The beneficial effect of Tai Chi on self-concept in adolescents.
Previous research has documented the beneficial effect of Tai Chi, but most of the studies focused on elders and patients with specific health conditions. The aim of the study was to test whether Tai Chi can help to improve self-concept in adolescents with a longitudinal study. The sample comprised 160 students from a Chinese middle school; half of students formed the experimental group and the rest formed the control group. A 1-year Tai Chi intervention was delivered in 60-minute sessions, five times a week. Both groups were instructed to complete the measure of self-concept at the beginning and end of the intervention. Statistical analysis shows the significant reduction of good behaviour, intellectual and school status, popularity and anxiety in the experimental group compared with the control group. The results suggest that the Tai Chi intervention could improve self-concept in adolescents.


Berry ellagitannins may not be sufficient for prevention of tumors in the rodent esophagus.
Biodirected fractionation is used to identify the active inhibitory constituents in berries for esophageal cancer in rats. The present study was undertaken to determine if ellagitannins contribute to the chemopreventive activity of an alcohol/water-insoluble (residue) fraction of berries. Rats consumed diets containing residue fractions of three berry types, that is, black raspberries (BRBs), strawberries (STRWs), and blueberries (BBs), that differ in their content of ellagitannins in the order BRB > STRW > BB. Animals were fed residue diets beginning 2 weeks before treatment with the esophageal carcinogen N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) and throughout the 30-week bioassay. Residue fractions from all three berry types were about equally effective in reducing NMBA tumorigenesis in the rat esophagus irrespective of their ellagitannin content (0.01-0.62 g/kg of diet). These results suggest that the ellagitannins may not be responsible for the chemopreventive effects of the alcohol/water-insoluble fraction of berries.


Frontocingulate Dysfunction Is Associated with Depression and Decreased Serum PON1 in Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients.
Studies have been reported that frequent use of methamphetamine (MA) is associated with brain function impairment, mood disorders and excessive free radical production accompanied by the decreased level of the antioxidant response elements, but no study investigated their correlations simultaneously. In the current study, the correlation of brain function, depression and anxiety levels, and the serum levels of PON1 (an antioxidant) in MA-dependent patients were investigated. Nineteen active MA abusers and 18 control subjects performed color-word Stroop task during fMRI and the state of their depression, anxiety, and stress were measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaire. Their blood samples were collected to measure the level of PON1 by the human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and its correlation with the measured variables was studied. Analysis of fMRI findings showed frontocingulate dysfunction in Stroop effect condition, including left anterior cingulate cortex, paracingulate gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and frontal pole in MA-dependent patients, which was associated with a higher level of depression and decreased level of serum PON1 in these patients. The results of the current study showed that MA-dependency is associated with frontocingulate dysfunction, decreased serum PON1 concentration, and increased depression/anxiety, which is worth to be more studied to elucidate their roles in the pathophysiology of MA addiction.


Cyclosporine A and FK506 induce osteoclast apoptosis in mouse bone marrow cell cultures.
Studies were carried out to characterize the effects of cyclosporines and FK506 on the formation and survival of osteoclasts deriving from mouse bone marrow cultures. Cyclosporin A (CsA), cyclosporin B (CsB), cyclosporin H (CsH), and FK506 all inhibited receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and generation of TRAP+ multinucleated cells in the cultures. CsA and CsG were approximately equipotent, CsH was approximately one order of magnitude less potent than the other cyclosporines, and FK506 was approximately two orders of magnitude more potent than CsA and CsG. All of the inhibitors demonstrated greater potency and efficacy on decreasing the number of TRAP+ multinucleated cells than on decreasing total TRAP activity. Further evidence that late stages were more sensitive to inhibition was obtained in experiments in which CsA was present for different segments of the RANKL-stimulated culture period. CsA was as efficacious when added for the final 2 days of a 4-day culture as when added for the entire culture period, whereas it was less effective if added for only the first 2 days of the culture. When CsA or FK506 were added for 1 day to cultures in which osteoclasts had already formed, the numbers of TRAP+ osteoclasts decreased. Treatment with CsA or FK506 produced nuclear fragmentation and disruption of the multinucleated osteoclasts and an increase in caspase-3 activity. The apoptosis inhibitor z-VAD partially prevented the inhibitory effects of CsA and FK506 on the survival of TRAP+ multinucleated cells in the cultures and also preserved the normal osteoclast morphology. The data indicate that an important component of the inhibitory effects of CsA and FK506 on marrow-derived osteoclasts is the induction of apoptosis.


Herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early protein Vmw110 inhibits progression of cells through mitosis and from G(1) into S phase of the cell cycle.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early protein Vmw110 stimulates the onset of virus infection in a multiplicity-dependent manner and is required for efficient reactivation from latency. Recent work has shown that Vmw110 is able to interact with or modify the stability of several cellular proteins. In this report we analyze the ability of Vmw110 to inhibit the progression of cells through the cell cycle. We show by fluorescence-activated cell sorter and/or confocal microscopy analysis that an enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged Vmw110 possesses the abilities both to prevent transfected cells moving from G(1) into S phase and to block infected cells at an unusual stage of mitosis defined as pseudo-prometaphase. The latter property correlates with the Vmw110-induced proteasome-dependent degradation of CENP-C, a centromeric protein component of the inner plate of human kinetochores. We also show that whereas Vmw110 is not the only viral product implicated in the block of infected cells at the G(1)/S border, the mitotic block is a specific property of Vmw110 and more particularly of its RING finger domain. These data explain the toxicity of Vmw110 when expressed alone in transfected cells and provide an explanation for the remaining toxicity of replication-defective mutants of HSV-1 expressing Vmw110. In addition to contributing to our understanding of the effects of Vmw110 on the cell, our results demonstrate that Vmw110 expression is incompatible with the proliferation of a dividing cell population. This factor is of obvious importance to the design of gene therapy vectors based on HSV-1.


Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment in the UK: risk of relapse or recurrence of depression.
Patients with depression are often not prescribed antidepressants for an adequate period of time. The impact of antidepressant prescribing patterns on the risk of relapse or recurrence of depression is examined. The MediPlus UK Primary Care Database was used to identify patients treated for depression with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Records were used to construct hierarchical prescription patterns (less than 120 days, switching/augmentation, upward titration, or stable use) as indicators for the occurrence of relapse or recurrence of depression. Patients with stable use experienced the lowest risk of relapse or recurrence. Factors significantly associated with increased risk include prior use of anxiolytic medications, more comorbid conditions and younger age. The SSRI prescription pattern most consistent with recommended depression treatment guidelines was associated with the lowest risk of relapse or recurrence.


Nitrogen removal during summer and winter in a primary facultative waste stabilization pond: preliminary findings from (15)N-labelled ammonium tracking techniques.
Nitrogen removal mechanisms and pathways within WSP have been the focus of much research over the last 30 years. Debates and theories postulated continue to refine our knowledge regarding the cycling and removal pathways for this important nutrient, but a succinct answer has yet to be provided for holistic nitrogen removal. In this study, two experimental runs using labelled (15)N as a stable isotope tracking technique were conducted on a pilot-scale primary facultative WSP in the UK; one in the summer of 2006, and the other in the winter of 2007. An ammonium chloride ((15)NH(4)Cl) spike was prepared as the slug for each experimental run, which also contained rhodamine WT to act as a dye tracer enabling the hydraulic characteristics of the pond to be mapped. Initial results from the study are reported here, and findings are compared and contrasted. Preliminary findings reveal that a greater proportion of (15)N is incorporated into the algal biomass by assimilation and subsequent release as soluble organic nitrogen in summer than in winter. (15)N ammonium passes out of the system much sooner and in a much higher proportion in the winter than in summer.


Assessing the possibilities and challenges of patient involvement in sexual, reproductive and HIV/AIDS services.
Patient and public involvement (PPI) is a key feature of healthcare services in the UK. Sexual and reproductive health and HIV (SRHH) services face unique PPI challenges, as the anonymity and confidentiality required by service users can be a barrier to attracting patient input. PPI could improve sexual health services, through increased trust in services and the ability to tackle sexual health inequalities. However, specific practical guidance on how to address PPI in sexual health and the evidence to support it is sparse. This research aims to begin building an evidence base for PPI in sexual health services through: 1) an audit of PPI in SRHH in the Bristol region; and 2) a parallel survey of potential users of sexual health services about their experiences of PPI. For the audit, 18 SRHH organisations from all those in the region invited complete a short online survey, representing a range of different service providers. For the survey, participants, through a convenience sample via the University of the West of England and social media, were invited to complete an anonymous online survey of their experiences of PPI in SSRHs; 96 people responded. Reliance on customer satisfaction approaches and patients not being asked for feedback or what PP is for are reported. Services cite under-resourcing and a lack of time as barriers. Improving the use of patient's voice in SRHH could be supported through clarity of purpose (measured against outcomes), better communication with patients, and the need for flexible methods.


[Nervous system and obesity].
In spite of the great daily variations in the ingestion of nutrients, the energy reserves of the body remain constant over time, which suggests the existence of numerous mechanisms regulating adiposity, energy expenditure and appetite. Gastric distention, the intestinal absorption of nutrients, lipid and glycogen reserves, the rate of utilisation of energy substrates on a central and peripheral scale, the palatability of the food and other psychological factors, influence the short term regulation of oxidation and the storage of macronutrients, as well as appetite. Besides, hormones such as insulin and leptin act over the longer term on the brain, reducing ingestion and increasing energy expenditure. Important neuronal circuits regulate this organ, above all at the hypothalamic level, which initiate effector signals that control energy homeostasis. This paper studies the role of the central nervous system in the regulation of appetite and energy balance


Prevention of maternal-fetal transmission of cytomegalovirus.
Reported maternal-to-fetal rates of primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy have been between 30% and 50%. The highest rate of symptomatic congenital infection and sequelae occurs in about 25% of infected infants born of mothers with a primary infection during pregnancy. Symptomatic infants demonstrate a constellation of clinical features that reflect placental dysfunction and probable viral infection of the central nervous system of the fetus. In the United States, we estimate that about 8000 affected infants are born each year. Two options may be available to prevent or treat maternal CMV infection during pregnancy, especially for women with exposure to young children in the home. The first is hygienic intervention. Two studies support the simplicity, harmlessness, and effectiveness of hygienic intervention to prevent child-to-mother transmission of CMV among high-risk pregnant women who know they are susceptible. The second is CMV immunoglobulin. A meta-analysis of 2 clinical trials showed an efficacy of 50% if immunoglobulin is given to pregnant women who have acquired a primary CMV infection during pregnancy. These results mean that seronegative pregnant women have options to prevent fetal infection.


Proteomic analysis of the glutathione-deficient LEGSKO mouse lens reveals activation of EMT signaling, loss of lens specific markers, and changes in stress response proteins.
To determine global protein expression changes in the lens of the GSH-deficient LEGSKO mouse model of age-related cataract for comparison with recently published gene expression data obtained by RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis. Lenses were separated into epithelial and cortical fiber sections, digested with trypsin, and labeled with isobaric tags (10-plex TMTTM). Peptides were analyzed by LC-MS/MS (Orbitrap Fusion) and mapped to the mouse proteome for relative protein quantification. 1871 proteins in lens epithelia and 870 proteins in lens fiber cells were quantified. 40 proteins in LEGSKO epithelia, 14 proteins in LEGSKO fiber cells, 22 proteins in buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)-treated LEGSKO epithelia, and 55 proteins in BSO-treated LEGSKO fiber cells had significantly (p<0.05, FDR<0.1) altered protein expression compared to WT controls. HSF4 and MAF transcription factors were the most common upstream regulators of the response to GSH-deficiency. Many detoxification proteins, including aldehyde dehydrogenases, peroxiredoxins, and quinone oxidoreductase, were upregulated but several glutathione S-transferases were downregulated. Several cellular stress response proteins showed regulation changes, including an upregulation of HERPUD1, downregulation of heme oxygenase, and mixed changes in heat shock proteins. NRF2-regulated proteins showed broad upregulation in BSO-treated LEGSKO fiber cells, but not in other groups. Strong trends were seen in downregulation of lens specific proteins, including β- and γ-crystallins, lengsin, and phakinin, and in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related changes. Western blot analysis of LEGSKO lens epithelia confirmed expression changes in several proteins. This dataset confirms at the proteomic level many findings from the recently determined GSH-deficient lens transcriptome and provides new insight into the roles of GSH in the lens, how the lens adapts to oxidative stress, and how GSH affects EMT in the lens.


Transmission of equine infectious anemia virus by Tabanus fuscicostatus.
The mechanical transmission of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus by Tabanus fuscicostatus was investigated. In 1 of 7 transmission trials, a single horsefly transmitted EIA virus from an acutely infected pony to a susceptible pony. Groups of horseflies isolated for 3, 10, or 30 minutes before refeeding transmitted EIA virus, whereas those isolated for 4 or 24 hours did not. Data from field studies indicate that the home range or flight distance of horseflies may exceed 4 miles. That information together with our observations suggest that segregation of infected horses (usually defined as at least 200 yards from susceptible horses) as a control measure for EIA may not be an adequate safeguard against transmission in areas where horseflies are numerous.


The role of vitamin A in the glycosylation reactions of glycoprotein synthesis in an 'in vitro' system.
Microsomal membrane preparations from rat livers, when incubated with labelled sugar-nucleotides, were shown to synthesize labelled oligosaccharide-lipids in the presence of excess exogenous dolichyl phosphate. Under the incubation conditions defined in the present study, dolichyl pyrophosphoryl(DolPP)GlcNAc2-Man5, DolPPGlcNAc2Man9 and DolPPGlcNAc2Man9Glc3 were the principal oligosaccharide-lipids formed by both control and vitamin A-deficient membranes. However, deficient membranes synthesized 3.2 +/- 0.8 times as much oligosaccharide-lipids and 2.6 +/- 0.7 times as much dolichyl phosphate mannose (DolPMan) and dolichyl phosphate glucose (DolPGlc) as the controls. The transfer of the oligosaccharide chain from the dolichol carrier to the endogenous protein acceptors in vitamin A-deficient microsomes (microsomal fractions) was only 57.5 +/- 9.5% of that of controls. After endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase treatment, only one oligosaccharide species was isolated from both control and vitamin A-deficient microsomal glycoproteins, and was characterized as GlcNAcMan9Glc3. We conclude that the decreased incorporation of labelled mannose and glucose from sugar-nucleotides into the glycoproteins must be due to decreased transfer of GlcNAc2Man9Glc3 from the dolichol carrier to the protein acceptors. This conclusion was further substantiated by the finding that control membranes transferred 4-6 times as much labelled oligosaccharides from exogenously added dolichol-linked substrate (DolPPGlcNAc2Man9Glc3) to endogenous microsomal protein acceptors as compared with the vitamin A-deficient membranes. Attempts to reverse this defect by addition of retinol or retinyl phosphate (a source of retinyl phosphate mannose) to the incubations were unsuccessful.


Ultra-compact branchless plasmonic interferometers.
Miniaturization of functional optical devices and circuits is a key prerequisite for a myriad of applications ranging from biosensing to quantum information processing. This development has considerably been spurred by rapid developments within plasmonics exploiting its unprecedented ability to squeeze light into subwavelength scale. In this study, we investigate on-chip plasmonic systems allowing for synchronous excitation of multiple inputs and examine the interference between two adjacent excited channels. We present a branchless interferometer consisting of two parallel plasmonic waveguides that can be either selectively or coherently excited via ultra-compact antenna couplers. The total coupling efficiency is quantitatively characterized in a systematic manner and shown to exceed 15% for small waveguide separations, with the power distribution between the two waveguides being efficiently and dynamically shaped by adjusting the incident beam position. The presented design principle can readily be extended to other configurations, giving new perspectives for highly dense integrated plasmonic circuitry, optoelectronic devices, and sensing applications.


Serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis: a review of test performance and cost comparison.
The authors reviewed over 50 publications in which the sensitivity and specificity values of assays used for the detection of exposure to Brucella abortus had been examined. The sum of the sensitivity and specificity values for each test was averaged to give a performance index (PI) and allow for a comparison between the different methodologies. A score of 200 was perfect. Based on the PI, the buffered antigen plate agglutination test (BPAT) rated highest (PI = 193.1) among the conventional tests. This indicates better accuracy than the other conventional tests including the Rose Bengal test (PI = 167.6) and the complement fixation test (PI = 172.5). Overall, the primary binding assays, including the fluorescence polarisation assay (PI = 196.4), the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PI = 189.8) and the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PI = 188.2), were more accurate than the conventional tests, except for the BPAT. In addition, a fee comparison suggested that the primary binding tests were price competitive with conventional tests for the diagnosis of brucellosis and, therefore, had a better combined cost/efficiency rating.


GmFLD, a soybean homolog of the autonomous pathway gene FLOWERING LOCUS D, promotes flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Flowering at an appropriate time is crucial for seed maturity and reproductive success in all flowering plants. Soybean (Glycine max) is a typical short day plant, and both photoperiod and autonomous pathway genes exist in soybean genome. However, little is known about the functions of soybean autonomous pathway genes. In this article, we examined the functions of a soybean homolog of the autonomous pathway gene FLOWERING LOCUS D (FLD), GmFLD in the flowering transition of A. thaliana. In soybean, GmFLD is highly expressed in expanded cotyledons of seedlings, roots, and young pods. However, the expression levels are low in leaves and shoot apexes. Expression of GmFLD in A. thaliana (Col) resulted in early flowering of the transgenic plants, and rescued the late flowering phenotype of the A. thaliana fld mutant. In GmFLD transgenic plants (Col or fld background), the FLC (FLOWERING LOCUS C) transcript levels decreased whereas the floral integrators, FT and SOC1, were up-regulated when compared with the corresponding non-transgenic genotypes. Furthermore, chromatin immuno-precipitation analysis showed that in the transgenic rescued lines (fld background), the levels of both tri-methylation of histone H3 Lys-4 and acetylation of H4 decreased significantly around the transcriptional start site of FLC. This is consistent with the function of GmFLD as a histone demethylase. Our results suggest that GmFLD is a functional ortholog of the Arabidopsis FLD and may play an important role in the regulation of chromatin state in soybean. The present data provides the first evidence for the evolutionary conservation of the components in the autonomous pathway in soybean.


Molecular genetics of Bloom's syndrome.
Mutation of the Bloom's syndrome (BS) gene, BLM, results in genomic instability. As the first step toward positional cloning of the gene, tight linkage of BLM and FES at 15q26.1 was detected by genotyping affected in families in which the parents are cousins, so-called homozygosity mapping. Linkage disequilibrium between BLM and FES was detected in Ashkenazi Jews with BS, confirming the linkage results and supporting the hypothesis that the increased frequency of the BS mutation in the Ashkenazim is due to founder effect. The mutated BLM gene is inherited identical by descent in BS persons whose parents are cousins or Ashkenazi Jewish; in persons whose parents do not share a common ancestor, BLM can be mutant at different positions within the gene. In such persons, crossing-over within BLM can occur to form a functionally wild-type gene capable of correcting the mutant phenotype of BS cells. In half the cases in which such somatic intragenic recombination had occurred, reduction to homozygosity was detectable distal to BLM but not proximal to it. We localized the cross-over points in corrected cells to a 250 kb genomic segment and isolated therefrom a 4437 bp cDNA that encodes a 1417 amino acid protein homologous to the RecQ subfamily of DExH box-containing DNA and RNA helicases. The identification of BLM as a putative DNA helicase provides a new and powerful tool to investigate the primary defect in BS and the function of the BLM gene product in maintaining the integrity of the genome.


Lower extremity jumping mechanics of female athletes with and without patellofemoral pain before and after exertion.
Patellofemoral pain is especially common among female athletes and is traditionally associated with lower extremity mechanics thought to increase retropatellar stress. These detrimental mechanics may increase with exertion. Differences in lower extremity mechanics during single-legged jumps between female athletes with and without patellofemoral pain will increase after exertion. Controlled laboratory study. Twenty women with patellofemoral pain and 20 healthy female controls participated in a functional lower extremity exertion protocol of repetitive single-legged jumps. Pain, exertion, hip and trunk strength, and 3-dimensional lower extremity joint mechanics were recorded at the beginning and end of the protocol. The patellofemoral pain group reported increased pain at the conclusion of the protocol. However, all subjects terminated the protocol due to complaints of fatigue. Mean strength measurements for the patellofemoral pain group were 24% lower for lateral trunk flexion (P = .06), 13% lower for hip abduction (P = .09), and 14% lower for hip external rotation (P = .03) than for controls. Subjects with patellofemoral pain demonstrated greater contralateral pelvic drop at the end of the exertion protocol compared with the control group (P = .003). Group differences in lower extremity mechanics, including increased hip adduction angle, hip flexion angle, hip abduction angular impulse, and decreased hip internal rotation angles, were observed among women with patellofemoral pain throughout the exertion protocol. These group differences were consistent despite increased pain for the patellofemoral pain group after exertion. Both groups demonstrated decreased jump height, hip flexion and internal rotation, knee flexion, and hip extension impulse at the end of the protocol. Women with patellofemoral pain demonstrated lower extremity mechanics that differed from the healthy control group during single-legged jumping, particularly at the hip. These differences do not appear to vary with exertion level or pain among patellofemoral pain subjects during single-legged jumps. Lower extremity jumping mechanics appear to be consistently different among women with patellofemoral pain. Conservative treatment programs that include kinematic retraining as well as hip and trunk strengthening may improve patient outcomes and prevent recurrence of this common orthopaedic condition.


[Oral health for the elderly: an interdisciplinary approach].
The aging of the Brazilian population and the resulting change in its age structure require from public policies and health professionals distinct attitudes with regard to health care delivery, focused on interdisciplinary work. This text aims at emphasizing the importance of using the problematization method in the context of an interdisciplinary approach, in which the actions shared by the different fields of knowledge converge to an interactive process towards an integrated view of the individual.


Defining risk in aerospace medical unconsciousness research.
The maneuverability envelopes of current and future fighter/attack aircraft exceed unprotected human tolerance to environmental stress. Human exposure to unconsciousness therefore can result not only inflight, but in research and training laboratories which endeavor to provide methods of enhanced protection for aircrew. Solving the problem of unconsciousness requires a thorough understanding of the phenomenon itself. This can only be accomplished by defining the psychophysiologic aspects of unconsciousness and techniques to prevent its occurrence or enhance recovery, should it occur. The safety of experimental human exposure to G-LOC however, remains of some concern. A framework for discussing the relative insult to the central nervous system may be constructed from what is currently known about G-LOC. The results of animal experimentation allow an estimation of the central nervous system tolerance to hypoxia without permanent alteration of tissue integrity. Clinical medicine documentation of syncope and fainting episodes, coupled with a long history of uncomplicated G-LOC episodes suggests that a certain window of safe exposure exists. Utilization of G-LOC as an endpoint included exposure of very large numbers of humans to unconsciousness without significant complication. Animal experimentation suggests that 180 s of central nervous system hypoxia is associated with uncomplicated recovery. Human exposure as long as 100 s has also been safely accomplished. Centrifuge G-LOC exposure typically results in only 15-20 s of central nervous system hypoxia. As long as G-LOC experimentation using humans is performed within well defined limits, it may be accomplished within an acceptable risk envelope.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Tension transients in single isolated smooth muscle cells.
Tension transients were recorded in a single smooth muscle cell. The transient contains a linear elastic response and a biphasic recovery that appear to originate from the cross-bridges. A comparison of transients in smooth and fast skeletal muscle fibers suggests that the cross-bridge in smooth muscle is more compliant than the cross-bridge in striated muscle and that transitions between several cross-bridge states occur more slowly in smooth muscle than in striated muscle.


Chemical vapor deposition of conformal, functional, and responsive polymer films.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization utilizes the delivery of vapor-phase monomers to form chemically well-defined polymeric films directly on the surface of a substrate. CVD polymers are desirable as conformal surface modification layers exhibiting strong retention of organic functional groups, and, in some cases, are responsive to external stimuli. Traditional wet-chemical chain- and step-growth mechanisms guide the development of new heterogeneous CVD polymerization techniques. Commonality with inorganic CVD methods facilitates the fabrication of hybrid devices. CVD polymers bridge microfabrication technology with chemical, biological, and nanoparticle systems and assembly. Robust interfaces can be achieved through covalent grafting enabling high-resolution (60 nm) patterning, even on flexible substrates. Utilizing only low-energy input to drive selective chemistry, modest vacuum, and room-temperature substrates, CVD polymerization is compatible with thermally sensitive substrates, such as paper, textiles, and plastics. CVD methods are particularly valuable for insoluble and infusible films, including fluoropolymers, electrically conductive polymers, and controllably crosslinked networks and for the potential to reduce environmental, health, and safety impacts associated with solvents. Quantitative models aid the development of large-area and roll-to-roll CVD polymer reactors. Relevant background, fundamental principles, and selected applications are reviewed.


Early life stress and hippocampal neurogenesis in the neonate: sexual dimorphism, long term consequences and possible mediators.
Adverse early life experience decreases adult hippocampal neurogenesis and results in increased vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite that the effects of postnatal stress on neurogenesis have been widely studied in adult individuals, few efforts have been done to evaluate its immediate effects on the developing hippocampus. Moreover, it is not clear whether postnatal stress causes a differential impact in hippocampus development in male and female neonates that could be related to emotional deficits in adulthood. It has been proposed that the long term effects of early stress exposure rise from a persistent HPA axis activation during sensitive time windows; nevertheless the exact mechanisms and mediators remain unknown. Here, we summarize the immediate and late effects of early life stress on hippocampal neurogenesis in male and female rat pups, compare its later consequences in emotionality, and highlight some relevant mediator peptides that could be potentially involved in programming.


Drug-induced changes in fibrillation cycle length and organization index can predict chemical cardioversion of long-lasting atrial fibrillation with bepridil alone or in combination with aprindine.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether drug-induced changes in fibrillation wave characteristics can predict pharmacological conversion of long lasting persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The study group comprised 23 consecutive patients with AF lasting > or =1 month. Patients first received bepridil (200 mg/day) for 2-4 weeks. When sinus rhythm was not restored with bepridil, oral aprindine (40 or 60 mg/day) was added to bepridil. Fast Fourier transform analysis of fibrillation waves using lead V1 was performed to calculate the fibrillation cycle length (FCL). The spectral areas were measured and the maximum area divided by the total area was termed the fibrillation organization index (FOI). Sinus rhythm was restored in 16 of 23 patients (70%); 8 of these 16 patients received only bepridil (Group I) and the other 8 responders received bepridil and aprindine (Group II). In Group I bepridil increased both FCL (p<0.001) and FOI (p<0.01) and terminated AF after 20+/-12 days. In Group II bepridil increased FCL (p<0.001), but did not change FOI. The addition of aprindine terminated AF in association with an increase in both FCL (p<0.005) and FOI (p<0.005) within 19+/-8 days. In the remaining 7 patients who did not have restoration of sinus rhythm, bepridil increased both FCL and FOI significantly, but less than in Group I, and the addition of aprindine did not further increase either of them. Chemical cardioversion of AF occurred in all patients with FCL > or =190 ms and FOI > or =45% after drug administration. Bepridil alone or in combination with aprindine converted long lasting persistent AF in association with an increase in both FCL and FOI. The combination of FCL and FOI after drug administration is helpful in predicting chemical cardioversion of persistent AF.


Pollen-mediated gene flow in maize in real situations of coexistence.
We present the first study on cross-fertilization between Bt and conventional maize in real situations of coexistence in two regions in which Bt and conventional maize were cultivated. A map was designed and the different crops were identified, as were the sowing and flowering dates, in Bt and conventional maize fields. These data were used to choose the non-transgenic fields for sampling and analysis by the real-time quantification system-polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR) technique. In general, the rate of cross-fertilization was higher in the borders and, in most of the fields, decreased towards the centre of the field. Nine fields had values of genetically modified organism DNA to total DNA of much lower than 0.9%, whereas in three the rate was higher. Some differences were found when comparing our results with those of common field trials. In real conditions of coexistence and in cropping areas with smaller fields, the main factors that determined cross-pollination were the synchronicity of flowering and the distances between the donor and receptor fields. By establishing an index based on these two variables, the rate of the adventitious presence of genetically modified maize could be predicted, as well as the influence of other factors. By applying this index, and in the case of a fully synchronous flowering time, a security distance between transgenic and conventional fields of about 20 m should be sufficient to maintain the adventitious presence of genetically modified organisms as a result of pollen flow below the 0.9% threshold in the total yield of the field.


Age related decline in functional T cell subsets in the mouse.
The changes of two functions of regulatory T cells in mice of different ages were determined. Mice were immunized with SRBC. DTH responsiveness of spleen cells and the production of IL-2 after Concanavalin A stimulation of the same cell suspension was measured. Cell populations were analysed for expression of Lyt-2 and Thy-1 surface markers. The relationship between DTH responsiveness and T cell subset distribution in peripheral blood was analysed. A direct relationship between age related changes in DTH responsiveness and T cell subset distributions in peripheral blood was observed in most individual animals.


Captive to the Clinic: Phase I Clinical Trials as Temporal Total Institutions.
This article develops the concept of temporal total institutions to describe how and why individuals voluntarily submit to highly-controlled and often dehumanizing environments. We focus empirically on Phase I clinical trials, which offer compensation to healthy people in exchange for testing investigational pharmaceuticals. Analyzing the experiences of 67 U.S. healthy volunteers, we illustrate how comparisons between Phase I trials and prison are salient to participants as they reflect on their confinement in research facilities and their interactions with other participants and research staff. We argue that conditions of contemporary economic insecurity and/or poverty facilitate the existence of coercive temporal total institutions by undermining voluntariness. Phase I clinics take advantage of the steady supply of individuals who will submit to the organization's demands out of hope that the income gained will be transformative for their lives.


Inhibition of DNA polymerase activity by methyl methanesulfonate.
Methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) inhibits both thymidine incorporation into DNA in mitogen-activated human lymphocytes and deoxythymidine triphosphate incorporation into template DNA by DNA polymerase-alpha in a cell-free system. When MMS-modified DNA was used as the template for DNA synthesis utilizing unmodified DNA polymerase-alpha, nucleotide incorporation into template DNA was not inhibited. When unmodified DNA was used as the template for DNA synthesis utilizing MMS-modified DNA polymerase-alpha, nucleotide incorporation was differentially inhibited dependent on the MMS concentration. An analysis of the kinetics of DNA polymerase-alpha inhibition showed that incorporation of all 4 deoxynucleoside triphosphates into DNA template was noncompetitively inhibited by MMS, which is consistent with nonspecific MMS modification of the enzyme. These data indicate that MMS modification of DNA polymerase-alpha alone is sufficient to inhibit the incorporation of deoxynucleoside triphosphates into template DNA in vitro. The data further indicate that alkylation of both DNA polymerase-alpha and DNA template synergistically increases inhibition of DNA synthesis.


Molecular Diagnostic Testing in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Related Disorders: Approaches and Results.
The inherited neuropathies of the peripheral nervous system are clinically and genetically a heterogeneous group of disorders. Molecular genetic studies have made major breakthroughs in unraveling the underlying gene defects, and DNA diagnosis can now be offered to a large number of families with distinct forms of hereditary peripheral neuropathies. With the currently available technology, however, molecular genetic diagnosis still remains a labor-intensive and costly procedure. We have developed an algorithm for mutation screening based on clinical phenotype, electrophysiological findings, and the relative frequencies of mutations in the distinct peripheral myelin genes.


Novel Clinical Monitoring Approaches for Reemergence of Diphtheria Myocarditis, Vietnam.
Diphtheria is a life-threatening, vaccine-preventable disease caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium bacterial species that continues to cause substantial disease and death worldwide, particularly in vulnerable populations. Further outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are forecast because of health service disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic. Diphtheria causes a spectrum of clinical disease, ranging from cutaneous forms to severe respiratory infections with systemic complications, including cardiac and neurologic. In this synopsis, we describe a case of oropharyngeal diphtheria in a 7-year-old boy in Vietnam who experienced severe myocarditis complications. We also review the cardiac complications of diphtheria and discuss how noninvasive bedside imaging technologies to monitor myocardial function and hemodynamic parameters can help improve the management of this neglected infectious disease.


Long term effects of radiation exposure on telomere lengths of leukocytes and its associated biomarkers among atomic-bomb survivors.
Ionizing radiation (IR) is a major source of cellular damage and the immediate cellular response to IR has been well characterized. But the long-term impact of IR on cell function and its relationship with aging are not known. Here, we examined the IR effects on telomere length and other biomarkers 50 to 68 years post-exposure (two time points per person) in survivors of the atomic bombing at Hiroshima during WWII. We found that telomere length of leukocytes was inversely correlated with the dose of IR (p=0.008), and this effect was primarily found in survivors who were exposed at younger ages; specifically those <12 years old (p=0.0004). Although a dose-related retardation of telomere shortening with age was observed in the cross-sectional data, longitudinal follow-up after 11 years did not show IR exposure-related alteration of the rate of telomere shortening with age. In addition, IR diminished the associations between telomere length and selected aging biomarkers that were observed in survivors with no dose. These included uric acid metabolism, cytokines, and blood T cell counts. These findings showed long-lasting detrimental effects of IR on telomere length of leukocytes in both dose- and age-at-exposure dependent manner, and on alterations of biomarkers with aging.


Heterophilic binding of L1 on unmyelinated sensory axons mediates Schwann cell adhesion and is required for axonal survival.
This study investigated the function of the adhesion molecule L1 in unmyelinated fibers of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) by analysis of L1- deficient mice. We demonstrate that L1 is present on axons and Schwann cells of sensory unmyelinated fibers, but only on Schwann cells of sympathetic unmyelinated fibers. In L1-deficient sensory nerves, Schwann cells formed but failed to retain normal axonal ensheathment. L1-deficient mice had reduced sensory function and loss of unmyelinated axons, while sympathetic unmyelinated axons appeared normal. In nerve transplant studies, loss of axonal-L1, but not Schwann cell-L1, reproduced the L1-deficient phenotype. These data establish that heterophilic axonal-L1 interactions mediate adhesion between unmyelinated sensory axons and Schwann cells, stabilize the polarization of Schwann cell surface membranes, and mediate a trophic effect that assures axonal survival.


Thermochemical insight into the reduction of CO to CH3OH with [Re(CO)](+) and [Mn(CO)](+) complexes.
To gain insight into thermodynamic barriers for reduction of CO into CH3OH, free energies for reduction of [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CO)](+) into CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OH) have been determined from experimental measurements. Using model complexes, the free energies for the transfer of H(+), H(-), and e(-) have been determined. A pKa of 10.6 was estimated for [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOH)](+) by measuring the pKa for the analogous [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CMeOH)](+). The hydride donor ability (ΔG°H(-)) of CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OH) was estimated to be 58.0 kcal mol(-1), based on calorimetry measurements of the hydride-transfer reaction between CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHO) and [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOMe)](+) to generate the methylated analogue, CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OMe). Cyclic voltammograms recorded on CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CMeO), CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OMe), and [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOMe)](+) displayed either a quasireversible oxidation (neutral species) or reduction (cationic species). These potentials were used as estimates for the oxidation of CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHO) or CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OH) or the reduction of [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOH)](+). Combination of the thermodynamic data permits construction of three-dimensional free energy landscapes under varying conditions of pH and PH2. The free energy for H2 addition (ΔG°H2) to [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CO)](+) (+15 kcal mol(-1)) was identified as the most significant thermodynamic impediment for the reduction of CO. DFT computations on a series of [Cp(X)M(L)(NO)(CO)](+) (M = Re, Mn) complexes indicate that ΔG°H2 can be varied by 11 kcal mol(-1) through variation of both the ancillary ligands and the metal.


Inhibitors of SARS-3CLpro: virtual screening, biological evaluation, and molecular dynamics simulation studies.
SARS-CoV from the coronaviridae family has been identified as the etiological agent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a highly contagious upper respiratory disease that reached epidemic status in 2002. SARS-3CL(pro), a cysteine protease indispensible to the viral life cycle, has been identified as one of the key therapeutic targets against SARS. A combined ligand and structure-based virtual screening was carried out against the Asinex Platinum collection. Multiple low micromolar inhibitors of the enzyme were identified through this search, one of which also showed activity against SARS-CoV in a whole cell CPE assay. Furthermore, multinanosecond explicit solvent simulations were carried out using the docking poses of the identified hits to study the overall stability of the binding site interactions as well as identify important changes in the interaction profile that were not apparent from the docking study. Cumulative analysis of the evaluated compounds and the simulation studies led to the identification of certain protein-ligand interaction patterns which would be useful in further structure based design efforts.


An Adaptive, Lightweight, Body-Powered System for Prosthetic Hands Equipped with a Selectively Lockable Differential Mechanism.
The need for more practical, robust, and affordable prosthetic hands for amputees has led to significant advancements in their functionality. However, the challenge of designing prostheses that balance dexterity, functionality, and affordability still persists. The lack of prosthetic designs that can efficiently address the needs of amputees for both heavy manual labor and social interactions, while also being lightweight and dexterous, is still evident. This paper presents a design for an anthropomorphic, adaptive, lightweight, body-powered prosthetic hand built for performing Activities of Daily Living using a selectively lockable differential mechanism. The proposed differential mechanism allows the users to flex and lock the prosthesis' fingers in a wide range of poses and grasps. The performance of the body-powered prosthesis is experimentally validated with three different types of experiments: i) object grasping, ii) total grasping strength, and iii) individual finger force exertion. The resultant prosthetic hand is lightweight and comfortable to wear and is adequately capable of grasping a wide range of objects, including items commonly used in cleaning and cooking applications where waterproofness is essential.


BNST neurocircuitry in humans.
Anxiety and addiction disorders are two of the most common mental disorders in the United States, and are typically chronic, disabling, and comorbid. Emerging evidence suggests the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) mediates both anxiety and addiction through connections with other brain regions, including the amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Although BNST structural connections have been identified in rodents and a limited number of structural connections have been verified in non-human primates, BNST connections have yet to be described in humans. Neuroimaging is a powerful tool for identifying structural and functional circuits in vivo. In this study, we examined BNST structural and functional connectivity in a large sample of humans. The BNST showed structural and functional connections with multiple subcortical regions, including limbic, thalamic, and basal ganglia structures, confirming structural findings in rodents. We describe two novel connections in the human brain that have not been previously reported in rodents or non-human primates, including a structural connection with the temporal pole, and a functional connection with the paracingulate gyrus. The findings of this study provide a map of the BNST's structural and functional connectivity across the brain in healthy humans. In large part, the BNST neurocircuitry in humans is similar to the findings from rodents and non-human primates; however, several connections are unique to humans. Future explorations of BNST neurocircuitry in anxiety and addiction disorders have the potential to reveal novel mechanisms underlying these disabling psychiatric illnesses.


Dorzolamide chlorhydrate versus acetazolamide in the management of chronic macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa: description of three case reports.
To assess the efficacy of topical dorzolamide for treating cystoid macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and minimize the secondary effects of maintenance therapy in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) who present with chronic microcystic macular edema. To replace acetazolamide systemic treatment, with a topical treatment using 2% dorzolamide in three patients. The methods performed were OCT scan with a Spectralis HRA-OCT, for the measurement of macular thickness and morphology; best corrected visual acuity was assessed using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), was assessed slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ocular tonometry, fundus biomiocrosopy, and color fundus photography. This therapeutic protocol has been applied and described in three patients. In all three tested patients, following the administration of dorzolamide in eye drop, we observed a remarkable decrease in macular edema, almost comparable to that obtained with acetazolamide per os. The study confirms the anti-edematogenic effect of topical dorzolamide in RP with recurring macular cysts, as this can have a favorable response with topical dorzolamide. In all the three examined patients, the instillation of topical dorzolamide caused a remarkable reduction in their macular edema, as highlighted on OCT.


How Should Self-Esteem Be Considered in Cancer Patients?
Numerous studies showed that cancer significantly increases the risk of developing depressive and anxious symptoms. It has been shown that self-esteem is an important psychological resource and is associated with many health behaviors. Furthermore, the vulnerability model of low self-esteem, which has received strong empirical support, highlights that low self-esteem is a real risk factor in the development of depressive disorders. This article aims at providing an overview of the involvement of self-esteem in the psychological adjustment to cancer. After briefly reviewing the literature, we suggest that its implication in the development of depressive disorders and its association with coping strategies and social support in cancer patients justify the consideration of self-esteem in oncology psychological care, especially in young adult patients and those with significant physical impairment following treatment.


Regeneration of megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in vitro from X-irradiated human hematopoietic stem cells.
In the present study, we investigated whether X-irradiated hematopoietic stem cells can be induced to undergo megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in vitro using cytokine combinations that have been demonstrated to be effective for conferring increased survival on irradiated human CD34(+) megakaryocytic progenitor cells (colony-forming unit megakaryocytes; CFU-Meg), such as thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin 3 (IL3), stem cell factor and FLT3 ligand. Culture of nonirradiated CD34(+) cells in serum-free medium supplemented with multiple cytokine combinations led to an approximately 200- to 600-fold increase in the total cell numbers by day 14 of culture. In contrast, the growth of X-irradiated cells was observed to be one-sixth to one-tenth that of the nonirradiated cultures. Similarly, total megakaryocytes were increased by 50- to 130-fold, while culture of X-irradiated cells yielded one-fourth to one-eighth of the control numbers. At this time, CD41(+) particles, which appeared to be platelets, were produced in the medium harvested from nonirradiated and irradiated cultures. Although radiation suppressed cell growth and megakaryocytopoiesis, there were no significant differences in thrombopoiesis between the two types of culture. These results suggest that X-irradiated CD34(+) cells can be induced to undergo nearly normal terminal maturation through megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by stimulation with appropriate cytokine combinations.


Fast carbohydrate analysis via liquid chromatography coupled with ultra violet and electrospray ionization ion trap detection in 96-well format.
A fast carbohydrate screening platform processible in 96-well format is described. The method is suitable for the determination of various carbohydrates out of complex mixtures as obtained by acidic hydrolysis of carbohydrates polymers. The chromatographic conditions for an efficient separation (12min) and the derivatization process with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) were optimized for high resolution separation and simultaneous determination of deoxy-, amino-, anhydro-sugars as well as hexoses, pentoses, dimers, uronic acids and degradation products like furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The potential to quantify with UV- and MS-detector in the same range has been demonstrated for 20 different compounds. Finally, the matrix effects of the hydrolysis were positively evaluated. The micro scale hydrolysis and PMP-derivatization without any extraction or drying steps, both in 96-well format, result in a fast and intuitive sample preparation. In combination with a fast liquid chromatography coupled to UV and electrospray ionization ion trap detection (LC-UV-ESI-MS/MS) for the qualification and quantification of various sugars, dimers and degradation products, this method shows great performance in carbohydrate analysis.


The RAG Model: A New Paradigm for Genetic Risk Stratification in Multiple Myeloma.
Molecular studies have shown that multiple myeloma is a highly genetically heterogonous disease which may manifest itself as any number of diverse subtypes each with variable clinicopathological features and outcomes. Given this genetic heterogeneity, a universal approach to treatment of myeloma is unlikely to be successful for all patients and instead we should strive for the goal of personalised therapy using rationally informed targeted strategies. Current DNA sequencing technologies allow for whole genome and exome analysis of patient myeloma samples that yield vast amounts of genetic data and provide a mutational overview of the disease. However, the clinical utility of this information currently lags far behind the sequencing technology which is increasingly being incorporated into clinical practice. This paper attempts to address this shortcoming by proposing a novel genetically based "traffic-light" risk stratification system for myeloma, termed the RAG (Red, Amber, Green) model, which represents a simplified concept of how complex genetic data may be compressed into an aggregate risk score. The model aims to incorporate all known clinically important trisomies, translocations, and mutations in myeloma and utilise these to produce a score between 1.0 and 3.0 that can be incorporated into diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment algorithms for the patient.


Oct4 promotes M2 macrophage polarization through upregulation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor in lung cancer.
Expression of Oct4 maintains cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties in lung cancer cells and is correlated with poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma. M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote cancer cell migration and metastasis. Tumor microenvironments promote monocyte differentiation into M2 TAMs via a complex cytokine-based connection. We explored the role of Oct4 in cytokine secretion in lung cancer and its impact on M2 TAM polarization. Monocytes co-cultured with the conditioned medium from Oct4-overexpressing lung cancer cells were used to investigate M2 TAM differentiation. The inflammatory factors in the conditioned medium of Oct4-overexpressing A549 cells were examined using human inflammation antibody arrays. The correlations of Oct4, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and M2 TAMs were validated in lung cancer cells, syngeneic mouse lung tumor models, and clinical samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Oct4-overexpressing A549 cells expressed elevated levels of M-CSF, which contributed to increased M2 macrophages and enhanced tumor migration. Overexpression of Oct4 enhanced tumor growth and reduced the survival of lung tumor-bearing mice, which was correlated with increased number of M2 macrophages in lung cancer. Notably, NSCLC patients with high expression levels of Oct4, M-CSF, and M2 TAMs had the poorest recurrence-free survival. A positive correlation between Oct4, M-CSF, and M2 TAMs was observed in the tumor tissue of NSCLC patient. Treatment with all-trans retinoic acid exerted anti-tumor effects and reduced M2 TAMs in tumor-bearing mice. Our results indicate that Oct4 expressed by lung cancer cells promotes M2 macrophage polarization through upregulation of M-CSF secretion, leading to cancer growth and metastasis. Our findings also implicate that the Oct4/M-CSF axis in M2 macrophage polarization may be potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer.


Experimental Laminin 332 Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Critically Involves C5aR1 and Reflects Clinical and Immunopathological Characteristics of the Human Disease.
Mucous membrane pemphigoid is an autoantibody-mediated disease predominantly affecting the oral cavity, pharynx, and conjunctiva. Conjunctival lesions may lead to impaired vision and, finally, blindness. About 25% of mucous membrane pemphigoid patients generate autoantibodies against the α3 chain of laminin 332 (LAMα3), a structural protein of epidermal/epithelial basement membranes. Here, we established a mouse model by the passive transfer of rabbit IgG against the murine homologs of two immunodominant fragments in adult C57BL/6 mice (mLAMα3). After repeated subcutaneous injections of anti-mLAMα3 IgG erosions and crusts occurred predominantly around the snout, eyes, and on ears. Conjunctival and oral/pharyngeal lesions with subepithelial splitting were found in 80% and 100% of mice, respectively. In contrast, disease development was abrogated in FcRγ chain-deficient mice and markedly reduced in C5aR1-deficient mice. Furthermore, wild-type mice injected with anti-mLAMα3 F(ab')2 were completely protected. Our findings suggest a crucial codominant role of FcRγ and complement activation of the anti-mLAMα3 IgG-induced mouse model of mucous membrane pemphigoid. This model will help further discover the pathomechanisms of this devastating disease. Furthermore, it may be of use to explore the effect of urgently needed more specific anti-inflammatory mediators on mucosal and skin lesions in autoantibody-mediated diseases.


Eosinophilic esophagitis incidence in New Zealand: high but not increasing.
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition of the esophagus. Recent literature has shown an increasing incidence of the disease. However, no epidemiological data exist regarding New Zealand rates of EoE. The disease is associated with atopy, and New Zealand's high rate of atopic disease means the disease may be important in our population. We carried out a retrospective study to describe the incidence of EoE in the Wellington region of New Zealand, as well as key histological and clinical factors associated with the disease. A search was made of laboratory and endoscopic databases in the Wellington region to identify all diagnosed cases in the five years between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015. Case notes were examined to determine the key demographic and clinical parameters in the cases. Incidence rates were calculated for each year, and the effects of age group and sex on the incidence rates were analyzed. We found 152 cases of EoE in the Wellington region with an annual incidence of 6.95 per 100,000 person/years. We found no evidence of a significant difference in incidence rates by year in our study population. There was a significantly lower incidence rate in those aged <16 compared to those aged ≥16 (RR=0.26). Males had a higher incidence rate than females with an estimated rate ratio of 2.45 (p<0.05). Our results are in contrast to previous reports of increasing incidence rates and may reflect a leveling off of incidence. Further research is needed to determine whether the low incidence in our pediatric age group is due to ascertainment bias or due to a real difference in the epidemiology of EoE in NZ compared to other countries.


New look at Bloch's law for contrast.
It has been commonly reported that the temporal integration of grating contrast proceeds more slowly as spatial frequency is increased. Such results have been based on the critical duration for sensitivity to contrast pulses varying in duration, but the analyses have not assumed full integration at short durations and have neglected the effects of probability summation over time. To take such effects into account, we discuss a class of analytical models based on nonlinear temporal integration. On the assumption that the temporal impulse response of the visual system determines contrast integration over time, we develop both a high-threshold model and a signal-detection approach involving multiple and independent nonlinear signal detectors with a time-limited integration span. The redefined critical durations predicted by the models and verified by the data are about 35 msec and vary by no more than 10 msec across spatial frequency. This variation is entirely attributable to a change in the strength of inhibition with spatial frequency, and the analysis implies that the excitatory component is constant at all spatial frequencies, contrary to previous accounts.


Outpatient follow-up does not prevent emergency department utilization by trauma patients.
Although most trauma centers have a regularly scheduled trauma clinic, research demonstrates that trauma patients do not consistently attend follow-up appointments and often use the emergency department (ED) for outpatient care. A retrospective review of outpatient follow-up of adult patients admitted to the trauma service (January 2014-December 2014) at an urban level I trauma center was conducted (n = 2134). A total of 219 patients (10%) were evaluated in trauma clinic after discharge from the hospital. Twenty-one percent of patients seen in trauma clinic visited the ED within 30 d compared with 12% of those not seen in clinic (P < 0.001). A total of 104 patients were readmitted within 30 d of discharge; no difference existed in the rate of hospital readmission between patients seen in clinic and those not seen in clinic (P = 0.25). Stepwise logistic regression showed that clinic follow-up was not a significant predictor of decreased ED utilization (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.16 [95% confidence interval 0.78-1.72], P = 0.461) and also showed that while ED use was a significant predictor of readmission (adjusted OR 216 [93-500], P < 0.001), clinic visits were not (adjusted OR 0.74 [0.33-1.69], P = 0.48). Outpatient follow-up in the trauma clinic does not decrease ED utilization or hospital readmissions indicating that interventions aimed at improving access to a conventional outpatient clinic will not impact ED utilization rates. Further study is necessary to determine the best system for providing clinically appropriate and cost-effective outpatient follow-up for trauma patients.


An animal model of autoimmune emphysema.
Although cigarette smoking is implicated in the pathogenesis of emphysema, the precise mechanisms of chronic progressive alveolar septal destruction are not well understood. We show, in a novel animal model, that immunocompetent, but not athymic, nude rats injected intraperitoneally with xenogeneic endothelial cells (ECs) produce antibodies against ECs and develop emphysema. Immunization with ECs also leads to alveolar septal cell apoptosis and activation of matrix metalloproteases MMP-9 and MMP-2. Anti-EC antibodies cause EC apoptosis in vitro and emphysema in passively immunized mice. Moreover, immunization also causes accumulation of CD4+ T cells in the lung. Adoptive transfer of pathogenic, spleen-derived CD4+ cells into naive immunocompetent animal also results in emphysema. This study shows for the first time that humoral- and CD4+ cell-dependent mechanisms are sufficient to trigger the development of emphysema, suggesting that alveolar septal cell destruction might result from immune mechanisms.


Nursing home care as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. A Veterans Administration cooperative study.
Nursing homes have played a major role in deinstitutionalization, and their increased use for the mentally ill has been questioned. We performed a controlled study of nursing homes as an alternative to continued psychiatric hospitalization. Men (N = 403) referred for nursing home placement from eight Veterans Administration medical centers were randomly assigned to community nursing homes (CNHs), Veterans Administration nursing care units, continued care on the same ward, or transfer to another psychiatric ward. Patients met defined criteria for schizophrenia or organic brain disease. Data were collected before random assignment and six and 12 months later, covering physical and mental function, psychopathology, mood, social adjustment, satisfaction with care, as well as drug use, characteristics of settings, and movement in and out of settings. Significant differences between settings were found in self-care, behavioral deterioration, mental confusion, depression, and satisfaction with care. Results were strikingly consistent, showing the group transferred to another ward doing better and the CNH group doing worse. Drug use did not differ from six months before entering the study or later between the settings. Cost showed a marked advantage for the CNH group. Thus, the less costly community nursing home alternative must be viewed in the context of the nonmonetary costs of less favorable patient outcome.


Sustainable watershed management: an international multi-watershed case study.
Global freshwater resources are being increasingly polluted and depleted, threatening sustainable development and human and ecosystem health. Utilizing case studies from 4 different watersheds in the United States, Japan, Switzerland, and Brazil, this paper identifies the most relevant sustainability deficits and derives general vectors for more sustainable water management. As a consequence of the demographic and economic developments experienced in the last few decades, each watershed has suffered declines in water quality, streamflow and biotic resources. However, the extent and the cultural perception of these water-related problems vary substantially in the different watersheds, leading to specific water-management strategies. In industrialized countries, exemplified by the US, Switzerland, and Japan, these strategies have primarily consisted of finance- and energy-intensive technologies, allowing these countries to meet water requirements while minimizing human health risks. But, from a sustainability point of view, such strategies, relying on limited natural resources, are not long-term solutions. For newly industrialized countries such as Brazil, expensive technologies for water management are often not economically feasible, thus limiting the extent to which newly industrialized and developing countries can utilize the expertise offered by the industrialized world. Sustainable water management has to be achieved by a common learning process involving industrialized, newly industrialized, and developing countries, following general sustainability guidelines as exemplified in this paper.


Changes in background electroencephalography and regional cerebral glucose metabolism in focal epilepsy patients after 1-month administration of levetiracetam.
The antiseizure efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) is well documented; however, few clinical studies have investigated the predictability of patient responsiveness to LEV, especially when the drug is first administered. The aim of this study was to ascertain the utility of clinical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging parameters for assessing the early response to LEV treatment in focal epilepsy patients. Twelve confirmed focal epilepsy patients were included who had never taken LEV before. At baseline and 1 month after LEV administration, all subjects underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and electroencephalography (EEG), and completed the Quality of Life in Epilepsy questionnaire (QOLIE-31). Participants were divided by drug response: good versus poor. The good response group (seven subjects) was defined by a >50% decrease in seizure frequency compared to baseline (3 months before LEV intake). The other five participants with a <50% decrease in seizure frequency were placed into the poor response group. We compared the differential changes in brain glucose metabolism on FDG-PET, power spectrum on the EEG, and QOLIE-31 results between the two groups after a 1-month LEV trial. In the good response group, it was possible to identify brain regions with increased glucose metabolism, including the bilateral caudate nuclei and both frontal and left parietal regions (uncorrected P<0.005). In the poor response group, FDG-PET did not reveal any areas with significantly increased glucose metabolism. In the good response group, spectral EEG analysis revealed decreased delta power (1-3 Hz, P<0.05) in the parietal region and increased beta1 power (13-19 Hz, P<0.05) in the frontal region, whereas no significant changes were observed in the poor response group. There were no significant changes on the QOLIE-31 in either group after a 1-month LEV trial. Our results suggest that LEV-induced glucose metabolism and EEG spectral changes may be indicative of initial drug responsiveness as early as 1 month following treatment initiation. These parameters may be useful prognostic markers of antiseizure effects caused by LEV medication or may indicate an epiphenomenon of LEV-induced changes in glucose metabolism and EEG frequency. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.


Implementing the Emergency Triage, Assessment and Treatment plus admission care (ETAT+) clinical practice guidelines to improve quality of hospital care in Rwandan district hospitals: healthcare workers' perspectives on relevance and challenges.
An emergency triage, assessment and treatment plus admission care (ETAT+) intervention was implemented in Rwandan district hospitals to improve hospital care for severely ill infants and children. Many interventions are rarely implemented with perfect fidelity under real-world conditions. Thus, evaluations of the real-world experiences of implementing ETAT+ are important in terms of identifying potential barriers to successful implementation. This study explored the perspectives of Rwandan healthcare workers (HCWs) on the relevance of ETAT+ and documented potential barriers to its successful implementation. HCWs enrolled in the ETAT+ training were asked, immediately after the training, their perspective regarding (i) relevance of the ETAT+ training to Rwandan district hospitals; (ii) if attending the training would bring about change in their work; and (iii) challenges that they encountered during the training, as well as those they anticipated to hamper their ability to translate the knowledge and skills learned in the ETAT+ training into practice in order to improve care for severely ill infants and children in their hospitals. They wrote their perspectives in French, Kinyarwanda, or English and sometimes a mixture of all these languages that are official in the post-genocide Rwanda. Their notes were translated to (if not already in) English and transcribed, and transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. One hundred seventy-one HCWs were included in our analysis. Nearly all these HCWs stated that the training was highly relevant to the district hospitals and that it aligned with their work expectation. However, some midwives believed that the "neonatal resuscitation and feeding" components of the training were more relevant to them than other components. Many HCWs anticipated to change practice by initiating a triage system in their hospital and by using job aids including guidelines for prescription and feeding. Most of the challenges stemmed from the mode of the ETAT+ training delivery (e.g., language barriers, intense training schedule); while others were more related to uptake of guidelines in the district hospitals (e.g., staff turnover, reluctance to change, limited resources, conflicting protocols). This study highlights potential challenges to successful implementation of the ETAT+ clinical practice guidelines in order to improve quality of hospital care in Rwandan district hospitals. Understanding these challenges, especially from HCWs perspective, can guide efforts to improve uptake of clinical practice guidelines including ETAT+ in Rwanda.


Comparing the clinical profile of adults and children with Behçet's syndrome in the UK.
Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a rare multi-system inflammatory disorder. Clinical phenotypic variance across geographical regions is recognised but UK BS patients' variance by age groups and gender has not been studied. This study compares the clinical features of adult and juvenile onset Behçet's Syndrome (JBS) in a UK population. Two clinical databases of BS patients were compared. The JBS database was collected at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London (n=46). The adult database was collected at the Hammersmith Hospital, London (n=560). Oro-genital aphthosis had high prevalence in both the JBS and the adult cohort (oral: 97.8% vs. 96.6%, genital: 73.9% vs. 75.7%). The JBS cohort was more likely to have gastrointestinal involvement (21.7% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001) and arthritis (21.7% vs. 9.6%, p=0.021) compared to adults. The JBS cohort was less likely to have eye involvement (4.3% vs. 37%, p<0.001), skin (21.7% vs. 55.4%, p<0.001) and vascular involvement (6.5% vs. 17.5% p=0.063). JBS females had a higher rate of genital aphthosis than JBS males (87.5% vs. 59.1%, p=0.044). Adult females had higher rates of genital (85.2% vs. 64.5%, p<0.001) and oral (99.0% vs. 93.8%, p=0.001) aphthosis than adult males. Adult males were more likely to have ophthalmological (44.9% vs. 30.3%, p<0.001) and vascular (23.0% vs. 12.8%, p=0.002) manifestations than adult females. UK JBS patients displayed less ocular and skin manifestations compared to the adult BS patients. This information will aid clinicians in diagnosing BS in UK adult and paediatric populations.


Evidence for new bands in the 3nu1 and 4nu1 regions of propyne.
Vibrationally mediated photodissociation and room-temperature photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy have been used for obtaining action (monitoring the yield of H photofragments) and absorption spectra of the second (3nu(1)) and third (4nu(1)) C-H acetylenic stretches overtone regions in propyne. The band contours appearing in these regions seem mostly regular even though they are perturbed, as expressed by the origin shifts in different K components, splitting of the K structure, and splitting due to resonances between neighboring states. Symmetric rotor simulations of the band contours of the PA and action spectra allowed extraction of the molecular parameters and rough estimates for the homogeneous broadening arising from energy flow to the bath vibrational states. We particularly benefited from the reduced congestion in the jet-cooled action spectra and their simulations, which enabled observation of yet unknown features in the vicinity of the 3nu(1) and 4nu(1) states. Particularly, the emergence of the new state in the 3nu(1) region was confirmed by the action spectra monitored at several differing jet temperatures, suggesting that it is a dark state in IR vibrational excitation that becomes brighter in UV excitation to the upper electronic state. The monitored and Gaussian-fitted Doppler profiles point to the release of H photofragments with low average translational energies, attributed to an indirect dissociation process occurring after internal conversion to the ground electronic state and isomerization to allene.


A comprehensive analysis of stroke admissions at a rural Nigerian tertiary health facility: Insights from a single-center study.
This research intended to examine the demographic and clinical attributes of stroke admissions in a rural Nigerian hospital. A retrospective analysis of stroke admissions was conducted over 1 year. All necessary data were obtained from patients' records and SPSS was employed for data analysis. P < 0.05 was deemed significant. There were 52 stroke cases, accounting for 5.9% of medical admissions. The patients' mean age was 62.81 ± 12.71 years, while females constituted 51.9% of cases. Common risk factors included hypertension (76.9%), hyperlipidemia (38.5%), alcohol (26.9%), and diabetes mellitus (26.9%). Clinical manifestations included hemiparesis/plegia (84.6%), altered consciousness (63.5%), slurred speech (61.5%), cranial nerve deficit (61.5%), aphasia (42.3%), and headache (34.6%). Ischemic stroke (71.2%) predominated over hemorrhagic stroke (28.8%). The average hospitalization duration was 17.62 ± 8.91 days, and the mean onset to arrival time was 121.31 ± 136.06 h. Discharge and mortality rates were 82.7% and 13.5%, respectively. The association between stroke subtypes and mortality was significant (P = 0.001). Stroke constitutes a significant portion of medical admissions in Nigeria, with ischemic stroke being more prevalent. High mortality rates underscore the urgent need to manage risk factors to prevent stroke.


Stimulus characteristics of a novel air-based multiple stimulus aesthesiometer.
To identify the stimulus airflow characteristics and confirm the consistency of a novel air jet-based aesthesiometer capable of producing and applying multiple stimuli separated either by time and/or by space. A novel aesthesiometer (Dolphin Aesthesiometer) was designed around a micro-blower under software management. Two nozzle attachments assisted in airflow control (flexible tube 1.6 mm diameter; brass tube 0.5 mm diameter). Four studies that tested the characteristics of the airflow and stimulus consistency were completed: (i) airflow pattern/trajectory, (ii) airflow surface dispersion, (iii) force of airflow across a range of stimulus strengths and (iv) thermal effects on the ocular surface. Stimulus characteristic studies revealed: (i) airflow is coherent within the expected test distance range for the instrument, and spread rate is constant irrespective of stimulus strength; (ii) airflow dispersion occurs upon encountering a surface and dispersion increases with increasing airflow rate; (iii) a consistent and small force (10-4 N) is applied by the airflow and (iv) repeatable thermal effects occur in relation to the airflow, and the mode of stimulation of the Dolphin aesthesiometer is predominantly thermal in nature. These studies confirm the repeatability and consistency of the novel instrument. The device is suitable for measuring corneal sensitivity. The availability of additional air jets allows the application of multiple stimuli to facilitate corneal summation investigations.


Aspiration of gastric contents.
Inhalation of gastric contents remains an important cause of anaesthetic death. Recent data describe the acid aspiration syndrome (AAS) as the cause of 25% of maternal deaths associated with anaesthesia and 19% of all deaths totally attributable to anaesthesia (DHSS, 1982; Lunn and Mushin, 1982).


Radiosynthesis and evaluation of a fluorine-18 radiotracer [18F]FS1P1 for imaging sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1.
Assessment of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) expression could be a unique tool to determine the neuroinflammatory status for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Our preclinical results indicate that PET imaging with [11C]CS1P1 radiotracer can quantitatively measure S1PR1 expression changes in different animal models of inflammatory diseases. Here we developed a multiple step F-18 labeling strategy to synthesize the radiotracer [18F]FS1P1, sharing the same structure with [11C]CS1P1. We explored a wide range of reaction conditions for the nucleophilic radiofluorination starting with the key ortho-nitrobenzaldehyde precursor 10. The tertiary amine additive TMEDA proved crucial to achieve high radiochemical yield of ortho-[18F]fluorobenzaldehyde [18F]12 starting with a small amount of precursor. Based on [18F]12, a further four-step modification was applied in one-pot to generate the target radiotracer [18F]FS1P1 with 30-50% radiochemical yield, >95% chemical and radiochemical purity, and a high molar activity (37-166.5 GBq μmol-1, decay corrected to end of synthesis, EOS). Subsequently, tissue distribution of [18F]FS1P1 in rats showed a high brain uptake (ID% g-1) of 0.48 ± 0.06 at 5 min, and bone uptake of 0.27 ± 0.03, 0.11 ± 0.02 at 5, and 120 min respectively, suggesting no in vivo defluorination. MicroPET studies showed [18F]FS1P1 has high macaque brain uptake with a standard uptake value (SUV) of ∼2.3 at 120 min. Radiometabolite analysis of macaque plasma samples indicated that [18F]FS1P1 has good metabolic stability, and no major radiometabolite confounded PET measurements of S1PR1 in nonhuman primate brain. Overall, [18F]FS1P1 is a promising F-18 S1PR1 radiotracer worthy of further clinical investigation for human use.


Half-Sandwich Ru(p-cymene) Compounds with Diphosphanes: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation As Potential Anticancer Metallodrugs.
Ruthenium(II) complexes are currently considered attractive alternatives to the widely used platinum-based drugs. We present herein the synthesis and characterization of half-sandwich ruthenium compounds formulated as [Ru(p-cymene)(L)Cl][CF3SO3] (L = 1,1-bis(methylenediphenylphosphano)ethylene, 1; L = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphano)ethylene, 2), which were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, 1H and 31P{1H} NMR, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, conductivity measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The molecular structures for both complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their cytotoxic activity was evaluated using the MTT assay against human tumor cells, namely ovarian (A2780) and breast (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231). Both complexes were active against breast adenocarcinoma cells, with complex 1 exhibiting a quite remarkable cytotoxicity in the submicromolar range. Interestingly, at concentrations equivalent to the IC50 values in the MCF7 cancer cells, complexes 1 and 2 presented lower cytotoxicity in normal human primary fibroblasts. The antiproliferative effects of 1 and 2 in MCF7 cells might be associated with the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to a combined cell death mechanism via apoptosis and autophagy. Despite the fact that in vitro a partial intercalation between complexes and DNA was observed, no MCF7 cell cycle delay or arrest was observed, indicating that DNA might not be a direct target. Complexes 1 and 2 both exhibited a moderate to strong interaction with human serum albumin, suggesting that protein targets may be involved in their mode of action. Their acute toxicity was evaluated in the zebrafish model. Complex 1 (the most toxic of the two) exhibited a lethal toxicity LC50 value about 1 order of magnitude higher than any IC50 concentrations found for the cancer cell models used, highlighting its therapeutic relevance as a drug candidate in cancer chemotherapy.


[Mitotic index of meristematic cells and root growth of Pisum sativum is affected by inositol cycle modulators].
Relationships between cell division and inositol cycle modulation caused by different effectors in roots of Pisum sativum were studied. Stimulation of the inositol cycle by myoinositol increased the mitotic index of meristematic cells and root length, while the inhibition of the cycle with Li+ and a heavy metal Gd3+ considerably decreased mitotic activity and growth. Exposure of roots to 10 mM CaCl2 and 15 mM myoinositol resulted in the accumulation of chromosome aberrations. Changes in the activity of inositol cycle are assumed to be involved in the root growth control.


The effect of gold quantum dots/grating-coupled surface plasmons in inverted organic solar cells.
We studied the effect of gold quantum dots (AuQDs)/grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GC-SPR) in inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). AuQDs are located within a GC-SPR evanescent field in inverted OSCs, indicating an interaction between GC-SPR and AuQDs' quantum effects, subsequently giving rise to improvement in the performance of inverted OSCs. The fabricated solar cell device comprises an ITO/TiO2/P3HT : PCBM/PEDOT : PSS : AuQD/silver grating structure. The AuQDs were loaded into a hole transport layer (PEDOT : PSS) of the inverted OSCs to increase absorption in the near-ultraviolet (UV) light region and to emit visible light into the neighbouring photoactive layer, thereby achieving light-harvesting improvement of the device. The grating structures were fabricated on P3HT:PCBM layers using a nanoimprinting technique to induce GC-SPR within the inverted OSCs. The AuQDs incorporated within the strongly enhanced GC-SPR evanescent electric field on metallic nanostructures in the inverted OSCs improved the short-circuit current and the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. In comparison with the reference OSC and OSCs with only green AuQDs or only metallic grating, the developed device indicates enhancement of up to 16% power conversion efficiency. This indicates that our light management approach allows for greater light utilization of the OSCs because of the synergistic effect of G-AuQDs and GC-SPR.


[De novo malignant tumors following liver transplantation. A single-center experience in Argentina].
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of de novo tumors in patients undergoing liver transplantation in our center as well as to assess survival. We retrospectively analyzed 168 liver transplantations (159 patients) performed from May 2006 to May 2014. The incidence of de novo tumors was 7.5% (n = 12). The mean age at diagnosis was 63 ± 7 years. The most frequent neoplasms were non melanoma skin tumors and adenocarcinomas. Fifty percent of the tumors developed in the second and third year after transplantation. Type of immunosuppression did not influence tumoral type, although most patients receive tacrolimus in combination with mycofenolate and/or corticoids. The mean duration of follow-up after diagnosis of the tumor was 25 ± 29 months (range 0-76) and the mortality was 41%. The actuarial probability of survival at 1 and 5 years was 83 and 55%, respectively. De novo tumors are frequent after liver transplantation and their clinical course differs from that in the general population. Because their clinical course is more aggressive, regular follow up of these patients is essential for early diagnosis.


Slowing BMI Growth Trajectories in Elementary School-Aged Children: The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative.
This project examines the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, a policy-, community-, and school-based effort to slow children's body mass index (BMI) growth over 6 years. Kindergarteners (K) to fifth graders (5) from 10 different school districts participated (N = 4101). Students with 0 to 1 years of initiative exposure showed greater growth in BMI compared with children who had 2 to 6 years of exposure, resulting in K-5 BMI savings of 1.5 points (6 lb) for median-height boys and girls. Results suggest that changes to policies, communities, and schools may provide effective obesity reduction in children.


An examination of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory's nomological network: a meta-analytic review.
Since its publication, the Psychopathic Personality Inventory and its revision (Lilienfeld & Andrews, 1996; Lilienfeld & Widows, 2005) have become increasingly popular such that it is now among the most frequently used self-report inventories for the assessment of psychopathy. The current meta-analysis examined the relations between the two PPI factors (factor 1: Fearless Dominance; factor 2: Self-Centered Impulsivity), as well as their relations with other validated measures of psychopathy, internalizing and externalizing forms of psychopathology, general personality traits, and antisocial personality disorder symptoms. Across 61 samples reported in 49 publications, we found support for the convergent and criterion validity of both PPI factor 2 and the PPI total score. Much weaker validation was found for PPI factor 1, which manifested limited convergent validity and a pattern of correlations with central criterion variables that was inconsistent with many conceptualizations of psychopathy.


[South African tick bite fever in a group of Russian tourists].
The paper describes a clinical case of South African tick bite fever in a group of Russian tourists. The group of 5 people who had been ill with this disease after a tourist trip to the South African Republic (the Kruger National Park in the north-eastern province of Mpumalanga) were followed up. During their trip, all of them were bitten by different insects many times. The disease exhibited different clinical presentations; however, all the patients were noted to have a fever with slight intoxication and a maculopapular rash at different sites of the body; 3 had lymphadenopathy and one had a primary effect at the site of tick sticking. The diagnosis was verified by indirect immunofluorescence for the detection of high titers to Rickettsia conorii. The course of the disease was favorable in all the patients treated with antibiotics (doxycycline or ceftriaxone).


Within-season synchrony of a masting conifer enhances seed escape.
Predator satiation resulting from interannual reproductive synchrony has been widely documented in masting plants, but how reproductive synchrony within a year influences seed escape is poorly understood. We evaluated whether the intra-annual reproductive synchrony of individual white spruce trees (Picea glauca) increased seed escape from their primary predispersal seed predator, North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Trees with cones that matured synchronously relative to those of other trees within red squirrel territories were significantly more likely to escape squirrel predation in years with both low and superabundant levels of cone production, generating a significantly positive linear selection differential for increasing intra-annual reproductive synchrony. Thus, this masting plant escapes seed predation in numbers through interannual synchrony in seed production and in time through intra-annual synchrony of seed availability.


Near circumferential retroperitoneal rectal tear in a pony.
A 13-year-old, 370-kg, Appaloosa gelding with mild colic of 4 days' duration was found to have a near circumferential retroperitoneal rectal tear. Accumulation of feces at the site of the repair had created a large perirectal cavity. Removal of feces and cleansing of the perirectal cavity were performed daily. Sutures were placed to stabilize, but not reappose, the torn ends of the rectum. The perirectal cavity filled with granulation tissue, and the rectal tear healed.


Patterns of biomedical science production in a sub-Saharan research center.
Research activities in sub-Saharan Africa may be limited to delegated tasks due to the strong control from Western collaborators, which could lead to scientific production of little value in terms of its impact on social and economic innovation in less developed areas. However, the current contexts of international biomedical research including the development of public-private partnerships and research institutions in Africa suggest that scientific activities are growing in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to describe the patterns of clinical research activities at a sub-Saharan biomedical research center. In-depth interviews were conducted with a core group of researchers at the Medical Research Unit of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital from June 2009 to February 2010 in Lambaréné, Gabon. Scientific activities running at the MRU as well as the implementation of ethical and regulatory standards were covered by the interview sessions. The framework of clinical research includes transnational studies and research initiated locally. In transnational collaborations, a sub-Saharan research institution may be limited to producing confirmatory and late-stage data with little impact on economic and social innovation. However, ethical and regulatory guidelines are being implemented taking into consideration the local contexts. Similarly, the scientific content of studies designed by researchers at the MRU, if local needs are taken into account, may potentially contribute to a scientific production with long-term value on social and economic innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. Further research questions and methods in social sciences should comprehensively address the construction of scientific content with the social, economic and cultural contexts surrounding research activities.


[Clinical analysis of orbital cavernous hemangiomas].
CT and B-ultrasonography in combination with clinical manifestations facilitated the diagnosis and orientation of 40 cases of orbital cavernous hemangioma. The surgical approach depended on the size and location of the tumors as determined by axial and coronal CT, and mostly adopted was the route of lateral orbitotomy. The prevention of complications was discussed.


Impact of sarcopenia on S1 adjuvant chemotherapy and prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients.
Although the importance of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) has been recognized in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients, there are few studies to address the underlying mechanisms of failure to complete AC. This study aims to investigate the relationship between nutritional state represented by sarcopenia and failure to complete AC in patients after curative-intent surgery for PC. This study included 110 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for potentially resectable pancreatic cancers with intention of adjuvant S-1. Sarcopenia was defined using the psoas muscle mass index with cutoff values of 6.36 cm2/m2 for men and 3.92 cm2/m2 for women, which were calculated with a 3-D volumetric software. The relation between sarcopenia and successful AC and long-term survival were investigated. Twenty-nine (26%) patients were diagnosed as having sarcopenia (Sarcopenia group). Sarcopenia group comprised significantly older patients than Non-sarcopenia group (72 vs. 67 years old, p = 0.0087). AC was successfully completed in 14 patients (48%) in Sarcopenia group compared to 72 patients (89%) in Non-sarcopenia group (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified age ≥ 70 years and sarcopenia as significant risk factors for failure of AC. Among patients ≥ 70 years old, rate of successful AC was significantly higher in sarcopenia groups than non-sarcopenia group (17% vs. 78%, p < 0.001). In conclusions, age and sarcopenia were critical risk factors for the failure of 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Among elderly patients, sarcopenia can predict the poor success rate of AC.


Cervical thymic cyst: a rare differential diagnosis in lateral neck swelling.
Introduction. Thymic cysts are among the rarest cysts found in the neck. Nests of thymic tissue may be found anywhere along the descent of the thymic primordia from the angle of the mandible to the mediastinum. Mediastinal extension is seen in 50% of cervical thymic cysts. Case Report. We report an uncommon case of a 15-year-old male, who noted a painless, growing mass on left side of his neck of one-year duration. Computerised tomographic scan showed a multiloculated fluid density lesion with enhancing septae in the left parapharyngeal space, extending from the level of mandible up to C7 vertebral level. Here, we discuss the surgical aspect, histopathology, and management of this rare lateral neck swelling. Discussion. Clinically, in most cases, cervical thymic lesions present as a unilateral asymptomatic neck mass, commonly on the left side of the neck, and 75% of patients present before 20 years of age. Conclusion. Thymic cyst should be included as differential diagnosis of cystic neck masses. Greater awareness among the pathologists may decrease misdiagnosis.