Effects of density of anisotropic microstamped silica thin films on guided bone tissue regeneration--in vitro study.
The growing demand for better implant aesthetics has led to increased research on the development of all-ceramic dental implants. The use of microtextured coatings with enhanced properties has been presented as a viable way to improve tissue integrability of all-ceramic implants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different densities of anisotropic microtextured silica thin films, which served as a model coating, on the behavior of human osteoblast-like cells. The differential responses of human osteoblast-like cells to anisotropic silica microtextures with varying densities, produced via a combination of sol-gel and soft lithography processing, were evaluated in terms of alignment, elongation (using fluorescence microscopy), overall cellular activity, and the expression/activity levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA/Tukey HSD post hoc test. The thin films were thoroughly characterized via scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and contact angle measurements. Thin film characterization revealed increased nanoscale roughness and reduced wettability on the micropatterned surfaces. Cell culture experiments indicated that the microtextures induced cell alignment, elongation, and guided colonization on the surface. Cells cultured on denser micropatterns exhibited increased metabolic activity (t = 14-21 days). The early expression/activity levels of ALP released into the medium were found to be significantly higher only on the least dense micropattern. These results suggest the possibility that microstructured silica thin films could be used to guide and enhance peri-implant cell/tissue responses, potentially improving tissue integration for metallic and all-ceramic dental implants.


Transcriptional regulation of katE in Escherichia coli K-12.
Escherichia coli produces two distinct species of catalase, hydroperoxidases I and II, which differ in kinetic properties and regulation. To further examine catalase regulation, a lacZ fusion was placed into one of the genes that is involved in catalase synthesis. Transductional mapping revealed the fusion to be either allelic with or very close to katE, a locus which together with katF controls the synthesis of the aerobically inducible hydroperoxidase (hydroperoxidase II). katE was expressed under anaerobic conditions at levels that were approximately one-fourth of those found in aerobically grown cells and was found to be induced to higher levels in early-stationary-phase cells relative to levels of exponentially growing cells under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. katE was fully expressed in air and was not further induced when the growth medium was sparged with 100% oxygen. Expression of katE was unaffected by the addition of hydrogen peroxide or by the presence of additional lesions in oxyR or sodA, indicating that it is not part of the oxyR regulon. When katF::Tn10 was introduced into a katE::lacZ strain, beta-galactosidase synthesis was largely eliminated and was no longer inducible, suggesting that katF is a positive regulator of katE expression.


Identification of Emotional Spectrums of Patients Taking an Erectile Dysfunction Medication: Ontology-Based Emotion Analysis of Patient Medication Reviews on Social Media.
Patient medication reviews on social networking sites provide valuable insights into the experiences and sentiments of individuals taking specific medications. Understanding the emotional spectrum expressed by patients can shed light on their overall satisfaction with medication treatment. This study aims to explore the emotions expressed by patients taking phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors and their impact on sentiment. This study aimed to (1) identify the distribution of 6 Parrot emotions in patient medication reviews across different patient characteristics and PDE5 inhibitors, (2) determine the relative impact of each emotion on the overall sentiment derived from the language expressed in each patient medication review while controlling for different patient characteristics and PDE5 inhibitors, and (3) assess the predictive power of the overall sentiment in explaining patient satisfaction with medication treatment. A data set of patient medication reviews for sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil was collected from 3 popular social networking sites such as WebMD, Ask-a-Patient, and Drugs.com. The Parrot emotion model, which categorizes emotions into 6 primary classes (surprise, anger, love, joy, sadness, and fear), was used to analyze the emotional content of the reviews. Logistic regression and sentiment analysis techniques were used to examine the distribution of emotions across different patient characteristics and PDE5 inhibitors and to quantify their contribution to sentiment. The analysis included 3070 patient medication reviews. The most prevalent emotions expressed were joy and sadness, with joy being the most prevalent among positive emotions and sadness being the most prevalent among negative emotions. Emotion distributions varied across patient characteristics and PDE5 inhibitors. Regression analysis revealed that joy had the strongest positive impact on sentiment, while sadness had the most negative impact. The sentiment score derived from patient reviews significantly predicted patient satisfaction with medication treatment, explaining 19% of the variance (increase in R2) when controlling for patient characteristics and PDE5 inhibitors. This study provides valuable insights into the emotional experiences of patients taking PDE5 inhibitors. The findings highlight the importance of emotions in shaping patient sentiment and satisfaction with medication treatment. Understanding these emotional dynamics can aid health care providers in better addressing patient needs and improving overall patient care.


Disability and voting.
For millions of people with disabilities in the United States, exercising the fundamental right to vote remains a challenge. Over the last few decades, the U.S. government has enacted several pieces of legislation to make voting accessible to individuals with disabilities. We examine trends in self-reported voting rates among people with and without disabilities to uncover evidence for the effects of these policies on political participation. We also explore what policy change is necessary to encourage people with disabilities to vote by investigating whether the participation rates vary by the types of disabilities. We analyze the Current Population Survey (CPS) data in the years of presidential elections for the period of 1980-2008. Our analysis shows that the population aged 18-64 with work-preventing disabilities has been persistently less likely to vote compared to the corresponding population without such disabilities. In addition, individuals with cognitive and mobility impairments have the lowest rates of electoral participation. The gap in the likelihood of voting in-person between people with and without disabilities is considerably larger than the gap in the likelihood of voting by-mail, regardless of the types of impairments that they have. The participation gap between people with and without disabilities did not decrease over the last three decades despite the presence of federal laws that aimed at removing barriers for voting.


New Oligoneuriidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) from Iran.
Two new species of the mayfly family Oligoneuriidae are described based on larval specimens recently collected in Iran. The first new species, Oligoneuriella tuberculata Godunko & Staniczek, sp. nov., can be distinguished from all its congeners by the presence of pronounced protuberances posteromedially on abdominal terga, highly reduced paracercus, large lamella of gill I, and setation on hind margin of middle and hind femora confined to their basal halves. The second species, Oligoneuriopsis villosus Bojková, Godunko, & Staniczek, sp. nov., remarkably belongs to a mostly Afrotropical genus. The new species clearly differs from all its congeners in the shape of setae on the surface of gills and terga, pattern of body colouration, and the shape of posterolateral projections of abdominal segments. Except for the species description, the generic diagnosis of Oligoneuriopsis Crass, 1947 is briefly discussed. COI barcode sequences of both new species are provided and molecular species delimitation is tested using distance-based and likelihood-based approaches, with both new species unambiguously recognised as separate lineages. The analysis of COI also corroborates the respective affinities of both new species, estimated based on morphology. The two new species of Oligoneuriidae described herein highlight the importance of the Middle East as a centre of diversity of this mayfly family within the Palaearctic.


Linkage mapping in populations with karyotypic rearrangements.
A simulation study was used to examine the consequences of karyotypic rearrangements on molecular genetic map construction. Two groups of 50 datasets were created for F2 populations segregating for a reciprocal translocation of chromosomal segments or a reciprocal translocation and inversion. Multiple attempts were made to construct maps for each dataset using MapMaker/EXP. As expected, the markers from segments involved in the translocation formed one linkage group. Maps that corresponded to the known marker order within a segment could be constructed by the following method. The separation of markers distal to the translocation breakpoints into their respective segments could be made by constructing multiple maps, using distinct orders of marker entry, and observing the variances in intermarker distances: variances between pairs of markers from the same segment were an order of magnitude less compared to pairs where markers were from different segments. The order of markers within a segment could be determined from combining the pairwise linkage results from multiple maps, or from maps including all markers from a segment. No bias in map distances was observed. These results indicate that, under conditions similar to those tested, genetic maps corresponding to the segments conserved in translocations can be constructed.


Utility of an ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging protocol in recent and semi-recent strokes.
To evaluate the technical feasibility of an integrated ultrafast head magnetic resonance (MR) protocol using a sensitivity encoding (SENSE) technique for depicting parenchymal ischaemia and vascular compromise in patients with suspected recent stroke. 23 patients were evaluated with the ultrafast MR protocol using T2, T1, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), 3D time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. These were compared with routine conventional MR sequences. One patient could not tolerate conventional imaging, although imaging using the three minute head SENSE protocol was diagnostic. Both conventional and ultrafast protocols were of similar diagnostic yield in the remaining patients. There were no significant differences in clinical diagnostic quality for the T1, T2, FLAIR, and DWI sequences. One MRA examination was of better quality when SENSE was used, owing to reduced motion artefacts and shorter imaging time. It is possible to undertake a comprehensive MR examination in stroke patients in approximately three to five minutes. Ultrafast imaging may become a useful triage tool before thrombolytic therapy. It may be of particular benefit in patients unable to tolerate longer sequences. Further work is necessary to confirm these findings in hyperacute stroke.


Quantitative phenotyping-based in vivo chemical screening in a zebrafish model of leukemia stem cell xenotransplantation.
Zebrafish-based chemical screening has recently emerged as a rapid and efficient method to identify important compounds that modulate specific biological processes and to test the therapeutic efficacy in disease models, including cancer. In leukemia, the ablation of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is necessary to permanently eradicate the leukemia cell population. However, because of the very small number of LSCs in leukemia cell populations, their use in xenotransplantation studies (in vivo) and the difficulties in functionally and pathophysiologically replicating clinical conditions in cell culture experiments (in vitro), the progress of drug discovery for LSC inhibitors has been painfully slow. In this study, we developed a novel phenotype-based in vivo screening method using LSCs xenotransplanted into zebrafish. Aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive (ALDH+) cells were purified from chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells tagged with a fluorescent protein (Kusabira-orange) and then implanted in young zebrafish at 48 hours post-fertilization. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, the animals were treated with one of eight different therapeutic agents (imatinib, dasatinib, parthenolide, TDZD-8, arsenic trioxide, niclosamide, salinomycin, and thioridazine). Cancer cell proliferation, and cell migration were determined by high-content imaging. Of the eight compounds that were tested, all except imatinib and dasatinib selectively inhibited ALDH+ cell proliferation in zebrafish. In addition, these anti-LSC agents suppressed tumor cell migration in LSC-xenotransplants. Our approach offers a simple, rapid, and reliable in vivo screening system that facilitates the phenotype-driven discovery of drugs effective in suppressing LSCs.


A Statistical Modeling Framework for Projecting Future Ambient Ozone and its Health Impact due to Climate Change.
The adverse health effects of ambient ozone are well established. Given the high sensitivity of ambient ozone concentrations to meteorological conditions, the impacts of future climate change on ozone concentrations and its associated health effects are of concern. We describe a statistical modeling framework for projecting future ozone levels and its health impacts under a changing climate. This is motivated by the continual effort to evaluate projection uncertainties to inform public health risk assessment. The proposed approach was applied to the 20-county Atlanta metropolitan area using regional climate model (RCM) simulations from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program. Future ozone levels and ozone-related excesses in asthma emergency department (ED) visits were examined for the period 2041-2070. The computationally efficient approach allowed us to consider 8 sets of climate model outputs based on different combinations of 4 RCMs and 4 general circulation models. Compared to the historical period of 1999-2004, we found consistent projections across climate models of an average 11.5% higher ozone levels (range: 4.8%, 16.2%), and an average 8.3% (range: -7% to 24%) higher number of ozone exceedance days. Assuming no change in the at-risk population, this corresponds to excess ozone-related ED visits ranging from 267 to 466 visits per year. Health impact projection uncertainty was driven predominantly by uncertainty in the health effect association and climate model variability. Calibrating climate simulations with historical observations reduced differences in projections across climate models.


Piaeodicton: the traces of infaunal xenophyophores?
A xenophyophore found just below the surface of a box core of modern deep-sea sediment from the Japan Trench has a threadlike plasma body that extends through horizontal, anastomosing networks of organically bound sediment tubes (the organism's test). The tubes resemble somne of the polygonal networks of the trace fossil Paleodictyon. Such xenophyophores may be the makers of Paleodictyon, and the complex, regular geometry of Paleodictyon may be determined by the xenophyophore's anastomosing body shape.


Identification of the alpha 3 chain of type IV collagen as the common autoantigen in antibasement membrane disease and Goodpasture syndrome.
Antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies can cause glomerulonephritis or pulmonary hemorrhage by themselves or Goodpasture syndrome when they occur together. It is unknown if variations in antibody reactivity contribute to the different patterns of organ involvement seen in this disease. This study examines the reactivity of the alpha 1-alpha 6 NC1 domains of Type IV collagen, the putative autoantigen, in sera from patients with anti-GBM antibodies after various clinical presentations of lung hemorrhage and renal injury. Serum or plasma containing anti-GBM antibodies from 35 patients with combined glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage, 19 with glomerulonephritis alone, and 4 with pulmonary hemorrhage alone were compared with samples from 19 normal controls and 32 patients with other kidney diseases. Four different immunologic assays were performed with bovine alpha 1-alpha 6(IV) and recombinant human type alpha 1-alpha 5(IV) collagen NC1 domains. The study found that the anti-GBM antibodies from all patients reacted with the alpha 3(IV) NC1 (85% exclusively). Additional limited reactivity with the alpha 1(IV) NC1 and alpha 4(IV) NC1 was found in 15 and 3%, respectively. This non-alpha 3(IV) NC1 reactivity was most frequent in the patients with anti-GBM antibodies and glomerulonephritis alone. None of the patients had reactivity to other basement membrane components like laminin, fibronectin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, entactin, or the 7S and triple helical fragments of Type IV collagen. The observed alpha-chain NC1 reactivity was confined to patients with anti-GBM antibodies with no additional reactivities detected among a large number of other kidney diseases controls. The correlation of alpha 1-alpha 6(IV) NC1 reactivity in a large number of patients with anti-GBM antibodies defined by classic assays definitively establishes that reactivity to alpha 3(IV) NC1 domains is both sufficient and necessary for the expression of autoimmune disease directed to the NC1 domain of Type IV collagen. On the basis of the evidence, the classification of antibasement membrane disease and Goodpasture syndrome as anti-Type IV collagen disease is proposed.


Botulinum Toxin A for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Evaluated With Shear Wave Elastography: A Case Report.
This case presentation offers supportive evidence that shear wave elastography may provide an alternative method of diagnosis of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). A 39-year-old female runner presented with bilateral anterior shin pain on exertion. She initially underwent compartmental pressure testing confirming the diagnosis of CECS but declined fasciotomy. When her symptoms recurred, she was referred for botulinum toxin therapy. Shear wave muscle elastography was performed in the bilateral anterior and lateral compartments following symptom provocation treadmill testing and compared with 2 control subjects. At 6 weeks and 7 months after onabotulinumtoxinA injections, she was asymptomatic, and elastography measurements revealed a reduction in muscle stiffness from initial treadmill testing.


Hepatoprotective Effect of Cranberry Nutraceutical Extract in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Model in Rats: Impact on Insulin Resistance and Nrf-2 Expression.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a pathological accumulation of triglycerides (TGs) in the hepatocyte in the absence of alcohol intake. Untreated NAFLD is expected to progress into liver fibrosis. Cranberry is rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was performed to evaluate our hypothesis of the possible anti-fibrotic effect of cranberry nutraceuticals in a high fat cholesterol diet induced (HFCD)-NAFLD in rats, focusing on improving insulin sensitivity and modulating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) (a transcription factor responsible for regulating cellular redox balance). Male albino wistar rats (12 weeks) received HFCD and/or cranberry (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, three times/week) orally for 8 consecutive weeks. In comparison to the HFCD group, cranberry treated groups (50 and 100 mg/kg) showed marked hepatoprotection, where it significantly decreased liver enzymes (alanine transaminases by 49 and 64% and aspartate transaminases by 45 and 64%; respectively), TGs, and ameliorated the histopathological alterations (such as inflammatory cells infiltration and ballooning degeneration) induced by HFCD. Cranberry also alleviated oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor- alpha, interleukine-6 and nuclear factor kappa-b) and significantly reduced the HOMA-IR and TyG index. On the other hand, cranberry treated groups (50 and 100 mg/kg) showed a marked increase in the expression of adiponectin, by 8 and 13-fold, insulin receptor substrate-2 by 21 and 79%, and Nrf2 by 13 and 61%, respectively. Notably, cranberry significantly reduced the fibrotic markers, TGF-β and α-SMA expression and collagen deposition. The present study showed that cranberry significantly attenuated NAFLD, in a dose dependent manner, which could be partially recognized by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, and its ability to improve insulin sensitivity. Notably, our study proves for the first time that the anti-fibrotic activity of cranberry is promising.


A comparative study of pelvic floor muscle training in women with multiple sclerosis: its impact on lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life.
To compare pelvic floor muscle training and a sham procedure for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis. Thirty-five female patients with multiple sclerosis were randomized into two groups: a treatment group (n = 18) and a sham group (n = 17). The evaluation included use of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and Qualiveen questionnaire. The intervention was performed twice per week for 12 weeks in both groups. The treatment group underwent pelvic floor muscle training with assistance from a vaginal perineometer and instructions to practice the exercises daily at home. The sham group received a treatment consisting of introducing a perineometer inside the vagina with no exercises required. Pre- and post-intervention data were recorded. The evaluation results of the two groups were similar at baseline. At the end of the treatment, the treatment group reported fewer storage and voiding symptoms than the sham group. Furthermore, the differences found between the groups were significant improvements in the following scores in the treatment group: Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and the General Quality of Life, and Specific Impact of Urinary Problems domains of the Qualiveen questionnaire. The improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms had a positive effect on the quality of life of women with multiple sclerosis who underwent pelvic floor muscle training, as the disease-specific of quality of life questionnaires demonstrated. This study reinforces the importance of assessing quality of life to judge the effectiveness of a treatment intervention.


The effect of a short-stay unit on hospital admission and length of stay in acute heart failure: REDUCE-AHF study.
To determine whether the presence of a short-stay unit(SSU) in a hospital influences the percentage of admissions, length of hospital stay(LOS) and outcomes in emergency department(ED) patients with acute heart failure(AHF). Retrospective analysis of AHF patients presenting to one of 34 Spanish ED included in EAHFE registry. Baseline and ED data of patients were collected. Patients were classified into two groups in function of being attended at hospitals with or without a SSU. Main outcome variables were the percentage of admissions from ED, and LOS for admitted patients. Secondary variables were all-cause death and ED revisits for worsening heart failure within 30days following discharge. Of 9078 patients presenting to the ED (SSU 5191; no SSU 3887), 6796 (74.8%) were admitted. Compared to hospitals without a SSU, the admission rate in hospitals with a SSU was 8.9% higher (95%CI 6.5%-11.4%), but 30-day ED revisit and mortality rates were lower among patients discharged directly from the ED (-10.3%, 95%CI -16,9% to -3.7%; and -10.0%, 95%CI -16.6 to -3.4%, respectively). For admitted patients, the overall LOS was 9.3±9.5days, being 2.2days shorter (95%CI -2.7 to -1.7) in hospitals with a SSU, with no significant differences in in-hospital, 30-day mortality or 30-day ED revisit rates. The data suggest that SSU may improve the safety of emergency care of patients with AHF, but at the cost of a higher rate of hospital admissions, and it may also reduce the LOS for admitted patients without affecting post discharge safety.


Validation of an Instrument to Measure Patients' Intentions and Ability to Change Attitudes and Behavior.
The efficacy of specific interventions also of mind-body medicine is also dependent on the patients' ability to engage in these interventions and to perceive and change health-affecting attitudes and behaviors. The aim was to validate a 13-item instrument to measure (1) the patients' perception of specific attitudes and behaviors that are assumed to have a negative influence on the health situation, (2) their intention to change them, and (3) the implementation of the intended changes in their life affairs. Anonymous cross-sectional survey among 512 patients with chronic pain conditions (mean age 42.6 ± 11.4 years; 58% women) using standardized instruments. After the elimination of 4 items, an explorative factor analysis of the 9 remaining items indicated 2 factors that would explain 57% of the variance: Perceptions/Intentions (5 items; Cronbach's alpha = 0.75) and Ability/ Implementation (4 items; alpha = 0.77). Factor 2 correlated moderately to strongly with internal adaptive coping strategies (AKU) and situational awareness (CPSC), and weakly with mental health (SF-36), life satisfaction (BMLSS), and low depressive symptoms (BDI) and escape from illness (Escape). Factor 1 correlated weakly with age and adaptive coping strategies (AKU). The final 9-item Perception, Intention and Ability to Change (PIAC) scale was approved as a short, practicable and promising instrument, which should be further evaluated in the context of training and intervention programs, particularly with respect to its predictive relevance.


Abandoned larvacean houses: a unique food source in the pelagic environment.
Observations made by using conventional scuba techniques reveal that abandoned larvacean houses serve as food sources for marine, planktonic copepods. Techniques have been developed for photographing these houses in the field for the first time. The abundance of larvacean houses in the open ocean indicates that they are important in pelagic food webs and as a source of particulate organic matter.


Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy.
Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare neurogenetic disease, AMN is the most common adult phenotype, such patients in China have not gotten enough attention. This article aims to study the features of AMN in Chinese patients and expand the gene spectrum of Chinese X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) patients. We applied clinical analysis, radiology, plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and genetic analysis to test the 6 Chinese AMN patients. All 6 patients are men. Ages of neurological symptom onset are distributed between 21 and 38. Sexual dysfunction occurred in 5 of 6 patients. Three patients had positive family history. Five patients had Addison's disease. Four patients were diagnosed as pure AMN, while the other two patients were with cerebral involvement. Four patients had abnormalities of nerve conduction studies. There were four patients with central conduction defects in somatosensory evoked potential tests. All 6 patients were found diffuse cord atrophy in spinal MRI. Brain MRI showed abnormal signals in 2 of the 6 tested patients, which indicated the clinical phenotypes. Plasma levels of VLCFA, as well as C24:0/C22:0 and C26:0/C22:0 ratios were elevated in 5 tested patients. Five different ABCD1 mutations were identified in 5 tested patients, one of which was a de novo mutation, and the other four have been reported previously. This research described the clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic sides of Chinese AMN patients. A de novo mutation in the ABCD1 gene sequence was identified. Emotional trauma may trigger or aggravate the development of cerebral demyelination in AMN patients. Regular evaluation of brain MRI is important for AMN patients, especially for 'pure AMN' patients. When encountering patients with 'myeloneuropathy-only', neurologists should not ignore the tests of VLCFA or/and the ABCD1 gene.


Health care reform. Pan American Uni-Care Health Insurance Plan.
Something is definitely wrong with the American health care system. Too many citizens are denied health care, and health care costs continue to rise at an uncomfortable and intolerable rate. Ensuring care for all is a paramount goal. There is no way to simultaneously cover everyone; leave the reimbursement of physicians unrestrained; ensure instantaneous access to every imaginable high-technology service; subsidize the world's costliest and least efficient health bureaucracy; and contain costs. Widespread dissatisfaction in all quarters--physicians, hospitals, third-party payers, regulators and consumers--has led to an avalanche of reform proposals. Rapidly changing social, political, and economic environments; rising fiscal pressure; and an evolving understanding of the major determinants of health have also created pressure for changes. There are some new and hopeful signs that America is facing up to the need for changes in the health care delivery system. The Pan American Uni-Care Health Plan that is described in this article may serve as a reasonable balance among these competing priorities.


Emendation of Pseudomonas straminea Iizuka and Komagata 1963.
The description of Pseudomonas straminae lizuka and Komagata 1963 was emended with data newly obtained. The spelling of the name of this taxon is also corrected as Pseudomonas straminea. Strains that were previously named 'Pseudomonas ochracea' were identified as P. straminea.


Impact of indoor residual spraying with lambda-cyhalothrin on malaria parasitemia and anemia prevalence among children less than five years of age in an area of intense, year-round transmission in Malawi.
Little is known about the impact of indoor residual spraying (IRS) in areas with intense malaria transmission such as sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, IRS with lambda-cyhalothrin has been applied annually in an area of intense year-long transmission since 2007. We evaluated the impact of IRS on parasitemia and anemia prevalence in children less than five years of age by using a cross-sectional household survey conducted in 2009, six months after the second IRS spray round. We measured malaria parasitemia and anemia (hemoglobin level < 11 g/dL) in 899 children less than five years of age and used binomial regression to assess the impact of IRS by comparing children living in a household sprayed with IRS (direct IRS) with those in a household not sprayed with IRS, but in an IRS area (indirect IRS) and those living in a household not sprayed with IRS and not in an IRS area (no IRS). In the IRS area, 77% of households reported receiving IRS. Adjusting for bed net use, house construction, and socioeconomic status, we found that receiving direct IRS and indirect IRS were significantly associated with a 33% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1-54%) and 46% (95% CI = 20-64%) reduction in parasitemia and a 21% (95% CI = 4-34%) and 30% (95% CI = 12-45%) reduction in anemia prevalence, respectively.


Impacted Palatal Canines and Diode Laser Surgery: A Case Report.
Maxillary canine is the most frequent dental element that could likely remain impacted in the bone structure, with a percentage between 1 and 5%. This study presents a case report using a diode laser for surgical-orthodontics disinclusion of a palatal mucosal impacted permanent left upper canine (2.3) and the simultaneous application of an orthodontic bracket. After cementation of the trans-palatal bar to the upper first molars with a hook for orthodontic traction, local anaesthesia with articaine was performed, followed by surgical operculectomy using a diode laser (810 nm wavelength, continuous wave mode with a power output of 3 W, and a 0.4 mm diameter optical fiber), and the orthodontic bracket with a passive metal looped ligature was applied. Subsequently, active elastic traction was applied on 2.3 and the upper arch was bonded for the application of a series of orthodontic wires, lace-back, and metal ligatures. A progressive reactivation of the elastic traction and extraction of 6.3 was necessary to translate the canine into the correct arch position. Diode laser surgical-orthodontic disinclusion of impacted upper canine was performed successively, resulting in a dry surgical field ideal for orthodontic bracket adhesion. No pain and no swelling have been reported from the patient. The orthodontic treatment allowed the canine to be moved to the correct position in the arch. This case showed that the diode laser is a valid alternative for the surgical-orthodontic disinclusion of an included tooth element.


Influence of charge on cell permeability and tumor imaging of GPR30-targeted 111in-labeled nonsteroidal imaging agents.
Recent clinical studies implicate the role of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, GPR30, in aggressive forms of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. However, the functional role of GPR30 at cellular and molecular levels remains less clear and controversial, particularly its subcellular location. The primary objective of this study was to develop radiolabeled neutral and charged GPR30-targeted nonsteroidal analogues to understand the influence of ligand charge on cell binding, cellular permeability, and in vivo tumor imaging. Therefore, we developed a series of GPR30-targeted (111/113)In(III)-labeled analogues using macrocyclic and acyclic polyamino-polycarboxylate chelate designs that would render either a net negative or neutral charge. In vitro biological evaluations were performed to determine the role of negatively charged analogues on receptor binding and activation using calcium mobilization and phosphoinositide 3-kinase assays. In vivo evaluations were performed on GPR30-expressing human endometrial Hec50 tumor-bearing mice to characterize the biodistribution and potential application of GPR30-targeted imaging agents for translational research. In vitro functional assays revealed an effect of charge, such that only the neutral analogue activated GPR30-mediated rapid signaling pathways. These observations are consistent with expectations for initial rates of membrane permeability and suggest an intracellular rather than the cell surface location of functional receptor. In vivo studies revealed receptor-mediated uptake of the radiotracer in target organs and tumors; however, further structural modifications will be required for the development of future generations of GPR30-targeted imaging agents with enhanced metabolic properties and decreased nonspecific localization to the intestines.


Past, present, future: a review on visual prostheses.
This review presents the historic background, the present status and the future prospects of several visual implant types such as retinal implants, as well as optic nerve and thalamus stimulation, and stimulation of the visual cortex. Already achieved milestones, such as improved object recognition and letter reading, give hope that a breakthrough can be achieved in the coming years. Furthermore, clinical results from recent studies are presented in order to describe the obstacles that have to be overcome in the future. Currently, inner eye implants placed within the retina are the preferred option for electrical stimulation of the optic pathway. However, the limited number of stimulating electrodes and the non-focal activation of target neurons are still hindering the generation of percepts of higher quality. In the future, optogenetic approaches may be used to activate retinal neurons with a high temporal and spatial accuracy. The main challenge for all types of visual implants will be to utilize as many parts of the remaining optic pathway as possible and to focally activate functionally different pathways.


Novel potato C2H2-type zinc finger protein gene, StZFP1, which responds to biotic and abiotic stress, plays a role in salt tolerance.
Many TFIIIA-type zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) play important roles in stress responses in plants. In the present study, a novel zinc finger protein gene, StZFP1, was cloned from potato. StZFP1 is a typical TFIIIA-type two-finger zinc finger gene with one B-box domain, one L-box domain and a DLN-box/EAR motif. The StZFP1 genes belong to a small gene family with an estimated copy number of four or five, located on chromosome I. StZFP1 is constitutively expressed in leaves, stems, roots, tubers and flowers of adult plants. Expression of StZFP1 can be induced by salt, dehydration and exogenously applied ABA. StZFP1 expression is also responsive to infection by the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Transient expression analysis of StZFP1:GFP fusion protein revealed that StZFP1 is preferentially localised in the nucleus. Ectopic expression of StZFP1, driven by the Arabidopsis rd29A promoter in transgenic tobacco, increased plant tolerance to salt stress. These results demonstrate that StZFP1 might be involved in potato responses to salt and dehydration stresses through an ABA-dependent pathway.


Roles of Iroquois Transcription Factors in Kidney Development.
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) affect 1/500 live births. CAKUT lead to end stage renal failure in children, and are associated with high morbidity rates. Understanding the mechanisms of kidney development, and that of other associated urogenital tissues, is crucial to the prevention and treatment of CAKUT. The kidney arises from self-renewing mesenchymal renal stem cells that produce nephrons, which are the principal functional units of the organ. To date, the genetic and cellular mechanisms that control nephrogenesis have remained poorly understood. In recent years, developmental studies using amphibians and zebrafish have revealed that their simple embryonic kidney, known as the pronephros, is a useful paradigm for comparative studies of nephron ontogeny. Here, we discuss the new found roles for Iroquois transcription factors in pronephric nephron patterning, and explore the relevance of these findings for kidney development in humans.


RNA-sequencing for transcriptional profiling of whole blood in early stage and metastatic pancreatic cancer patients.
We investigated the transcriptional profile of whole blood in early and metastatic stages of pancreatic cancer (PaC) patients to identify potential diagnostic factors for early diagnosis. Blood samples from 18 participants (6 healthy individuals, 6 patients in early stage (I/II) PaC, and 6 patients in metastatic PaC) were analyzed by RNA-sequencing. The expression levels of identified genes were subsequently compared with their expression in pancreatic tumor tissues based on TCGA data reported in UALCAN and GEPIA2 databases. Overall, 331 and 724 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes in early and metastatic stages, respectively. Of these, 146 genes were shared by early and metastatic stages. Upregulation of PTCD3 and UBA52 genes and downregulation of A2M and ARID1B genes in PaC patients were observed from early stage to metastasis. TCGA database showed increasing trend in expression levels of these genes from stage I to IV in pancreatic tumor tissue. Finally, we found that low expression of PTCD3, A2M, and ARID1B genes and high expression of UBA52 gene were positively correlated with PaC patients survival. We identified a four-gene set (PTCD3, UBA52, A2M, and ARID1B) expressed in peripheral blood of early stage and metastatic PaC patients that may be useful for PaC early diagnosis.


Lessons from Microglia Aging for the Link between Inflammatory Bone Disorders and Alzheimer's Disease.
Bone is sensitive to overactive immune responses, which initiate the onset of inflammatory bone disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis, resulting in a significant systemic inflammatory response. On the other hand, neuroinflammation is strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which can be enhanced by systemic inflammation, such as that due to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There is growing clinical evidence supporting the concept that rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis are positively linked to AD, suggesting that inflammatory bone disorders are risk factors for this condition. Recent studies have suggested that leptomeningeal cells play an important role in transducing systemic inflammatory signals to brain-resident microglia. More importantly, senescent-type, but not juvenile-type, microglia provoke neuroinflammation in response to systemic inflammation. Because the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis increases with age, inflammatory bone disorders may be significant sources of covert systemic inflammation among elderly people. The present review article highlights our current understanding of the link between inflammatory bone disorders and AD with a special focus on microglia aging.


Metal-free scanning optical microscopy with a fractal fiber probe.
Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) is the leading instrument used to image optical fields on the nanometer scale. A metal-coating is typically applied to SNOM probes to define a subwavelength aperture and minimize optical leakage, but the presence of such coatings in the near field of the sample can often cause a substantial change in the sample emission properties. For the first time, the authors demonstrate near-field imaging on a metal substrate with a metal-free probe made from a novel structured optical fiber, designed to maximize optical throughput and potentially remove the need for the metal.


Rate of hepatitis C viral clearance by human livers in human patients: Liver transplantation modeling primary infection and implications for studying entry inhibition.
To better understand the dynamics of early hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we determined how rapidly non-cirrhotic HCV-uninfected liver allografts clear HCV from the circulation of cirrhotic HCV-infected patients at the time of transplantation but before administration of immunosuppression. Specifically, we characterized serum HCV kinetics during the first 90 min of reperfusion for 19 chronically HCV-infected patients transplanted with an HCV-uninfected liver by measuring serum viral load immediately prior to reperfusion (t = 0) and then every 15 min for a total of 90 min (t = 90). Immunosuppression was withheld until all samples were taken to better model primary infection. During this period, rates of viral clearance varied more than 20-fold with a median rate constant of 0.0357 1/min, range 0.0089-0.2169; half-life (minutes) median 19.4, range 3.2-77.8. The majority of viral clearance occurred within the first 60 min. The amount of blood transfused during this 90-min period (a potential confounding variable of this human liver transplant model of primary infection) accounted for 53% and 59% of k (r = 0.53, p = 0.05) and half-life (r = 0.59, p = 0.03) variability, respectively. No other clinical variables tested (age, allograft weight, and degree of reperfusion injury as assessed by peak postoperative ALT or AST) accounted for the remaining variability (p>0.05). In a human liver transplant model of primary infection, HCV rapidly clears the bloodstream. With approximately 90% of clearance occurring in the first 90 minutes of reperfusion, studies of HCV entry inhibition could utilize rate of clearance during this early period as an outcome measure.


Local similarity analysis reveals unique associations among marine bacterioplankton species and environmental factors.
Characterizing the diversity of microbial communities and understanding the environmental factors that influence community diversity are central tenets of microbial ecology. The development and application of cultivation independent molecular tools has allowed for rapid surveying of microbial community composition at unprecedented resolutions and frequencies. There is a growing need to discern robust patterns and relationships within these datasets which provide insight into microbial ecology. Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis is commonly used for identifying the linear relationship between two species, or species and environmental factors. However, this approach may not be able to capture more complex interactions which occur in situ; thus, alternative analyses were explored. In this paper we introduced local similarity analysis (LSA), which is a technique that can identify more complex dependence associations among species as well as associations between species and environmental factors without requiring significant data reduction. To illustrate its capability of identifying relationships that may not otherwise be identified by PCC, we first applied LSA to simulated data. We then applied LSA to a marine microbial observatory dataset and identified unique, significant associations that were not detected by PCC analysis. LSA results, combined with results from PCC analysis were used to construct a theoretical ecological network which allows for easy visualization of the most significant associations. Biological implications of the significant associations detected by LSA were discussed. We also identified additional applications where LSA would be beneficial. The algorithms are implemented in Splus/R and they are available upon request from the corresponding author.


Specific expression of a novel cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein gene in lateral root initiation.
A gene encoding a novel cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGPnt3) was isolated from a genomic library of tobacco. The deduced protein (620 amino acids, Mr, 65,406) contains an amino-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, is highly basic, and is rich in proline, although characteristic Ser-Pro4 repeats are found only beyond residue 204. At the carboxyl terminus, there is a 34-amino-acid unit repeated three times. Arginine is the predominant basic amino acid rather than lysine, as in other HRGPs. A second gene homologous to HRGPnt3 was revealed by Southern blot hybridization of tobacco genomic DNA. Northern blot hybridization identified a 1.9-kb transcript present at low levels in roots. To determine the underlying spatial pattern of expression, the HRGPnt3 promoter and the first 27 nucleotides of the open reading frame were fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and transformed back into tobacco. Histochemical localization of GUS activity showed that the HRGPnt3 promoter was transiently induced in the pericycle and endodermis, specifically in the discrete, small subset of cells involved in the initiation of lateral roots. This pattern of expression, in cells destined to form the tip of the emerging lateral root, indicates that the encoded cell wall protein has a specialized structural function, possibly in the mechanical penetration of the cortex and epidermis of the main root, and that the HRGPnt3 promoter responds to an early morphogenetic signal for lateral root induction.


A Case-Control Study Assessing the Impact of Nonventilated Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia on Patient Outcomes.
Nonventilated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP) is a serious nosocomial infection that is increasingly attributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is a retrospective case-control study comparing patients with and those without NVHAP from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a 1,300-bed urban academic medical center in St. Louis, Missouri. One hundred seventy-four consecutive patients with NVHAP were enrolled. A random sample of 696 control patients matched by age, sex, race, and hospital admission date were selected from a total of 5,322 potential matched control subjects. NVHAP was pathogen-negative in 98 cases (56.3%). Respiratory viruses were identified in 42 patients (24.1%), gram-negative bacteria were seen in 25 patients (14.4%), and gram-positive bacteria were identified in 20 patients (11.5%). Individuals in whom NVHAP developed were more likely to die (15.5% vs 1.6%; P < .01), to require intensive care (56.3% vs 22.8%; P < .01) or mechanical ventilation (19.0% vs 3.9%; P < 0.01), and to have a longer hospital length of stay (15.9 days [range, 9.8-26.3 days] vs 4.4 days [range, 2.9-7.3 days]; P < 0.01). This case-control study identified a strong association between hospital mortality and NVHAP, with patients who acquired NVHAP having an 8.4 times greater odds of death (95% CI, 5.6-12.5). The occurrence of NVHAP was associated with significant increases in mortality, the use of intensive care and mechanical ventilation, and hospital length of stay. We also found that respiratory viruses were an important cause of NVHAP. These findings suggest that efforts aimed at the successful prevention of NVHAP could improve patient outcomes and reduce health-care costs.


Nickel reduces calcium dependent dimerization in neural cadherin.
Cadherins are the transmembrane component in adherens junctions, structures that link the actin cytoskeletons in adjacent cells within solid tissues including neurological synapses, epithelium and endothelium. Cell-cell adhesion by cadherins requires the binding of calcium ions to specific sites in the extracellular region. Given the complexity of the cell adhesion microenvironment, we are investigating whether other divalent cations might affect calcium-dependent dimerization of neural (N) cadherin. The studies reported herein characterize the impact of binding physiological magnesium(ii) or neurotoxic nickel(ii) on calcium-dependent N-cadherin function. Physiological levels of magnesium have only a small effect on the calcium-binding affinity and calcium-induced dimerization of N-cadherin. However, a tenfold lower concentration of nickel decreases the apparent calcium-binding affinity and calcium-induced dimerization of N-cadherin. Competitive binding studies indicate that the apparent dissociation constants for nickel and magnesium are 0.2 mM and 2.5 mM, respectively. These Kd values are consistent with concentrations observed for a range of divalent cations in the extracellular space. Results from these studies indicate that calcium-induced dimerization by N-cadherin is attenuated by natural and non-physiological divalent cations in the extracellular microenvironment.


How children's responses to drugs differ from adults.
Children are not small adults. However, the main thesis of this review will be that children's responses to drugs have much in common with the responses in adults and indeed in other mammals. Often, it is assumed that drug effects differ in children but in reality this perception often arises because the drugs have not been adequately studied in paediatric populations of different ages and with different diseases. There may also be difficulties in measuring small but significant effects because the outcome measures are more difficult to assess in children. In some cases, stage of development can alter the action of, and response to, a drug - a truly age-dependent difference in pharmacodynamics. This may be true of both the desired action and adverse events. Examples are given. Programming by drugs is also a phenomenon almost exclusive to early life, i.e. permanent effects result from a stimulus applied at a sensitive point in development ('critical window'), often in fetal or neonatal life. Again, examples are discussed. Different pathophysiology, different disease variants, different pharmacodynamics, different 'host' response and different adverse drug reactions can all explain why some drugs behave differently in children. However, we need to explore ways to avoid re-inventing the wheel by determining how data from adult animal and human models can help inform research and practice for children.


[Acute intestinal infection caused by Escherichia coli].
Clinical manifestations and autopsy findings on 23 patients who died of acute sepsis of Escherichia coli origin lead the authors to the conclusion on polymorphic clinical run of the disease. It varies with premorbid background (food intoxication, acute respiratory disease in decompensated diabetes mellitus, chronic somatic disorders) and risk factors (inadequate antibacterial therapy, nervous strain, fatigue). Inadequate antibacterial therapy promoting dysbacteriosis aggravated preexisting pathomorphological shifts in the intestine likely after toxic infection, diabetes-specific foci, contributed to the onset of intestinal sepsis.


Reconstruction of the superior vena cava: benefits of postoperative surveillance and secondary endovascular interventions.
Superior vena cava (SVC) reconstructions are rarely performed; therefore the need for surveillance and the results of secondary interventions are unknown. During a 14-year period 19 patients (11 male, 8 female; mean age 41.9 years, range 8 to 69 years) underwent SVC reconstruction for symptomatic nonmalignant disease. Causes included mediastinal fibrosis (n = 12), indwelling foreign bodies (n = 4), idiopathic thrombosis (n = 2), and antithrombin III deficiency (n = 1). Spiral saphenous vein graft (n = 14), polytetrafluoroethylene (n = 4), or human allograft (n = 1) was implanted. No early death or pulmonary embolism occurred. Four early graft stenoses or thromboses (spiral saphenous vein graft, n = 2, polytetrafluoroethylene, n = 2) required thrombectomy, with success in three. During a mean follow-up of 49.5 months (range, 4.7 to 137 months), 95 imaging studies were performed (average, five per patient; range, one to 10 studies). Venography detected mild or moderate graft stenosis in seven patients; two progressed to severe stenosis. Two additional grafts developed early into severe stenosis. Four of 19 grafts occluded during follow-up (two polytetrafluoroethylene, two spiral saphenous vein graft). Computed tomography failed to identify stenosis in two grafts, magnetic resonance imaging failed to confirm one stenosis and one graft occlusion, and duplex scanning was inconclusive on graft patency in 10 patients. Angioplasty was performed in all four patients with severe stenosis, with simultaneous placement of Wallstents in two. One of the Wallstents occluded at 9 months. Repeat percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was necessary in two patients, with placement of Palmaz stents in one. Only one graft occlusion and one severe graft stenosis occurred beyond 1 year. The primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates were 61%, 78%, and 83% at 1 year and 53%, 70%, and 74% at 5 years, respectively. Long-term secondary patency rates justify SVC grafting for benign disease. Postoperative surveillance with contrast venography is indicated in the first year to detect graft problems. Endovascular techniques may salvage and improve the patency of SVC grafts.


Advances in malignant pleural mesothelioma therapy: targeting EphA2 a novel approach.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive neoplasm with a poor prognosis. MPM grows from the mesothelial cells lining the surface of the lung and chest wall called Pleura. Exposure to asbestos is mainly linked to the development of MPM. Approximately 80% of the tumors are pleural in origin, and up to 3000 people are diagnosed with MPM in the United States annually. The incidence of MPM is expected to rise in the coming decades particularly in the developing countries. Although there is an increase in the awareness of danger associated with the use of asbestos, its use is still prevalent in Australia and Asia because of its durability and low cost. This further warns and adds to the mortality and morbidity of patients with MPM globally. The traditional treatment strategies have shown only modest improvement towards the disease. MPM is difficult to treat because of the fact that the time between the exposure to asbestos and the appearance of symptoms is extremely delayed, and also due to tumor involvement with the pleural surface and the adjoining tissues such as the chest wall, pericardium and sub-diaphragmatic organs. Despite advances in the diagnostic and treatment approaches the median survival rate for MPM is between 9 to 17 months. The standard care with double agent has shown modest improvement however, multimodality approach using novel targets may have potential to achieve the improvement in the survival rate. In this review we give an update on the conventional treatment modalities and discuss about various molecular targets including receptor EphA2, a novel target gene which may be considered as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of MPM.


Hermann agreement updates IRS guidelines for incentives.
The October 1994 agreement between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Hermann Hospital of Houston, Texas, elucidates current IRS policy on physician recruitment incentives. The IRS distinguishes between the recruiting and the retention of physicians and perimts incentives beyond reasonable compensation in the former but not the latter circumstance. This new agreement, while not legally precedential, nevertheless provides guidance for healthcare organizations seeking safe harbor protection.


Independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, and improved complementary feeding, on child stunting and anaemia in rural Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised trial.
Child stunting reduces survival and impairs neurodevelopment. We tested the independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) on stunting and anaemia in in Zimbabwe. We did a cluster-randomised, community-based, 2 × 2 factorial trial in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Clusters were defined as the catchment area of between one and four village health workers employed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. Women were eligible for inclusion if they permanently lived in clusters and were confirmed pregnant. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to standard of care (52 clusters), IYCF (20 g of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement per day from age 6 to 18 months plus complementary feeding counselling; 53 clusters), WASH (construction of a ventilated improved pit latrine, provision of two handwashing stations, liquid soap, chlorine, and play space plus hygiene counselling; 53 clusters), or IYCF plus WASH (53 clusters). A constrained randomisation technique was used to achieve balance across the groups for 14 variables related to geography, demography, water access, and community-level sanitation coverage. Masking of participants and fieldworkers was not possible. The primary outcomes were infant length-for-age Z score and haemoglobin concentrations at 18 months of age among children born to mothers who were HIV negative during pregnancy. These outcomes were analysed in the intention-to-treat population. We estimated the effects of the interventions by comparing the two IYCF groups with the two non-IYCF groups and the two WASH groups with the two non-WASH groups, except for outcomes that had an important statistical interaction between the interventions. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01824940. Between Nov 22, 2012, and March 27, 2015, 5280 pregnant women were enrolled from 211 clusters. 3686 children born to HIV-negative mothers were assessed at age 18 months (884 in the standard of care group from 52 clusters, 893 in the IYCF group from 53 clusters, 918 in the WASH group from 53 clusters, and 991 in the IYCF plus WASH group from 51 clusters). In the IYCF intervention groups, the mean length-for-age Z score was 0·16 (95% CI 0·08-0·23) higher and the mean haemoglobin concentration was 2·03 g/L (1·28-2·79) higher than those in the non-IYCF intervention groups. The IYCF intervention reduced the number of stunted children from 620 (35%) of 1792 to 514 (27%) of 1879, and the number of children with anaemia from 245 (13·9%) of 1759 to 193 (10·5%) of 1845. The WASH intervention had no effect on either primary outcome. Neither intervention reduced the prevalence of diarrhoea at 12 or 18 months. No trial-related serious adverse events, and only three trial-related adverse events, were reported. Household-level elementary WASH interventions implemented in rural areas in low-income countries are unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia and might not reduce diarrhoea. Implementation of these WASH interventions in combination with IYCF interventions is unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia more than implementation of IYCF alone. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Swiss Development Cooperation, UNICEF, and US National Institutes of Health.


Scanning microscopy of platypus teeth.
Anorganic unerupted developing teeth and air-dried erupted teeth of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) were examined in a scanning electron microscope and in a tandem scanning reflected light microscope. Typically mammalian developing fronts of enamel and dentine were identified in the anorganic unerupted specimens. The developing teeth were particularly small and fragile and the enamel elusive and difficult to examine in the normal way for morphological detail. Prepared fractured surfaces of unerupted specimens revealed preferentially oriented crystallite groups in the enamel generally perpendicular to the developing front and a highly globular, mineralized pattern in the dentine with fine diameter, sparsely distributed dentinal tubules. Although optically homogeneous, the enamel of both developing and mature teeth displayed well-defined incremental lines, radial clefts, crystallite domains of variable size and outline, and fine tubules when examined by high contrast, back-scattered electron imaging. The enamel is prismatic only in part; well-formed, regular prisms not being a primary feature of platypus enamel. This can be related to the variability inherent in the developing surface and the thinness of the enamel layer. No surface was found which could be confidently identified as cementum; those developing surfaces not covered by enamel displaying small calcospherites which elsewhere marked the outer aspect of the dentine.


Formation of gold nanoparticle decorated lysozyme microtubes.
Gold nanoparticle decorated lysozyme microtubes, with the diameters of 1-2 μm and lengths on the order of millimeters, were spontaneously formed via a simple aging process of the lysozyme-gold nanoparticle aqueous solution under ambient conditions for 1 week. These novel microtubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), as well as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was confirmed that the microtubes were made up of the protein lysozyme. In addition, formation of the microtubes was accompanied by a decrease in lysozyme concentration in the sample solution, which also indicated that these microtubes originated from lysozyme. The formation of microtubes was attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonding networks between the lysozyme molecules. Partially unfolded lysozyme molecules on gold nanoparticles probably seed the formation of the lysozyme microtubes. These novel protein microtubes not only provide some useful insights for protein study but may also have the potential to be used in the biomedical field.


The tight junction protein claudin-b regulates epithelial permeability and sodium handling in larval zebrafish, Danio rerio.
The functional role of the tight junction protein claudin-b in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) was investigated. We showed that claudin-b protein is expressed at epithelial cell-cell contacts on the skin. Translational gene knockdown of claudin-b protein expression caused developmental defects, including edema in the pericardial cavity and yolk sac. Claudin-b morphants exhibited an increase in epithelial permeability to the paracellular marker polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FD-4). Accumulation of FD-4 was confined mainly to the yolk sac and pericardial cavity in the claudin-b morphants, suggesting these regions became particularly leaky in the absence of claudin-b expression. Additionally, Na(+) efflux was substantially increased in the claudin-b morphants, which contributed to a significant reduction in whole-body Na(+) levels. These results indicate that claudin-b normally acts as a paracellular barrier to Na(+). Nevertheless, the elevated loss of Na(+) in the morphants was compensated by an increase in Na(+) uptake. Notably, we observed that the increased Na(+) uptake in the morphants was attenuated in the presence of the selective Na(+)/Cl(-)-cotransporter (NCC) inhibitor metolazone, or during exposure to Cl(-)-free water. These results suggested that the increased Na(+) uptake in the morphants was, at least in part, mediated by NCC. Furthermore, treatment with an H(+)-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 was found to reduce Na(+) uptake in the morphants, suggesting that H(+)-ATPase activity was essential to provide a driving force for Na(+) uptake. Overall, the results suggest that claudin-b plays an important role in regulating epithelial permeability and Na(+) handling in zebrafish.


Nodular lymphoma: an ultrastructural study of its relationship to germinal centers and a correlation of light and electron microscopic findings.
This study describes the ultrastructural findings in 16 cases of nodular lymphoma, and compares these with normal germinal centers in order to determine the possible germinal center origin of the lymphomas. Long branching desmosome-associated dendritic reticulum cells, characteristic of germinal centers, were found in all 16 cases of nodular lymphoma. Desmosomes were observed only between dendritic cells and not between lymphoid cells, and they were seen in only 1 of 7 cases of diffuse lymphoma. Cells comprising the nodular lymphomas share cytologic features, such as nuclear blebs and marked nuclear indentations, with germinal center cells. It appears that nodular lymphomas have a close anatomical relationship to germinal centers, although their actual origin from these sites is not established by this study. They are composed of lymphoid cells; we have no evidence to confirm the view that nodular lymphomas are derived from dendritic cells. Light and electron microscopic findings have been compared in order to establish the nature of large "histiocyte-like" cells in the nodular lymphomas. Many of these cells appear to represent transformed lymphocytes rather than histiocytes. They are more numerous in so-called mixed "histiocytic" lymphocytic lymphomas than in poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphomas, which otherwise are ultrastructurally similar. This study casts doubt upon the existence of a mixed lymphocytic and histiocytic lymphoma within the spectrum of the nodular lymphomas, and indicates that a cytologic continuum exists between cells interpreted as poorly differentiated lymphocytes and those heretofore identified as histiocytes.


Provision of nutritional support to those experiencing complications following bariatric surgery.
This review details the practicalities of providing nutrition support to obese patients who experience complications following bariatric surgery and highlights some of the nutritional challenges encountered by this group of patients. Bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity has significantly increased internationally over the past decade with hospital admissions rising annually. The gastric bypass is currently the most commonly performed procedure. The complication rate can be up to 16%, with a considerable proportion having nutritional implications. The treatment can involve avoidance of oral diet and nutrition support, i.e. enteral or parenteral nutrition. Opposition to nutrition support can be encountered. It is useful to clarify the aims of nutrition support, these being: the avoidance of overfeeding and its consequences, preservation of lean body mass and promotion of healing. Evidence suggests that hypoenergic nutrition is not harmful and may actually be beneficial. There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimum method to predict the nutritional requirements in the obese acutely unwell patient. The literature suggests that the predicted equations are fairly accurate compared to measured energy expenditure in free living obese patients before and after bariatric surgery. However, these findings cannot be directly applied to those obese patients experiencing complications of bariatric surgery, who will be acutely unwell exhibiting inflammatory response. It is therefore necessary to refer to the literature on energy expenditure in hospitalized obese patients, to help guide practice. More research examining the energy and protein requirements of obese patients needing nutrition support following bariatric surgery is urgently required.


[Complications arising after implantation of intraocular lenses (author's transl)].
Report on complications arising with the first 301 intraocular lenses implanted in Frankfurt University Eye Clinic. The most common complications were postoperative luxations of the intraocular lenses. It was possible to remedy these in most cases. In three cases, postoperative permanent generalised corneal edema occurred.


Force-generation and dynamic instability of microtubule bundles.
Individual dynamic microtubules can generate pushing or pulling forces when their growing or shrinking ends are in contact with cellular objects such as the cortex or chromosomes. These microtubules can operate in parallel bundles, for example when interacting with mitotic chromosomes. Here, we investigate the force-generating capabilities of a bundle of growing microtubules and study the effect that force has on the cooperative dynamics of such a bundle. We used an optical tweezers setup to study microtubule bundles growing against a microfabricated rigid barrier in vitro. We show that multiple microtubules can generate a pushing force that increases linearly with the number of microtubules present. In addition, the bundle can cooperatively switch to a shrinking state, due to a force-induced coupling of the dynamic instability of single microtubules. In the presence of GMPCPP, bundle catastrophes no longer occur, and high bundle forces are reached more effectively. We reproduce the observed behavior with a simple simulation of microtubule bundle dynamics that takes into account previously measured force effects on single microtubules. Using this simulation, we also show that a constant compressive force on a growing bundle leads to oscillations in bundle length that are of potential relevance for chromosome oscillations observed in living cells.


Dietary profile of urban adult population in South India in the context of chronic disease epidemiology (CURES-68).
Few dietary surveys have been done with reference to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, in India, which is considered to be the diabetes capital of the world. We report on the dietary intake of urban adults living in Chennai, South India. A population-based cross-sectional study. A representative population of urban Chennai in southern India. The study population comprised 2042 individuals aged≥20 years selected from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES). Dietary intake was measured using a validated and previously published interviewer-administered semi-quantitative meal-based FFQ. The mean daily energy intake was 10,393 (sd 2347) kJ (male: 10953 (sd 2364) kJ v. female: 9832 (sd 233) kJ). Carbohydrates were the major source of energy (64%), followed by fat (24%) and protein (12%). Refined cereals contributed to the bulk of the energy (45.8%), followed by visible fats and oils (12.4%) and pulses and legumes (7.8%). However, energy supply from sugar and sweetened beverages was within the recommended levels. Intake of micronutrient-rich foods, such as fruit and vegetable consumption (265 g/d), and fish and seafoods (20 g/d), was far below the FAO/WHO recommendation. Dairy and meat products intake was within the national recommended intake. The diet of this urban South Indian population consists mainly of refined cereals with low intake of fish, fruit and vegetables, and all of these could possibly contribute to the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes in this population.


Prevalence of smoking during pregnancy and associated risk factors among Canadian women: a national survey.
Cigarette smoking carries a threat both to the expecting mother and her newborn. Data on the prevalence and predictors of smoking during pregnancy is limited in Canada. Canadian studies are mainly representative of specific cities and/or provinces. Therefore, the study aims to assess the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy and its associated risk factors throughout the Canadian provinces and territories. The analysis was based on the Maternity Experience Survey targeting women aged > or =15 years who had singleton live births during 2005/06 in the Canadian provinces and territories. The outcome was ever smoking during the thirst trimester of pregnancy. Socio-economic factors, demographic factors, maternal characteristics, and pregnancy related factors that proved to be significant at the bivariate level were considered for a logistic regression analysis. Bootstrapping was performed to account for the complex sampling design. The sample size was 6,421 weighted to represent 76,508 Canadian women. The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy was 10.5%, whereby smoking mothers consumed on average 7 cigarettes a day (95% Confidence interval - CI: 6.5-7.4; SD = 5.7). Regression analysis revealed that mothers who smoked during pregnancy were more likely to be of low socio-economic status, non-immigrant, single and passive smokers during pregnancy. Not attending prenatal classes and experiencing stressful events before/during pregnancy also increased the mothers' odds of smoking during pregnancy. While the age of the mother's first pregnancy was negatively associated with smoking during pregnancy, the mother's current age was positively associated with it. Smoking during pregnancy is still prevalent among Canadian women. The findings may be useful to enhance smoking prevention programs and integrated health promotion strategies to promote positive health behaviors among disadvantaged pregnancies.


The Arp2/3 complex mediates multigeneration dendritic protrusions for efficient 3-dimensional cancer cell migration.
Arp2/3 is a protein complex that nucleates actin filament assembly in the lamellipodium in adherent cells crawling on planar 2-dimensional (2D) substrates. However, in physiopathological situations, cell migration typically occurs within a 3-dimensional (3D) environment, and little is known about the role of Arp2/3 and associated proteins in 3D cell migration. Using time resolved live-cell imaging and HT1080, a fibrosarcoma cell line commonly used to study cell migration, we find that the Arp2/3 complex and associated proteins N-WASP, WAVE1, cortactin, and Cdc42 regulate 3D cell migration. We report that this regulation is caused by formation of multigeneration dendritic protrusions, which mediate traction forces on the surrounding matrix and effective cell migration. The primary protrusions emanating directly from the cell body and prolonging the nucleus forms independent of Arp2/3 and dependent on focal adhesion proteins FAK, talin, and p130Cas. The Arp2/3 complex, N-WASP, WAVE1, cortactin, and Cdc42 regulate the secondary protrusions branching off from the primary protrusions. In 3D matrices, fibrosarcoma cells as well as migrating breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer cells do not display lamellipodial structures. This study characterizes the unique topology of protrusions made by cells in a 3D matrix and show that these dendritic protrusions play a critical role in 3D cell motility and matrix deformation. The relative contribution of these proteins to 3D migration is significantly different from their role in 2D migration.


Tetronomycin, a novel polyether of unusual structure.
Tetronomycin, C34H50O8, isolated from a strain of Streptomyces sp. nov. represents a novel polycyclic ionophore polyether. The crystal structure and absolute configuration were established by X-ray analysis of the mono-O-acetyltetronomycin silver salt. Tetronomycin is the first metabolic polyether which contains a tetronic acid moiety instead of the essential carboxylic acid function. A trisubstituted cyclohexane ring and an interesting molecular conformation of the silver salt represent additional unique structural features. Extensive NMR-studies enabled the assignment of chemical shifts and the correlation of the proton and carbon signals. Tetronomycin exhibits activity against Gram-positive bacteria.


Factors associated with development of gastrointestinal problems in patients with scleroderma: a systematic review.
Up to 90% of people with scleroderma have gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and malabsorption. These problems significantly impair quality of life. Our objective was to determine the risk factors for gastrointestinal issues in people with scleroderma. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies that report GI problems in patients with scleroderma along with the associated risk factors. We were interested in any GI problem and any risk factor as long as the study included patients diagnosed with scleroderma according to the 1980 or 2013 American College of Rheumatology guideline. We searched the following databases: CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE, and Web of Science for relevant articles from June 1884 to May 2014. Two authors independently screened citations and full text articles and extracted data. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus or by consulting a third author. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. After removing duplicates, 645 unique citations were identified. A total of three studies, three cross-sectional (n = 64, n = 42, n = 606), were included in this systematic review. Collectively, these three studies explored Helicobacter pylori and smoking status as risk factors. We found conflicting evidence on the role of H. pylori with two studies showing opposite yet statistically significant results. One moderate quality study showed smoking as a risk factor. Key limitations include the small sample sizes of two studies and poor study designs to draw causal links. There is insufficient evidence to describe the risk factors for GI problems in patients with scleroderma. Longitudinal observational studies are warranted in patients with scleroderma. PROSPERO CRD42014010707.


Mild therapeutic hypothermia does not reduce thrombin-induced brain injury.
Secondary neurodegeneration occurs hours to days after an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Thrombin, a protease important in clotting, is one of the causes of this injury. Presently, we evaluated whether hypothermia mitigates thrombin-induced cerebral edema, cell death, and behavioral impairment. Rats were given a striatal infusion of thrombin, which models thrombin-mediated injury occurring after ICH, followed an hour later by whole-body cooling (33°C), local brain hypothermia (∼ 33°C), or normothermia. Thrombin caused significant edema at 24 hours (∼ 5% increase in water) that was not mitigated by whole-body or brain-selective cooling. Other rats were infused with thrombin and systemically cooled for 72 hours. At a 14-day survival they had similar walking impairments and brain tissue loss (∼ 45 mm(3)) as normothermic rats. However, cooled animals had significantly more degenerating neurons in the peri-lesion zone (p=0.035), which were rare in normothermic rats. Thus, it appears that some cell death was increased or delayed by hypothermia. In summary, we did not find that hypothermia reduced thrombin-induced neurotoxicity. This suggests that cooling does not effectively target thrombin-mediated secondary degeneration after ICH, which may partly explain why cooling is often not robustly neuroprotective in rodent ICH studies. These findings also indicate that therapeutic hypothermia could be improved by the addition of drugs to minimize thrombin toxicity.


Knockdown and recovery of malaria diagnosis and treatment in Liberia during and after the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Setting: The malaria-endemic country of Liberia, before, during and after the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Objective: To describe the consequences of the Ebola outbreak on Liberia's National Malaria Programme and its post-Ebola recovery. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study using routine countrywide programme data. Results: Malaria caseloads decreased by 47% during the Ebola outbreak and by 11% after, compared to the pre-Ebola period. In those counties most affected by Ebola, a caseload reduction of >20% was sustained for 12 consecutive months, while this lasted for only 4 consecutive months in the counties least affected by Ebola. Linear regression of monthly proportions of confirmed malaria cases-as a proxy indicator of programme performance-over the pre- and post-Ebola periods indicated that the malaria programme could require 26 months after the end of the acute phase of the Ebola outbreak to recover to pre-Ebola levels. Conclusions: The differential persistence of reduced caseloads in the least- and most-affected counties, all of which experienced similar emergency measures, suggest that factors other than Ebola-related security measures played a key role in the programme's reduced performance. Clear guidance on when to abandon the emergency measures after an outbreak may be needed to ensure faster recovery of malaria programme performance.


Different molecular types of Pseudomonas fragi have the same overall behaviour as meat spoilers.
The functional diversity of a population of sixty-five different strains of P. fragi isolated from fresh and spoiled meat was studied in order to evaluate the population heterogeneity related to meat spoilage potential. The strains were characterized for the proteolytic activity at 4 degrees C on beef sarcoplasmic proteins and only 9 strains were found to be proteolytic. An iron-dependent growth behaviour was shown when each strain was grown in citrate medium containing either myoglobin, haemoglobin or iron chloride as iron sources. Increase of maximum population and mu(max) in presence of different iron sources was registered. The release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) by each strain in beef during aerobic storage at 4 degrees C was evaluated by GC-MS. A considerable variability of occurrence of each molecule in the GC-MS profiles obtained by the different strains was observed ranging from 3% to 79% although the strains showed a high degree of similarity. In particular, ethylhexanoate, ethyloctanoate, ethylnonenoate, ethyldecanoate, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, 4-methylthiophenol, and 2-pentylfurane were produced by more than 50% of the strains. Representative strains were used to spoil meat in the same conditions used for the VOC analysis and the samples were evaluated by a sensory panel. The results of the sensory analysis indicated that the different strains could significantly affect the odour of meat and strains characterized by production of esters gave fruity odours to the spoiled meat. However, the similarity of strains based on the sensory profiles does not necessarily match the similarity shown in VOC profiles. P. fragi has a significant role in the microbial ecology of meat and the influence of meat-related sources of iron on the growth behaviour of many different strains suggests that meat can be an ecological niche for P. fragi. Regardless of the proteolytic and lipolytic capacities shown in vitro, different molecular types of P. fragi can release odour active volatile molecules and play a similar overall role as spoilage agents of meat.


Self-segmentation of sequences: automatic formation of hierarchies of sequential behaviors.
The paper presents an approach for hierarchical reinforcement learning that does not rely on a priori domain-specific knowledge regarding hierarchical structures. Thus, this work deals with a more difficult problem compared with existing work, It involves learning to segment action sequences to create hierarchical structures (for example, for the purpose of dealing with partially observable Markov decision processes, with multiple limited-memory or memoryless modules). Segmentation is based on reinforcement received during task execution, with different levels of control communicating with each other through sharing reinforcement estimates obtained by each other. The algorithm segments action sequences to reduce non-Markovian temporal dependencies, and seeks out proper configurations of long- and short-range dependencies, to facilitate the learning of the overall task. Developing hierarchies also facilitates the extraction of explicit hierarchical plans. The initial experiments demonstrate the promise of the approach.


Site-dependent differences in both prelamin A and adipogenic genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue of patients with type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy.
Type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD2) is characterised by loss of fat in the limbs and buttocks and results from mutations in the LMNA gene. To evaluate the role of several genes involved in adipogenesis in order to better understand the underlying mechanisms of regional loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue (scAT) in patients with FPLD2. In total, 7 patients with FPLD2 and 10 healthy control participants were studied. A minimal model was used to calculate the insulin sensitivity (IS). scAT was obtained from abdomen and thigh by biopsy. Relative gene expression was quantified by real-time reverse transcription PCR in a thermal cycler. Prelamin A western blot analysis was carried out on scAT and prelamin A nuclear localisation was determined using immunofluorescence. Adipocyte nuclei were examined by electron microscopy. Patients with FPLD2 were found to have significantly lower IS. The expression of LMNA was similar in both groups. The expression of PPARG2, RB1, CCND3 and LPL in thigh but not in abdomen scAT was significantly reduced (67%, 25%, 38% and 66% respectively) in patients with FPLD2. Significantly higher levels of prelamin A were found in peripheral scAT of patients with FPLD2. Defects in the peripheral heterochromatin and a nuclear fibrous dense lamina were present in the adipocytes of patients with FPLD2. In FPLD2 participants, prelamin A accumulation in peripheral scAT is associated with a reduced expression of several genes involved in adipogenesis, which could perturb the balance between proliferation and differentiation in adipocytes, leading to less efficient tissue regeneration.


Regulation of immune responses by prostaglandin E2.
PGE(2), an essential homeostatic factor, is also a key mediator of immunopathology in chronic infections and cancer. The impact of PGE(2) reflects the balance between its cyclooxygenase 2-regulated synthesis and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase-driven degradation and the pattern of expression of PGE(2) receptors. PGE(2) enhances its own production but suppresses acute inflammatory mediators, resulting in its predominance at late/chronic stages of immunity. PGE(2) supports activation of dendritic cells but suppresses their ability to attract naive, memory, and effector T cells. PGE(2) selectively suppresses effector functions of macrophages and neutrophils and the Th1-, CTL-, and NK cell-mediated type 1 immunity, but it promotes Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cell responses. PGE(2) modulates chemokine production, inhibiting the attraction of proinflammatory cells while enhancing local accumulation of regulatory T cells cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Targeting the production, degradation, and responsiveness to PGE(2) provides tools to modulate the patterns of immunity in a wide range of diseases, from autoimmunity to cancer.


Non-targeted effects of nitrification inhibitors on soil free-living nitrogen fixation modified with weed management.
Biological nitrogen fixation and nitrification inhibitor applications contribute to improving soil nitrogen (N) availability, however, free-living N fixation affected by nitrification inhibitors has not been effectively evaluated in soils under different weed management methods. In this study, the effects of the nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on the nitrogenase, nifH gene,and diazotrophic communities in soils under different weed management methods (AMB, weeds growth without mowing or glyphosate spraying; GS, glyphosate spraying; MSG, mowing and removing weeds and glyphosate spraying; and WM, mowing aboveground weeds) were investigated. Compared to the control counterparts, the DCD application decreased soil nitrogenase activity and nifH gene abundance by 4.5 % and 37.9 %, respectively, under the GS management method, and the DMPP application reduced soil nitrogenase activity by 20.4 % and reduced the nifH gene abundance by 83.4 % under the MSG management method. The application of nitrification inhibitors significantly elevated soil NH4+-N contents but decreased NO3--N contents, which had adverse impacts on soil nifH gene abundance and nitrogenase activity. The nifH gene abundances were also negatively impacted by dissolved organic N and Geobacter but were positively affected by available phosphorus and diazotrophic community structures. Nitrification inhibitors significantly inhibited Methylocella but stimulated Rhizobiales and affected soil diazotrophic communities. The nitrification inhibitors DCD and DMPP significantly altered soil diazotrophic community structures, but weed management outweighed nitrification inhibitors in reshaping soil diazotrophic community structures. The non-targeted effects of the nitrification inhibitors DMPP and DCD on soil free-living N fixation were substantially influenced by the weed management methods.


Effects of acute alcohol administration on working memory: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Alcohol-induced executive function deficits may underlie associations between alcohol, self-regulation, and hazardous behaviors. Studies examining the effects of alcohol administration on working memory, an important executive functioning component, have produced mixed findings. Acute alcohol effects on working memory remain unclear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of acute alcohol administration on working memory outcomes in studies of healthy adults. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO from inception to June 2021. Studies were included if they met criteria, including healthy participants and administration of quantified alcohol doses against comparative controls. Data extracted included primary working memory outcomes, alcohol doses, and study characteristics. Study quality was assessed using an established validity measure. Working memory task type, alcohol dose, control condition type, and sex/gender composition were explored as moderators using mixed-effects models and meta-regressions. Thirty-two studies (1629 participants) provided sufficient data for 54 comparisons between alcohol and control conditions. Random-effects meta-analysis indicated that alcohol administration produced significant, small- to medium-sized working memory decrements (g [95% CI] = - 0.300 [- 0.390 to - 0.211], p < 0.001). Moderation analyses suggested that these effects differed as a function of task type, dose, control condition type, and sex/gender composition. The average quality rating across studies was good. Alcohol administration significantly impaired working memory performance, particularly when executive-related manipulation processes were involved. Future research is needed to investigate how alcohol-induced working memory impairments relate to compromised self-regulation, hazardous behavior, and negative drinking consequences.


[Determination of the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids in fruits and fresh and thermicaly treated vegetables].
The main objective of the work was to determine the antioxidant capacity of the flavonoids in red apples with and without skin, strawberries, tomatoes and fresh onions and thermally treated: humid heat (boiled and vapor), dry heat (oven) and high frequency (microwaves). The measurement was carried out in a fluorescence spectroscopy and the statistical analysis through the Variance and Test of Duncan. The results indicate that the antioxidant capacity of the flavonoids of red apples with and without skin, strawberries, tomatoes and onions were of 0.259, 0.267, 0.278, 0.165 and 0.223 Equivalent uM Trolox. These values diminished after the thermal treatment at a higher degree by dry heat at 0.128, 0.072, 0.077 and 0.048 Equivalent uM Trolox respectively and 0.146 Equivalent uM Trolox in the boiled onion. The flavonoids showed a higher antioxidant activity in fresh state, and their activity diminished under heat (cooking).


Unusual electrocardiographic patterns of modulated parasystole.
Modulation of a parasystolic rhythm implies that the latter is affected by nonparasystolic beats in predictable ways. When modulation occurs the diagnosis of ventricular parasystole cannot be made by applying the well-known 'classical' criteria. This report deals with clinical tracings from three cases having modulated parasystole with unusual characteristics. Case 1 showed a 24-hour diurnal variability of parasystolic modulation characterized by its occurrence during only part of the period of sleep (from 1 to 5 am). In case 2, modulated ventricular parasystole produced episodes of intermittent ventricular bigeminy with fixed coupling resembling those attributed to a reentry mechanism. The proper diagnosis was made when the sinus cycle length changed abruptly. Finally, in case 3, the idionodal rhythm from a patient with complete AV block was shown to be not only parasystolic, but also modulated. In addition, the idionodal rhythm was entrained (captured) in a concealed fashion by paced beats so that the post-pacing events did not conform with those occurring during overdrive pacing of parasystolic nonmodulated, or nonparasystolic, idionodal rhythms. These findings constitute the clinical counterpart of experimental studies performed with microelectrode techniques.


Evolution, biogenesis, expression, and target predictions of a substantially expanded set of Drosophila microRNAs.
MicroRNA (miRNA) genes give rise to small regulatory RNAs in a wide variety of organisms. We used computational methods to predict miRNAs conserved among Drosophila species and large-scale sequencing of small RNAs from Drosophila melanogaster to experimentally confirm and complement these predictions. In addition to validating 20 of our top 45 predictions for novel miRNA loci, the large-scale sequencing identified many miRNAs that had not been predicted. In total, 59 novel genes were identified, increasing our tally of confirmed fly miRNAs to 148. The large-scale sequencing also refined the identities of previously known miRNAs and provided insights into their biogenesis and expression. Many miRNAs were expressed in particular developmental contexts, with a large cohort of miRNAs expressed primarily in imaginal discs. Conserved miRNAs typically were expressed more broadly and robustly than were nonconserved miRNAs, and those conserved miRNAs with more restricted expression tended to have fewer predicted targets than those expressed more broadly. Predicted targets for the expanded set of microRNAs substantially increased and revised the miRNA-target relationships that appear conserved among the fly species. Insights were also provided into miRNA gene evolution, including evidence for emergent regulatory function deriving from the opposite arm of the miRNA hairpin, exemplified by mir-10, and even the opposite strand of the DNA, exemplified by mir-iab-4.