Utilization of rice production residues as a reinforcing agent in bioadhesives based on polyphenols extracted from the bark of trees from the Brazilian Cerrado biome.
The scarcity of nonrenewable resources and the increase in environmental pollution have intensified the search for materials that exhibit specific characteristics and are nontoxic, renewable, and sustainable. Thus, the objective of this work was to produce natural polyphenol adhesives reinforced with rice husk and its ash to increase the mechanical resistance and moisture resistance of the glue line in wood bonded joints. Polyphenols were extracted from the bark of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (barbatimão). Adhesives were produced with a 50 % solid and 50 % liquid composition. Rice husk and husk ash underwent X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). Adhesives and reinforcement material were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The adhesives were glued in a mechanical press in specimens made of Pinus elliottii, which were subjected to shear testing of the wet and dry glue line. As a result, the chemical components present in rice husk and its ash positively influenced the properties of the adhesives. The mechanical glue line shear test showed that the adhesive reinforced with rice husk ash did not show a statistically significant difference. However, natural adhesives based on polyphenols from barbatimão strengthened with rice husk and ash showed improved properties, demonstrating how much it pays to use the residue of rice production to reinforce the matrix of tannin adhesives. Thus, it can be determined that reinforcement with rice husk and ash is efficient in improving some properties of natural adhesives based on polyphenols.


Surface-water/groundwater boundaries affect seasonal PFAS concentrations and PFAA precursor transformations.
Elevated concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking-water supplies are a major concern for human health. It is therefore essential to understand factors that affect PFAS concentrations in surface water and groundwater and the transformation of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors that degrade into terminal compounds. Surface-water/groundwater exchange can occur along the flow path downgradient from PFAS point sources and biogeochemical conditions can change rapidly at these exchange boundaries. Here, we investigate the influence of surface-water/groundwater boundaries on PFAS transport and transformation. To do this, we conducted an extensive field-based analysis of PFAS concentrations in water and sediment from a flow-through lake fed by contaminated groundwater and its downgradient surface-water/groundwater boundary (defined as ≤100 cm below the lake bottom). PFAA precursors comprised 45 ± 4.6% of PFAS (PFAA precursors + 18 targeted PFAA) in the predominantly oxic lake impacted by a former fire-training area and historical wastewater discharges. In shallow porewater downgradient from the lake, this percentage decreased significantly to 25 ± 11%. PFAA precursor concentrations decreased by 85% between the lake and 84-100 cm below the lake bottom. PFAA concentrations increased significantly within the surface-water/groundwater boundary and in downgradient groundwater during the winter months despite lower stable concentrations in the lake water source. These results suggest that natural biogeochemical fluctuations associated with surface-water/groundwater boundaries may lead to PFAA precursor loss and seasonal variations in PFAA concentrations. Results of this work highlight the importance of dynamic biogeochemical conditions along the hydrological flow path from PFAS point sources to potentially affected drinking water supplies.


Prognostic value of emergency physician performed echocardiography in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening illness with high morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography (ECG) plays an important role in the early identification of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, making it a helpful tool in identifying hemodynamically stable patients affected by PE with a higher mortality risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if one or more ECG indexes could predict a short-term evolution towards RV dysfunction. We selected all patients consecutively admitted to the Careggi Hospital Emergency Department with the clinical suspicion of PE, confirmed by computed tomography angiography prior to enrollment. Subsequently, properly trained emergency physicians acquired a complete ECG to measure RV morphological and functional indices. For each patient, we recorded if he or she received a fibrinolytic treatment, a surgical embolectomy or heparin therapy during the emergency department (ED) stay. Then, every patient was re-evaluated with ECG, by the same physician, after 1 week in our intensive observation unit and 1 month as outpatient in our ED regional referral center for PE. From 2002 to 2007, 120 consecutive patients affected by PE were evaluated by echocardiography at the Careggi Hospital ED. Nine patients (8%) were treated with thrombolytic therapy. Six died within 1 week and 4 abandoned the study, while the remaining 110 survived and were re-evaluated by ECG after 1 week and 1 month. The majority of the echocardiographic RV indexes improve mostly in the first 7 days: Acceleration Time (AT) from 78±14 ms to 117±14 ms (p<0.001), Diameter of Inferior Vena Cava (DIVC) from 25±6 mm to 19±5 mm (p<0.001), Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) from 16±6 mm to 20±6 mm (p<0.001). Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure (PASP) showed a remarkable decrease from 59±26 mmHg to 37±9 mmHg, (p<0.001). The measurements of the transverse diameters of both ventricles and the respective ratio showed a progressive normalization with a reduction of RV diameter, an increase of Left Ventricular (LV) diameter and a decrease of RV/LV ratio over time. To evaluate the RV function, the study population was divided into 3 groups based on the TAPSE and PASP mean values at the admission: Group 1 (68 patients) (TAPSE+/ PASP-), Group 2 (12 patients) (TAPSE-/PASP-), and Group 3 (30 patients) (TAPSE-/PASP+). Greater values of AT, minor RV diameter, greater LV diameter and a lesser RV/LV ratio were associated with a short-term improvement of TAPSE in the Group 2. Instead, in Group 3 the only parameter associated with short-term improvement of TAPSE and PASP was the treatment with thrombolytic therapy (p<0.0001). Greater values of AT, minor RV diameter, greater LV diameter and a lesser RV/LV ratio were associated with a short-term improvement of TAPSE-/PASP- values. Patients with evidence of RV dysfunction (TAPSE-/PASP+), may benefit from thrombolytic therapy to improve a short- term RV function. After 1 month, also a decreased DIVC predicted improved RV function.


Appearance Framing versus Health Framing of Health Advice: Assessing the Effects of a YouTube Channel for Adolescent Girls.
The present experimental study tested the effects of appearance framing of health advice on adolescent girls' state self-objectification, appearance anxiety, and preference for appearance-enhancing products. The stimuli consisted of informative YouTube-style videos about doing yoga, drinking water, or using sunscreen, and these videos were either appearance-framed (experimental condition) or health-framed (control condition). In total, 154 adolescent girls (Mage = 15.67, SD = 1.07) participated in the experiment. The effect of appearance-framed videos on state self-objectification scores was moderated by age, such that the effect of viewing the appearance-framed videos positively predicted state self-objectification among the younger adolescents. In addition, self-objectification mediated the effect of condition on appearance anxiety and on their appearance-enhancing product preferences, again with the predicted effects supported for the younger adolescents in the sample.


Auditory filter shapes and high-frequency hearing in adults who have impaired speech in noise performance despite clinically normal audiograms.
Some individuals complain of hearing difficulties in the presence of background noise even in the absence of clinically significant hearing loss (obscure auditory dysfunction). Previous evidence suggests that these listeners have impaired frequency resolution, but there has been no thorough characterization of auditory filter shapes in this population. Here, the filter shapes of adults (n = 14) who self-reported speech recognition problems in noise and performed poorly on a sentence-in-noise perception test despite having clinically normal audiograms were compared to those of controls (n = 10). The filter shapes were evaluated using a 2-kHz probe with a fixed level of 30, 40, or 50 dB sound pressure level (SPL) and notched-noise simultaneous maskers that were varied in level to determine the masker level necessary to just mask the probe. The filters of the impaired group were significantly wider than those of controls at all probe levels owing to an unusual broadening of the upper slope of the filter. In addition, absolute thresholds were statistically indistinguishable between the groups at the standard audiometric frequencies, but were elevated in the impaired listeners at higher frequencies. These results strengthen the idea that this population has a variety of hearing deficits that go undetected by standard audiometry.


Brain tumor acidification using drugs simultaneously targeting multiple pH regulatory mechanisms.
Non-invasively distinguishing aggressive from non-aggressive brain tumors is an important clinical challenge. Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation is essential for normal cell function and is normally maintained within a narrow range. Cancer cells are characterized by a reversed intracellular to extracellular pH gradient, compared to healthy cells, that is maintained by several distinct mechanisms. Previous studies have demonstrated acute pH modulation in glioblastoma detectable by chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after blocking individual pH regulatory mechanisms. The purpose of the current study was to simultaneously block five pH regulatory mechanisms while also providing glucose as an energy substrate. We hypothesized that this approach would increase the acute pH modulation effect allowing the identification of aggressive cancer. Using a 9.4 T MRI scanner, CEST spectra were acquired sensitive to pHi using amine/amide concentration independent detection (AACID). Twelve mice were scanned approximately 11 ± 1 days after implanting 105 U87 human glioblastoma multiforme cells in the brain, before and after intraperitoneal injection of a combination of five drugs (quercetin, cariporide, dichloroacetate, acetazolamide, and pantoprazole) with and without glucose. Two hours after combination drug injection there was a significant 0.1 ± 0.03 increase in tumor AACID value corresponding to a 0.4 decrease in pHi. After injecting the drug combination with glucose the AACID value increased by 0.18 ± 0.03 corresponding to a 0.72 decrease in pHi. AACID values were also slightly increased in contralateral tissue. The combined drug treatment with glucose produced a large acute CEST MRI contrast indicating tumor acidification, which could be used to help localize brain cancer and monitor tumor response to chemotherapy.


Three-dimensional structure identified from single sections.
Errors in the identification of objects have been made frequently because of faulty interpretation of their flat images or sections. Such errors are perpetuated through a strange psychological chain reaction. 1) The first author who observes sections of an object, although presenting faithful pictures of sections of it, identifies its shape incorrectly. Such an initial mistake may be due to identification of the flat image with the object itself or to failure to consider the shape of the image as a function of the shape of the real object and the angle and level of cutting. 2) The first author describes verbally his personal concept of the object. 3) The reader reads the text of a publication before or without examining the pictorial evidence. 4) The reader's belief in the authority of the printed word immunizes him against critical evaluation of the evidence. 5) The reader regards a published opinion as a "fact." 6) A mechanism of suppression of new evidence is set up in the brain of the reader in favor of previously published, verbalized concepts. His brain unconsciously rejects new concepts that might arise intracerebrally. The printed word supersedes visual evidence. 7) A secondary mechanism parallels steps 3 to 6. An observer notices an unfamiliar figure in the microscope. Following established procedures for scientific investigations, he refrains from forming an opinion about his observation. Instead he rushes to the library searching for similar, published observations. If he finds a previous report about a similar shape, he accepts it as a "fact" and he "confirms" the previously printed viewpoint. Let me interject a personal experience concerning this mechanism. I investigated the arrangement of blood vessels in the human liver by means of corrosion preparations. The work was divided between an assistant and me. He was assigned the task of preparing drawings of two specimens. In his drawings he showed a structure which was absent from the specimens but had been described in a previous publication. This article shows simple ways for correct initial identification of shape and structure and for the breaking of the reverberating circuit of erroneous thinking.


Relationship of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width with Cancer Mortality in Hospital.
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a clinical index used to make early diagnosis and to monitor treatment effects in iron deficiency anemia. Recently, several studies have suggested that RDW was associated with mortality from various cancers; however, there has been little evidence regarding RDW and cancer as a whole. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship of RDW and overall cancer mortality in hospital. We extracted patient data from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care Database III version 1.3 (MIMICIII.1.3). RDW was measured prior to hospital admission. Patients older than 18 who were diagnosed with malignant tumors were included. The primary outcome was cancer mortality in hospital. Logistic regression and multivariate analysis were used to assess the association between the RDW and hospital mortality. A total of 3384 eligible patients were enrolled. A positive correlation was observed between RDW and overall cancer mortality. Patients with higher RDW (14.4-16.3%, 16.4-30.5%) were at greater risk of death than the patients with RDW in the reference range (11.5-14.3%). On multivariate analysis, when adjusted for age and gender, the adjusted OR (95% CIs) in the mid-RDW group and high-RDW group were 1.61 (1.28, 2.03) and 2.52 (2.03, 3.13), respectively, with the low-RDW group set as the baseline. Similar trends were also observed in the model adjusted for other clinical characteristics. This suggested that elevated RDW was related to increased risk of cancer mortality, and RDW may play an important role in the prediction of short-term mortality after hospitalization in cancer patients. Elevated RDW was associated with overall cancer mortality. To a certain extent, RDW may predict the risk of mortality in patients with cancers; it was an independent prognostic indicator of short-term mortality after hospitalization in cancer patients.


On parsimony in personality disorder classification: Rejoinder to Sleep et al. (2019).
Sleep, Lynam, Widiger, Crowe, and Miller (2019) discuss a number of concerns previously raised with respect to the distinction between impairment and trait in the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD). In particular, they cite issues of overlap between the 2 as raising concerns about parsimony of representation. In this response, I briefly address both the importance of parsimony and its limitations as a consideration in the classification of personality disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Thymic stimulatory actions of arginine.
Various arginine HCl supplements (0.5-3%), half added to a basal commercial rodent chow (1.8% arginine) and half to the drinking water, were given to 8- to 9-week-old male CBA/J mice for 6 days. Control animals were fed the basal chow and drank tap water. All mice ate and drank ad libitum. Weight gain and food intake were similar in all groups. All arginine supplements increased significantly: thymic weight (average 22%), thymic lymphocyte content (average 45%), and the in vitro reactivity of thymic lymphocytes judged by the incorporation of 3H-leucine into the TCA-precipitable protein fraction in response to stimulation by phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. All these thymic effects resulted from the 0.5% arginine hydrochloride supplement; further increases in arginine supplementation did not increase these effects. These data suggest that supplemental arginine may improve host defence mechanisms and thereby may play an important role in the care of severely injured or ill patients, since it is well established that their defense mechanisms are reduced.


Anastomosis of small vessels in the foot.
A brief explanation of small vessel anastomosis is presented with a case history. Depending upon the trauma to a vessel and its relative size, the surgeon can attempt to correct the vascular defect. A case history of a traumatic insult to the dorsalis pedis artery demonstrates a situation in which small vessel anastomosis can be performed to insure adequate blood perfusion to the distal aspect of the foot.


Generalizing the plurality method for forming hospital service areas.
The upcoming Health Care Financing Administration's Fourth Scope of Work for peer review organizations (PROs) envisions much use of geographic analysis of utilization rates and quality of care. Proper analysis of utilization rates requires each PRO to form multiple sets of hospital service areas. The method used most often in the literature is the plurality method. Because this method can create fractured service areas and can leave hospitals without a service area, the service areas and their associated hospitals often are reworked by hand. This last step drastically raises the effort required to form service areas and makes the method nonreproducible. This report defines the generalized plurality method for forming the hospital service areas that are central to the study of use patterns via small area analysis. This new method is a true generalization of the plurality method. Like the plurality method, it forms service areas by allowing geographic areas to "vote" for their preferred hospital. The generalization is achieved by allowing near-ties in the voting to cause clustering of hospitals. Hence it is a clustering algorithm that operates on both the geographic areas (sources) and the hospitals (destinations) at the same time. It is a nonhierarchical, nonagglomerative cluster method. There are several free parameters that may be chosen to adjust the effect of the clustering by adjusting the definition of a near-tie, as well as the sensitivity of the clustering to near-ties from sources with a small number of votes. This automated method enjoys many major advantages over the methods commonly appearing in the literature: it is completely reproducible, it is quick, and it does not require the a priori convening of a panel of experts. It thus can be applied easily to a wide variety of types of care that would not necessarily have the same service areas.


[Staging of infiltrating bladder cancer. Role of C.T. scan].
To analyse the role of CT-scan on preoperative determination of bladder and lymph node involvement of infiltrative bladder cancer, and its possible impact on the surgical management of these patients. Retrospective study including 115 patients with the diagnosis of infiltrative bladder cancer between 1984 and 1999. The ability of CT-scan for bladder and lymph node staging was evaluated comparing results with the findings after radical surgery. Potential impact of this imaging technique on change of surgical attitudes was evaluated. Perivesical involvement estimation by CT-scan was right in 36.5%, underestimated in 49.6% and overestimated in 14%. The more advanced the perivesical involvement the lower the sensitivity for CT-scan in perivesical staging. The more locally advanced tumour the higher specificity, oscillating between 44% for pT2 and 94% for pT4. In reference to lymph node staging, it was correct in 71.3% of the cases, although this percentage depended almost exclusively on patients with negative nodes (N-). However, there was a 24.3% understaging rate which corresponded to the majority of N+ patients. These data offer a 28% sensitivity, 93% specificity, 68% positive predictive value, and 72% negative predictive value. Finally, the reliability of bladder staging in patients with lymph node involvement (N+) (39 patients) was established; it was correctly estimated in as low as 30% of the cases with a 70% understaging rate. CT-scan would have modified surgical attitudes in only 6 patients (5%), all of them with advanced tumours. The impact of CT-scan on infiltrative bladder cancer clinical staging is relatively low. The highest benefit is obtained in patients suspect of having advanced disease. Limitation to this group would result in significative cost reductions with low risk for unappropriate surgical management.


Flow-dependent potassium secretion by rabbit cortical collecting tubule in vitro.
Cortical collecting tubules (CCT) dissected from rabbits fed a diet designed to stimulate potassium transport secreted potassium in direct proportion to the flow rate in the range of 0.4-3 nl/min (r = 0.79). This relationship was also evident in tubules from rabbits maintained on standard laboratory chow (r = 0.80). The slope of the line relating the two parameters was almost six times greater in tubules from animals fed the special diet. When the range of flow rates was expanded, potassium secretion in nine CCTs appeared to peak at 5-6 nl/min and then failed to increase despite further elevation of flow to nearly 15 nl/min. We investigated the effects of the electrical and chemical gradients on flow-dependent potassium secretion. Because transepithelial voltage was unaffected by changes in axial flow, we conclude that the flow-dependent fraction of potassium secretion is not explained by the electrical gradient. To evaluate the role of luminal potassium concentration on flow-dependent potassium secretion, 11 CCTs were perfused with both 5 and 50 mM potassium solutions at two flow rates (approximately 1.5 and 4.0 nl/min). Increases in both potassium secretion (15.6 +/- 3.9 peq.mm-1.min-1) and sodium reabsorption (11.9 +/- 5.2 peq.mm-1.min-1) were evident in the tubules perfused with 5 mM potassium. Potassium secretion was not reduced by 50 mM luminal potassium at the low flow rate when the largest chemical gradients opposing net secretion were generated. When 50 mM potassium was present in the lumen, increasing flow did not stimulate potassium secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


B cells regulate CD40 ligand-induced IL-12 production in antigen-presenting cells (APC) during T cell/APC interactions.
Although stimulation of freshly isolated murine spleen cells with anti-CD3 mAb or Con A failed to generate IL-12 production, the same cell preparations depleted of B cells produced IL-12. Addition of normal B cells inhibited IL-12 production in a cell number-dependent manner. IL-12 production was dependent on the presence of CD4+, but not of CD8+, T cells, and inhibited by addition of anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) mAb. Anti-CD3 or Con A stimulation induced CD40L expression only on CD4+ T cells, which was inhibited in the presence of B cells. IL-12 production was also induced by interactions between CD40L-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells and splenocytes depleted of T and B cells, but not of APC, indicating CD40L-induced IL-12 production by APC. The involvement of CD40 molecules was examined by comparing the ability of cells from CD40-deficient (CD40 -/-) and wild-type mice (CD40 +/+) to produce IL-12. Spleen cells from CD40 -/- and CD40 +/+ mice produced comparable amounts of IL-12 in response to bacterial stimuli. However, the B cell-depleted fraction from CD40 -/- mice failed to produce IL-12 when stimulated with anti-CD3 or Con A or when cocultured with CD40L-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells. These results indicate that CD40L expressed on activated T cells induces APC to produce IL-12 through CD40/CD40L interaction, but this pathway is competitively inhibited by CD40+ B cells incapable of producing IL-12 upon stimulation with CD40L. Thus, this might represent a novel mechanism underlying the regulation of cell-mediated and humoral immunity.


Gut stem cell necroptosis by genome instability triggers bowel inflammation.
The aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial interplay between heredity and environment1,2. Here we report that deficiency in SETDB1, a histone methyltransferase that mediates the trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 9, participates in the pathogenesis of IBD. We found that levels of SETDB1 are decreased in patients with IBD, and that mice with reduced SETDB1 in intestinal stem cells developed spontaneous terminal ileitis and colitis. SETDB1 safeguards genome stability3, and the loss of SETDB1 in intestinal stem cells released repression of endogenous retroviruses (retrovirus-like elements with long repeats that, in humans, comprise approximately 8% of the genome). Excessive viral mimicry generated by motivated endogenous retroviruses triggered Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1)-dependent necroptosis, which irreversibly disrupted homeostasis of the epithelial barrier and promoted bowel inflammation. Genome instability, reactive endogenous retroviruses, upregulation of ZBP1 and necroptosis were all seen in patients with IBD. Pharmaceutical inhibition of RIP3 showed a curative effect in SETDB1-deficient mice, which suggests that targeting necroptosis of intestinal stem cells may represent an approach for the treatment of severe IBD.


Late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a child with gastric perforation and acute pancreatitis.
Late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs beyond the neonatal period, and is relatively rare, presenting with nonspecific respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. We report a rare case of late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 7-year-old girl, who presented with abdominal pain, shortness of breath and fever on admission. Work-up revealed intrathoracic gastric perforation, acute pancreatitis and septic shock with a diaphragmatic defect. Due to the high content of amylase in pleural effusion, we suspected the presence of a pancreaticopleural fistula, and we were also puzzled whether the gastric perforation was caused by a pleural indwelling catheterization, but this was ruled out. We about performed a laparotomy to reposition the herniated organs, repair the hernia and the gastric perforation, and undergo the gastrostomy. The girl had an uneventful post-operative recovery. Late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernias are often misdiagnosed. Clinicians should combine multiple imaging modalities to make a definite diagnosis and perform surgery as soon as possible to avoid severe complications.


Mechanism of interleukin-1- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent regulation of the alpha 1-antichymotrypsin gene in human astrocytes.
The expression of alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (ACT) is significantly enhanced in affected brain regions in Alzheimer's disease. This serine proteinase inhibitor specifically colocalizes with filamentous beta-amyloid deposits and recently has been shown to influence both formation and destabilization of beta-amyloid fibrils. In the brain, ACT is expressed in astrocytes, and interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), oncostatin M (OSM), and IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor complexes control synthesis of this inhibitor. Here, we characterize a molecular mechanism responsible for both IL-1 and TNF-induced expression of ACT gene in astrocytes. We identify the 5' distal IL-1/TNF-responsive enhancer of the ACT gene located 13 kb upstream of the transcription start site. This 413-bp-long enhancer contains three elements, two of which bind nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) and one that binds activating protein 1 (AP-1). All of these elements contribute to the full responsiveness of the ACT gene to both cytokines, as determined by deletion and mutational analysis. The 5' NF-kB high-affinity binding site and AP-1 element contribute most to the enhancement of gene transcription in response to TNF and IL-1. In addition, we demonstrate that the 5' untranslated region of the ACT mRNA does not contribute to cytokine-mediated activation. Finally, we find that overexpression of the NF-kB inhibitor (IkB) totally inhibits any activation mediated by the newly identified IL-1/TNF enhancer of the ACT gene.


Posterior segment manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Ocular manifestations can occur in up to 50% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and posterior segment involvement is the most common presentation. The posterior segment manifestations of AIDS can be divided into four categories: retinal vasculopathy, opportunistic infections, unusual malignancies and neuro-ophthalmologic abnormalities. Retinal microvasculopathy and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis are the most common manifestations, even in the era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Highly active anti-retroviral therapy has been shown to cause regression of CMV retinitis, reduce the incidence of CMV-related retinal detachments, and prolong patient survival. Immune recovery uveitis is a new cause of vision loss in patients on HAART. Diagnosis and treatment are guided by the particular conditions and immune status of the patient.


Distribution and dynamics of laser-polarized (129)Xe magnetization in vivo.
The first magnetic resonance imaging studies of laser-polarized (129)Xe, dissolved in the blood and tissue of the lungs and the heart of Sprague-Dawley rats, are described. (129)Xe resonances at 0, 192, 199, and 210 ppm were observed and assigned to xenon in gas, fat, tissue, and blood, respectively. One-dimensional chemical-shift imaging (CSI) reveals xenon magnetization in the brain, kidney, and lungs. Coronal and axial two-dimensional CSI show (129)Xe dissolved in blood and tissue in the thorax. Images of the blood resonance show xenon in the lungs and the heart ventricle. Images of the tissue resonance reveal xenon in lung parenchyma and myocardium. The (129)Xe spectrum from a voxel located in the heart ventricle shows a single blood resonance. Time-resolved spectroscopy shows that the dynamics of the blood resonance match the dynamics of the gas resonance and demonstrates efficient diffusion of xenon gas to the lung parenchyma and then to pulmonary blood. These observations demonstrate the utility of laser-polarized (129)Xe to detect exchange across the gas-blood barrier in the lungs and perfusion into myocardial tissue. Applications to measurement of lung function, kidney perfusion, myocardial perfusion, and regional cerebral blood flow are discussed. Magn Reson Med 42:1137-1145, 1999.


Eveningness, sleep patterns, daytime functioning, and quality of life in Israeli adolescents.
The purpose of the study was to assess the relationships between eveningness, sleep patterns, measures of daytime functioning, i.e., sleepiness, sleep problem behaviors, and depressed mood, and quality of life (QOL) in young Israeli adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was performed in urban and rural middle schools in Northern Israel. Participants were 470 eighth and ninth grade middle school students (14 ± 0.8 yrs of age) in the normative school system. Students completed the modified School Sleep Habits Survey (SSHS) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Short Form, assessing six subscales of physical, emotional, social, school performance, and psychosocial functioning, plus an addition generated total score. During weekdays and weekends, evening types went to bed later, their sleep latency was longer, their wake-up time was later, and their sleep duration was shorter than intermediate and morning types. Evening types exhibited more sleep problem behaviors, sleepiness, depressed mood, and lower QOL compared to intermediate and morning types. Based on the regression model, sleepiness, sleep-problem behaviors, and depressed mood were the variables most strongly associated with QOL, followed by morning-evening preference, weekday sleep duration, and weekend sleep latency. This study is the first to assess QOL in normative, healthy adolescents and to demonstrate strong associations between morning-evening preference and QOL. These findings enhance the need to identify young individuals with an evening preference, and to be aware of the characteristics and manifestations of the evening chronotype on daytime and nighttime behaviors in adolescence.


Transforming a volcanic rock powder waste into an efficient adsorbent to remove dyes (acid green 16 and acid red 97) and metals (Ag+, Co2+, and Cu2+) from water.
This study searched for the best synthesis route for producing an adsorbent from the alkaline fusion of volcanic rock powder waste. The samples synthesized under different conditions of temperature and alkalizing ratio/precursor material, nine in total (NP.F, NP.F1, NP.F2, ...NP.F8 ), were used in the adsorption of acid green 16 (AG 16) and acid red 97 (AR 97) dyes and Ag+, Co2+, and Cu2+ ions. Subsequently, the 22 central composite rotational design (CCRD) was applied, and the effects of the alkalizing ratio (NaOH)/volcanic rock (VR) and temperature (T) on the synthesis process were analyzed in terms of their influence on the physical properties of the materials and in the process of adsorption of contaminants. From the experimental design, it can be seen that the independent variables alkalizing ratio/volcanic rock and temperature greatly influence the characteristic and synthesis of adsorbent materials by alkaline fusion, which in turn reflects on the results achieved in the adsorption of contaminants. Therefore, the temperature of 550 °C and NaOH/VR ratio equal to 1 was the most satisfactory synthesis route to obtain high values of adsorption capacity (q, mg g-1) and removal (R, %) for all studied contaminants, as well as the optimization of the physical characteristics of the material. For example, the adsorption capacity of dye AG 16 was 49.1 mg g-1, and for Ag+ was 66.2 mg g-1, while the removal percentages were 97.6% and 93.4%, respectively. This approach made it possible to transform volcanic rock powder wastes into an efficient adsorbent to treat contaminated waters with dyes and metals.


Cystic fibrosis lung disease in adult patients.
As the longevity of all patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) continues to increase (median 2005 survival=36.8 years), more adult patients will be receiving their medical care from nonpediatric adult-care providers. Cystic fibrosis remains a fatal disease, with more than 80% of patients dying after the age of 18 years, and most deaths resulting from pulmonary disease. The changing epidemiology requires adult-care providers to become knowledgeable and competent in the clinical management of adults with CF. Physicians must understand the influence of specific genotype on phenotypic disease presentation and severity, the pathogenic factors determining lung disease onset and progression, the impact of comorbid disease factors such as CF-related diabetes and malnutrition upon lung disease severity, and the currently approved or standard accepted therapies used for chronic management of CF lung disease. This knowledge is critical to help alleviate morbidity and improve mortality for the rapidly expanding population of adults with CF.


Angiotensin-(1-9) attenuates cardiac fibrosis in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat via the angiotensin type 2 receptor.
The renin-angiotensin system regulates cardiovascular physiology via angiotensin II engaging the angiotensin type 1 or type 2 receptors. Classic actions are type 1 receptor mediated, whereas the type 2 receptor may counteract type 1 receptor activity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 metabolizes angiotensin II to angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin I to angiotensin-(1-9). Angiotensin-(1-7) antagonizes angiotensin II actions via the receptor Mas. Angiotensin-(1-9) was shown recently to block cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via the angiotensin type 2 receptor. Here, we investigated in vivo effects of angiotensin-(1-9) via the angiotensin type 2 receptor. Angiotensin-(1-9) (100 ng/kg per minute) with or without the angiotensin type 2 receptor antagonist PD123 319 (100 ng/kg per minute) or PD123 319 alone was infused via osmotic minipump for 4 weeks into stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. We measured blood pressure by radiotelemetry and cardiac structure and function by echocardiography. Angiotensin-(1-9) did not affect blood pressure or left ventricular mass index but reduced cardiac fibrosis by 50% (P<0.01) through modulating collagen I expression, reversed by PD123 319 coinfusion. In addition, angiotensin-(1-9) inhibited fibroblast proliferation in vitro in a PD123 319-sensitive manner. Aortic myography revealed that angiotensin-(1-9) significantly increased contraction to phenylephrine compared with controls after N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester treatment, an effect abolished by PD123 319 coinfusion (area under the curve: angiotensin-(1-9) N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester=98.9±11.8%; control+N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester=74.0±10.4%; P<0.01), suggesting that angiotensin-(1-9) improved basal NO bioavailability in an angiotensin type 2 receptor-sensitive manner. In summary, angiotensin-(1-9) reduced cardiac fibrosis and altered aortic contraction via the angiotensin type 2 receptor supporting a direct role for angiotensin-(1-9) in the renin-angiotensin system.


COVID-19 preventive social-behavioural practices and exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among residents in the city of Yaounde: Lessons from the early phase of the pandemic in Cameroon.
Non-pharmaceutical interventions remain key in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We sought to assess COVID-19 preventive, social-behavioural practices, and SARS-CoV-2 exposure through IgG rapid tests. This was a cross-sectional survey among 971 respondents residing in 180 households within the "Cite Verte" health district of Yaounde-Cameroon, from October-November 2020. Using a structured questionnaire, data on SARS-CoV-2 preventive and social behavioural practices were collected, while exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was determined by IgG profiling. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Overall, 971 participants were enrolled, among whom 56.5% were females. The age group 15-29 (33.5%) and those with a secondary level of education (44.7%) were most represented. Regarding preventive/social behavioural practices, the least respected measure was "stopped work", 49.1%, while the most respected was "Respect of hygiene rules", 93.8%. Women obeyed preventive measures more than men, with 87.6% vs 81.0% adhering to the lockdown, (p = 0.005) and 95.5% vs 91.7% to hygiene rules (p = 0.017). The age range 45-64 years was the least adherent to the lockdown rule, with 75.2% (38/153), p<0.0001. Only 24.7% (73/295) and 6.1% (59/295) of the symptomatic individuals reported having sought medical consultation and Covid-19 testing respectively. In addition, up to 69.8% (555/795) felt healthcare facilities were high-risk sites for getting infected, p = 0.002. Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 by IgG positivity was 31.1% (302/971), with men recording a higher proportion of viral exposure, 51.0% (154/302), p = 0.021. After adjusting for gender, age, education, and occupation; salaried worker (p = 0.029; OR: 0.29), and trading (p = 0.001; OR: 0.23) least complied with lockdown rule. In this community of Cameroonian residents highly exposed to COVID-19, many perceived healthcare facilities as high-risk zones for SARS-CoV-2 infection and consequently did not seek medical interventions. Thus, in the context of such a pandemic, advocacy on risk communication and community engagement for health-seeking attitudes should preferentially target men and those afraid of pandemics.


Consensus strategy to quantitate malignant cells in myeloma patients is validated in a multicenter study. Belgium-Dutch Hematology-Oncology Group.
Recently the Belgium-Dutch Hematology-Oncology group initiated a multicenter study to evaluate whether myeloma patients treated with intensive chemotherapy benefit from additional peripheral stem cell transplantation. To determine treatment response accurately, we decided to quantitate malignant cells. To test a consensus quantitation strategy, 5 centers independently determined the immunoglobulin heavy chain sequences of patient tumor cells and developed allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO) and ASO-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We compared the reproducibility of real-time quantitation with quantitation using limiting dilutions. We distributed DNA samples with a 4-log range of tumor cell concentrations and found average quantitation values deviating 74% and 42% from the input values with real-time PCR (1 center) and limiting dilutions (4 centers), respectively. Within single centers we found an average variation coefficient of 0.74, with limiting dilutions not significantly different from the average 0.82 center-to-center variation coefficient. Within a single center, real-time quantitation proved more reproducible (average variation coefficient, 0.36). Quantification was confirmed in 3 patients during treatment in the protocol. This report shows that real-time PCR or limiting dilution assays can be used for quantitation in a single multicenter trial. We present a consensus strategy that allows an accurate comparison of quantitation data generated in independent centers.


Assessing DSM-IV symptoms of panic attack in the general population: an item response analysis.
Unexpected panic attacks may represent a non-specific risk factor for future depression and anxiety disorders. The examination of panic symptoms and associated latent severity levels may lead to improvements in the identification, prevention, and treatment of panic attacks and subsequent psychopathology for 'at risk' individuals in the general population. The current study utilised item response theory to assess the DSM-IV symptoms of panic in relation to the latent severity level of the panic attack construct in a sample of 5913 respondents from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related conditions. Additionally, differential item functioning (DIF) was assessed to determine if each symptom of panic targets the same level of latent severity between different sociodemographic groups (male/female, young/old). Symptoms indexing 'choking', 'fear of dying', and 'tingling/numbness' are some of the more severe symptoms of panic whilst 'heart racing', 'short of breath', 'tremble/shake', 'dizzy/faint', and 'perspire' are some of the least severe symptoms. Significant levels of DIF were detected in the 'perspire' symptom between males and females and the 'fear of dying' symptom between young and old respondents. The current study was limited to examining cross-sectional data from respondents who had experienced at least one panic attack across their lifetime. The findings of the current study provide additional information regarding panic symptoms in the general population that may enable researchers and clinicians to further refine the detection of 'at-risk' individuals who experience threshold and sub-threshold levels of panic.


Reproductive Immunology and Pregnancy 3.0.
This Special Issue, the third dedicated to reproductive immunology and pregnancy, is another review of the latest trends in research topics in this field [...].


Effect of chronic consumption of pistachios (Pistacia vera L.) on glucose metabolism in pre-diabetics and type 2 diabetics: A systematic review.
Pistachio is a nut with high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyphenols and carotenoids content, and the synergism between these compounds appears to affect glucose metabolism. In this systematic review we analyzed studies in which the effect of chronic consumption of pistachio on markers of glucose metabolism was evaluated in pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetics. We used the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Lilacs databases. The research terms used were pistachio, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, blood glucose, hyperglycemia and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Four articles were selected, of which three tested the intake of 50 to 57 g of pistachio/day and one 20% of the daily caloric intake, for a period of 1 to 4 months. Studies reported a decrease in fasting blood glucose, insulinemia, HOMA-IR, and fructosamine, but no change in HbA1c. Lower concentrations of miR-192 and miR-375 were also found, which correlated positively with HOMA-IR. The synergism between PUFA, MUFA, polyphenols and carotenoids present in pistachios can modulate specific miRNA, increasing insulin sensitivity through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This modulation can be used as a tool to monitor the response to interventions, favoring the prevention and treatment of complications related to diabetes.


Stochastic dynamics of an epidemic with recurrent spillovers from an endemic reservoir.
Most emerging human infectious diseases have an animal origin. While zoonotic diseases originate from a reservoir, most theoretical studies have principally focused on single-host processes, either exclusively humans or exclusively animals, without considering the importance of animal to human transmission (i.e. spillover transmission) for understanding the dynamics of emerging infectious diseases. Here we aim to investigate the importance of spillover transmission for explaining the number and the size of outbreaks. We propose a simple continuous time stochastic Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model with a recurrent infection of an incidental host from a reservoir (e.g. humans by a zoonotic species), considering two modes of transmission, (1) animal-to-human and (2) human-to-human. The model assumes that (i) epidemiological processes are faster than other processes such as demographics or pathogen evolution and that (ii) an epidemic occurs until there are no susceptible individuals left. The results show that during an epidemic, even when the pathogens are barely contagious, multiple outbreaks are observed due to spillover transmission. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the only consideration of direct transmission between individuals is not sufficient to explain the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in an incidental host.


[Characteristics of peripheral blood leukocyte differential counts in patients with COVID-19].
To investigate the early changes of peripheral blood leukocyte differential counts in patients with COVID-19. Ten patients with COVID-19 and 30 patients with other viral pneumonia (non-COVID-19) admitted to Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital and Jinshan Branch Hospital from January 22 to February 17, 2020 were enrolled in this study. The differential counts of white blood cells were analyzed. Patients in COVID-19 group showed relatively lower absolute white blood cell (WBC) count 4.95(3.90,6.03)×10(9)/L, lymphocyte absolute count 1.20(0.98,1.50)×10(9)/L and eosinophil absolute count 0.01(0.01,0.01)×10(9)/L. Leukopenia developed in two patients(2/10), lymphocytopenia also in two patients(2/10). Seven over ten patients presented with eosinophil cytopenia. In non-COVID-19 group, absolute WBC count was 8.20 (6.78,9.03) ×10(9)/L (P<0.001), lymphocyte absolute count 1.75(1.20,2.53)×10(9)/L(P=0.036), eosinophil absolute count 0.02(0.01,0.03)×10(9)/L(P=0.05). Lymphocytopenia occurred in (16.7%) patients, eosinophil cytopenia in 16.7% patients too. In conclusion, leukopenia, lymphocytopenia and eosinophil cytopenia are more common in COVID-19 patients than those in non- COVID-19 patients.


Tan's Contact for Trapped Lieb-Liniger Bosons at Finite Temperature.
The universal Tan relations connect a variety of microscopic features of many-body quantum systems with two-body contact interactions to a single quantity, called the contact. The latter has become pivotal in the description of quantum gases. We provide a complete characterization of the Tan contact of the harmonically trapped Lieb-Liniger gas for arbitrary interactions and temperature. Combining thermal Bethe ansatz, local-density approximation, and exact quantum Monte Carlo calculations, we show that the contact is a universal function of only two scaling parameters, and determine the scaling function. We find that the temperature dependence of the contact, or equivalently the interaction dependence of the entropy, displays a maximum. The presence of this maximum provides an unequivocal signature of the crossover to the fermionized regime and it is accessible in current experiments.


Accuracy of EMS Trauma Transport Destination Plans in North Carolina.
Abstract Objective. Planning for time-sensitive injury may allow emergency medical services (EMS) systems to more accurately triage patients meeting accepted criteria to facilities most capable of providing life-saving treatment. In 2010, North Carolina (NC) implemented statewide Trauma Triage and Destination Plans (TTDPs) in all 100 of North Carolina's county-defined EMS systems. Each system was responsible for identifying the specific destination hospitals with appropriate resources to treat trauma patients. We sought to characterize the accuracy of their hospital designations. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we collected TTDPs for each county-defined EMS system, including their assigned hospital capabilities (i.e., trauma center or community hospital). We conducted a survey with each EMS system to determine how their TTDP was constructed and maintained, as well as with each TTDP-designated hospital to verify their capabilities. We determined the accuracy of the EMS assigned hospital designations by comparing them to the hospital's reported capabilities. Results. The 100 NC EMS systems provided 380 designations for 112 hospitals. TTDPs were created by EMS administrators and medical directors, with only 55% of EMS systems engaging a hospital representative in the plan creation. Compared to the actual hospital capabilities, 97% of the EMS TTDP designations were correct. Twelve hospital designations were incorrect and the majority (10) overestimated hospital capabilities. Of the 100 EMS systems, 7 misclassified hospitals in their TTDP. EMS systems that did not verify their local hospitals' capabilities during TTDP development were more likely to incorrectly categorize a hospital's capabilities (p = 0.001). Conclusions. A small number of EMS systems misclassified hospitals in their TTDP, but most plans accurately reflected hospital capabilities. Misclassification occurred more often in systems that did not consult local hospitals prior to developing their TTDP. The potential of the TTDP to improve communication between EMS agencies and the facilities with which they work has not been fully realized. EMS agencies or systems should verify local hospital capabilities when engaging in destination planning efforts.


Facilitators and Barriers of Adherence to Multi-Disease Exacerbation Action Plans in COPD Patients - A Qualitative Study.
Whereas exacerbation action plans to self-manage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly improve health outcomes, patients' adherence to those action plans is often poor. This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers of adherence to tailored multi-disease exacerbation action plans. We also explored patients' perspectives toward disease management roles. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of COPD patients who completed a Dutch-Australian self-management intervention evaluating tailored exacerbation action plans for COPD and relevant comorbidities. Interviews were thematically analyzed using a deductive approach guided by the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation of Behavior (COM-B) model. In 2016, ten patients (5 Australian; 5 Dutch; 6 men; age 59-83 years) were interviewed at the end of their one-year follow-up. Facilitators of adherence included improved patients' comprehension of disease and treatment, positive feelings about the intervention, improved self-confidence, and professional support. Barriers included difficulties to recognize symptoms, dislike toward daily symptom monitoring, negative feelings about the intervention, negative mood state, and complexity of symptom diaries and action plans. Patients indicated three distinctive perspectives of their own and their healthcare professional's role in their disease management: 1) patients felt mainly responsible; 2) patients felt shared responsibility with their healthcare professional; and 3) patients felt not responsible as they perceived their healthcare professional to be mainly responsible. We successfully used the COM-B model as a guide to identify facilitators and barriers of patients' adherence to multi-disease exacerbation action plans. Improving patients' adherence in future self-management interventions by targeting specific facilitators or barriers should be considered.


Heuristics and Cognitive Error in Medical Imaging.
The field of cognitive science has provided important insights into mental processes underlying the interpretation of imaging examinations. Despite these insights, diagnostic error remains a major obstacle in the goal to improve quality in radiology. In this article, we describe several types of cognitive bias that lead to diagnostic errors in imaging and discuss approaches to mitigate cognitive biases and diagnostic error. Radiologists rely on heuristic principles to reduce complex tasks of assessing probabilities and predicting values into simpler judgmental operations. These mental shortcuts allow rapid problem solving based on assumptions and past experiences. Heuristics used in the interpretation of imaging studies are generally helpful but can sometimes result in cognitive biases that lead to significant errors. An understanding of the causes of cognitive biases can lead to the development of educational content and systematic improvements that mitigate errors and improve the quality of care provided by radiologists.


A Multi-level Review of Engineering Ethics Education: Towards a Socio-technical Orientation of Engineering Education for Ethics.
This paper aims to review the empirical and theoretical research on engineering ethics education, by focusing on the challenges reported in the literature. The analysis is conducted at four levels of the engineering education system. First, the individual level is dedicated to findings about teaching practices reported by instructors. Second, the institutional level brings together findings about the implementation and presence of ethics within engineering programmes. Third, the level of policy situates findings about engineering ethics education in the context of accreditation. Finally, there is the level of the culture of engineering education. The multi-level analysis allows us to address some of the limitations of higher education research which tends to focus on individual actors such as instructors or remains focused on the levels of policy and practice without examining the deeper levels of paradigm and purpose guiding them. Our approach links some of the challenges of engineering ethics education with wider debates about its guiding paradigms. The main contribution of the paper is to situate the analysis of the theoretical and empirical findings reported in the literature on engineering ethics education in the context of broader discussions about the purpose of engineering education and the aims of reform programmes. We conclude by putting forward a series of recommendations for a socio-technical oriented reform of engineering education for ethics.


Age and Outcomes Associated with BP in Patients with Incident CKD.
Hypertension is the most important treatable risk factor for cardiovascular outcomes. Many patients with CKD are elderly, but the ideal BP in these individuals is unknown. From among 339,887 patients with incident eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), we examined associations of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) with all-cause mortality, incident coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic strokes, and ESRD from the time of developing CKD until the end of follow-up (July 26, 2013, for mortality, CHD, and stroke, and December 31, 2011, for ESRD) in multivariable-adjusted survival models categorized by patients' age. Of the total cohort, 300,424 (88%) had complete data for multivariable analysis. Both SBP and DBP showed a U-shaped association with mortality. SBP displayed a linear association with CHD, stroke, and ESRD, whereas DBP showed no consistent association with either. SBP>140 mmHg was associated with higher incidence of all examined outcomes, but with an incremental attenuation of the observed risk in older compared with younger patients (P<0.05 for interaction) The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with SBP≥170 mmHg (compared with 130-139 mmHg) in patients <50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years were 1.95 (1.34 to 2.84), 2.01 (1.75 to 2.30), 1.68 (1.49 to 1.89), 1.39 (1.25 to 1.54), and 1.30 (1.17 to 1.44), respectively. The risk of incident CHD, stroke, and ESRD was incrementally higher with higher SBP in patients aged <80 years but showed no consistent association in those aged ≥80 years (P<0.05 for interaction for all outcomes). In veterans with incident CKD, SBP showed different associations in older versus younger patients. The association of higher SBP with adverse outcomes was present but markedly reduced in older individuals, especially in those aged ≥80 years. Elevated DBP showed no consistent association with vascular outcomes in patients with incident CKD.


Planar dominance. A major determinant in flatfoot stabilization.
For treatment of a symptomatic flat foot in a child or an acquired flatfoot from posterior tibial dysfunction in the adult, an understanding of the biomechanics and function of the foot and leg is essential to achieve an excellent outcome. Evaluation of supramalleolar deformity directly influences the procedure choice and eventual success of the procedure. An understanding of the level of deformity also indicates the procedure to be used. Subtalar and midtarsal joint function, although related, have their own primary source of deformity. Correction through the subtalar and midtarsal joints must be individualized. Augmentation of the primary repair must be performed when overall instability is present, such as an elongated or deformed posterior tibial tendon or medial ligamentous structure. Evaluation of the gross deforming force of the triceps suri also must be evaluated to provide and ensure predicted outcomes.


Hepatitis C virus: molecular biology & current therapeutic options.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small (approximately 55 to 65 nm), spherical, enveloped, hepatotropic RNA virus that causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Persistent virus infection with HCV often leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present there is neither a selective antiviral therapy nor a preventive vaccine. The only available treatment option is a long-acting pegylated-interferon-alpha, given in combination with nucleoside analog ribavirin, which is not very effective. Molecular studies of HCV began with the successful cloning of its genome in 1989. For many years, research to develop therapeutics was stalled by the inability to grow virus in tissue culture. A major milestone was achieved with the recent development of a robust cell culture system for HCV propagation. HCV proteins assemble and form replication complexes on modified host membranes, called as membranous webs. Even though HCV is detected and targeted by host immune mechanisms, it establishes and maintains a life-long persistent infection. HCV has evolved multiple strategies to survive and persist in hostile cellular environments; and the viral population is known to rapidly change during the course of a natural infection thereby escaping immune surveillance. Rapid mutations also help virus to survive by selecting for the variants which are resistant to antiviral drugs. Although precise mechanisms regulating HCV entry into hepatic cells via receptors remain unknown, HCV also has the capability of direct cell-to-cell transmission. The extremely complex and incompletely understood nature of the HCV lifecycle has complicated the discovery of new therapies. A complete understanding of the functional roles played by the HCV proteins during HCV lifecycle is vital for developing a successful cure. This review deals with current status of efforts in addressing these daunting tasks and challenges in developing therapeutics against chronic and rapidly changing hepatitis C virus.


Nerve growth factor rapidly induces c-fos mRNA in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells.
The nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated increase in c-fos gene expression in the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line has been investigated. NGF treatment of PC12 cells results in an increased level of c-fos mRNA within 15 min. An approximately 100-fold increase in the level of c-fos mRNA occurs 30-45 min after exposure to NGF and the c-fos mRNA concentration returns to its basal level 2 hr after NGF treatment. Thus, the half-life of this RNA transcript is extremely short. In the presence of cycloheximide, the c-fos gene is superinduced and the increased level of c-fos mRNA persists for at least 24 hr. The induction of c-fos gene expression was further studied by utilizing a monoclonal antibody (mAb-192) that is directed against the NGF receptor but does not compete with NGF for binding to the receptor. Treatment of the cells with mAb-192 inhibits the NGF-stimulated elevation of c-fos mRNA, suggesting that the antibody may interfere with the receptor's ability to generate the signal required to stimulate the transcription of this gene. NGF is not the only agent capable of inducing c-fos gene expression in these cells; epidermal growth factor, the tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and the calcium ionophore A23187, agents that induce the c-fos gene in other cell lines, are also effective in PC12 cells. The mRNA for the nuclear protein fos is rapidly induced by NGF and other agents to which PC12 cells respond. This supports the hypothesis that the fos gene product may play a role in signal transduction.


Clinical meaning of uncomplicated coronary dissections after stent implantation.
To assess the influence of uncomplicated coronary dissections in the incidence of target vessel revascularization and cardiovascular events after 1 year. Patients treated from June 1996 to December 2000, with data prospectively collected and uncomplicated dissections (G1, n=36), were compared with those patients without dissections (G2, n=871). Data were assessed with SPSS 8.0 statistical software, the outcomes were compared with the Kaplan-Meier curve, and the significance level was assessed using the log-rank test. Clinical features were similar in both groups: G1 had lower mean reference diameters (P<0.0001), a greater number of patients with type C lesions (P=0.01), a lower final lumen diameter at the end of the procedure (P=0.003), and a greater balloon/artery ratio (P<0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, only the reference diameter and the artery/balloon ratio were independently associated with the presence of residual dissections. No statistically significant difference existed in the incidence of revascularization of the target vessel and major cardiovascular events, at 1-year clinical follow-up, between the 2 groups of patients. Predictors of adverse clinical events at 1 year were the reference diameter, lesion extension, and residual stenosis, rather than the presence of residual dissection. Uncomplicated residual dissections after coronary stents are associated with narrower vessels and a higher balloon/artery ratio. Residual dissections are not associated with worse outcomes at 1-year clinical follow-up.


Stage V (fibrotic) allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. A review of 17 cases followed from diagnosis.
A review of the records of 17 patients with stage V (fibrotic stage) allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis observed since initial diagnosis (mean observation period, 4.9 years) demonstrated that, of the 11 surviving patients, four have very severe respiratory impairment. The other seven patients have mild or moderate functional impairment, but most of these have not shown clinical deterioration during the observation period. The occurrence of new roentgenographic infiltrates after the time of diagnosis was observed in only one patient in this series. Serum IgE and IgG levels against Aspergillus fumigatus, when compared with those of a control pool of serum samples from asthmatic patients with immediate cutaneous reactivity to Aspergillus, were the most useful immunologic studies diagnostically. Lung biopsy specimens obtained in five patients were of relatively little diagnostic value. All patients have required long-term prednisone therapy for control of asthma. Those patients whose forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) remained less than or equal to 0.8 L after initial corticosteroid treatment demonstrated a poor prognosis. When only moderate lung damage has occurred at the time of diagnosis, a stable subsequent course may be expected even in patients with stage V disease.


Proposing an effective approach for traffic safety assessment on heterogeneous traffic conditions using surrogate safety measures and speed of the involved vehicles.
The vehicular traffic in the cities is becoming more complex in developing countries like India due to the rising population and rapid urbanization. With the annually increasing road accidents, a study on the effective safety assessment of heterogeneous traffic conditions is needed. The study aims to evaluate the safety of heterogeneous traffic by spotting the critical conflicts with respect to the speed of the involved vehicles. The current study proposed Critical Following Speed instead of using a single threshold value for safety assessment in mixed traffic. Critical Following Speed was proposed by comparing the stopping and the available distances between the involved vehicles and used to identify the critical conflicts. With this, the study uses the speeds of both the leading and the following vehicles to judge the nature of the conflict. Three unsignalized four-legged intersections (S-1, S-2, and S-3) and two straight road sections (S-4 and S-5) were selected as the study area in Trichy, India. Post Encroachment Time (PET) and Time to Collison (TTC) were used as surrogate indicators to assess the crossing or merging and rear-end conflicts, respectively. The average PET and TTC values were between 1.25 and 1.73 s in the study locations. The overall percentage of critical conflicts indicated the non-safer crossing and merging maneuvers in three locations. The other two locations were experiencing safe rear-end conflicts, as the percentages of critical conflicts were below 4%. Various combinations of leading and following vehicle types were examined for the contribution of critical conflicts. The proposed methodology was validated with the 4-year accident data and a good relation was obtained. Fast-moving vehicles were responsible for the less safe maneuvers with a higher collision probability in all the study locations. The correlation between critical conflicts and road accidents shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach in the traffic safety assessments for mixed traffic. This approach could be employed even in countries with homogenous traffic conditions instead of using a single threshold value. The correlations also show the potential of the proposed Critical Following Speed as a surrogate safety indicator for safety evaluation in the future.


Dissection of the protein G B1 domain binding site for human IgG Fc fragment.
The contribution to the free energy of binding of each of the residues forming the binding site for a human IgG Fc fragment on the surface of the B1 domain of protein G was determined by alanine-scanning mutagenesis. The interface between these two proteins is atypical in that it is smaller than usual, polar in character, and involves two well-defined "knobs-into-holes" interactions. The bulk of the free energy of binding is contributed by three central residues, which make hydrogen bonds across the interface. Of these, the most critical interaction is formed by Glu27, which acts as a charged knob on the surface of the B1 domain, inserting into a polar hole on the Fc fragment. A single alanine mutation of this residue virtually abolishes stable complex formation. Formation of a stable interface between these two proteins is therefore dominated by a small, polar "hot spot."


Myrmecia pilosula, an Ant with Only One Pair of Chromosomes.
A new sibling species of the primitive Australian ant Myrmecia pilosula has a chromosome number of n = 1. C-banding techniques confirm that the two chromosomes of workers are homologous. Males are haploid, as in other Hymenoptera, and their somatic cells contain only a single chromosome. This new species is potentially of great importance in both laboratory and field studies on gene organization.


Crystal structure of two anti-porphyrin antibodies with peroxidase activity.
We report the crystal structures at 2.05 and 2.45 Å resolution of two antibodies, 13G10 and 14H7, directed against an iron(III)-αααβ-carboxyphenylporphyrin, which display some peroxidase activity. Although these two antibodies differ by only one amino acid in their variable λ-light chain and display 86% sequence identity in their variable heavy chain, their complementary determining regions (CDR) CDRH1 and CDRH3 adopt very different conformations. The presence of Met or Leu residues at positions preceding residue H101 in CDRH3 in 13G10 and 14H7, respectively, yields to shallow combining sites pockets with different shapes that are mainly hydrophobic. The hapten and other carboxyphenyl-derivatized iron(III)-porphyrins have been modeled in the active sites of both antibodies using protein ligand docking with the program GOLD. The hapten is maintained in the antibody pockets of 13G10 and 14H7 by a strong network of hydrogen bonds with two or three carboxylates of the carboxyphenyl substituents of the porphyrin, respectively, as well as numerous stacking and van der Waals interactions with the very hydrophobic CDRH3. However, no amino acid residue was found to chelate the iron. Modeling also allows us to rationalize the recognition of alternative porphyrinic cofactors by the 13G10 and 14H7 antibodies and the effect of imidazole binding on the peroxidase activity of the 13G10/porphyrin complexes.


The relationship between first-trimester pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A levels and intrapartum fetal distress development.
To investigate the relationship between the development of intrapartum fetal distress and serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels measured during first-trimester aneuploidy screening tests. This retrospective study included 283 uncomplicated pregnancies that resulted in full-term live births via spontaneous labor or with the induction by oxytocin. Cases were divided into two groups based on whether their first-trimester PAPP-A multiple of the median (MoM) levels were ≤0.5 (Group 1, n=75) or >0.5 (Group 2, n=208). As primary end points, the rate of cesarean section (C/S), the rate of C/S due to fetal distress, and the umbilical artery blood pH values in cases of C/S for fetal distress were compared between the two groups. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test and independent samples t-test. P≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. The mean gestational age at birth and the birth weights were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p=0.002 and p=0.007, respectively). Although the rate of C/S was similar between the groups (p=0.823), the rate of C/S due to fetal distress was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (68.4% vs. 42%, respectively; p=0.050) and the mean umbilical artery blood pH value for C/S deliveries indicated by fetal distress was lower (p=0.048) in Group 1 than in Group 2. When the mode of delivery was analyzed according to the application of labor induction, both the C/S delivery rates (31.6% in Group 1 and 31.7% in Group 2; p=0.992) and C/S delivery rates due to fetal distress (66.7% in Group 1 and 46.2% in Group 2; p=0.405) were similar in both groups. Low PAPP-A levels (≤0.5 MoM) in the first trimester are associated with the risk of intrapartum fetal distress development and the likelihood of C/S for fetal distress. Nonetheless, this risk is not affected by labor induction.


MCC-555-induced NAG-1 expression is mediated in part by KLF4.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) plays a central role in cell differentiation, metabolism and tumorigenesis. We have investigated the therapeutic properties of 5-[[6-[(2-fluorophenyl)-methoxy]-2-napthalenyl]-methyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione (MCC-555) a PPARgamma agonist in human colorectal cancer cells. To elucidate the molecular mechanism(s), by which MCC-555 exerts its effects on the human colorectal cancer cells, we have analyzed the expression of two pro-apoptotic proteins, Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-activated gene-1 (NAG-1). MCC-555-induced expression of the transcription factor, KLF-4 was blocked by a PPARgamma specific antagonist GW9662 in PPARgamma-dependent manner in HCT-116 cells. We further identified a new KLF4 target gene NAG-1, which shows a pro-apoptotic activity. We confirmed that PPARgamma agonists-induced NAG-1 expression was abolished using KLF4 siRNA in HCT-116 cells. Subsequently, KLF4 expression enhances the NAG-1 promoter activity in HCT-116 cells, and functional KLF4 binding sites in the NAG-1 promoter were also identified. MCC-555, a PPARgamma agonist induced the expression of Klf4 mRNA and protein in murine intestinal tumors from MCC-555-treated mice, as assessed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. This study shows that PPARgamma agonists up-regulate KLF4 expression in receptor-dependent manner, and KLF4 was identified as a novel transcription factor that controls NAG-1 promoter activity in human and mouse colorectal cancers.


HIV-1 infection and first line ART induced differential responses in mitochondria from blood lymphocytes and monocytes: the ANRS EP45 "Aging" study.
The ANRS EP45 "Aging" study investigates the cellular mechanisms involved in the accelerated aging of HIV-1 infected and treated patients. The data reported focus on mitochondria, organelles known to be involved in cell senescence. 49 HIV-1 infected patients untreated with antiretroviral therapy, together with 49 seronegative age- and sex-matched control subjects and 81 HIV-1 infected and treated patients, were recruited by 3 AIDS centres (Marseille, Montpellier, Nice; France; http://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT01038999). In more than 88% of treated patients, the viral load was <40 copies/ml and the CD4+ cell count was >500/mm(3). ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and ΔΨm (inner membrane potential) were measured by flow cytometry in blood lymphocytes and monocytes (functional parameters). Three mitochondrial network quantitative morphological parameters were computed using confocal microscopy and image analysis. Three PBMC mitochondrial proteins (porin and subunits 2 and 4 of cytochrome C oxidase encoded by mtDNA or nuclear DNA, respectively) were analysed by western blotting. Quantitative changes in PBMC mitochondrial proteins were not induced by either HIV-1 infection or ART. Discriminant analysis integrating functional (ROS production and ΔΨm) or morphological (network volume density, fragmentation and branching) parameters revealed HIV-1 infection and ART differential effects according to cell type. First line ART tended to rescue lymphocyte mitochondrial parameters altered by viral infection, but induced slight changes in monocytes. No statistical difference was found between the effects of three ART regimens on mitochondrial parameters. Correlations between functional parameters and viral load confirmed the damaging effects of HIV-1 in lymphocyte mitochondria. In patients considered to be clinically stable, mitochondria exhibited functional and morphological modifications in PBMCs resulting from either direct or indirect effects of HIV-1 infection (lymphocytes), or from first line ART (monocytes). Together with other tissue impairments, these changes may contribute to global aging.


Exosomal miR-485-3p derived from pancreatic ductal epithelial cells inhibits pancreatic cancer metastasis through targeting PAK1.
Cell competition is an important feature in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study aims to explore the role of exosomes derived from normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells involved in PC progression. PC cells and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) were treated with exosomes isolated from pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK8 assays. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by Transwell assays. PC and matched adjacent non-tumor tissue specimens were obtained from 46 patients pathologically diagnosed with PC at Peking University First Hospital from 2013 to 2017. Tissue miR-485-3p and p21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1) expression was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the relationship of the two was analyzed using Pearman's product-moment correlation. The clinical significance of miR-485-3p was analyzed using the Chi-square test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and Fisher exact probability, respectively. The binding of miR-485-3p to PAK1 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) was examined by luciferase assay. PC cells were xenografted into nude mice as a PC metastasis model. Exosomes from pancreatic ductal epithelial cells suppressed PC cell migration and invasion as well as the secretion and migration of PSCs. MiR-485-3p was enriched in the exosomes of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells but deficient in those of PC cells and PSCs, in accordance with the lower level in PSCs and PC cells than that in pancreatic ductal cells. And the mature miR-485-3p could be delivered into these cells by the exosomes secreted by normal pancreatic duct cells, to inhibit PC cell migration and invasion. Clinical data analysis showed that miR-485-3p was significantly decreased in PC tissues (P < 0.05) and was negatively associated with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.044). As a direct target of miR-485-3p, PAK1 was found to exert an inhibitory effect on PC cells, and there was a significantly negative correlation between the expression levels of miR-485-3p and PAK1 (r = -0.6525, P < 0.0001) in PC tissues. Moreover, miR-485-3p could suppress PC metastasis in vivo by targeting p21-activated kinase-1. Exosomal miR-485-3p delivered by normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells into PC cells inhibits PC metastasis by directly targeting PAK1. The restoration of miR-485-3p by exosomes or some other vehicle might be a novel approach for PC treatment.


An investigation of replantation of traumatically avulsed permanent incisor teeth.
The success of treatment of 46 replanted, avulsed permanent incisors in 36 children was investigated in relation to some of the factors which have been reported to affect prognosis. Treatment was considered to have been successful if the tooth was still present in the mouth and required no further treatment. If more treatment was necessary, the outcome was considered to be uncertain, while if the tooth had been lost a failure was recorded. Treatment was considered to be successful for 21 teeth, uncertain for 20 teeth and a failure for 5 teeth. A significant relationship was found between success and the method of storing the avulsed tooth, with milk, saliva or saline being the best media. No relationship was demonstrated between the time the avulsed tooth was out of the mouth and success. Root resorption was the most frequent complication of replantation and occurred in 24 teeth. However, no significant relationship between resorption and the time that the avulsed tooth was out of the mouth was demonstrated.


Possible function of VIPP1 in maintaining chloroplast membranes.
A protein designated as VIPP1 is found widely in organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis, but its precise role in chloroplasts has remained somewhat mysterious. Based on its structural similarity, it presumably has evolved from bacterial Phage shock protein A (PspA) with a C-terminal extension of approximately 40 amino acids. Both VIPP1 and PspA are membrane-associated despite the lack of transmembrane helices. They form an extremely large homo-complex that consists of an oligomeric ring unit. Although PspA is known to respond to membrane stress and although it acts in maintaining proton motive force through membrane repair, the multiple function of VIPP1, such as vesicle budding from inner envelope to deliver lipids to thylakoids, maintenance of photosynthetic complexes in thylakoid membranes, biogenesis of Photosystem I, and protective role of inner envelope against osmotic stress, has been proposed. Whatever its precise function in chloroplasts, it is an important protein because depletion of VIPP1 in mutants severely affects photoautotrophic growth. Recent reports of the relevant literature describe that VIPP1 becomes highly mobile when chloroplasts receive hypotonic stress, and that VIPP1 is tightly bound to lipids, which implies a crucial role of VIPP1 in membrane repair through lipid transfer. This review presents a summary of our current knowledge related to VIPP1, particularly addressing the dynamic behavior of complexes against stress and its property of lipid binding. Those data altogether suggest that VIPP1 acts a priori in chloroplast membrane maintenance through its activity to transfer lipids rather than in thylakoid formation through vesicles. This article is part of a Special Issue titled: Chloroplast Biogenesis.


[Pelvic imaging modified by rectum predefecatory distension].
Computed tomography (CT) rectum imaging limited by anatomy, pathological process and CT own characteristics. The ways of image improving are: endorectal scanning, myorelaxatives, contrast substances. Rectum and anal canal has oval serrated profile without distension on CT and US scans. Purpose is to improve the CT and endorectal US scan role in pelvic structure changing disorders operating plan estimating.


A novel approach for analysis of the log-linear age-period-cohort model: application to lung cancer incidence.
A simple, computationally efficient procedure for analyses of the time period and birth cohort effects on the distribution of the age-specific incidence rates of cancers is proposed. Assuming that cohort effects for neighboring cohorts are almost equal and using the Log-Linear Age-Period-Cohort Model, this procedure allows one to evaluate temporal trends and birth cohort variations of any type of cancer without prior knowledge of the hazard function. This procedure was used to estimate the influence of time period and birth cohort effects on the distribution of the age-specific incidence rates of first primary, microscopically confirmed lung cancer (LC) cases from the SEER9 database. It was shown that since 1975, the time period effect coefficients for men increase up to 1980 and then decrease until 2004. For women, these coefficients increase from 1975 up to 1990 and then remain nearly constant. The LC birth cohort effect coefficients for men and women increase from the cohort of 1890-94 until the cohort of 1925-29, then decrease until the cohort of 1950-54 and then remain almost unchanged. Overall, LC incidence rates, adjusted by period and cohort effects, increase up to the age of about 72-75, turn over, and then fall after the age of 75-78. The peak of the adjusted rates in men is around the age of 77-78, while in women, it is around the age of 72-73. Therefore, these results suggest that the age distribution of the incidence rates in men and women fall at old ages.


Applications of tensor theory to object recognition and orientation determination.
A method is developed by which images resulting from orthogonal projection of rigid planar-patch objects arbitrarily oriented in three-dimensional (3-D) space may be used to form systems of linear equations which are solved for the affine transform relating the images. The technique is applicable to complete images and to unlabeled feature sets derived from images, and with small modification may be used to transform images of unknown objects such that they represent images of those objects from a known orientation, for use in object identification. No knowledge of point correspondence between images is required. Theoretical development of the method and experimental results are presented. The method is shown to be computationally efficient, requiring O(N) multiplications and additions where, depending on the computation algorithm, N may equal the number of object or edge picture elements.


Dementia-specific quality of life instruments: a conceptual analysis.
Over the past 20 years, many researchers have worked in developing various methods for measuring quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia. The aim of this review is to develop the conceptual frameworks of the dementia-specific QoL instruments, to identify their evolution over time and to provide elements of reflection on the QoL concept in dementia and its evaluation. An electronic search was conducted on PsycINFO and MEDLINE databases, from January 1985 to June 2015 using a combination of key words that include QoL, dementia, and review. The analysis of the conceptual frameworks of the 18 selected dementia-specific QoL tools shows a great diversity in: (1) the QoL definitions (e.g. health-related QoL definitions, QoL definitions based on Lawton's work, or similar to this latter); (2) the theoretical QoL models (e.g. Lawton' work and modified Lawton, adaptation, personhood); (3) the domains and dimensions; (4) the way to construct the instrument (e.g. development based on literature, opinion of the experts), and (5) the items' formulation (e.g. use of criterion of intensity or frequency). There are different conceptual frameworks in the dementia-specific QoL measures with improvements over time (e.g. inclusion of interesting concepts such as adaptation, taking into account the views of patients themselves). Each of the conceptual parameters (definitions, models, domains, and dimensions) is discussed to identify the scales that are conceptually the strongest. Through their review, recommendations for future instrument refinement and development are discussed and a new QoL definition is proposed.


A mechanism of cisplatin action: antineoplastic effect through inhibition of neovascularization.
Though cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum; CDDP) has been widely used for the treatment of malignant tumors, the mechanism of its action has not been well understood. Neovascularization, which accompanies tumor growth and metastasis, is required for cell proliferation in order to supply both oxygen and nutrients. We have studied in this investigation the effect of CDDP on endothelial cell (EC) proliferation in vitro and on rabbit corneal neovascularization in vivo. DNA synthesis of human umbilical EC was inhibited by CDDP in a dose-dependent fashion. Significant inhibition was observed at concentration over 10(-8) M, which is attainable in the serum of treated patients. Rabbit corneal neovascularization in vivo was also suppressed by intravenous injection of 0.5 mg/kg of CDDP for 10 days. These results suggest that CDDP might have an indirect anti-neoplastic effect through the suppression of neovascularization required for the tumor growth.


The Canadian National Calibration Reference Centre for In-Vivo Monitoring: thyroid monitoring. Part V: Minimizing placement error in a thyroid monitoring system.
This article is the last of a five-part series covering various aspects of occupational thyroid monitoring. This part describes the techniques for minimizing errors due to improper placement of the detector. The impact of counting time and minimum detectable activity as a function of detector position are also discussed. The importance of minimum detectable activity is exemplified by showing how it can be used to ensure that the thyroid monitoring system can detect an amount of radioactivity below the derived investigation level.


Ultrafast dynamics of solvated electrons at anatase TiO2/H2O interface.
Solvated electrons are known to be the lowest energy charge transfer pathways at oxide/aqueous interface and the understanding of the electron transfer dynamics at the interface is fundamental for photochemical and photocatalytic processes. Taking anatase TiO2/H2O interface as a prototypical system, we perform time-dependent ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics calculations to study the charge transfer dynamics of solvated electrons. For the static electronic properties, we find that the dangling H atoms can stabilize solvated electrons. A solvated electron band can be formed with one monolayer H2O adsorption. The energies of the solvated electron band minimum (SEBM) decrease when H2O adsorbs dissociatively. Moreover, the surface oxygen vacancies are also helpful for stabilizing the solvated electron band. For the dynamics behaviour, we find that the ultrafast charge transfer from SEBM to anatase TiO2 (1 0 1) surface at 100 K is mainly contributed by nonadiabatic mechanism. Comparing with rutile TiO2 (1 1 0) surface, the lifetime of solvated electron on anatase TiO2 (1 0 1) surface is longer, suggesting a better photocatalytic properties. Our results provide essential insights into the understanding of the charge transfer dynamics and the possible photocatalytic mechanism at oxide/aqueous interface.


Evaluation of the male reproductive organs after treatment with continuous sustained delivery of statin for fracture healing.
The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are widely used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, and recent in vitro and animal data suggest that statins promote bone formation and increase bone strength. We examined the relationship between sustained continuous delivery of statin and fracture healing rates in adult male animals with femoral segmental fractures. Because statin affects the production of cholesterol we also evaluated the influence of statin, on adrenal and testicular steroidogenesis and the morphology of the reproductive tract tissues in animals receiving statin for a period of 12 weeks post surgery. Simvastatin significantly increased fracture healing and without significant influence on the body weights and the weights of the reproductive organs. Basal plasma LH, FSH and testosterone levels were not affected by active treatment with simvastatin. Reproductive tissue morphology was unchanged by local sustained release of statin. In conclusion, long-term simvastatin treatment delivered at a fracture target site did not influence testicular reproductive and endocrine function, but was able to effectively heal complicated segmental fracture.


New treatments associated with timed artificial insemination in small ruminants.
Timed artificial insemination (TAI) is a very important tool in production systems, as it has a direct impact on cost-efficiency by reducing labour resulting from oestrus detection. However, to make TAI commercially feasible, hormonal treatments need to assure acceptable pregnancy rates and be economically viable. Recent advances in the knowledge of ovarian physiology (e.g. determination of follicular waves, sensitivity of the early corpus luteum) in small ruminants allowed the development of new treatments focused on an efficient estimation and synchronisation of the time of ovulation of the females of a treated flock/herd. In this review we summarise new information and concepts in the hormonal control of the life span of the corpus luteum, as well as methods to manipulate follicular growth in small ruminants. Additionally, we elaborate on recent studies concerning the use of TAI associated with short progestogen treatment in goats and the newly developed Synchrovine protocol (two doses of prostaglandin F(2alpha) given seven days apart) in sheep.


High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation in Korean patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.
High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDCT-ASCT) is a standard therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, its efficacy in Asian patients has not been well investigated. A retrospective analysis of outcomes in 10 consecutive patients who underwent ASCT for HL in a single Korean centre from August 2005 to September 2010 was conducted. The median age was 34.5 years (range 17-64 years) and seven patients were male. Six patients were of stage III-IV at presentation. B symptoms were present in six patients. International Prognostic Score (IPS) was as follows: IPS = 1 (n = 5), IPS = 2 (n = 1), IPS = 4 (n = 2), and IPS = 5 (n = 2). The analysis included nine patients with relapsed HL and one primary refractory case. Four patients were in second complete response and the others were in partial response after salvage chemotherapy. With a median follow-up duration of 58.0 months, 3-year progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate from ASCT were 40 and 76 %, respectively. The results suggest that the efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy followed by ASCT in Korean patients with refractory or relapsed HL is comparable to that in Western patients.


Sustainable energy at the 100 W level for scientific sites on the Antarctic Plateau: lessons learned from the Polar Experiment Network for Geospace Upper atmosphere Investigations-Automatic Geophysical Observatory project.
The need to provide power to unmanned instrumentation over the course of an entire year on the Antarctic plateau presents a large number of engineering and logistical challenges. Designs formulated in ideal laboratory environments often fail in the Antarctic due to the harsh operating conditions, and field experience is necessary to achieve year-round operation in the 100 W power range. In this paper we present our current power design for the Automatic Geophysical Observatories; a design based on over two decades of experience on the ice and allows for relatively continuous operation at the aforementioned power level. We also discuss our various implementation methods, both failures and successes, in an effort assist other unmanned deployments on the ice.


The incidence and factors of hip fractures and subsequent morbidity in Taiwan: An 11-year population-based cohort study.
Hip fractures are a major problem to elder population, but subsequent morbidity is unclear about environmental factors and socioeconomic conditions. The study aims to investigate the incidence of hip fractures treated by the surgery; to compare the sequelae and temporal trends of hip fractures; to evaluate the seasonal effects in the subsequent short-term and long-term morbidities after hip fractures. A cohort study design is conducted using national health research datasets between 2000 and 2010. The ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes were utilized to investigate the incidence of hip fractures and the corresponding treatments. Hierarchical modeling was used to analyze the factors associated with various types of hip fractures. The results indicated that females had a lower incidence in the 30-44 age group, but a significantly higher incidence than males among those aged 60 years or older (adjusted rates 232.1 vs. 100.3 per 100,000 persons, p<0.001). The incidence of hip fractures in the low-income group showed no significant difference compared to that in the general population. There was a temporal trend of a 8.6% increase in the incidence of all types of hip fractures over the period of 2000-2010. A summer-winter variation is observed among the elderly. Hip fractures and subsequent morbidity are increasing in Taiwan's aging society. Older age, female gender, and time periods were independent risk factors for subsequent morbidities after surgical treatment. The result of this study is useful to the healthcare policy makers and to raise the public awareness of hip fractures.


[The organization of system of quality management in large multitype hospital].
The article presents the characteristics and assessment of functioning of model of quality management in large multitype hospital. The results of work of the municipal hospital of Saint Venerable martyr Elizabeth of St Petersburg concerning the implementation of system of quality management in 2001-2011 of the foundation of principles of total quality management of medical service and principles of quality management according international standards ISO and their Russian analogues.


A new interpretation of the IR bands of supported Rh(I) monocarbonyl complexes.
The characteristic CO vibrational frequency of supported monocarbonyl complexes Rh(I)CO, at 2014 and 1984 cm(-1) on dealuminated Y zeolite and alumina, respectively, is lower than the frequencies of both the symmetric and the antisymmetric CO normal modes of the corresponding stable supported Rh(I) dicarbonyls. The CO mode with a measured frequency between those of the symmetric and antisymmetric CO frequencies of the dicarbonyls, previously assigned to rhodium monocarbonyl, is reassigned to mixed carbonyl dihydrogen complexes Rh(H(2))(CO) or Rh(H)(2)(CO). This reassignment is based on a critical analysis of reported experimental data, supplemented by quantum chemical calculations.