Removal of the eye with socket ablation. A limited subtotal exenteration.
Following enucleation or evisceration, the wearing of a prosthetic eye may be impractical, impossible, or undesirable. We describe herein 10 patients for whom a prosthesis was not feasible and who therefore underwent removal of the eye with extirpation of the conjunctiva, tarsi, and lid margins, followed by lid closure. The procedure as originally described is suitable for a wide range of disorders. Modifying the technique to incorporate simultaneous removal of the conjunctiva, tarsi, and lid margin together with enucleation of the globe permitted the use of the operation in the treatment of patients with ocular and conjunctival surface malignant neoplasms. Although the procedure does not replace simple enucleation of the globe or exenteration of the orbit, it is useful under certain circumstances.


Heat inactivation partially preserved barrier and immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus gasseri LA806 in an in vitro model of bovine mastitis.
Probiotics could help combat infections and reduce antibiotic use. As use of live bacteria is limited in some cases by safety or regulatory concerns, the potential of inactivated bacteria is worth investigating. We evaluated the potential of live and heat-inactivated Lactobacillus gasseri LA806 to counteract Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli infection cycles in an in vitro model of bovine mastitis. We assessed the ability of live and inactivated LA806 to impair pathogen colonisation of bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) and to modulate cytokine expression by pathogen-stimulated bMECs. Live LA806 induced a five-fold decrease in S. aureus adhesion and internalisation (while not affecting E. coli colonisation) and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by S. aureus-stimulated bMECs (without interfering with the immune response to E. coli). The ability of inactivated LA806 ability to diminish S. aureus colonisation was two-fold lower than that of the live strain, but its anti-inflammatory properties were barely impacted. Even though LA806 effects were impaired after inactivation, both live and inactivated LA806 have barrier and immunomodulatory properties that could be useful to counteract S. aureus colonisation in the bovine mammary gland. As S. aureus is involved in various types of infection, LA806 potential would worth exploring in other contexts.


Serum cobalamin and methylmalonic acid in Alzheimer dementia.
The cobalamin status was evaluated in Alzheimer dementia (n = 26), other dementias (n = 24), various gerontopsychiatric disorders (n = 25), and in neuro-psychiatrically healthy controls (n = 20). Supplementing serum cobalamin we measured methylmalonic acid (MMA), a metabolite accumulating early in cobalamin deficiency. Subnormal cobalamin and/or clearly elevated MMA concentrations were found in 11 cases: 7 Alzheimer patients (27%), 2 with other dementias (8%), one psychiatric patient (4%), and one control (5%). None presented the typical neurologic features of cobalamin deficiency and macrocytosis was found in only one. The mean cobalamin concentration was significantly lower in Alzheimer patients (179 +/- 18 pmol/l) than in the age-matched controls (256 +/- 23 pmol/l) (p = 0.013) and the other patient groups. Correspondingly, the mean MMA level was higher in the Alzheimer group (0.480 +/- 0.062 mumol/l) than in any other diagnostic group (controls: 0.347 +/- 0.040 mumol/l). Comparing the Alzheimer group to the other groups as a whole, the elevation was significant (p = 0.0097). Our findings indicate that Alzheimer patients are particularly prone to cobalamin deficiency, and even subtle biochemical signs of deficiency seem to justify treatment.


Hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease with autoantibodies to liver-kidney microsomes (LKM). Clinical characterization from idiopathic LKM-positive disorders.
This study was carried out on 33 patients who were sero-positive for liver-kidney microsomal antibodies (LKM) in order to examine clinical features and the presence of underlying hepatitis C virus infection. Twenty-four sera were positive for antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) as detected by enzyme immunoassay and confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay. These patients had chronic liver disease and the majority of those treated with interferon responded favourably. Three of the nine anti-HCV-negative patients had idiopathic chronic hepatitis and two responded favourably to steroids. Two patients were diagnosed as having toxic hepatitis and the other four had various extrahepatic disorders without evidence of liver involvement. The immunoblotting analysis showed reactivity with a 50 kDa microsomal protein which presumably corresponded to cytochrome P-450 db1 both in anti-HCV-positive and -negative sera. In addition a few anti-HCV-positive sera also reacted with a 35 kDa microsomal antigen. Autoimmune markers different from LKM were absent in both groups. The high prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus among LKM-positive sera confirms that this infection plays a role in forms of chronic hepatitis that had previously been labelled autoimmune. In patients with LKM the presence of anti-HCV may help to forecast a therapeutic response to interferon, while its absence may forecast response to steroid therapy.


Characterization of the plant uncoupling protein, SrUCPA, expressed in spadix mitochondria of the thermogenic skunk cabbage.
In mammalian brown adipose tissue, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), an integral inner mitochondrial membrane protein, triggers a proton leak and converts the energy generated by the resulting electron flow into heat. Although the recent finding of plant UCPs in non-thermogenic tissues has questioned their involvement in thermogenesis, there are few studies of plant UCPs in thermogenic tissues. Therefore, in this work, two cloned UCP cDNAs, SrUCPA and SrUCPB, isolated from the thermogenic spadix of skunk cabbage, were analysed. SrUCPA, not SrUCPB, was identified as the major uncoupling protein, and it was found to be integrated into the inner mitochondrial membrane. Topological analyses indicate that the 1st and 2nd intra-matrix loops are sensitive to trypsin treatment, but the 3rd intra-matrix loop is resistant to it. Using spadix mitochondria, the uncoupling activity of SrUCPA was examined. Although SrUCPA transcripts were constitutively expressed in various tissues irrespective of thermogenic stage, the SrUCPA protein was detected only in the thermogenic tissue or stage. On the other hand, both gene and protein expression for another heat-generating protein, SrAOX, were increased specifically in the thermogenic tissue or stage. Quantitative immunoblot analysis revealed that SrUCPA was an abundant protein in spadix mitochondria, accounting for about 3% of the total mitochondrial protein in the spadix. The results suggest that specific co-expression of SrUCPA and SrAOX protein in the thermogenic tissue or stage, as well as the high expression of SrUCPA protein in spadix mitochondria, may play a role in thermogenesis of skunk cabbage.


Balaenophilus manatorum (Ortíz, Lalana and Torres, 1992) (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, from Japan and the western Mediterranean: amended description and geographical comparison.
The ectoparasitic harpacticoid copepod, Balaenophilus manatorum (Ortíz, Lalana and Torres, 1992) (syn. Balaenophilus umigamecolus Ogawa, Matsuzaki and Misaki, 1997), has been reported on 3 species of marine turtles from the Pacific and the Mediterranean and from the West Indian manatee off Cuba in the Caribbean. The 3 available descriptions of this species were made using light microscopy. In this paper, we provide an amended description of B. manatorum using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) for specimens in the collection from which B. umigamecolus was originally described. This material was collected from 1 loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, from Japan. The use of SEM allowed us to add several new microcharacters to the original description but, more importantly, allowed us to correct a number of the traits originally described. Some of the corrections could affect the interpretation of putative homology and variability of characters among populations of B. manatorum. A SEM comparison of specimens of B. manatorum from loggerheads from Japan and the western Mediterranean suggested the existence of morphological stasis between these populations. However, there were apparent meristic differences with a recently published description of this species from olive ridleys, Lepidochelys olivacea, in Mexico. Although B. manatorum is currently considered as a single, widespread taxon, the possibility that it actually represents a species complex deserves further attention.


Emergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient.
Effects of contaminants on adult aquatic insect emergence are less well understood than effects on insect larvae. We compared responses of larval density and adult emergence along a metal contamination gradient. Nonlinear threshold responses were generally observed for larvae and emergers. Larval densities decreased significantly at low metal concentrations but precipitously at concentrations of metal mixtures above aquatic life criteria (cumulative criterion accumulation ratio (CCAR) ≥ 1). In contrast, adult emergence declined precipitously at low metal concentrations (CCAR ≤ 1), followed by a modest decline above this threshold. Adult emergence was a more sensitive indicator of the effect of low metals concentrations on aquatic insect communities compared to larvae, presumably because emergence is limited by a combination of larval survival and other factors limiting successful emergence. Thus effects of exposure to larvae are not manifest until later in life (during metamorphosis and emergence). This loss in emergence reduces prey subsidies to riparian communities at concentrations considered safe for aquatic life. Our results also challenge the widely held assumption that adult emergence is a constant proportion of larval densities in all streams.


Conservative Treatment Protocol for Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumour: a Follow-up Study of 3 Cases.
The keratocystic odontogenic tumour is classified as a developmental cyst derived from the enamel organ or from the dental lamina. The treatment of keratocystic odontogenic tumour of the jaw remains controversial. The aim of this study was to report the outcome of our conservative treatment protocol for keratocystic odontogenic tumour. Three patients with different complaints referred to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Selçuk University. Initial biopsy was carried out in all patients and keratocystic odontogenic tumours was diagnosed subsequent to histopathological examination. The patients with keratocystic odontogenic tumours were treated by enucleation followed by open packing. This conservative treatment protocol was selected because of existing young aged patients. The average follow-up duration of the cases was 2 years. Out of 3 cases, 2 lesions were present in mandible and 1 lesion in maxilla. There was no evidence of recurrence during follow-up. All the cases were monitored continuously with panoramic radiographs, computed tomography and clinical evaluations. This conservative treatment protocol for keratocystic odontogenic tumours, based on enucleation followed by open packing would be a possible choice with a view of offering low recurrence rate and low morbidity rate particularly in young patients.


The dynamics of carbon on green energy equity investment: quantile-on-quantile and quantile coherency approaches.
We analyze the dynamic correlation between the carbon price and the stock returns of green energy companies and calculate the hedging effect of the carbon price on stock returns in green energy sectors. The results show that the coefficients of the carbon price change with time and are vulnerable to extreme events like the COVID-19. The quantile-on-quantile (QQ) model results reveal a dynamic effect from the carbon price to the stock returns of green energy sectors. The quantile coherency (QC) approach results show that investors can benefit more in the short term with high-frequency trading to hedge between carbon trading and the green energy stock market. What is more, the hedging effects are heterogenetic and investors should adjust their hedging strategies in different quantiles.


Relative Trajectories of Gait and Cognitive Decline in Aging.
Gait and cognition decline with advancing age, and presage the onset of dementia. Yet, the relative trajectories of gait and cognitive decline in aging are poorly understood-particularly among those with the motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome. This study compared changes in simple and complex gait performance and cognition, as a function of age and MCR. We examined gait and cognitive functions of 1 095 LonGenity study participants (mean age = 75.4 ± 6.7 years) with up to 12 years of annual follow-up. Participants were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, free of dementia, ambulatory, and had a 12.2% MCR prevalence at baseline. Gait speed was measured at usual pace walking (single-task walking, STW-speed) and walking while talking (WWT-speed). Eleven neuropsychological test scores were examined separately, and as a global cognition composite. Linear mixed-effects models adjusted for baseline sex, education, parental longevity, cognitive impairment, and global health were used to estimate changes in gait and cognition, as a function of age and MCR. STW-speed, WWT-speed, and cognitive tests performance declined in a nonlinear (accelerating) fashion with age. STW-speed declined faster than WWT-speed and cognitive test scores. People with MCR showed faster rates of decline on figure copy and phonemic fluency. Gait declines at a faster rate than cognition in aging. People with MCR are susceptible to faster decline in visuospatial, executive, and language functions. This study adds important knowledge of trajectories of gait and cognitive decline in aging, and identifies MCR as a risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline.


Multifunctional ferromagnetic disks for modulating cell function.
In this work, we focus on the methods for controlling cell function with ferromagnetic disk-shaped particles. We will first review the history of magnetically assisted modulation of cell behavior and applications of magnetic particles for studying physical properties of a cell. Then, we consider the biological applications of the microdisks such as the method for induction of cancer cell apoptosis, controlled drug release, hyperthermia and MRI imaging.


[Combined pectin containing drugs in the treatment of intestinal insufficiency syndrome].
Effectiveness employment of reseach pectin containing drug for enterosoption cause content pectin substances (5-7%), and protein-carbonic complex-balanced and presence such a important immunecorrects, as arginin and glutamic asid, probiotic of metabiotic type establish nutritive support in enteric insufficiency syndrome treatment. There was marked a beneficial effect during using pectin containing drug in the postoperative treatment of intestinal insufficiency, as was confirmed by evaluation of biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa, jejunum and sigmoid colon. Morphologically, it was expressed in chronic inflammation without acute manifestations.


Vegfr3-tdTomato, a reporter mouse for microscopic visualization of lymphatic vessel by multiple modalities.
Lymphatic vessels are indispensable for tissue fluid homeostasis, transport of solutes and dietary lipids and immune cell trafficking. In contrast to blood vessels, which are easily visible by their erythrocyte cargo, lymphatic vessels are not readily detected in the tissue context. Their invisibility interferes with the analysis of the three-dimensional lymph vessel structure in large tissue volumes and hampers dynamic intravital studies on lymphatic function and pathofunction. An approach to overcome these limitations are mouse models, which express transgenic fluorescent proteins under the control of tissue-specific promotor elements. We introduce here the BAC-transgenic mouse reporter strain Vegfr3-tdTomato that expresses a membrane-tagged version of tdTomato under control of Flt4 regulatory elements. Vegfr3-tdTomato mice inherited the reporter in a mendelian fashion and showed selective and stable fluorescence in the lymphatic vessels of multiple organs tested, including lung, kidney, heart, diaphragm, intestine, mesentery, liver and dermis. In this model, tdTomato expression was sufficient for direct visualisation of lymphatic vessels by epifluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, lymph vessels were readily visualized using a number of microscopic modalities including confocal laser scanning, light sheet fluorescence and two-photon microscopy. Due to the early onset of VEGFR-3 expression in venous embryonic vessels and the short maturation time of tdTomato, this reporter offers an interesting alternative to Prox1-promoter driven lymphatic reporter mice for instance to study the developmental differentiation of venous to lymphatic endothelial cells.


Patient focused care team design. Critical aspects of a cost-effective design strategy.
It is the critical, yet largely unknown aspects of Patient Focused care team design--the "how" of a design process--which make LRMC's "Care Pairs" a ground-breaking innovation rather than just a distinctive-sounding name. Unfortunately, many hospital leaders of Patient Focused Care programs know the "what" of LRMC's "Care Pairs" but very little, if anything, about this "how." To create Patient Focused care teams which are "right" for your own institution, you must quantify the Costs of Continuity, Competency and Compartmentalization and their associated benefits. Without these informed trade-offs, you and your hospital will be forced to live with someone else's Patient Focused care team design. In summary, it is what you don't know about LRMC's "Care Pairs," not what you do know, that is important to your Patient Focused Care program. Hospitals just beginning to implement Patient Focused Care must understand this "how" if they are to design effective care teams which optimize the performance of their initial unit(s) within their unique environments. Hospitals like LRMC with established Patient Focused Care units must also periodically draw upon this "how" or they face the very real danger of having their Patient Focused care team design(s) become outdated, less effective and eventually detrimental. Or, said another way: "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over those who cannot." Mark Twain. "An out-of-date Patient Focused hospital has no advantage over those which remain unrestructured." The PFCA. The three critical aspects of Patient Focused care team design explored in this article are just the tip of the iceberg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Rapid transposon liquid enrichment sequencing (TnLE-seq) for gene fitness evaluation in underdeveloped bacterial systems.
Whole-genome fitness analysis in microbes that uses saturating transposon mutagenesis combined with massively parallel sequencing (Tn-seq) is providing a measure of the contribution of each gene to a given growth condition. With this technique, gene fitness profiles and essential genes are discovered by simultaneous analyses of whether the absence of each gene product alters the growth kinetics of the bacterium. Here we modify the standard Tn-seq procedure to simplify and shorten the process by including delivery of the transposon through conjugation and liquid culture enrichment of the mutant pool, creating transposon liquid enrichment sequencing (TnLE-seq). To illustrate the success of these modifications and the robustness of the procedure, analyses of gene fitness of two cultures of the strictly anaerobic bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough were performed, with growth on lactate as the electron donor and sulfate as the electron acceptor. These data demonstrate reproducibility and provide a base condition for analysis of fitness changes in deletion mutants and in various growth conditions. The procedural modifications will facilitate the application of this powerful genetic analysis to microbes lacking a facile genetic system. Pilot studies produced 2.5×10(5) and 3.4×10(5) unique insertion mutants in the anaerobe Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough grown under typical laboratory conditions in rich medium. These analyses provided two similar high-resolution maps of gene fitness across the genome, and the method was also applied to growth in minimal medium. These results were also compared to the coverage obtained with a ca. 13,000-member cataloged transposon library constructed by sequencing transposon insertion sites in individual mutants.


Feasibility study of dual energy radiographic imaging for target localization in radiotherapy for lung tumors.
Dual-energy (DE) radiographic imaging improves tissue discrimination by separating soft from hard tissues in the acquired images. This study was to establish a mathematic model of DE imaging based on intrinsic properties of tissues and quantitatively evaluate the feasibility of applying the DE imaging technique to tumor localization in radiotherapy. We investigated the dependence of DE image quality on the radiological equivalent path length (EPL) of tissues with two phantoms using a stereoscopic x-ray imaging unit. 10 lung cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy each with gold markers implanted in the tumor were enrolled in the study approved by the hospital's Ethics Committee. The displacements of the centroids of the delineated gross tumor volumes (GTVs) in the digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) and in the bone-canceled DE image were compared with the averaged displacements of the centroids of gold markers to evaluate the feasibility of using DE imaging for tumor localization. The results of the phantom study indicated that the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was linearly dependent on the difference of EPL and a mathematical model was established. The objects and backgrounds corresponding to ΔEPL less than 0.08 are visually indistinguishable in the bone-canceled DE image. The analysis of patient data showed that the tumor contrast in the bone-canceled images was improved significantly as compared with that in the original radiographic images and the accuracy of tumor localization using the DE imaging technique was comparable with that of using fiducial makers. It is feasible to apply the technique for tumor localization in radiotherapy.


A unified multiscale field/network/agent based modeling framework for human and ecological health risk analysis.
A conceptual framework is presented for multi-scale field/network/agent-based modeling to support human and ecological health risk assessments. This framework is based on the representation of environmental dynamics in terms of interacting networks, agents that move across different networks, fields representing spatiotemporal distributions of physical properties, rules governing constraints and interactions, and actors that make decisions affecting the state of the system. Different deterministic and stochastic modeling case studies focusing on environmental exposures and associated risks are provided as examples, utilizing the bidirectional mapping between discrete, agent based approaches and continuous, equation based approaches. These examples include problems describing human health risk assessment, ecological risk assessment, and environmentally caused disease.


Genetic diversity of Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): microsatellite variation and a comparison with protein-coding loci.
Twenty-one microsatellite loci in 11 populations of Asian water buffalo (eight swamp, three river type) were analysed and, within and among populations, genetic variability was compared with results from 25 polymorphic protein-coding loci. Within-population mean heterozygosity ranged from 0.380-0.615, approximately twice that estimated from the protein-coding loci (0.184-0.346). Only eight significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (involving four loci) were detected; global tests showed significant heterozygote deficiencies for these four loci. Non-amplifying alleles are likely to be segregating in some or all populations for one of these loci, and probably for the other three. There was significant differentiation between the swamp and river types of water buffalo, and among populations within each buffalo type. Estimates of theta (measure of population differentiation) for each locus for the eight swamp populations were all highly significant (mean theta = 0.168 +/- 0.018). Mean theta for protein-coding loci was not significantly different (0.182 +/- 0.041). The variance among protein-coding loci was significantly higher than among microsatellite loci, suggesting balancing selection affecting allele frequencies at some protein-coding loci. Genetic distances show clear separation of the swamp and river types, which were estimated to have diverged at least 10,000-15,000 years ago. The topology of the swamp populations' microsatellite tree is consistent with their geographical distribution and their presumed spread through south-east Asia. By contrast, the tree based on the protein-coding loci distances is quite different, being clearly distorted by a bottleneck effect in one population, and possibly in at least two others. As many domestic livestock breeds are possibly descended from small numbers of founders, microsatellite-based trees are to be preferred in assessing breed genetic relationships.


Anticipatory pleasure for future rewards is attenuated in patients with schizophrenia but not in individuals with schizotypal traits.
The anhedonia paradox is consistently observed in individuals with schizophrenia. However, the underlying mechanism of the dissociation between trait and state hedonic capacity remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to re-examine anhedonia in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and individuals with high schizotypy (HS) using the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task to assess different dimensions of anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. We recruited 44 SCZ patients, 46 matched healthy controls (HC), 30 individuals with HS and 35 with low schizotypy (LS). The modified MID task was used to measure anticipatory and consummatory pleasure in terms of valence and arousal ratings. To measure the predictive value of anticipatory pleasure, participants were asked to predict their hedonic experience before the MID task. For SCZ patients, there was no significant Group main effect or Group × Prize interaction on consummatory pleasantness to reward received or loss avoidance. As expected, SCZ patients (particularly male patients) reported less pleasantness and arousal to future rewards in both the prediction and feeling dimensions compared with HC. Additionally, male patients reported less anticipatory and consummatory negativity than HC. Individuals with HS predicted more arousing experience to high-rewards than LS individuals. They also reported and predicted more negativity to in-the-moment and future monetary losses. Further, the negative dimension of schizotypy predicted low levels of pleasantness and arousal towards future rewards, but the positive dimension predicted increased arousing experience towards future rewards. In conclusion, the anhedonia paradox in schizophrenia could be partially accounted for by the dissociation between anticipatory and consummatory pleasure.


Enzyme replacement therapy in classical infantile pompe disease: results of a ten-month follow-up study.
Infantile Pompe disease (IPD) is a fatal, autosomal recessive muscle-wasting disorder. Due to a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase patients develop a generalized myopathy, diaphragmatic weakness, and cardiomyopathy leading to death usually within the first year of life. So far there is no therapy available. We report on the safety and efficacy of transgenically derived recombinant human precursor acid alpha-glucosidase (rhGAA) in a 10-month follow-up study in two children with IPD who previously completed a 48-week course of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with the same medication at the same dose in a phase II clinical trial. Under this therapy cardiac status and muscle strength had improved, leading to survival beyond the age of one year. These results, together with data from two other phase II clinical trials encouraged further evaluation of the long-term safety and efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy in patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease. During the 10-month follow-up period, ERT was well-tolerated and neither patient experienced a single infusion-associated reaction. The initial improvements in cardiac size and function, as measured by left ventricular mass index and the fractional shortening, were maintained in both patients, and a continued improvement of motor function, as measured by the Alberta infant motor scale, was observed.


Effect of caffeic acid on haemoglobin-mediated lipid and protein oxidation in washed cod mince during ice and frozen storage.
Little is known about the relation between haemoglobin (Hb)-mediated lipid and protein oxidation in muscle foods and how these two reactions can be inhibited by naturally occurring antioxidants. This study was aimed at evaluating (1) lipid oxidation and protein oxidation induced by 20 µmol L(-1) Hb during chilled and frozen storage of washed cod mince and (2) the efficiency of 10-1000 ppm (0.063-6.3 mmol L(-1)) caffeic acid in preventing these reactions. Addition of 20 µmol L(-1) Hb increased peroxide value (PV), rancid odour, protein carbonylation, protein insolubilisation, redness loss and α-tocopherol loss in ice-stored washed cod mince. Since both lipid and protein oxidation developed at the same time, it was not possible to conclude which reaction initiated the other. All studied reactions were efficiently inhibited by ≥ 50 ppm caffeic acid, which could be a result of α-tocopherol regeneration, general radical scavenging, reduced formation of oxidised Hb forms and/or conformational changes in Hb structure. During frozen storage the only clear effect of Hb was increased PV, and here caffeic acid was less efficient as an antioxidant. Hb-induced lipid and protein oxidation occurred quickly in ice-stored washed cod mince, and the two reactions could not be separated in time. During frozen storage, Hb caused only limited lipid oxidation. Caffeic acid (≥50 ppm) was an efficient antioxidant during ice storage.


Mutation patterns and structural correlates in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease following different protease inhibitor treatments.
Although many human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected persons are treated with multiple protease inhibitors in combination or in succession, mutation patterns of protease isolates from these persons have not been characterized. We collected and analyzed 2,244 subtype B HIV-1 isolates from 1,919 persons with different protease inhibitor experiences: 1,004 isolates from untreated persons, 637 isolates from persons who received one protease inhibitor, and 603 isolates from persons receiving two or more protease inhibitors. The median number of protease mutations per isolate increased from 4 in untreated persons to 12 in persons who had received four or more protease inhibitors. Mutations at 45 of the 99 amino acid positions in the protease-including 22 not previously associated with drug resistance-were significantly associated with protease inhibitor treatment. Mutations at 17 of the remaining 99 positions were polymorphic but not associated with drug treatment. Pairs and clusters of correlated (covarying) mutations were significantly more likely to occur in treated than in untreated persons: 115 versus 23 pairs and 30 versus 2 clusters, respectively. Of the 115 statistically significant pairs of covarying residues in the treated isolates, 59 were within 8 A of each other-many more than would be expected by chance. In summary, nearly one-half of HIV-1 protease positions are under selective drug pressure, including many residues not previously associated with drug resistance. Structural factors appear to be responsible for the high frequency of covariation among many of the protease residues. The presence of mutational clusters provides insight into the complex mutational patterns required for HIV-1 protease inhibitor resistance.


Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the Ixodes ricinus complex is a paraphyletic group.
The Ixodes ricinus species complex is a group of ticks distributed in almost all geographic regions of the world. Lyme borreliosis spirochetes are primarily transmitted by tick species within this complex. It has been hypothesized that the Lyme vector ticks around the world are closely related and represent a monophyletic group. This implies that vector competence in ixodid ticks for Lyme agents might have evolved only once. To test this hypothesis, we used a molecular phylogenetic approach. Two fragments of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid were sequenced from 11 species in the I. ricinus complex and from 16 other species of Ixodes. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian methodology indicated that the I. ricinus complex is not a monophyletic group unless 3 additional Ixodes species are included in it. The known major vectors of Lyme disease agents in different areas of the world are not sister taxa. This suggests that acquisition of the ability to transmit borreliosis agents in species of Ixodes may have multiple origins.


Vestibular, Visual Acuity, and Balance Outcomes in Children With Cochlear Implants: A Preliminary Report.
There is a high incidence of vestibular loss in children with cochlear implants (CCI). However, the relationship between vestibular loss and various outcomes is unknown in children. The objectives of this study are to (1) determine whether age-related changes in peripheral vestibular tests occur; (2) quantify peripheral vestibular function in children with normal hearing and CCI; and (3) determine whether amount of vestibular loss predicts visual acuity and balance performance. Eleven CCI and 12 children with normal hearing completed the following tests of vestibular function: ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential to assess utricle and saccule function and the video head impulse test to assess semicircular canal function. The relationship between amount of vestibular loss and the following balance and visual acuity outcomes was assessed: dynamic gait index, single-leg stance, the sensory organization test, and tests of visual acuity, including dynamic visual acuity and the gaze stabilization test. (1) There were no significant age-related changes in peripheral vestibular testing with the exception of the n23 cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential latency, which was moderately correlated with age. (2) CCI had significantly higher rates of vestibular loss for each test of canal and otolith function. (3) Amount of vestibular loss predicted performance on single-leg stance, the dynamic gait index, some conditions of the sensory organization test, and the dynamic visual acuity test. Age was also a contributing factor for predicting the performance of almost all outcomes. Preliminarily, children with vestibular loss do not recover naturally to levels of their healthy peers, particularly with activities that utilize vestibular input; they have poorer visual acuity and balance function.


Steroid receptor coactivator 1 is an integrator of glucose and NAD+/NADH homeostasis.
Steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1) drives diverse gene expression programs necessary for the dynamic regulation of cancer metastasis, inflammation and gluconeogenesis, pointing to its overlapping roles as an oncoprotein and integrator of cell metabolic programs. Nutrient utilization has been intensely studied with regard to cellular adaptation in both cancer and noncancerous cells. Nonproliferating cells consume glucose through the citric acid cycle to generate NADH to fuel ATP generation via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to support rapid proliferation. To generate lipids, nucleotides, and proteins necessary for cell division, most tumors switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, a phenomenon known as the Warburg Effect. Because SRC-1 is a key coactivator responsible for driving a hepatic gluconeogenic program under fasting conditions, we asked whether SRC-1 responds to alterations in nutrient availability to allow for adaptive metabolism. Here we show SRC-1 is stabilized by the 26S proteasome in the absence of glucose. RNA profiling was used to examine the effects of SRC-1 perturbation on gene expression in the absence or presence of glucose, revealing that SRC-1 affects the expression of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, a set of enzymes responsible for the conversion of NADH to NAD(+). NAD(+) and NADH were subsequently identified as metabolites that underlie SRC-1's response to glucose deprivation. Knockdown of SRC-1 in glycolytic cancer cells abrogated their ability to grow in the absence of glucose consistent with SRC-1's role in promoting cellular adaptation to reduced glucose availability.


A sensitive amperometric acetylcholine biosensor based on carbon nanosphere and acetylcholinesterase modified electrode for detection of pesticide residues.
A sensitive biosensor based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carbon nanosphere (CNS) immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode was developed for the detection of pesticides by the inhibition of AChE activity. The inhibition effect of the pesticides resulted in a decrease of current response of the acetylthiocholine chloride that was used as a substrate to obtain an electrochemical signal. When applied to the pesticides carbofuran and fenitrothion, the designed biosensor exhibited high sensitivity and low detection limits. The inhibition ratio of carbofuran and fenitrothion were linearly proportional to their concentrations ranging from 0.40 to 4.79 and 6.26 to 125.31 μg/L, respectively. The theoretical detection limits were found to be 0.082 μg/L for carbofuran and 2.61 μg/L for fenitrothion. Furthermore, as the biosensor offers good reproducibility and stability, it could be used for trace detection of pesticides in real samples. Compared with other AChE biosensors, the proposed biosensor was convenient and it exhibited extreme sensitivity to pesticides.


Recognition of betaine as an inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in activated microglial cells.
Neuroinflammation, as a major outcome of microglia activation, is an important factor for progression of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Microglial cells, as the first-line defense in the central nervous system, act as a source of neurotoxic factors such as nitric oxide (NO), a free radical which is involved in neuronal cell death. The aim of this study was to inhibit production of NO in activated microglial cells in order to decrease neurological damages that threat the central nervous system. An in vitro model of a newborn rat brain cell culture was used to examine the effect of betaine on the release of NO induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Briefly, primary microglial cells were stimulated by LPS and after 2 minutes, they were treated by different concentrations of betaine. The production of NO was assessed by the Griess assay while cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. Our investigations indicated that LPS-induced NO release was attenuated by betaine, suggesting that this compound might inhibit NO release. The effects of betaine on NO production in activated microglial cells after 24 h were "dose-dependent". It means that microglial cells which were treated with higher concentrations of betaine, released lower amounts of NO. Also our observations showed that betaine compound has no toxic effect on microglial cells. Betaine has an inhibitory effect on NO release in activated microglial cells and may be an effective therapeutic component to control neurological disorders.


Exploration of prehospital vital sign trends for the prediction of trauma outcomes.
We explored whether there are diagnostically useful temporal trends in prehospital vital signs of trauma patients. Vital signs were monitored during transport to a level I trauma center and electronically archived. Retrospectively, we identified reliable vital signs recorded from the 0- to 7-minute interval and from the 14- to 21-minute interval during transport, and, for each subject, we computed the temporal differences between the two intervals' vital signs, the intrasubject 95% data ranges, the values during the initial 2 minutes, and the 21-minute overall means. We tested for differences between subjects with major hemorrhage versus control subjects, and computed receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We conducted sensitivity analyses, exploring alternative clinical outcomes, temporal windows, and methods of identifying reliable data. Comparing major hemorrhage cases versus controls, there were no discriminatory differences in temporal vital sign trends. Hemorrhage cases had significantly wider intrasubject data ranges for systolic blood pressure (SBP), respiratory rate (RR), and shock index (SI) versus controls. All results were consistent in several sensitivity analyses. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that prehospital vital sign trends over 21 minutes or less are unlikely to be diagnostically useful because of substantial nondirectional fluctuations in vital signs that would obscure any subtle, progressive temporal trends. SBP, RR, and SI values were significantly different for high-acuity patients, and had more variability. Taken together, these findings suggest that higher-acuity patients experience episodes of instability rather than gradual, steady decline. Measures that account for data variability, such as taking the average of multiple measurements, may improve the diagnostic utility of prehospital vital signs.


Roles of Krüpel-like factor 4 in normal homeostasis, cancer and stem cells.
Krüpel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc finger-type transcription factor expressed in a variety of tissues, including the epithelium of the intestine and the skin, and it plays an important role in differentiation and cell cycle arrest. Depending on the gene targeted, KLF4 can both activate and repress transcription. Moreover, in certain cellular contexts, KLF4 can function as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene. Finally, KLF4 is important in reprogramming differentiated fibroblasts into inducible pluripotent stem cells, which highly resemble embryonic stem cells. This review summarizes what is known about the diverse functions of KLF4 as well as their molecular mechanisms.


Inhibition of glutamatergic synaptic input to spinal lamina II(o) neurons by presynaptic alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors.
Activation of spinal alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors by the descending noradrenergic system and alpha(2)-adrenergic agonists produces analgesia. However, the sites and mechanisms of the analgesic action of spinally administered alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists such as clonidine are not fully known. The dorsal horn neurons in the outer zone of lamina II (lamina II(o)) are important for processing nociceptive information from C-fiber primary afferents. In the present study, we tested a hypothesis that activation of presynaptic alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors by clonidine inhibits the excitatory synaptic input to lamina II(o) neurons. Whole cell voltage-clamp recordings were performed on visualized lamina II(o) neurons in the spinal cord slice of rats. The miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) were recorded in the presence of tetrodotoxin, bicuculline, and strychnine. The evoked EPSCs were obtained by electrical stimulation of the dorsal root entry zone or the attached dorsal root. Both mEPSCs and evoked EPSCs were abolished by application of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione. Clonidine (10 microM) significantly decreased the frequency of mEPSCs from 5.8 +/- 0.9 to 2.7 +/- 0.6 Hz (means +/- SE) without altering the amplitude and the decay time constant of mEPSCs in 25 of 27 lamina II(o) neurons. Yohimbine (2 microM, an alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist), but not prazosin (2 microM, an alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor antagonist), blocked the inhibitory effect of clonidine on the mEPSCs. Clonidine (1-20 microM, n = 8) also significantly attenuated the peak amplitude of evoked EPSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of clonidine on evoked EPSCs was abolished in the presence of yohimbine (n = 5). These data suggest that clonidine inhibits the excitatory synaptic input to lamina II(o) neurons through activation of alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors located on the glutamatergic afferent terminals. Presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release from primary afferents onto lamina II(o) neurons likely plays an important role in the analgesic action produced by activation of the descending noradrenergic system and alpha(2)-adrenergic agonists.


13-cis Retinoic acid induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human SEB-1 sebocytes.
Isotretinoin (13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA)) is the most potent inhibitor of sebum production, a key component in the pathophysiology of acne, yet its mechanism of action remains largely unknown. The effects of 13-cis RA, 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA), and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle proteins were examined in SEB-1 sebocytes and keratinocytes. 13-cis RA causes significant dose-dependent and time-dependent decreases in viable SEB-1 sebocytes. A portion of this decrease can be attributed to cell cycle arrest as evidenced by decreased DNA synthesis, increased p21 protein expression, and decreased cyclin D1. Although not previously demonstrated in sebocytes, we report that 13-cis RA induces apoptosis in SEB-1 sebocytes as shown by increased Annexin V-FITC staining, increased TUNEL staining, and increased cleaved caspase 3 protein. Furthermore, the ability of 13-cis RA to induce apoptosis cannot be recapitulated by 9-cis RA or ATRA, and it is not inhibited by the presence of a retinoid acid receptor (RAR) pan-antagonist AGN 193109. Taken together these data indicate that 13-cis RA causes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in SEB-1 sebocytes by a RAR-independent mechanism, which contributes to its sebosuppressive effect and the resolution of acne.


CD57 expression and cytokine production by T cells in lesional and unaffected skin from patients with psoriasis.
The immunopathogenic mechanisms leading to psoriasis remain unresolved. CD57 is a marker of replicative inability and immunosenescence on CD8+ T cells and the proportion of CD57 expressing CD8+ T cells is increased in a number of inflammatory conditions. We examined the expression of CD57 on T cells in the skin of patients affected with psoriasis, comparing lesional and unaffected skin. We also assessed functionality of the T cells by evaluating the secretion of several inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-33, TNF-alpha, IL-21, IL-22, and IL-27), from cell-sorted purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells isolated from lesional and unaffected skin biopsies of psoriasis patients. We observed that the frequency of CD57+CD4+ and CD57+CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in unaffected skin of psoriasis patients compared to lesional skin. Sorted CD4+ T cells from psoriatic lesional skin produced higher levels of IL-17A, IL-22, and IFN-gamma compared to unaffected skin, while sorted CD8+ T cells from lesional skin produced higher levels of IL-17, IL-22, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2 compared to unaffected skin. These findings suggest that T cells in unaffected skin from psoriasis patients exhibit a phenotype compatible with replicative inability. As they have a lower replicative capacity, CD57+ T cells are less frequent in lesional tissue due to the high cellular turnover.


[The troponin assay in a cardiac emergency unit: especially to exclude severe cardiac risk].
To determine the value in daily practice of a troponin assay for triage of patients with chest pain. Retrospective and descriptive. All patients in whom troponin T was measured after at least six hours after complaints began during the first three months of 2001 in the cardiac emergency unit of the Isala Clinics, location Weezenlanden, Zwolle, the Netherlands, were included. Cardiac events occurring within 30 days after the troponin assay were recorded retrospectively. All 350 included patients were followed for 30 days. An elevated troponin level was found in 51 patients (15%). At 30 days, 27 of these 51 patients had had a myocardial infarction or had died. Apart from these 27 patients, a revascularisation procedure was performed in nine patients. In the remaining 15 patients with an elevated troponin level, another reason for myocardial damage was found. In 40 patients in whom the troponin assay was negative, coronary artery disease was diagnosed later. The negative predictive value for myocardial infarction or death within 30 days was 98%. A troponin assay, performed six hours or more after the onset of cardiac symptoms, appears to be a safe method to exclude patients with severe coronary artery disease resulting in myocardial necrosis and an elevated risk of death. An elevated troponin level was always associated with myocardial damage, but not always with coronary artery disease. Therefore, there must be a clear indication for requesting a troponin assay, and one should always keep in mind that a normal troponin level does not exclude coronary artery disease.


Expression of oncogenes in human hepatoma cell lines.
The expression of 20 known cellular proto-oncogenes in human well-differentiated hepatoma cell line Hep3B and poorly-differentiated hepatoma cell line HA22T/VGH was studied by Northern blot hybridization. Among the cellular proto-oncogenes examined, both cell lines express protein kinase genes including fps, mos and raf; PDGF B chain sis gene; GTP/GDP binding protein gene Ha-ras and nuclear protein genes including fos and myc. The expression of yes, abl, ros, src, erb-B, erb-A, fms, Ki-ras, myb, rel and bas genes was not detected in both cell lines.


The prevalence, age-of-onset and the correlates of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders in the Tianjin Mental Health Survey (TJMHS).
To effectively shape mental healthcare policy in modern-day China, up-to-date epidemiological data on mental disorders is needed. The objective was to estimate the prevalence, age-of-onset (AOO) and sociodemographic correlates of mental disorders in a representative household sample of the general population (age ⩾ 18) in the Tianjin Municipality in China. Data came from the Tianjin Mental health Survey (TJMHS), which was conducted between July 2011 and March 2012 using a two-phase design. 11 748 individuals were screened with an expanded version of the General Health Questionnaire and 4438 subjects were selected for a diagnostic interview by a psychiatrist, using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - fourth edition (SCID). The lifetime and 1-month prevalence of any mental disorder were 23.6% and 12.8%, respectively. Mood disorders (lifetime: 9.3%; 1-month: 3.9%), anxiety disorders (lifetime: 4.5% 1-month: 3.1%) and substance-use disorders (lifetime: 8.8%; 1-month: 3.5%) were most prevalent. The median AOO ranged from 25 years [interquartile range (IQR): 23-32] for substance-use disorders to 36 years (IQR: 24-50) for mood disorders. Not being married, non-immigrant status (i.e. local 'Hukou'), being a farmer, having <6 years of education and male gender were associated with a higher lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder. Results from the current survey indicate that mental disorders are steadily reported more commonly in rapidly-developing urban China. Several interesting sociodemographic correlates were observed (e.g. male gender and non-immigrant status) that warrant further investigation and could be used to profile persons in need of preventive intervention.


Preventive healthcare use among males with multiple sclerosis.
To understand preventive healthcare use by males with multiple sclerosis (MS). Cross-sectional survey with secondary comparative data. Primary survey data were collected from male veterans with MS (n = 1142) and compared with national surveillance data for a general veteran population (n = 31,500) and a general population (n = 68,357). Analyses compared use by group and identified variables associated with service use by male veterans with MS. More veterans with MS had a cholesterol check (93%) than the general veteran population (89%, P < 0.001) and the general population (78%, P < 0.001). More veterans with MS had received annual influenza vaccination (69%) than the general veteran population (58%, P < 0.001) and the general population (42%, P < 0.001). More veterans with MS (81%) had ever received pneumonia vaccination than the general veteran population (67%) and the general population (51%) (P < 0.001). Colon screening was received by 55% of veterans with MS, 49% of the general veteran population (P < 0.001), and 39% of the general population (P < 0.0001). Fewer veterans with MS (34%) had received a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination than the general veteran population (46%, P < 0.001) and the general population (36%, not significant). In males with MS, variables independently associated with cholesterol checks were: white race [odds ratio (OR) = 3.75] and living in the south (OR = 1.95); variables independently associated with influenza vaccination were increased age (OR = 1.03) and being a non-smoker (OR = 0.55); increased age was independently associated with colon screening (OR = 1.02); variables independently associated with PSA testing were increased age (OR = 1.08) and being employed (OR = 3.31), and being unemployed was independently associated with pneumonia vaccination (OR = 0.16). More males with MS received several recommended preventive health services (e.g. cholesterol and colon screening, influenza and pneumonia vaccination) than males without MS. The Veterans Health Administration is meeting many prevention needs in males with MS, but there is room for improvement in areas such as reducing disparities in PSA screening and increasing respiratory vaccinations to meet national targets.


A Bottom-Up Approach Grafts Collagen Fibrils Perpendicularly to Titanium Surfaces.
Currently, titanium dental implant apposition to bone is achieved via osseointegration leading to ankylosis. A biomimetic Sharpey's fiber-type interface could be constructed around collagen fibrils robustly attached and projecting perpendicularly from the titanium surface. We present a proof-of-concept for a method to create upright-standing collagen nanofibrils covalently bonded to a titanium surface. The method involves activation of the titanium surface using a plasma discharge treatment followed by functionalization with an oxyamine-terminated silane coupling molecule. Using Rapoport's salt, the N-termini of individual type I collagen monomers are converted to ketones. When presented to the functionalized titanium surface, these ketones form oxime linkages with the silanes thus immobilizing the collagen. In a two-step process, these covalently bonded monomers act as sites for the formation of fibrils. Many fibril-surface junctions were observed by scanning electron microscopy on three different surfaces. These findings set the stage for working toward a high surface density of such features which might act as a platform from which to build a synthetic ligament.


Shape memory hydrogels with remodelable permanent shapes and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior.
Most shape memory polymers apply glass transition or crystallization of domains to fix temporary shapes and shape recovery is induced by heating, which hinders their application under heat-intolerant conditions. Moreover, the permanent shapes of polymers normally cannot be altered arbitrarily after fabrication. Herein, we present a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrogel is prepared in the presence of diethylenetriamine (DETA) and subsequently treated with calcium acetate (Ca(Ac)2). The charge-assisted hydrogen bonding between PAA and DETA imparts the hydrogel with remodelability, while the heat-induced hydrophobic aggregation of polymer chains and acetate groups results in shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Afterwards, programmable deformable devices are obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations of Ca(Ac)2. This design strategy promotes the development of shape memory polymers with diverse potential applications.


Dual infections of CD163 expressing NPTr epithelial cells with influenza A virus and PRRSV.
In the pig, respiratory co-infections involving various pathogens are far more frequent than single infections. Amongst respiratory viruses, swine influenza type A virus (swIAV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are frequently associated. Previously, we performed co-infections with swIAV and PRRSV in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM) and precision cut lung slices (PCLS). With these two approaches it was practically impossible to have co-infections of the same cells as the main target cell of swIAV is the epithelial cell while the main target of PRRSV is the PAM. This constraint makes the study of interference between the two viruses difficult at the cellular level. In the current report, an epithelial cell line expressing, CD163, the main receptor of PRRSV was generated. This cell line receptive for both viruses was used to assess the interference between the two viruses. Results showed that swIAV as well as PRRSV, even if they interacted differently with the modified epithelial cells, were clearly interfering with each other regarding their replication when they infected a same cell with consequences within the cellular antiviral response. Our modified cell line, receptive to both viruses, can be used as a tool to assess interference between swIAV and PRRSV in a same cell as it probably happens in the porcine host.


Intestinal microbiota contribute to the endogenous formation of thiouracil in livestock.
In recent years, the frequent detection of the banned substance thiouracil (TU) in livestock urine has been related to its endogenous formation following consumption of glucosinolate-rich Brassicaceae crops. Besides, TU residues have been recovered in these crops upon plant-derived myrosinase hydrolysis. Through in vitro bovine and porcine static digestive simulations, the influence of gastrointestinal digestion of Brassicaceae-derived matrixes on TU formation was assessed. Following derivatization and LC-MS(2) analysis, TU was detected in colonic suspensions with traditional rapeseed, coarse colza "00" meal, cauliflower, and broccoli ranging from 3.47 to 30.96 μg kg(-1) (bovine) and from 3.55 to 26.34 μg kg(-1) (porcine). In stomach and small intestinal fluids, TU remained unfound, whereas upon rumen simulation TU was detected for coarse colza "00" meal (4.43 μg kg(-1)) and grounded traditional rapeseed (0.35 μg kg(-1)). The origin of this detection was investigated through filter-sterilizing and autoclaving the fecal inoculum causing a significant decrease in TU concentration, thereby reinforcing the possibility of an active bacterial involvement, which however was characterized with a high interanimal variation. In conclusion, these results support the previously proven endogenous origin of TU and acknowledge the active role of the gastrointestinal bacteria in TU formation, through production of an extracellular component.


Equilibrium model selection: dTTP induced R1 dimerization.
Biochemical equilibria are usually modeled iteratively: given one or a few fitted models, if there is a lack of fit or over fitting, a new model with additional or fewer parameters is then fitted, and the process is repeated. The problem with this approach is that different analysts can propose and select different models and thus extract different binding parameter estimates from the same data. An alternative is to first generate a comprehensive standardized list of plausible models, and to then fit them exhaustively, or semi-exhaustively. A framework is presented in which equilibriums are modeled as pairs (g, h) where g = 0 maps total reactant concentrations (system inputs) into free reactant concentrations (system states) which h then maps into expected values of measurements (system outputs). By letting dissociation constants Kd be either freely estimated, infinity, zero, or equal to other Kd, and by letting undamaged protein fractions be either freely estimated or 1, many g models are formed. A standard space of g models for ligand-induced protein dimerization equilibria is given. Coupled to an h model, the resulting (g, h) were fitted to dTTP induced R1 dimerization data (R1 is the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase). Models with the fewest parameters were fitted first. Thereafter, upon fitting a batch, the next batch of models (with one more parameter) was fitted only if the current batch yielded a model that was better (based on the Akaike Information Criterion) than the best model in the previous batch (with one less parameter). Within batches models were fitted in parallel. This semi-exhaustive approach yielded the same best models as an exhaustive model space fit, but in approximately one-fifth the time. Comprehensive model space based biochemical equilibrium model selection methods are realizable. Their significance to systems biology as mappings of data into mathematical models warrants their development.


[Kidney cancer: the basic symptoms taking into account the histological form].
Retrospective case records analysis of 126 patients operated on in urologic department for the kidney cancer during 1970-1991 yrs period of time. The severity of such symptoms as hematuria, pain and palpable tumor in accordance with various morphological types of the disease was studied up. The data obtained witnesses the presence of close correlational relation between morphological form of kidney cancer and clinical features of the disease, and that's why they can be used as the diagnostic and practical guides.


Ascorbic and uric acid responses to xanthotoxin ingestion in a generalist and a specialist caterpillar
For herbivorous insects, dietary sources of low molecular weight non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, may influence performance in the presence of phototoxic plant constituents. We examined responses of Trichoplusia ni, a broad generalist, and Depressaria pastinacella, a specialist on furanocoumarin-containing plants, to variation in dietary ascorbic acid availability in the presence and absence of xanthotoxin, a phototoxic furanocoumarin. In T. ni, dietary ascorbic acid significantly increased levels of this compound in body tissues (approximately 7-fold, 5-fold, and 8-fold in hemolymph, gut, and fat body, respectively). In the presence of xanthotoxin, however, the amount of ascorbic acid accumulated significantly decreased. This decrease was not due to antifeedant effects of xanthotoxin and may instead have resulted from depletion of ascorbic acid due to its radical scavenging activity. In contrast, ascorbic acid levels in D. pastinacella were less affected by variation in dietary levels of either xanthotoxin or ascorbic acid, although uric acid, another potential water-soluble nonenzymatic antioxidant, increased in response to dietary ascorbic acid, as it did in T. ni. Thus, for generalists, such as T. ni, that lack specialized detoxification mechanisms against phototoxins such as furanocoumarins, dietary ascorbic acid may play an important role in antioxidant defense, and, for caterpillars in general, uric acid may also contribute to antioxidant defenses. Arch. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Women's Health Decision-Making Autonomy and Skilled Birth Attendance in Ghana.
Delivering in health facility under the supervision of skilled birth attendant is an important way of mitigating impacts of delivery complications. Empirical evidence suggests that decision-making autonomy is aligned with holistic wellbeing especially in the aspect of maternal and child health. The objective of this paper was to examine the relationship between women's health decision-making autonomy and place of delivery in Ghana. We extracted data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and logistic regression techniques were applied. The results indicated that women with health decision-making autonomy have higher tendency of health facility delivery as compared to those who are not autonomous [OR = 1.27, CI = 1.09-1.48]. However, those who have final say on household large purchases [OR = 0.71, CI = 0.59-0.84] and those having final say on visits [OR = 0.86, CI = 0.73-1.01] were less probable to deliver in health facility than those without such decision-making autonomy. Consistent with existing evidence, wealthier, urban, and highly educated women had higher inclination of health facility delivery. This study has stressed the need for interventions aimed at enhancing health facility delivery to target women without health decision-making autonomy and women with low education and wealth status, as this can play essential role in enhancing health facility delivery.


Evidence for evolutionary duplication of genes in the dopa decarboxylase region of Drosophila.
The region surrounding the dopa decarboxylase gene (Ddc) of Drosophila contains a cluster of genes, many of which appear to be functionally related by virtue of their effects on cuticle development and/or catecholamine metabolism. In this report we describe evidence that the Ddc gene and the closely linked alpha-methyldopa hypersensitive (amd) gene share extensive sequence homology and are the products of a gene duplication event. The two genes are transcribed convergently and are separated by 2.4 kb. A gene located between Ddc and amd expresses a 2.0-kb mRNA and appears to partially overlap the Ddc gene. The organization of these transcripts implies a complex series of events giving rise to the present pattern. The patterns of expression of these genes do not support a model of coordinate regulation, but are more consistent with a pattern of duplication and divergence to various related metabolic subspecialties. These data provide the first evidence for structural relationships among genes in the 37C cluster.


The transcription factor AtGRF5 and the transcription coactivator AN3 regulate cell proliferation in leaf primordia of Arabidopsis thaliana.
The development of the flat morphology of leaf blades is dependent on the control of cell proliferation as well as cell expansion. Each process has a polarity with respect to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the leaf blade. However, only a few regulatory components of these processes have been identified to date. We have characterized two genes from Arabidopsis thaliana: ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3), which encodes a homolog of the human transcription coactivator SYT, and GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR5 (AtGRF5), which encodes a putative transcription factor. AN3 is identical to GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (AtGIF1). The an3 and atgrf5 mutants exhibit narrow-leaf phenotypes due to decreases in cell number. Conversely, cell proliferation in leaf primordia is enhanced and leaves grow larger than normal when AN3 or AtGRF5 is overexpressed. Both genes are expressed in leaf primordia, and in the yeast two-hybrid assay, the gene products were found to interact with each other through their N-terminal domains. These results suggest that AN3 and AtGRF5 act together and are required for the development of appropriate leaf size and shape through the promotion and/or maintenance of cell proliferation activity in leaf primordia.


Synthesis and biological activities of conformationally restricted, tricyclic nonclassical antifolates as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductases.
Seven novel tricyclic pyrimido[4,5-c][2,7]naphthyridones 5-8 and the corresponding naphthyridines 9-11 were synthesized as conformationally restricted inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and as antitumor and/or antiinfectious agents. The analogues were designed to orient the side chain trimethoxyphenyl group in different conformationally defined positions in order to explore the effect of the side chain orientation on binding affinity and selectivity for DHFR from various species. The semirigid orientations were achieved by bridging the C5 and N10 of compound 12 with a N-ethyl bridge and by variation of the position of double bonds in rings B and C as well as substitution at the 2',6'-positions of the phenyl ring. The synthesis of compounds 5-11 were accomplished by cyclocondensation of the appropriate keto ester (as the biselectrophile) with 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine to afford the lactam 5. The dehydrolactams 6 and 7 were prepared by air oxidation and PtO2-catalyzed dehydrogenation of 7, respectively. The dichloro dehydro lactam 8 was obtained by refluxing lactam 5 and/or 6 in POCl3 or a mixture of POCl3/PCl5. Compounds 9-11 were obtained by two methods, direct borane reduction of lactam 5 or 6 or thiation of the dipivoylated lactam 15 followed by reductive dethiation. Compounds 9-11 were interconverted by air oxidation or PtO2-catalyzed reduction/oxidation, respectively. The compounds were evaluated as inhibitors of DHFR from Pneumocystis carinii (pc) and Toxoplasma gondii (tg) with rat liver (rl) serving as the reference mammalian enzyme. In the lactam series 5-8, the most unsaturated analogue 7 showed an IC50 of 86 nM against rlDHFR, almost 100-fold more active than 5 and 3-fold more active than 6. The 2',6'-dichloro dehydro lactam 8 was less active than the corresponding dehydro lactam 6 against rlDHFR. In the naphthyridine series 9-11, the dehydro analogue 10 was more active than 9 against rlDHFR. The fully reduced analogue 11 (as a mixture of cis and trans isomers) was the most active in the naphthyridine series. The analogues were, in general, more inhibitory against rlDHFR than against pcDHFR, or tgDHFR, and thus lacked selectivity. In addition, they were less potent than the bicyclic compounds trimetrexate 3 (TMQ) and piritrixim 4 (PTX).


Topical clindamycin versus oral tetracycline and placebo in acne vulgaris.
Eighty-seven patients with moderate to severe acne were included in an 8-week randomized double-blind study to compare the efficacies of topically applied clindamycin phosphate 1% b.i.d., oral tetracyclines 500 mg b.i.d. and placebo. Patients were examined every 2 weeks and inflammatory lesions, i.e. papules and pustules were counted in the same area at each examination. Clindamycin phosphate demonstrated a highly significant 72% decrease of inflammatory lesions, as did tetracyclines with a 57% decrease, but not placebo (12%). Clindamycin phosphate was superior to tetracycline. No significant side effects were seen, in particular, no skin side effects.


A survey of basal insects (Microcoryphia and Zygentoma) from subterranean environments of Iran, with description of three new species.
A survey of wingless insects belonging to the orders Microcoryphia (=Archaeognatha) and Zygentoma (=Thysanura s. str.) has been performed in subterranean habitats of central Iran. As a result, several new species have been discovered. In this work, three new species are described: a new species of bristletail of the family Machilidae, Haslundiellairanica sp. n., a new silverfish of the family Lepismatidae, Ctenolepismasubterraneum sp. n., and a new Nicoletiidae, Lepidospora (Brinckina) momtazianasp. n. These new taxa are compared with related species in their respective genera and keys for their identification are provided: one for all known species of Haslundiella and one for all basal insects of subterranean environments of Iran which includes those previously reported. Moreover, the previously published keys of Iranian Ctenolepisma and the subgenus Brinckina are modified to include the new species. Three additional species of Lepismatidae are reported in this work: Neoasterolepìsma palmonii and Ctenolepismatargionii are newly recorded from Iran and both species, together with Acrotelsacollaris, are cited for the first time in the subterranean habitats. This survey progresses the knowledge on the biodiversity of these insects in Iran.


Diabetes in Africans. Part 2: Ketosis-prone atypical diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes is increasing with ageing and changes in lifestyle in populations of African ancestry as described in the first part of this review. Apart from classical type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, atypical presentations are observed in these populations, especially "tropical" and "ketosis-prone" atypical diabetes. Ketosis-prone atypical diabetes that has been classified by ADA as idiopathic Type 1 diabetes or Type 1b is the most common atypical form. It is characterised by an acute initial presentation with severe hyperglycaemia and ketosis, as classical Type 1 diabetes. In the subsequent clinical course after initiation of insulin therapy, prolonged remission is often possible with cessation of insulin therapy and maintenance of appropriate metabolic control. Metabolic studies showed a markedly blunted insulin secretory response to glucose, partially reversible with the improvement of blood glucose control. Variable levels of insulin resistance are observed, especially in obese patients. Pancreatic B-cell autoimmunity is an exceptional finding. Association with type 1 susceptibility HLA alleles is variable. The molecular mechanisms underlining the insulin secretory dysfunction are still to be understood and may involve gluco-lipotoxicity processes, glucagon dysregulation, effect of stress, or may be genetically determined. The present review summarises the available clinical and metabolic features and suggests some pathogenetic hypotheses and principles of management for the ketosis-prone atypical diabetes of the Africans.


[Respiratory distress syndrome due to hyperleukocytic leukemias].
Hyperleukocytic leukemias are a small proportion of leukemias that have white blood cell count > 100 x 10(9)/l, most of them are leukemic blast cells. These leukemias have a grave prognosis because they can develop a leukostasis syndrome which describes: the acute onset of pulmonary failure and, often, neurologic deficits and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The leukostasis is produced by the mechanical obstruction of vascular bed by blast cells, which can be induced by the spontaneous tumor lysis or as a side effect of cytotoxic drugs. So, hyperleukocytic leukemias require early and vigorous measures to decrease the white blood cell count, using leukapheresis and/or chemotherapy, before pulmonary failure exists. Then, it is possible to reverse the lesions. We report two cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia with a white blood count > 100 x 10(9)/l, that developed a respiratory distress syndrome and died. The postmortem examination has been done in one of the cases.


Associations Between Parity, Breastfeeding, and Risk of Maternal Type 2 Diabetes Among Postmenopausal Women.
To examine associations among parity, breastfeeding history, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women. A prospective cohort study was conducted. One hundred thirty-six thousand six hundred fifty-two postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years participating in the Women's Health Initiative recruited from 40 clinical centers throughout the United States between 1993 and 1998, without baseline cancer or diabetes were followed for 14.2 years. Parity and breastfeeding data were collected by questionnaires administrated to all participants at baseline. Incident diabetes was assessed via validated self-report of physician-diagnosed diabetes treated with insulin or other hypoglycemic medications. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess associations between parity, breastfeeding and diabetes incidence, and racial-ethnic differences in the associations. During follow-up, 18,812 cases of incident diabetes were identified. Overall, a greater number of term pregnancies was associated with increased risk of diabetes (P for trend=.002), and longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with lower risk of diabetes (P for trend <.01). After further adjusting for adult weight gain among a subset of the cohort (n=75,558) with 9,110 cases, the association between parity and risk of diabetes were attenuated and became nonsignificant. Also, parous women with fewer than five term pregnancies did not have increased diabetes risk when breastfeeding for 3 months or more per child, which was associated with less weight gain. The results of this large, prospective study showed that the association between parity and risk of type 2 diabetes was most likely confounded by adult weight gain among postmenopausal women.


HMA6 and HMA8 are two chloroplast Cu+-ATPases with different enzymatic properties.
Copper (Cu) plays a key role in the photosynthetic process as cofactor of the plastocyanin (PC), an essential component of the chloroplast photosynthetic electron transfer chain. Encoded by the nuclear genome, PC is translocated in its apo-form into the chloroplast and the lumen of thylakoids where it is processed to its mature form and acquires Cu. In Arabidopsis, Cu delivery into the thylakoids involves two transporters of the PIB-1 ATPases family, heavy metal associated protein 6 (HMA6) located at the chloroplast envelope and HMA8 at the thylakoid membrane. To gain further insight into the way Cu is delivered to PC, we analysed the enzymatic properties of HMA8 and compared them with HMA6 ones using in vitro phosphorylation assays and phenotypic tests in yeast. These experiments reveal that HMA6 and HMA8 display different enzymatic properties: HMA8 has a higher apparent affinity for Cu(+) but a slower dephosphorylation kinetics than HMA6. Modelling experiments suggest that these differences could be explained by the electrostatic properties of the Cu(+) releasing cavities of the two transporters and/or by the different nature of their cognate Cu(+) acceptors (metallochaperone/PC).


Revision of the genus Carybdea (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeidae): clarifying the identity of its type species Carybdea marsupialis.
While records of Carybdea marsupialis in the literature suggest a worldwide distribution of this species, the validity of some of these records has been questioned recently, as has the validity of some nominal Carybdea species. We inspected material of all known species of Carybdea from multiple locations (i.e. Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Puerto Rico, California, Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, and Japan) using morphological and genetic tools to differentiate Carybdea species as well as understand their evolutionary relationships. We observed morphological differences between adult medusae of Mediterranean and Caribbean C. marsupialis; the most obvious differences were the structure of the phacellae, the structure of the pedalial canal knee bend, and the number and structure of the velarial canals. The characters of the adult Mediterranean specimens agree with the description provided by Claus (1878) for individuals of C. marsupialis from the Adriatic Sea (Italy); specimens from the Caribbean (Puerto Rico) agreed with the description of C. xaymacana by Conant (1897). Significant differences between both species were also observed in the newly released medusa stage. Further, we resolved a discord about the undefined polyp culture originating from Puerto Rico that was long considered Carybdea marsupialis but should be referred to as C. xaymacana. Although C. marsupialis is currently considered the only species of Cubozoa to occur in the Mediterranean, specimens collected in Algeria and Tunisia suggest that species of Alatinidae may also be present in the Mediterranean. Our investigations indicate that Carybdea spp. are more restricted in their geographical distribution than has been recognized historically. These findings confirm that Carybdea arborifera Maas, 1897 from Hawaii, Carybdea branchi, Gershwin Gibbons, 2009 from South Africa, Carybdea brevipedalia Kishinouye, 1891 from Japan, Carybdea confusa Straehler-Pohl, Matsumoto Acevedo, 2017 from California, Carybdea marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758 from the European Mediterranean Sea, Carybdea rastonii Haacke, 1886 from South Australia, and Carybdea xaymacana, Conant, 1897 from the Caribbean Sea are valid names representing distinct species, rather than synonyms. A taxonomic key for all valid species is provided, and a neotype for C. marsupialis is designated.


Communicating climate change and biodiversity loss with local populations: exploring communicative utopias in eight transdisciplinary case studies.
Climate change and biodiversity loss trigger policies targeting and impacting local communities worldwide. However, research and policy implementation often fail to sufficiently consider community responses and to involve them. We present the results of a collective self-assessment exercise for eight case studies of communications with regard to climate change or biodiversity loss between project teams and local communities. We develop eight indicators of good stakeholder communication, reflecting the scope of Verran's (2002) concept of postcolonial moments as a communicative utopia. We demonstrate that applying our indicators can enhance communication and enable community responses. However, we discover a divergence between timing, complexity and (introspective) effort. Three cases qualify for postcolonial moments, but scrutinising power relations and genuine knowledge co-production remain rare. While we verify the potency of various instruments for deconstructing science, their sophistication cannot substitute trust building and epistemic/transdisciplinary awareness. Lastly, we consider that reforming inadequate funding policies helps improving the work in and with local communities.


Epileptic seizures in a population of 6000. II: Treatment and prognosis.
Treatment and prognosis were studied in 122 patients with non-febrile seizures in a population of 6000. Phenytoin and phenobarbitone were the most commonly prescribed drugs, although the popularity of phenobarbitone had declined over time. The average duration of treatment was relatively short, and most patients received single drug treatment. Treatment patterns were erratic, and the surveillance and audit of treatment generally poor. Recurrence after a first attack was found in four fifths of the patients. Generally the total number of seizures suffered by each patient was small, the period of active epilepsy short, and remission when it occurred was usually permanent. The cumulative probability of continuing activity fell and the proportion of patients in remission rose over time. Patients with partial or mixed seizure types had a poorer overall prognosis. The course of the epilepsy in the early years of treatment proved to be a useful guide to the long term prognosis, and the possibility that effective treatment might influence long term prognosis is raised.


Next generation sequencing to dissect the genetic architecture of KNG1 and F11 loci using factor XI levels as an intermediate phenotype of thrombosis.
Venous thromboembolism is a complex disease with a high heritability. There are significant associations among Factor XI (FXI) levels and SNPs in the KNG1 and F11 loci. Our aim was to identify the genetic variation of KNG1 and F11 that might account for the variability of FXI levels. The KNG1 and F11 loci were sequenced completely in 110 unrelated individuals from the GAIT-2 (Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia 2) Project using Next Generation Sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq. The GAIT-2 Project is a study of 935 individuals in 35 extended Spanish families selected through a proband with idiopathic thrombophilia. Among the 110 individuals, a subset of 40 individuals was chosen as a discovery sample for identifying variants. A total of 762 genetic variants were detected. Several significant associations were established among common variants and low-frequency variants sets in KNG1 and F11 with FXI levels using the PLINK and SKAT packages. Among these associations, those of rs710446 and five low-frequency variant sets in KNG1 with FXI level variation were significant after multiple testing correction and permutation. Also, two putative pathogenic mutations related to high and low FXI levels were identified by data filtering and in silico predictions. This study of KNG1 and F11 loci should help to understand the connection between genotypic variation and variation in FXI levels. The functional genetic variants should be useful as markers of thromboembolic risk.


Early life insults as determinants of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adult life.
Early life events may predispose to the development of chronic lung disease in adulthood. To provide an update on current knowledge of early nongenetic origins of COPD. Systematic literature review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 16 studies, comprising 69,365 individuals, met the predefined criteria and were included in the present review. Studies have shown that in utero tobacco exposure, low birth weight, preterm birth, and respiratory diseases, primarily asthma and pneumonia, in early childhood are associated with lung function impairment later in childhood, and by that predispose to subsequent development of COPD, although the causal association between childhood respiratory diseases and COPD has been questioned in one study. Environmental tobacco exposure has also been shown to have negative impact on lung function in childhood possibly leading to COPD in adulthood, although it is at present not possible to clearly distinguish between the impact of active and the environmental tobacco exposure on subsequent development of COPD. Tobacco exposure in utero and early life is a risk factor for subsequent development of COPD. Furthermore, low birth weight, lower respiratory tract infections and asthma, including wheezy bronchitis, in childhood also seem to be important determinants for later development of COPD. Early life insults may, therefore, be crucial to COPD development.


High genetic diversity and strong genetic structure of Strongyllodes variegatus populations in oilseed rape production areas of China.
Strongyllodes variegatus (Fairmaire) is a major insect pest of oilseed rape in China. Despite its economic importance, the contribution of its population genetics in the development of any suitable protection control strategy for the management of oilseed rape crops is poorly studied. It is a much urgent need to prevent its spread to the rest of the world. Using the sequences of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cytb) as genetic markers, we analyzed the population genetic diversity and structure of 437 individuals collected from 15 S. variegatus populations located in different oilseed rape production areas in China. In addition, we estimated the demographic history using neutrality test and mismatch distribution analysis. The high level of genetic diversity was detected among the COI and Cytb sequences of S. variegatus. The population structure analyses strongly suggested three distinct genetic and geographical regions in China with limited gene flow. The Mantel test showed that the genetic distance was greatly influenced by the geographical distance. The demographic analyses showed that S. variegatus had experienced population fluctuation during the Pleistocene Epoch, which was likely to be related to the climatic changes. Overall, these results demonstrate that the strong genetic structure of S. variegatus populations in China, which is attributed by the isolation through the geographical distance among populations, their weak flight capacity and subsequent adaptation to the regional ecological conditions.


Combined Carbohydrate and Protein Ingestion During Australian Rules Football Matches and Training Sessions Does Not Reduce Fatigue or Accelerate Recovery Throughout a Weeklong Junior Tournament.
Lee, NA, Fell, JW, Pitchford, NW, Hall, AH, Leveritt, MD, and Kitic, CM. Combined carbohydrate and protein ingestion during Australian rules football matches and training sessions does not reduce fatigue or accelerate recovery throughout a weeklong junior tournament. J Strength Cond Res 32(2): 344-355, 2018-Australian rules football (ARF) is a physically demanding sport that can induce high levels of fatigue. Fatigue may be intensified during periods where multiple matches are played with limited recovery time. Combined carbohydrate and protein (CHO + PRO) intake during physical activity may provide performance and recovery benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CHO + PRO ingestion during ARF matches and training sessions throughout a tournament would enhance performance or recovery in comparison with CHO-only ingestion. Australian rules football players (n = 21) competing in a 7-day national tournament participated in this randomized and double-blinded study. Beverages containing either CHO (n = 10) or CHO + PRO (n = 11) were provided during matches (day 1, day 4, and day 7) and training sessions (day 2 and day 3). Countermovement jumps (CMJs), ratings of muscle soreness, and autonomic function were assessed throughout the tournament. Gastrointestinal tract (GI) discomfort was measured after matches. Countermovement jump peak velocity increased in the CHO + PRO group (p = 0.01) but not in the CHO group. There were no differences in the other CMJ variables. In both groups, muscle soreness increased from days 0 and 1 to day 2 (p ≤ 0.05) but did not remain elevated. R-R intervals (time elapsed between successive peaks in QRS complexes) increased in both groups from day 1 to day 7 (mean difference = 59.85 ms, p < 0.01). Postmatch GI discomfort was not different (p > 0.05) between groups. When daily dietary protein is adequate (>1.8 g·kg·d), the ingestion of CHO + PRO during matches and training sessions throughout a tournament does not reduce muscle soreness nor have clear benefits for neuromuscular recovery or modulate autonomic function in junior ARF athletes, compared with that of CHO alone.


Ego depletion interferes with rule-defined category learning but not non-rule-defined category learning.
Considerable research on category learning has suggested that many cognitive and environmental factors can have a differential effect on the learning of rule-defined (RD) categories as opposed to the learning of non-rule-defined (NRD) categories. Prior research has also suggested that ego depletion can temporarily reduce the capacity for executive functioning and cognitive flexibility. The present study examined whether temporarily reducing participants' executive functioning via a resource depletion manipulation would differentially impact RD and NRD category learning. Participants were either asked to write a story with no restrictions (the control condition), or without using two common letters (the ego depletion condition). Participants were then asked to learn either a set of RD categories or a set of NRD categories. Resource depleted participants performed more poorly than controls on the RD task, but did not differ from controls on the NRD task, suggesting that self regulatory resources are required for successful RD category learning. These results lend support to multiple systems theories and clarify the role of self-regulatory resources within this theory.


Caenorhabditis elegans.
Transparent, free-living nematode worm. Unsegmented body plan with full set of differentiated tissues (neural, endoderm, ectoderm and muscle). Genome size approximately 97 Mb, as five autosomes and one X sex chromosome. Fully sequenced genome, which comprises approximately 20 000 predicted genes. Defined cell lineage. Has made major contribution to studies of development, cell-to-cell signalling, cell ageing and cell death processes. Large-scale gene deletion, microarray analysis of gene expression and two-hybrid protein interaction analysis projects under way. Comparative studies mainly with C. briggsae, but also with other free-living and parasitic nematodes.


Lifestyle Medicine: A Brief Review of Its Dramatic Impact on Health and Survival.
By ignoring the root causes of disease and neglecting to prioritize lifestyle measures for prevention, the medical community is placing people at harm. Advanced nations, influenced by a Western lifestyle, are in the midst of a health crisis, resulting largely from poor lifestyle choices. Epidemiologic, ecologic, and interventional studies have repeatedly indicated that most chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, are the result of lifestyles fueled by poor nutrition and physical inactivity.In this article, we describe the practice of lifestyle medicine and its powerful effect on these modern instigators of premature disability and death. We address the economic benefits of prevention-based lifestyle medicine and its effect on our health care system: A system on the verge of bankruptcy. We recommend vital changes to a disastrous course. Many deaths and many causes of pain, suffering, and disability could be circumvented if the medical community could effectively implement and share the power of healthy lifestyle choices. We believe that lifestyle medicine should become the primary approach to the management of chronic conditions and, more importantly, their prevention. For future generations, for our own health, and for the Hippocratic Oath we swore to uphold ("First do no harm"), the medical community must take action. It is our hope that the information presented will inspire our colleagues to pursue lifestyle medicine research and incorporate such practices into their daily care of patients. The time to make this change is now.


A large-scale SNP-based genomic admixture analysis of the captive rhesus macaque colony at the California National Primate Research Center.
Some breeding facilities in the United States have crossbred Chinese and Indian rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) founders either purposefully or inadvertently. Genetic variation that reflects geographic origins among research subjects has the potential to influence experimental outcomes. The use of animals from different geographic regions, their hybrids, and animals of varying degrees of kinship in an experiment can obscure treatment effects under study because high interanimal genetic variance can increase phenotypic variance among the research subjects. The intent of this study, based on a broad genomic analysis of 2,808 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), is to ensure that only animals estimated to be of pure Indian or Chinese ancestry, based on both demographic and genetic information, are used as sources of infants for derivation and expansion of the California National Primate Research Center's (CNPRC) super-Specific Pathogen Free (SSPF) rhesus macaque colony. Studies of short tandem repeats (STRs) in Indian and Chinese rhesus macaques have reported that heterozygosity of STRs is higher in Chinese rhesus macaques than in Indian rhesus macaques. The present study shows that heterozygosity of SNPs is actually higher in Indian than in Chinese rhesus macaques and that the Chinese SSPF rhesus macaque colony is far less differentiated from their founders compared to the Indian-origin animals. The results also reveal no evidence of recent gene flow from long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques into the source populations of the SSPF rhesus macaques. This study indicates that many of the long-tailed macaques held in the CNPRC are closely related individuals. Most polymorphisms shared among the captive rhesus, long-tailed, and pig-tailed macaques likely predate the divergence among these groups.


Peroral pancreatoscopy in the diagnosis of mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas.
Mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas is an increasingly recognized clinical entity. However, the differentiation of benign from malignant mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas is challenging. Peroral pancreatoscopy as recently developed may have potential for the diagnosis of mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas. The subjects were 41 patients with clinically diagnosed mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas, 40 of whom underwent surgical resection. Autopsy findings were available in another patient with unresectable disease. Histologically, hyperplasia was identified in 3 patients, mildly atypical adenoma in 11, severely atypical adenoma in 16, and adenocarcinoma in 11. Peroral pancreatoscopy was performed before surgery or pathologic examination. The findings were retrospectively evaluated and compared with the histopathologic diagnosis. Pancreatoscopic observation was successful in 30 patients (73.2%). Elevated lesions were identified in 22 (73.3%). Villous or vegetative elevations and red color markings were frequently found in severely atypical adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Tumor location (main or branch duct type) did not correlate with survival after resection. Partial resection was performed in 7 of 30 patients with nonmalignant tumors and resulted in favorable outcomes. Peroral pancreatoscopy can be used to differentiate benign mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas (hyperplasia and mildly atypical adenoma) from the more dysplastic lesions (severely atypical adenoma and adenocarcinoma) and may provide useful information for determining the type of surgery to be performed.