, and preliminary report on prevalence.
Clear criteria are presented for the diagnosis of a specific variety of the chronic pain syndrome which has an etiologic basis in posttraumatic stress. A survey of patients seen in the pain clinic setting suggests this etiology can be identified in a substantial percentage of patients with chronic pain. The importance of differential diagnosis in the identification of different forms of chronic pain is noted, and the contribution of the present diagnosis to the planning for efficacious therapeutic intervention is discussed.


ANDES: Statistical tools for the ANalyses of DEep Sequencing.
The advancements in DNA sequencing technologies have allowed researchers to progress from the analyses of a single organism towards the deep sequencing of a sample of organisms. With sufficient sequencing depth, it is now possible to detect subtle variations between members of the same species, or between mixed species with shared biomarkers, such as the 16S rRNA gene. However, traditional sequencing analyses of samples from largely homogeneous populations are often still based on multiple sequence alignments (MSA), where each sequence is placed along a separate row and similarities between aligned bases can be followed down each column. While this visual format is intuitive for a small set of aligned sequences, the representation quickly becomes cumbersome as sequencing depths cover loci hundreds or thousands of reads deep. We have developed ANDES, a software library and a suite of applications, written in Perl and R, for the statistical ANalyses of DEep Sequencing. The fundamental data structure underlying ANDES is the position profile, which contains the nucleotide distributions for each genomic position resultant from a multiple sequence alignment (MSA). Tools include the root mean square deviation (RMSD) plot, which allows for the visual comparison of multiple samples on a position-by-position basis, and the computation of base conversion frequencies (transition/transversion rates), variation (Shannon entropy), inter-sample clustering and visualization (dendrogram and multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot), threshold-driven consensus sequence generation and polymorphism detection, and the estimation of empirically determined sequencing quality values. As new sequencing technologies evolve, deep sequencing will become increasingly cost-efficient and the inter and intra-sample comparisons of largely homogeneous sequences will become more common. We have provided a software package and demonstrated its application on various empirically-derived datasets. Investigators may download the software from Sourceforge at https://sourceforge.net/projects/andestools.


Nonuniform STM Contrast of Self-Assembled Tri-n-octyl-triazatriangulenium Tetrafluoroborate on HOPG.
We have assembled 4,8,12-tri-n-octyl-4,8,12-triazatrianguleniumtetrafluoroborate (TATA-BF4) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and have studied the structure and tunneling properties of this self-assembled monolayer (SAM) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ambient conditions. We show that the triazatriangulenium cations TATA+ form hexagonally packed structures driven by the interaction between the aromatic core and the HOPG lattice, as evidenced by density functional theory (DFT) modeling. According to the DFT results, the three alkyl chains of the platform tend to follow the main crystallographic directions of HOPG, leading to a different STM appearance. The STM contrast of the SAM shows that the monolayer is formed by two types of species, namely, TATA+ with BF4- counterions on top and without them. The cationic TATA+ platform gives rise to a seemingly higher appearance than neutral TATA-BF4, in contrast to observations made on metallic substrates. The variation of the STM tunneling parameters does not change the relative difference of contrast, revealing the stability of both species on HOPG. DFT calculations show that TATA-BF4 on HOPG has sufficient binding energy to resist dissociation into TATA+ and BF4-, which might occur under the action of the electric field in the tunneling gap during STM scanning.


Multisource Vacuum Deposition of Methylammonium-Free Perovskite Solar Cells.
Halide perovskites of the form ABX3 have shown outstanding properties for solar cells. The highest reported compositions consist of mixtures of A-site cations methylammonium (MA), formamidinium (FA) and cesium, and X-site iodide and bromide ions, and are produced by solution processing. However, it is unclear whether solution processing will yield sufficient spatial performance uniformity for large-scale photovoltaic modules or compatibility with deposition of multilayered tandem solar cell stacks. In addition, the volatile MA cation presents long-term stability issues. Here, we report the multisource vacuum deposition of FA0.7Cs0.3Pb(I0.9Br0.1)3 perovskite thin films with high-quality morphological, structural, and optoelectronic properties. We find that the controlled addition of excess PbI2 during the deposition is critical for achieving high performance and stability of the absorber material, and we fabricate p-i-n solar cells with stabilized power output of 18.2%. We also reveal the sensitivity of the deposition process to a range of parameters, including substrate, annealing temperature, evaporation rates, and source purity, providing a guide for further evaporation efforts. Our results demonstrate the enormous promise for MA-free perovskite solar cells employing industry-scalable multisource evaporation processes.


Reduction of circulating neutrophils precedes and accompanies type 1 diabetes.
Human type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease associated with major histocompatibility complex polymorphisms, β-cell autoantibodies, and autoreactive T cells. However, there is increasing evidence that innate cells may also play critical roles in T1D. We aimed to monitor peripheral immune cells in early stages of T1D (i.e., in healthy autoantibody-positive subjects) and in more advanced phases of the disease (i.e., at disease onset and years after diagnosis). We found a mild but significant and reproducible peripheral neutropenia that both precedes and accompanies the onset of T1D. This reduction was not due to peripheral neutrophil cell death, impaired differentiation, or the presence of anti-neutrophil antibodies. Neutrophils were observed by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis in the exocrine pancreas of multiorgan donors with T1D (both at onset and at later stages of the disease) and not in that of multiorgan donors with type 2 diabetes or nondiabetic donors. These pancreas-infiltrating neutrophils mainly localized at the level of very small blood vessels. Our findings suggest the existence of a hitherto unrecognized clinical phenotype that might reflect unexplored pathogenic pathways underlying T1D.


Extending the viability of acute brain slices.
The lifespan of an acute brain slice is approximately 6-12 hours, limiting potential experimentation time. We have designed a new recovery incubation system capable of extending their lifespan to more than 36 hours. This system controls the temperature of the incubated artificial cerebral spinal fluid (aCSF) while continuously passing the fluid through a UVC filtration system and simultaneously monitoring temperature and pH. The combination of controlled temperature and UVC filtering maintains bacteria levels in the lag phase and leads to the dramatic extension of the brain slice lifespan. Brain slice viability was validated through electrophysiological recordings as well as live/dead cell assays. This system benefits researchers by monitoring incubation conditions and standardizing this artificial environment. It further provides viable tissue for two experimental days, reducing the time spent preparing brain slices and the number of animals required for research.


Dietary fish oil supplements depress milk fat yield and alter milk fatty acid composition in lactating cows fed grass silage-based diets.
The potential of dietary fish oil (FO) supplements to increase milk 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 concentrations and the associated effects on milk fatty acid (FA) composition, intake, and milk production were examined. Four multiparous lactating cows offered a grass silage-based diet (forage:concentrate ratio 58:42, on a dry matter basis) supplemented with 0, 75, 150, or 300g of FO/d (FO0, FO75, FO150, and FO300, respectively) were used in a 4×4 Latin square with 28-d experimental periods. Milk FA composition was analyzed by complementary silver-ion thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and silver-ion HPLC. Supplements of FO decreased linearly dry matter intake, yields of energy-corrected milk, milk fat and protein, and milk fat content. Compared with FO0, milk fat content and yield were decreased by 30.1 and 40.6%, respectively, on the FO300 treatment. Supplements of FO linearly increased milk 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 concentrations from 0.07 to 0.18 and 0.03 to 0.10g/100g of FA, respectively. Enrichment of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 was accompanied by decreases in 4- to 18-carbon saturated FA and increases in total conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), trans FA, and polyunsaturated FA concentrations. Fish oil elevated milk fat cis-9,trans-11 CLA content in a quadratic manner, reaching a maximum on FO150 (from 0.61 to 2.15g/100g of FA), whereas further amounts of FO increased trans-10 18:1 with no change in trans-11 18:1 concentration. Supplements of FO also resulted in a dose-dependent appearance of 37 unique 20- and 22-carbon intermediates in milk fat. Concentrations of 16-, 18-, 20-, and 22-carbon trans FA were all increased by FO, with enrichment of trans 18:1 and trans 18:2 being quantitatively the most important. Decreases in milk fat yield to FO were not related to changes in milk trans-10,cis-12 CLA concentration or estimated milk fat melting point. Partial least square regression analysis indicated that FO-induced milk fat depression was associated with changes in the concentrations of multiple FA in milk. Even though a direct cause and effect could not be established, a decrease in 18:0 supply in combination with increased mammary uptake of cis-11 18:1, trans-10 18:1, and trans 20- and 22-carbon FA may contribute. In conclusion, dietary FO supplements enrich 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in milk, but also elevate mono- and polyenoic trans FA concentrations, and in high amounts alter the distribution of individual trans FA isomers.


Kinase inhibitors with redox and anti-inflammatory activities.
The development of inflammatory immune response is related to an activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling. The intracellular molecules from this pathway are sensitive to the alterations in the microenvironment. The changes in cellular redox state, proliferation, gene expression pattern and genomic stability during inflammation induce the activation of non-canonical and atypical NK-κB signaling increasing the crosstalk with molecules involved in neddylation, cell cycle checkpoints regulation and DNA repair. This review article describes the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive kinases from the NF-κB pathway and presents the effects of their suppression by small kinase inhibitors. It illustrates that selective targeting of the redox sensor molecules from the inflammatory NK- κB cascades can influence cell survival and metabolism as well. We think that this issue is important when evaluating the drug efficacy in clinical studies and their side effects.


Slope of change throughout exposure treatment for flight phobia: the role of autonomic flexibility.
This study tested the hypothesis that flight-phobic patients experience change at different rates even when they are receiving identical treatment. Faster within-session rates of change (WSRC) were expected for patients who required fewer exposure sessions. The study also tested the theoretical role of autonomic flexibility on WSRC. High flexibility should be associated with faster rates of change. Thirty-seven flight-phobic patients were successfully treated with a computer-assisted fear of flying treatment. A significant negative correlation was found between total number of sessions and WSRC: The fewer sessions patients attended, the faster their rate of change was. The role of autonomic flexibility was partially supported: A significant correlation between heart rate variability and WSRC revealed that flexible patients improved faster than less-flexible patients.


A portable hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) device for automotive diagnostic control systems.
In-vehicle driving tests for evaluating the performance and diagnostic functionalities of engine control systems are often time consuming, expensive, and not reproducible. Using a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation approach, new control strategies and diagnostic functions on a controller area network (CAN) line can be easily tested in real time, in order to reduce the effort and the cost of the testing phase. Nowadays, spark ignition engines are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) with a large number of embedded sensors and actuators. In order to meet the rising demand of lower emissions and fuel consumption, an increasing number of control functions are added into such a unit. This work aims at presenting a portable electronic environment system, suited for HIL simulations, in order to test the engine control software and the diagnostic functionality on a CAN line, respectively, through non-regression and diagnostic tests. The performances of the proposed electronic device, called a micro hardware-in-the-loop system, are presented through the testing of the engine management system software of a 1.6 l Fiat gasoline engine with variable valve actuation for the ECU development version.


Effect of conceptus number, hysterectomy, and progesterone on prolactin surges in rats.
Mating induces two daily surges of prolactin (PRL) secretion in the rat. Termination of the diurnal and nocturnal surges coincides with the development of the placenta and the secretion of rat placental lactogen (RPL). The number of conceptuses present was altered to induce changes in RPL levels in the blood. The presence of one intact viable conceptus is sufficient to cause termination of the diurnal PRL surge. The presence of one or zero conceptuses allowed resumption of the nocturnal surge after day 14, whereas presence of two or more conceptuses prevented the surge. Hysterectomy on day 14 allowed the resumption of the nocturnal PRL surges for 2 days and diurnal PRL surges for 3 days. Progesterone treatment stimulated an additional third nocturnal PRL surge and blunted the magnitude of the resuming diurnal surges. It is concluded that secretions from the conceptus and progesterone contribute to the regulation of prolactin during pregnancy.


A multiscale graph theoretical approach to gene regulation networks: a case study in atrial fibrillation.
The changes in between gene expression correlation structure induced in heart tissue by atrial fibrillation are studied by means of a graph theoretical approach. As expected by general statistical mechanics principles, the disease increases the general connectivity of the gene regulation network; the multiscale character of the analysis allows us to get both a general appreciation of regulation network connectivity and the sketching of a biological interpretation of the studied disease. The presence of a still largely unknown, scale invariant, global correlation field encompassing the entire genome is demonstrated as well.


Failure to detect Plasmodium vivax in West and Central Africa by PCR species typing.
Plasmodium vivax is estimated to affect 75 million people annually. It is reportedly absent, however, from west and central Africa due to the high prevalence of the Duffy negative phenotype in the indigenous populations. Despite this, non-African travellers consistently return to their own countries with P. vivax malaria after visiting this region. An attempt was made, therefore, to detect the presence of P. vivax parasites in blood samples collected from the indigenous populations of west and central Africa. Parasite species typing (for all four human malaria parasites) was carried out by PCR on 2,588 blood samples collected from individuals from nine African malaria-endemic countries. Most infections (98.5%) were Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae was identified in 8.5% of all infections, and Plasmodium ovale in 3.9%. The prevalence of both parasites varied greatly by country. Only one case of P. vivax was detected from Sao Tome, an island off the west coast of Africa, confirming the scarcity of this parasite in Africa. The prevalence of P. vivax in local populations in sub-Saharan Africa is very low, despite the frequent identification of this parasite in non-African travellers.


Lichen Simplex Chronicus Associated With Erectile Dysfunction: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.
An association between lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) and sexual dysfunction was explored. However, no data are available from investigations into the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and LSC. This retrospective population-based cohort study aimed to clarify the risk of ED associated with LSC. By using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research dataset, we identified 5611 male patients who had been newly diagnosed with LSC from 2000 to 2004. The date of diagnosis was identified as the index date. LSC patients with incomplete demographic information or with a history of ED before the index date were excluded. In total, 22444 age-matched patients without LSC were randomly selected as the non-LSC group based on a 1:4 ratio. Subsequence occurrence of ED was measured until 2011. The association between LSC and the risk of developing ED was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression model. After adjusting for age and comorbidities, patients with LSC had a 1.74-fold greater risk of developing ED compared with those without LSC (95% confidence interval=1.44-2.10). LSC patients with comorbidities including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, depression, and anxiety were at a higher risk of ED compared with the non-LSC patients without comorbidities. LSC confers a greater risk in the development of ED. Physicians should be aware of the potential of ED occurrence in LSC patients.


[Pre-pathologic-pathologic cardiotocographic pattern in second stage of labor. Analysis of the incidence of acidosis and recommendations for fetal blood gas analysis].
Fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns from 746 consecutive, documented vaginal deliveries within a 1 year period were reported on using the Hammacher Score. Characteristic FHR patterns were described and the frequency of acidosis calculated. FHR score, the single FHR parameters, baseline (BL), floatingline (FL) and oscillation type (OT) and the acid-base balance of the neonate were submitted to a correlation analysis according to Spearman. FHR patterns reported as ominous (FHR score > or = 5) were observed in 25.9% and were associated with a frequency of acidosis (pHUA < or = 7.20) of 38.1% Suspicious fetal heart rate patterns (FHR score 3-4) were seen in 60%, here the frequency of acidosis was 8.5%. With the inclusion of decelerations by the parameter FL an increased frequency of acidosis of 29% was registered only when 4 points were allocated. Total FHR score and the score parameter baseline (BL) correlated closest with the pH changes at the end of birth. Tachycardic FHR patterns showed the highest frequency of acidosis (55%) and ominous tracings (83%). The commonest FHR pattern, normocardia with decelerations (48%) exhibited only a low frequency of acidosis (8%) and ominous tracings (15%) with an average pH value of 7.27 +/- 0.08. To prevent an unnecessary operative delivery in the presence of an ominous FHR finding, whether in the late first stage or early second stage when birth is not imminent, a fetal blood analysis should be carried out. With a suspiciously assessed fetal heart rate pattern the fetal blood analysis will only rarely reveal a severe acidosis (pHUA < or = 7.10).


Physicochemical Analysis of Yogurt Produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides H40 and Its Effects on Oxidative Stress in Neuronal Cells.
Leuconostoc mesenteroides H40 (H40) was isolated from kimchi, and its probiotic properties and neuroprotective effect was evaluated in oxidatively stressed SH-SY5Y cells. H40 was stable in artificial gastric conditions and can be attached in HT-29 cells. In addition, H40 did not produce β-glucuronidase and showed resistant to several antibiotics. The conditioned medium (CM) was made using HT-29 cells refined with heat-killed probiotics (Probiotics-CM) and heated yogurts (Y-CM) to investigate the neuroprotective effect. Treatment with H40-CM not only increased cell viability but also significantly improved brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) expression and reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in oxidatively stress-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Besides, probiotic Y-CM significantly increased BDNF mRNA expression and decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The physicochemical properties of probiotic yogurt with H40 was not significantly different from the control yogurt. The viable cell counts of lactic acid bacteria in control and probiotic yogurt with H40 was 8.66 Log CFU/mL and 8.96 Log CFU/mL, respectively. Therefore, these results indicate that H40 can be used as prophylactic functional dairy food having neuroprotective effects.


Bone health in adult trans persons: an update of the literature.
Hormonal treatment in trans persons can affect bone health. In this review, recent studies published on this topic in adults are discussed. Before starting hormonal treatment, trans women were found to have lower bone mineral density than cis men, which seems to be related to lower vitamin D concentrations and lower lean body mass, whereas this was not found in trans men. Short-term and long-term studies show that hormonal treatment does not have detrimental effects on bone mineral density in trans women and trans men. Low estradiol concentrations were associated with a decrease in bone mineral density in trans women. Based on the reassuring findings in these studies, regularly assessing bone mineral density during hormonal treatment does not seem necessary. This confirms the Endocrine Society Guideline stating that bone mineral density should be measured only when risk factors for osteoporosis exist, especially in people who stop hormonal treatment after gonadectomy. The relationship with estradiol concentrations indicate that hormone supplementation should be adequate and therapy compliance should be stimulated. As vitamin D deficiency frequently occurs, vitamin D supplementation should be considered. Future research should focus on fracture risk and long-term changes in bone geometry.


Hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in psychotic and nonpsychotic unipolar depression.
The limbic system is thought to underlie dysfunctional affective and cognitive processes in individuals with depression. Neuroanatomical studies of subjects with depression have often examined hippocampal and amygdalar structures, since they are two key structures of the limbic system. Research has often but not always found reduced hippocampal volume in patients with major depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in patients with depression subtypes relative to healthy comparison subjects. Participants were 1) patients with major depression with psychosis, 2) patients with major depression without psychosis, and 3) healthy comparison subjects. To examine hippocampal and amygdalar volumes, all participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors further examined the effects of clinical and chronicity data on these two brain structures. After age, gender, and total brain volume were controlled, depressed patients with psychosis had a significantly smaller mean amygdala volume relative to depressed patients without psychosis and healthy comparison subjects. There were no differences between depressed patients without psychosis and healthy comparison subjects. Correlational analyses suggested that age of depression onset was strongly associated with amygdala volume. No group differences in hippocampal volume were found. There were no differences between depressed patients and healthy comparison subjects in hippocampal volume. However, psychotic but not nonpsychotic depression was associated with reduced amygdala volume. Reduced amygdala volume was not associated with severity of depression or severity of psychosis but was associated with age at onset of depression. Smaller amygdala volume may be a risk factor for later development of psychotic depression. In addition, chronicity of depression and depression subtype might be two important factors associated with hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in depression.


A patient presenting with a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor in the broad ligament: a case report.
Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors are a family of rare mesenchymal tumors composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive perivascular epithelioid cells. They can originate in any visceral organ or soft tissue and include a range of lesions such as angiomyolipoma, clear cell 'sugar' tumor of the lung, lymphangioleiomyomatosis and clear cell myomelanocytic tumors of the falciparum ligament/ligament teres. Due to their rarity and varied sites and presentation, management of these tumors remains highly challenging. A 46-year-old para 2 Caucasian woman initially presented to the general surgeons at our hospital in North West London with abdominal pain. Laparoscopy revealed a right broad ligament hematoma, which was thought to be iatrogenic in origin, from insertion of the Veress needle at the time of surgery, and was managed conservatively. Upon her re-presentation two months later with severe pain, ultrasound scanning revealed the hematoma had increased in size and she underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histology results from necrotic tissue from the hematoma led to a diagnosis of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor. She was then referred to a tertiary oncology center, where she underwent several further operations in an attempt to debulk the tumor for symptomatic relief of her pain, with limited success. She is now taking the immunosuppressive drug sirolimus, which has produced a modest reduction in tumor size. She is now 47 months on from initial presentation. A literature search has revealed only six other case reports of broad ligament perivascular epithelioid cell tumors, with varied presentations and management. The longest duration of follow-up was 21 months. Only five other cases of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor managed with sirolimus have been reported. We therefore feel that this report highlights some of the difficulties in diagnosing perivascular epithelioid cell tumors, and sheds light on management strategies for a very rare gynecological tumor in addition to sharing our experience in the use of sirolimus in its treatment.


An association study of ADSS gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia.
Adenylosuccinate synthase (ADSS) catalyzes the first committed step of AMP synthesis. It was suggested that the blood-derived RNA of ADSS was down-regulated in schizophrenia (SZ) and one of the eight putative biomarker genes to discriminate SZ from normal controls. However, it remains unclear whether the reduction of ADSS RNA is due to the polymorphisms of the gene or not. We attempted to examine the association of ADSS gene with schizophrenia in a Chinese population of 480 schizophrenics and 502 normal controls. Genotyping was performed by the Sequenom platform. The 6 marker SNPs (rs3102460, rs3127459, rs3127460, rs3127465, rs3006001, and rs3003211) were genotyped. The frequencies of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes were tested between cases and controls. There was no significant difference of genotypic, allelic, or haplotypic distributions of the 6 SNPs between the two groups. Our data did not support ADSS gene as a susceptibility gene for SZ in Chinese Han population. Large sample size study is needed to validate or replicate our association study, especially from other ethnic populations.


Ecophysiological and foliar nitrogen concentration responses of understorey Acacia spp. and Eucalyptus sp. to prescribed burning.
Eucalyptus spp. is a dominant tree genus in Australia and most Eucalyptus spp. are canopy dominant species. In Australian natural forests, Eucalyptus spp. commonly are associated with understorey legumes which play a crucial role for ecological restoration owing to their nitrogen (N) fixing ability for replenishing the soil N lost after frequent prescribed burning. This study aimed to explore to what extent physiological responses of these species differ 7 and 12 years after last fire. Two most common understorey Acacia spp., Acacia leiocalyx and A. disparrima, as well as one non-leguminous Eucalyptus resinifera, were studied due to their dominance in the forest. Both A. leiocalyx and A. disparrima showed higher carbon (C) assimilation capacity, maximum photosynthetic capacity, and moderate foliar C/N ratio compared with E. resinifera. A. leiocalyx showed various advantages compared to A. disparrima such as higher photosynthetic capacity, adaptation to wider light range and higher foliar total N (TNmass). A. leiocalyx also relied on N2-fixing ability for longer time compared to A. disparrima. The results suggested that the two Acacia spp. were more beneficial to C and N cycles for the post burning ecosystem than the non-N2-fixing species E. resinifera. A. leiocalyx had greater contribution to complementing soil N cycle long after burning compared to A. disparrima.


Comparison of standard and standard plus vitamin E therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradications in children.
Although various drugs can be used in adults for Helicobacter pylori eradication in adults, treatment options are limited in children. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the standard lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (LAC) protocol to those of LAC+vitamin E (LACE) combination for H. pylori eradication. The study included 90 children (age range: 10-17 years) who were admitted to four pediatric gastroenterology centers between March 2011 and November 2012 with dyspeptic symptoms and who had tested positive for H. pylori by 14C-urea breath tests. The patients were randomized into two groups. The LAC group [45 patients (pts)] was treated with a standard regimen consisting of lansoprazole (1 mg/kg/day), amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day), and clarithromycin (14 mg/kg/day), each of which was given in two equally divided doses every 12 h for 14 days; the LACE group (45 pts) was given the standard regimen and vitamin E at 200 IU/day for 14 days. H. pylori eradication was assessed using the 14C-UBT in the 6th week after the cessation of treatment. H. pylori was eradicated in 21 (46.6%) pts in the LAC group, while it was eradicated in 29 (64.4%) pts in the LACE group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=0.13). The eradication rate of H. pylori in children while using the LAC regimen has decreased in the last years. The LACE regimen has been associated with an increased eradication rate but can reach to statistically significance. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to examine the success of the LACE regimen for H. pylori eradication.


Are There Common Mechanisms Between the Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome and Natural Aging?
The Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a premature aging disease caused by mutations of the LMNA gene leading to increased production of a partially processed form of the nuclear fibrillar protein lamin A - progerin. Progerin acts as a dominant factor that leads to multiple morphological anomalies of cell nuclei and disturbances in heterochromatin organization, mitosis, DNA replication and repair, and gene transcription. Progerin-positive cells are present in primary fibroblast cultures obtained from the skin of normal donors at advanced ages. These cells display HGPS-like defects in nuclear morphology, decreased H3K9me3 and HP1, and increased histone H2AX phosphorylation marks of the DNA damage loci. Inhibition of progerin production in cells of aged non-HGPS donors in vivo increases the proliferative activity, H3K9me3, and HP1, and decreases the senescence markers p21, IGFBP3, and GADD45B to the levels of young donor cells. Thus, progerin-dependent mechanisms act in natural aging. Excessive activity of the same mechanisms may well be the cause of premature aging in HGPS. Telomere attrition is widely regarded to be one of the primary hallmarks of aging. Progerin expression in normal human fibroblasts accelerates the loss of telomeres. Changes in lamina organization may directly affect telomere attrition resulting in accelerated replicative senescence and progeroid phenotypes. The chronological aging in normal individuals and the premature aging in HGPS patients are mediated by similar changes in the activity of signaling pathways, including downregulation of DNA repair and chromatin organization, and upregulation of ERK, mTOR, GH-IGF1, MAPK, TGFβ, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Multiple epigenetic changes are common to premature aging in HGPS and natural aging. Recent studies showed that epigenetic systems could play an active role as drivers of both forms of aging. It may be suggested that these systems translate the effects of various internal and external factors into universal molecular hallmarks, largely common between natural and accelerated forms of aging. Drugs acting at both natural aging and HGPS are likely to exist. For example, vitamin D3 reduces the progerin production and alleviates most HGPS features, and also slows down epigenetic aging in overweight and obese non-HGPS individuals with suboptimal vitamin D status.


Marine caves of the Mediterranean Sea: a sponge biodiversity reservoir within a biodiversity hotspot.
Marine caves are widely acknowledged for their unique biodiversity and constitute a typical feature of the Mediterranean coastline. Herein an attempt was made to evaluate the ecological significance of this particular ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea, which is considered a biodiversity hotspot. This was accomplished by using Porifera, which dominate the rocky sublittoral substrata, as a reference group in a meta-analytical approach, combining primary research data from the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) with data derived from the literature. In total 311 species from all poriferan classes were recorded, representing 45.7% of the Mediterranean Porifera. Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha are highly represented in marine caves at the family (88%), generic (70%), and species level (47.5%), the latter being the most favored group along with Dictyoceratida and Lithistida. Several rare and cave-exclusive species were reported from only one or few caves, indicating the fragmentation and peculiarity of this unique ecosystem. Species richness and phylogenetic diversity varied among Mediterranean areas; the former was positively correlated with research effort, being higher in the northern Mediterranean, while the latter was generally higher in caves than in the overall sponge assemblages of each area. Resemblance analysis among areas revealed that cavernicolous sponge assemblages followed a pattern quite similar to that of the overall Mediterranean assemblages. The same pattern was exhibited by the zoogeographic affinities of cave sponges: species with Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution and Mediterranean endemics prevailed (more than 40% each), 70% of them having warm-water affinities, since most caves were studied in shallow waters. According to our findings, Mediterranean marine caves appear to be important sponge biodiversity reservoirs of high representativeness and great scientific interest, deserving further detailed study and protection.


pH affects ammonium, nitrate and proton fluxes in the apical region of conifer and soybean roots.
The effect of pH on nitrate and ammonium uptake in the high-affinity transport system and low-affinity transport system ranges was compared in two conifers and one crop species. Many conifers grow on acidic soils, thus their preference for ammonium vs nitrate uptake can differ from that of crop plants, and the effect of pH on nitrogen (N) uptake may differ. Proton, ammonium and nitrate net fluxes were measured at seedling root tips and 5, 10, 20 and 30 mm from the tips using a non-invasive microelectrode ion flux measurement system in solutions of 50 or 1500 microM NH(4)NO(3) at pH 4 and 7. In Glycine max and Pinus contorta, efflux of protons was observed at pH 7 while pH 4 resulted in net proton uptake in some root regions. Pseudotsuga menziesii roots consistently showed proton efflux behind the root tip, and thus appear better adapted to maintain proton efflux in acid soils. P. menziesii's ability to maintain ammonium uptake at low pH may relate to its ability to maintain proton efflux. In all three species, net nitrate uptake was greatest at neutral pH. Net ammonium uptake in G. max and net nitrate uptake in P. menziesii were greatly reduced at pH 4, particularly at high N concentration, thus N concentration should be considered when determining optimum pH for N uptake. In P. menziesii and G. max, net N uptake was greater in 1500 than 50 microM NH(4)NO(3) solution, but flux profiles of all ions varied among species.