High performance computing in structural determination by electron cryomicroscopy.
Computational advances have significantly contributed to the current role of electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) in structural biology. The needs for computational power are constantly growing with the increasing complexity of algorithms and the amount of data needed to push the resolution limits. High performance computing (HPC) is becoming paramount in cryoEM to cope with those computational needs. Since the nineties, different HPC strategies have been proposed for some specific problems in cryoEM and, in fact, some of them are already available in common software packages. Nevertheless, the literature is scattered in the areas of computer science and structural biology. In this communication, the HPC approaches devised for the computation-intensive tasks in cryoEM (single particles and tomography) are retrospectively reviewed and the future trends are discussed. Moreover, the HPC capabilities available in the most common cryoEM packages are surveyed, as an evidence of the importance of HPC in addressing the future challenges.


Perception of unilateral lower extremity weightbearing during bilateral upright stance.
The primary purpose of this study was to describe the error in 61 healthy subjects' perceptions of weight-bearing at three target levels during bilateral upright stance. The secondary purpose was to describe the effects of age, sex, lower extremity dominance and target weightbearing level on the error in perceptions of weightbearing. Weightbearing was determined while subjects stood on digital scales. They adjusted their weight in an attempt to bear 25, 50, and 75% of their weight through a designated lower extremity. Three trials were allowed at each weightbearing target, and the results were averaged. Each subject's error in perception of weightbearing at each target level was determined by taking the absolute value of the target percent weightbearing minus the mean actual percent weightbearing. The mean errors at the 25, 50, and 75% targets were 7.3, 3.3, and 7.7%, respectively. The magnitude of the error was unrelated to age. An analysis of variance showed that error was not dependent on sex or whether the dominant lower extremity was used for making judgements. The error did differ between target levels. Clinicians cannot assume, based on the findings of this study, that individuals can accurately judge the percent weightbearing they are placing through one of their lower extremities during bilateral upright stance.


[Aerobic etiology of acute appendicitis in adults. Multicenter study of abdominal sepsis in Argentina].
Antibiotic treatment for acute appendicitis is empirically chosen, based on epidemiological information. Resistance rates are different between regions and there are limited data on the situation in Argentina. As a part of a multicenter, observational study of abdominal infections, we performed the analysis of adult patients diagnosed with appendicitis, enrolled in 16 centers of 5 provinces, between Jan/01/2014 and Jun/30/2015. The aim was to analyze the prevalent aerobic pathogens, their resistance rates and the antimicrobial prescription pattern. On a total of 131 appendicitis cases analyzed, we found 184 aerobic pathogens (1.4 bacteria/episode): Escherichia coli 106 (57.6%), Klebsiella spp 16 (8.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 19 (10.3%), Enterobacter spp. 2 (1%), other Gram negative bacilli 5 (2.7%); Enterococcus spp. 16 (8.7%) and other Gram positive cocci 20 (10.9%). The resistance rate of E. coli and enterobacteria to ampicillin/sulbactam was greater than 34% and greater than 31% to ciprofloxacin. However, the resistance of enterobacteria to piperacillin/tazobactam was 4.8%, to ceftriaxone 9.5%, to amikacin 3.6% and 8.2% to gentamicin. No resistance to carbapenems was found. The choice of quinolones or ampicillin/sulbactam for the treatment of appendicitis should be discouraged in our context, due to the high rates of resistance found in this prevalent etiology. Aminoglycoside-based treatments should be considered, given the findings of high antibiotic susceptibility and their low impact on the induction of resistance.


Presence of persistent organic pollutants in a breeding common tern (Sterna hirundo) population in Ireland.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical compounds of environmental concern due to their toxic, persistent nature and their ability to bio-accumulate in biological tissue. Seabirds, for often being at the top of the food web, have been used as monitors of environmental pollutants. Adverse effects caused by POPs have been reported in common terns (Sterna hirundo) since the 1970s. Egg shell thinning, embryo and hatchling deformities have been reported for this species. Environmental legislation, such as the Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR), has agreed on the monitoring of concentration of POPs in common terns. This study set out to investigate contemporary concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in common terns breeding in Ireland, along with congener profiles. Investigation was conducted in live (n = 15) and dead birds (n = 20) to test for the efficiency of different methodologies using preen oil and feathers versus liver and preen gland. Mean concentrations of POPs followed the order: PCB (36.48 ng/g ww feather) > PAH (30.01 ng/g ww feather) > OCP (13.36 ng/g ww feather) > BFR (1.98 ng/g ww feather) in live birds; and PAH (46.65 ng/g ww preen gland) > PCB (44.11 ng/g ww preen gland) > OCP (15.15 ng/g ww liver) > BFR (5.07 ng/g ww liver) in dead birds. Comparison of contaminant results with toxicity pre-established levels concluded that this population of common terns in Ireland is not at risk of anomalies caused by POPs. However, some levels are higher in comparison to the ones established by OSPAR's EcoQO and must be monitored periodically.


Antimicrobial prescription and usage in the neonatal intensive care units of a Caribbean country: a prospective observational study.
To study the prescribing patterns and usage of antimicrobials in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of Trinidad & Tobago. A 3-month prospective observational study was conducted at the three NICUs at the major public hospitals. Data included antimicrobials prescribed, route of administration, culture and sensitivity reports, leukocyte count, length of stay and outcome of patients. 353 patients were studied, 57.5% of the patients were males. Mean birth weight was 2.96 ± 0.94 (Standard Deviation) kg. Admission diagnoses included meconium stained liquor, preterm, respiratory distress, sepsis, etc. Length of stay ranged between 1 to 76 days, (median 4, Interquartile Range 1-8). The mean leukocyte count was 15.7 ± 8.5 × 103 per μL. Overall, 645 culture specimens were sent; umbilical swab (27.6%), throat swab (27.0%) and blood (16.4%) being the most common specimens. 310 (48.1%) showed no bacterial growth. Overall, 16 different antimicrobials were used. First line antibiotic of choice was a combination of ampicillin and gentamicin (85.8 %). Second line antibiotic of choice was cefotaxime. The overall mortality was 7.6%. The choice of antimicrobials in the NICUs of major public hospitals is mostly empirical and not primarily dictated by the culture and sensitivity reports, emphasizing the need for antibiotic stewardship programme in Trinidad & Tobago.


Computer processing of visual data. II. Automated pattern analysis of glaucomatous visual fields.
Machine algorithms have been developed for automated detection and characterization of glaucomatous defects in visual field records stored in a computer. Using elementary techniques of pattern analysis, the contours defining each visual field are described by a set of primitive graphic and type-descriptive features. A hierarchical structure of logical tests is then used to arrive at intermediate and higher-level conclusions. Decision procedures are tailored for the detection of features commonly found in glaucomatous visual fields. Application of these analysis procedures to a large group of visual field records having a broad range of glaucomatous defects shows a very high sensitivity for detection. Specificity is limited by the extent to which defects are "typical" or obey expected patterns of field loss.


Convulxin induces platelet activation by a tyrosine-kinase-dependent pathway and stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of platelet proteins, including PLC gamma 2, independently of integrin alpha IIb beta 3.
1Convulxin (Cvx) is a well-characterized platelet aggregating glycoprotein isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus and C. d. cascavella venoms. In the present report we show that Cvx induces tyrosine phosphorylation of human platelet proteins, including phospholipase C-gamma 2 (PLC gamma 2), and also stimulates [3H]arachidonic acid ([3H]AA) mobilization, pleckstrin phosphorylation, and an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]in) due to both Ca2+ entry and internal Ca2+ mobilization. Staurosporine, a potent protein kinase inhibitor, and genistein, a specific inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK), were used to evaluate the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP) in the signal transduction evoked by Cvx. Staurosporine and genistein inhibited in a dose-dependent manner platelet aggregation induced by Cvx. Both inhibitors significantly blocked to near basal levels breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate from [myo-2-3H]inositol-labeled platelets and the production of [3H]AA metabolites from [3H]AA-labeled platelets after challenge with Cvx. Cvx provokes an increase in [Ca2+]in in Fura-2-loaded platelets that was abolished by concentrations of staurosporine which also inhibited Cvx-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, Cvx stimulates a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of human platelets proteins with molecular masses of 40, 72/74, 78/80, 105, 120, and 145 kDa, followed by dephosphorylation. Furthermore, Cvx stimulates a rapid tyrosyl phosphorylation of a 145-kDa molecular mass protein that was identified as PLC gamma 2. PTP induced by Cvx was not inhibited when platelets were stimulated in the presence of indomethacin, apyrase, EDTA, or RGDS peptide. These results indicate that PTP is chronologically proximal to Cvx binding to platelets, and is independent of aggregation or fibrinogen binding to the integrin alpha IIb beta 3. On the other hand, the dephosphorylation step is inhibited by RGDS peptide or EDTA, suggesting that integrin alpha IIb beta 3 is envolved in this step. The profile obtained with Cvx resembles that obtained in platelets adherent to an immobilized ligand, such as immobilized collagen, in which PTP is independent on integrin alpha IIb beta 3. Thus, we suggest that Cvx is an example of a protein with adhesion molecule-like properties; i.e., it is an adhesin. In conclusion, our results show that Cvx induces multiple signaling pathways in platelets via a PTK-dependent pathway involving PLC gamma 2 tyrosyl phosphorylation, with the subsequent platelet responses. Cvx is unique among platelet soluble agonists because under test tube stirring conditions it induces a PTP profile independently of integrin alpha IIb beta 3.


Load redistribution in variable position wheelchairs in people with spinal cord injury.
Tilt and recline variable position seating systems are most commonly used for pressure relief to decrease potential for skin breakdown. This study provides quantitative information on the magnitudes of loading on the seat and back during phases of tilt, recline, and standing. The objective of this study was to show that the amount of force reduction at the seat would differ across these 3 methods within their respective clinical ranges. Six able-bodied (AB) subjects (2 men, 4 women) with a median age of 25 years, and 10 subjects (8 men, 2 women) with spinal cord injury (SCI) with a median age of 35.5 years. Subjects sat on a power wheelchair with Tekscan pressure mats placed underneath a foam backrest and cushion. Data were collected at 5 positions for each method. Order of position and method tested were randomized. Linear regressions were used to calculate the relationships of normalized seat and backrest forces to seat and backrest angles for each chair configuration. Normalized seat loads had strong linear relationships with the angles of change in tilt, recline, and standing for both groups. Maximum decreases in seat load occurred at full standing and full recline in the SCI subjects and in full standing in the AB subjects. Loads linearly increased on the back during tilt and recline and linearly decreased during standing for both groups. Standing and recline offered similar seat load reductions at their respective terminal positions. Standing also reduced loading on the backrest. Recognizing that each method had clinical benefits and drawbacks, the results of this study indicate that tilt, recline, and standing systems should be considered as a means of weight shifting for wheelchair users.


The viral mimic, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, induces fever in rats via an interleukin-1-dependent mechanism.
Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) is a synthetic double-stranded RNA that is used experimentally to model viral infections in vivo. Previous studies investigating the inflammatory properties of this agent in rodents demonstrated that it is a potent pyrogen. However, the mechanisms underlying this response have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we examined the effects of peripheral administration of poly I:C on body temperature and cytokine production. Male rats were implanted with biotelemetry devices and randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: poly I:C + saline, poly I:C + interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), or saline + saline. Maximal fever of 1.6 degrees C above baseline was observed 3 h after an intraperitoneal injection of poly I:C (750 microg/kg). Pretreatment with IL-1ra diminished this response by >50% (maximum body temperature = 0.6 degrees C above baseline). Plasma IL-6 concentration increased fivefold 2 h post-poly I:C compared with saline-injected rats; levels returned to baseline 4 h postinjection. Pretreatment with IL-1ra prevented this rise in IL-6. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was also increased more than fourfold 2 h postinjection but remained unaffected by IL-1ra treatment. IL-1beta and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA were significantly upregulated in the hypothalamus of poly I:C-treated animals. Finally, poly I:C decreased food intake by 30%, but this response was not altered by pretreatment with IL-1ra. These results suggest that poly I:C induces fever, but not anorexia, through an IL-1 and prostaglandin-dependent mechanism.


[Mitotic cycle of a HeLa cell culture exposed to the maximum permissible concentrations of trace elements].
It is shown that administration of certain trace elements in maximum allowable concentrations induces changes in metabolism and functionation of cells in the culture. Zinc, nickel, cobalt, cadmium and fluorine are stated to inhibit mitotic activity of HeLa cells by the end of 24 hours of their action. Parallel with this they promote a decrease in H3-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Besides these substances delay various stages of the mitotic cycle for cells.


[Maillard reaction. Pathogenic effects].
Certain organoleptic modifications by way of processing and cooking foods at high temperatures in dry heat, make them especially appetizing and objects of addiction. It results from Maillard reaction, or glycation, consisting of the non-enzymatic union between carbonyl groups, mainly from reducing sugars as glucose and fructose, with the amino group of proteins and nucleic acids. In addition to physical changes, also the chemical structure and function of these compounds are changed. Besides exogenous glycation generated during the cooking of foods, recently in situ glycation has been reported in the intestinal lumen during digestion, when certain non-glycated foods are combined with fructose at the time of ingestion. In addition, endogenous glycation, which correlates in the extracellular mainly with blood glucose and in the intracellular with glycolysis metabolites and fructose, is specially significant. Since the 70s, with the frequent sucrose replacement by fructose, much more reactive than glucose, the presence of glycation products in processed foods and soft drinks increased.Pathogenic effects of these compounds, also called glycotoxins, are known to contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation. This increases progression of chronic diseases, well documented in diabetes, renal insuficiency, cardiovascular disease and aging process, and are being explore d in many other chronic diseases as neurodegenerative disorders and early aging. Based on the knowledge achieved so far, measures to preserve health are described by attending ways of cooking and processing foods, besides recommendations for life habits and antioxidants dietary intakes for inhibition or antagonism on glycotoxins.


[Study of the composition of steam condensate at the Yangan-Tau health resort].
Investigation into the composition of steam condensate from gasothermal baths at the Yangan-Tau health resort showed that it contains a large amount of organic substances. The overwhelming majority of these compounds were shown to be products of thermo-oxidative breakdown of bituminol. They were studied with a view to identifying potential carcinogenic agents. Eight compounds found in the gasothermal baths of the health resort are known to be on the list of carcinogenic agents. However, their concentration does not exceed the maximum permissible levels which confirms that these baths pose no carcinogenic risk for the patients. The sole radioactive agent present at an elevated concentration is radon considered to be a therapeutic factor of the Yangan-Tau gasothermal baths.


[Drug-related claims in the Norwegian system of compensation to patients].
Patients subjected to drug-related injuries can, in accordance with Norwegian legislation, seek compensation from the Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation (NPE). The aim of this study was to examine what drugs and injuries instigate claims against NPE, and how these cases are resolved. We have assessed anonymised summaries of 992 consecutive indemnity applications received and evaluated by NPE over the period 2003-2009. We recorded the age and gender of applicants, treatment diagnosis, drugs implicated, outcome, and NPE's decision in each case. A total of 964 claims were included. The most commonly implicated drugs were those affecting the nervous system (34.6%) and the musculoskeletal system (26.1%). Rofecoxib at 18.9% was the predominant single drug implicated. In two-thirds of the cases, adverse effects were given as the reason for the claim, whereas the last one-third consisted of claims for medication errors. The most common injuries were related to cardiovascular diseases (28.7%) or non-specific conditions (17.5%). 8.4% of the cases related to fatalities. In all, 26.3% of the claims resulted in compensations. Few patients made use of the NPE. Most of the compensation claims in the years 2003-2009 involved rofecoxib and psychoactive drugs, and the majority of claims were rejected.


Cervical Column and Cord and Column Responses in Whiplash With Stenosis: A Finite Element Modeling Study.
Spine degeneration is a normal aging process. It may lead to stenotic spines that may have implications for pain and quality of life. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptomatology and imaging. Magnetic resonance images often reveal the nature and degree of stenosis of the spine. Stenosis is concerning to clinicians and patients because of the decreased space in the spinal canal and potential for elevated risk of cord and/or osteoligamentous spinal column injuries. Numerous finite element models of the cervical spine have been developed to study the biomechanics of the osteoligamentous column such as range of motion and vertebral stress; however, spinal cord modeling is often ignored. The objective of this study was to determine the external column and internal cord and disc responses of stenotic spines using finite element modeling. A validated model of the subaxial spinal column was used. The osteoligamentous column was modified to include the spinal cord. Mild, moderate, and severe degrees of stenosis commonly identified in civilian populations were simulated at C5-C6. The column-cord model was subjected to postero-anterior acceleration at T1. The range of motion, disc pressure, and cord stress-strain were obtained at the index and superior and inferior adjacent levels of the stenosis. The external metric representing the segmental motion was insensitive while the intrinsic disc and cord variables were more sensitive, and the index level was more affected by stenosis. These findings may influence surgical planning and patient education in personalized medicine.


Randomized trial of levamisole in patients with squamous cancer of the head and neck: a preliminary report.
This is a preliminary report of a randomized double-blind study comparing levamisole with placebo as surgical adjuvant treatment of patients with squamous cancer of the head and neck. The study groups were comparable according to the prognostic factors of type (primary or recurrent), site (oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx), and stage of disease and were also similar in pretreatment immune function and in radiation exposure. Of 65 evaluable patients, 31 received levamisole and 34 received placebo. Although there was no difference in the distribution of the time to recurrence of the overall treatment group, there was a difference of borderline significance in favor of levamisole in the primary disease patients (P less than 0.06). Further analysis of subgroups in the primary disease category showed decreased recurrence rates in patients receiving levamisole who had cancer of the oral cavity (P less than 0.01) or who had stage II disease (P less than 0.02). Considering site and stage simultaneously, the only significant difference was in stage II patients with oral cancer. The above results, although encouraging, must be viewed with caution due to small sample sizes and the relatively short followup of most patients.


[Comparison of premedication with clonidine and midazolam combined with TCI for orthopaedic shoulder surgery].
The most frequently used drugs for premedication are benzodiazepines and alpha (2)-adrenoceptor agonists. In this study we examined midazolam and clonidine for premedication in combination with target controlled infusion anaesthesia (TCI) in patients undergoing orthopaedic shoulder surgery and analysed the effects on the peri- and postoperative course. Forty-five Patients (ASA I-III) were included in this prospective randomized, double blind study. Sixty minutes prior to anaesthetic induction the patients received clonidine in a dosage of 2 microg x kg(-1) (group ND) or 5 microg x kg(-1) (group HD) or 0.1 mg x kg(-1) midazolam (group midazolam) per orally. Anaesthesia was performed as TCI with propofol (plasma concentration 2.0-4.0 microg x ml(-1)) und remifentanil (plasma concentration 0.2-0.4 microg x ml(-1) x min(-1)). 15 minutes before the operation was finished, all patients received a bolus dose of 0.1 mg x kg(-1) piritramid i.v., followed by administration of piritramid via a PCA pump (patient controlled analgesia) for a duration of 24 hours. During the time of the operation the influence of premedication on the anaesthetic course was determined by vital parameters and ranking scales. For statistic evaluation we used the Kruskal-Wallis test, ANOVA with Tukey as post hoc test and the test named after Fisher (p < 0.05). The effects of premedication on haemodynamic parameters and ranking scales for sedation as well as anaesthetic requirements were comparable in all three groups. In the postoperative period the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (ND: n = 8, HD: n = 2, midazolam: n = 6) and the use of pritramid were lower in the clonidine HD group (HD: 38.7 +/- 30.7 mg, ND: 51.7 +/- 25.1 mg, midazolam: 45.1 +/- 30.4 mg) than in the other groups. Premedication with the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine is as good as with benzodiazepines in combination with TCI. Because of the lower incidence of PONV and the need of piritramid in the postoperative period patients premedicated with 5 microg x kg(-1) clonidine may benefit from this premedication.


Serological examination of some strains that are in the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare-scrofulaceum complex but do not belong to Schaefer's serotypes.
One hundred strains belonging to the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare-scrofulaceum (MAIS) complex but not agglutinating with antisera type-specific for Schaefer's 23 MAIS serotypes were examined using antisera against seven other such strains. Four of the 100 strains were found to be of the same serotype as one of the 7 against which antisera were prepared; 4 other strains were of the same serotype as another of those against which antisera were prepared. Although the strains against which antisera were prepared were serologically distinct from each other, no strains serologically identical to 5 of them were found. This suggests that numerous serotypes might have to be defined if strains such as those examined are to be assigned to their respective serotypes.


Critical Length of PEG Grafts on lPEI/DNA Nanoparticles for Efficient in Vivo Delivery.
Nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery is a promising alternative to viral methods; however, its use in vivo, particularly following systemic injection, has suffered from poor delivery efficiency. Although PEGylation of nanoparticles has been successfully demonstrated as a strategy to enhance colloidal stability, its success in improving delivery efficiency has been limited, largely due to reduced cell binding and uptake, leading to poor transfection efficiency. Here we identified an optimized PEGylation scheme for DNA micellar nanoparticles that delivers balanced colloidal stability and transfection activity. Using linear polyethylenimine (lPEI)-g-PEG as a carrier, we characterized the effect of graft length and density of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on nanoparticle assembly, micelle stability, and gene delivery efficiency. Through variation of PEG grafting degree, lPEI with short PEG grafts (molecular weight, MW 500-700 Da) generated micellar nanoparticles with various shapes including spherical, rodlike, and wormlike nanoparticles. DNA micellar nanoparticles prepared with short PEG grafts showed comparable colloidal stability in salt and serum-containing media to those prepared with longer PEG grafts (MW 2 kDa). Corresponding to this trend, nanoparticles prepared with short PEG grafts displayed significantly higher in vitro transfection efficiency compared to those with longer PEG grafts. More importantly, short PEG grafts permitted marked increase in transfection efficiency following ligand conjugation to the PEG terminal in metastatic prostate cancer-bearing mice. This study identifies that lPEI-g-PEG with short PEG grafts (MW 500-700 Da) is the most effective to ensure shape control and deliver high colloidal stability, transfection activity, and ligand effect for DNA nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo following intravenous administration.


Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Updated Outcomes from a Single-Institution Experience.
Increasingly, data have supported the use of partial-breast irradiation (PBI) for low-risk patients after breast-conserving surgery, with techniques allowing for completion of treatment in 1-3 weeks. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is an alternative to PBI. Our institution had used low-energy photon IORT (TARGIT) for more than a decade. The initial results demonstrated a 2% local recurrence rate with a short follow-up period of 2 years. This report presents updated outcomes during with 5-year follow-up. A review of an institutional review board (IRB)-approved institutional registry was performed. The review identified 215 patients with early-stage breast cancer (stages 0-IIA) who received IORT. At the time of surgery, IORT was delivered with 20 Gy in a single fraction, with 5.1% (n = 11) of patients receiving additional whole-breast irradiation (WBI). The mean age at diagnosis was 71 years (range, 49-98 years), and the median follow-up was 5.7 years (interquartile range [IQR], 4.2-7.0 years). Of the 215 patients, 2.8% (n = 6) had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 90.7% (n = 195) had T1 disease, and 6.5% (n = 14) had T2 disease. Endocrine therapy was prescribed for 79% and chemotherapy for 1.4% of the patients. The 5-year rates were 5.3% for local recurrence, 6.4% for locoregional recurrence, and 2.7% for distant metastases. At 5 years, 93% of the patients were alive. The 5-year outcomes with TARGIT IORT demonstrated high rates of local recurrence, exceeding those seen with alternative modern approaches. The local recurrence outcomes with IORT are more consistent with studies omitting radiation following breast-conserving surgery, using endocrine therapy alone. Consistent with current guidelines and previous data, TARGIT IORT should not be used as monotherapy outside prospective clinical trials.


Adolescent same-sex and both-sex romantic attractions and relationships: implications for smoking.
We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between smoking and romantic attractions and relationships. We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to assess associations of smoking at Waves I and II with same-sex, both-sex, and opposite-sex romantic attractions or relationships as determined at Wave I. We used logistic regression to predict smoking at Wave II by sexual orientation. Both adolescent boys and adolescent girls with both-sex attractions or relationships were significantly more likely than those with opposite-sex attractions or relationships to be current smokers. Adolescent boys and girls with both-sex attractions or relationships who were nonsmokers at Wave I were more likely to be current smokers at Wave II than those with opposite-sex attractions or relationships. Our findings support previous research on smoking among youths who report same-sex or both-sex romantic attractions or relationships and demonstrate the increased risk bisexual youths have for smoking initiation and smoking prevalence. Tobacco use prevention programs targeting gay and bisexual youths are warranted, particularly among adolescent girls and boys who have had both-sex romantic attractions or relationships.


A fractional-order model of COVID-19 considering the fear effect of the media and social networks on the community.
Since December 2019, the world has experienced from a virus, known as Covid-19, that is highly transmittable and is now spread worldwide. Many mathematical models and studies have been implemented to work on the infection and transmission risks. Besides the virus's transmission effect, another discussion appears in the community: the fear effect. People who have never heard about coronavirus, face every day uncertain and different information regarding the effect of the virus and the daily death rates from sources like the media, the medical institutions or organizations. Thus, the fear of the virus in the community can possibly reach the point that people become scared and confused about information polluted from different networks with long-term trend discussions. In this work, we use the Routh-Hurwitz Criteria to analyze the local stability of two essential critical points: the disease-free and the co-existing critical point. Using the discretization process, our analysis have shown that one should distinguish between the spread of "awareness" or "fear" in the community through the media and others to control the virus's transmission. Finally, we conclude our theoretical findings with numerical simulations.


Stretch reflex coupling between the hip and knee: implications for impaired gait following stroke.
Individuals with hemiparetic stroke often exhibit an abnormal coupling between the frontal plane of the hip and saggital plane of the knee during gait. The purpose of this study was to determine if stretch sensitive reflexes, which are known to be altered following stroke, exhibit similar coupling between the muscles of the hip and knee in the post-stroke population. Eighteen subjects were recruited for this study including ten with hemiparesis resulting from stroke and eight unimpaired, age-matched controls. A servomotor was used to apply ramp and hold perturbations to both the hip and knee joints in separate sessions and electromyographic activity was recorded in eight muscles of the lower limb. Hip abduction perturbations elicited abnormal activation in rectus femoris (RF) in seven of ten stroke subjects with amplitudes ranging from 3.2 to 12.5% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Only two of eight control subjects exhibited any activity in RF and these responses were only 2.1 and 2.7% of MVC. To determine if the responses in the stroke group were a result of muscle stretch, a musculoskeletal model was used to simulate the experimental abduction perturbations and estimate muscle length changes. The simulation revealed that RF should be shortened by the perturbations and this suggests that the response was not likely due to direct stretch. Moreover, knee flexion perturbations elicited responses in the hip adductors (AL) with a mean amplitude of 5.1 +/- 3.8% of MVC across all stroke subjects while no significant responses were recorded in controls. The presence of a reciprocal, reflex-mediated coupling between RF and AL following stroke suggests that changes in the excitability of spinal networks may contribute to the development of abnormal inter-joint coordination patterns observed during hemiparetic gait.


Modulating effects of pycnogenol® on oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by sepsis in rats.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Pycnogenol® (Pyc), a complex plant extract from the bark of French maritime pine, on oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and total glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels), an inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level) and also DNA damage in Wistar albino rats. Rats were treated with 100 mg/kg intraperitonally Pyc following the induction of sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture. The decreases in MDA levels and increases in GSH levels, and SOD and GPx activities were observed in the livers and kidneys of Pyc-treated septic rats. Plasma TNF-α level was found to be decreased in the Pyc-treated septic rats. In the lymphocytes, kidney, and liver tissue cells of the sepsis-induced rats, Pyc treatment significantly decreased the DNA damage and oxidative base damage using standard alkaline assay and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase-modified comet assay, respectively. In conclusion, Pyc treatment might have a role in the prevention of sepsis-induced oxidative damage not only by decreasing DNA damage but also increasing the antioxidant status and DNA repair capacity in rats.


[Clinical and histological features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].
To investigate the clinical and histological features in Chinese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 108 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were enrolled in this study. Clinical, demographic, and biochemical data were compared between NAFLD patients with abnormal ALT and those with normal ALT. Simple fatty liver, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) and cirrhosis were diagnosed in 49 (45.4%), 57(52.7%) and 2 (1.9%) patients, respectively. ALT and AST levels of NASH group were higher than those of simple fatty liver group (t = 2.55, 3.13; P = 0.01, 0.00). Fifty of the 77 patients (64.9%) with abnormal ALT levels were diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and twenty-six were diagnosed as simple fatty liver, according to liver histology. Among the 31 patients with normal ALT levels, nine (29%) had NASH and twenty-two had simple fatty liver (P = 0.00). The patients with normal ALT had lower necroinflammatory grade than patients with abnormal ALT (x2 = 10.30, P = 0.01), but they had similar degree of steatosis and fibrosis (x2 = 5.52, 6.12; P = 0.12, 0.01). AST, g-glutamyltransferase, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B and systolic blood pressure of patients with normal ALT were all lower than those of patients with abnormal ALT (t = 5.91, 2.00, 2.30, 2.10, 3.14, 2.43; P = 0.00, 0.05, 0.02, 0.04, 0.00, 0.02), while spleen thickness and AST/ALT ratio in patients with normal ALT were higher than those with abnormal ALT significantly (t = 3.70, 2.95; P = 0.00, 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that ALT (OR = 2.78, 95% CI 1.06-7.3, P = 0.04) was the only independent predictor of NASH, and ALT had low accuracy in predicting NASH, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves of ALT to predict NASH was 0.69 (95% CI 0.59-0.8, P = 0.00). NAFLD patients have higher ALT level, and elevated serum level of ALT is independent predictor of the degree of inflammation, but not of steatosis and fibrosis.


Prenatal Antidepressant Exposure and Offspring Brain Morphologic Trajectory.
Clinical decision-making on antidepressant treatment during pregnancy, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is challenging, as both prenatal SSRI exposure and maternal depressive symptoms may be associated with negative outcomes in offspring. To investigate the association between intrauterine SSRI exposure and maternal depressive symptoms and structural brain development in offspring from mid-childhood to early puberty. This prospective, population-based cohort study was embedded in the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. All pregnant individuals with an expected delivery date between April 1, 2002, and January 31, 2006, were invited to participate. Data were analyzed from February 1 to September 30, 2022. Maternal-reported SSRI use verified by pharmacy records. In mid-pregnancy and 2 and 6 months after delivery, participants reported depressive symptoms using the Brief Symptom Inventory and were divided into 5 groups: SSRI use during pregnancy (n = 41; 80 scans), SSRI use only before pregnancy (n = 77; 126 scans), prenatal depressive symptoms without prenatal SSRI use (n = 257; 477 scans), postnatal depressive symptoms only (n = 74; 128 scans), and nonexposed control individuals (n = 2749; 4813 scans). The main outcome was brain morphometry in offspring, including global and cortical brain volumes, measured at 3 magnetic resonance imaging assessments from 7 to 15 years of age. The study included 3198 mother-child dyads. A total of 3198 mothers (100%) identified as women; mean (SD) age at intake was 31.1 (4.7) years. Children (1670 [52.2%] female) underwent brain imaging assessment from 7 to 15 years of age with 5624 total scans. Most brain gray matter volumes showed an inverted U-shaped trajectory. Compared with nonexposed controls, children prenatally exposed to SSRIs had less cerebral gray matter (β [SE], -20 212.2 [7285.6] mm3; P = .006), particularly within the corticolimbic circuit, which persisted up to 15 years of age. Children exposed to SSRIs prenatally showed a steeper increase in volumes of the amygdala (age interaction: β [SE], 43.3 [13.4] mm3; P = .006) and fusiform gyrus (age interaction: β [SE], 168.3 [51.4] mm3; P = .003) from 7 to 15 years of age. These volumetric differences in the amygdala and fusiform observed in childhood did not persist until early adolescence. Prenatal depression was associated with a smaller volume in the rostral anterior cingulate gyrus (β [SE], -166.3 [65.1] mm3; P = .006), and postnatal depression was associated with a reduced fusiform gyrus (β [SE], -480.5 [189.2] mm3; P = .002). No association of SSRI use before pregnancy with brain outcomes was observed. The results of this cohort study suggest that prenatal SSRI exposure may be associated with altered developmental trajectories of brain regions involved in emotional regulation in offspring. Further research on the functional implications of these findings is needed.


Unbiased photoelectrochemical water splitting in Z-scheme device using W/Mo-doped BiVO4 and Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se.
Photoelectrochemical water splitting to generate H2 and O2 using only photon energy (with no added electrical energy) has been demonstrated with dual n-type-semiconductor (or Z-scheme) systems. Here we investigated two different Z-scheme systems; one is comprised of two cells with the same metal-oxide semiconductor (W- and Mo-doped bismuth vanadate), that is, Pt-W/Mo-BiVO4, and the other is comprised of the metal oxide and a chalcogenide semiconductor, that is, Pt-W/Mo-BiVO4 and Zn(0.2)Cd(0.8)Se. The redox couples utilized in these Z-scheme configurations were I(-)/IO3(-) or S(2-)/S(n)(2-), respectively. An electrochemical analysis of the system in terms of cell components is shown to illustrate the behavior of the complete photoelectrochemical Z-scheme water-splitting system. H2 gas from the unbiased photolysis of water was detected using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and using a membrane-electrode assembly. The electrode configuration to achieve the maximum conversion efficiency from solar energy to chemical energy with the given materials and the Z-scheme is discussed. Here, the possibilities and challenges of Z-scheme unbiased photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices and the materials to achieve practical solar-fuel generation are discussed.


The cytological grading of malignant neoplasms of the breast and its correlation with the histological grading.
Breast carcinoma is one of the leading causes of malignancy in females. The diagnosis of breast carcinoma is often made by fine needle aspiration cytology. Nuclear grading is an important prognostic factor. It is important to grade breast carcinomas, which will provide valuable information to the treating oncologists to plan their management. The purpose of this study was to compare the cytological grading and typing with the histological grading and typing and the regional lymph node metastasis. This retrospective and prospective study was done on 60 cases with malignant and suspicious diagnoses on FNAC, which had histopathological correlations, from January 2004 to December 2007. The cytological grading was done by Robinson's Method and the histopathological grading was done by the modified Scarff Bloom Richardson method. Cytological and histological typings were also done. The statistical analysis was done by using the SPSS software: The Chi square test was used and a contingency tale analysis (cross tabs procedure) was also done. The cytohistological grading correlation was accurate in 7 cases (100%) of grade 1, 22 cases (71%) of grade 3 and 9 cases (42.9%) of grade 2 cancers. The accuracy was 62.7% (P < 0.001). A higher cytological grade was associated with a nodal metastasis. (cc : 0.399, P < .006) The cytological typing was accurate in 44 cases out of the 60 cases. The cytological grade correlated well with the histological grading accuracy (62.7%) and a higher grade was associated with a nodal metastasis (P < 0.006), Hence the cytological grading and typing should be routinely incorporated in the cytology reports and they can be of great value in guiding the choice of the treatment protocols.


Invasion of a Legume Ecosystem Engineer in a Cold Biome Alters Plant Biodiversity.
Plant ecosystem engineers are widely used to combat land degradation. However, the ability of those plants to modulate limiting abiotic and biotic resources of other species can cause damage to ecosystems in which they become invasive. Here, we use Lupinus nootkatensis as example to estimate and project the hazardous potential of nitrogen fixing herbaceous plants in a sub-polar oceanic climate. L. nootkatensis was introduced to Iceland in the 1940s to address erosion problems and foster reforestation, but subsequently became a high-latitude invader. In a local field survey, we quantified the impact of L. nootkatensis invasion at three different cover levels (0, 10-50, and 51-100%) upon native plant diversity, richness, and community composition of heath-, wood-, and grasslands using a pairwise comparison design and comparisons of means. Afterward, we scaled impacts up to the ecosystem and landscape level by relating occurrences of L. nootkatensis to environmental and human-mediated variables across Iceland using a species distribution model. Plant diversity was significantly deteriorated under high lupine cover levels of the heath- and woodland, but not in the grassland. Plant species richness of the most diverse habitat, the heathland, linearly decreased with lupine cover level. The abundance of small rosettes, cushion plants, orchids, and small woody long-lived plants of the heath declined with invader presence, while the abundance of late successional species and widespread nitrophilous ruderals in wood- and grasslands increased. Distribution modeling revealed 13.3% of Iceland's land surface area to be suitable lupine habitat. Until 2061-2080, this area will more than double and expand significantly into the Central Highlands due to human mediation and increasingly favorable climatic conditions. Species-rich habitats showed a loss of plant species diversity and richness as well as a change in community composition even in low lupine cover classes. The future increase of suitable lupine habitat might lead to the displacement of cold-adapted native plant species and will certainly challenge conservation as well as restoration of ecosystems in the cold climate of Iceland, but also elsewhere. Lupine invasion speeds up succession, which may be additive with climate change effects, and accelerates ecological change in cold biomes.


System for verifiable CT radiation dose optimization based on image quality. part I. Optimization model.
To develop and validate a mathematical radiation dose optimization model for computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. This quality improvement project was determined not to constitute human subject research. A model for measuring water-equivalent diameter (DW) based on the topogram was developed and validated on each axial section in eight CT examinations of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis (500 images). A model for estimating image noise and size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs) using image and metadata was developed and validated in 16 examinations of anthropomorphic phantoms. A model to quantify radiologist image quality preferences was developed and applied to evaluations of 32 CT examinations of the abdomen and pelvis by 10 radiologists. The scanners' dose modulation algorithms were modeled and incorporated into an application capable of prediction of image noise and SSDE over a range of patient sizes. With use of the application, protocol techniques were recommended to achieve specific image noise targets. Comparisons were evaluated by using two-tailed nonpaired and paired t tests. The mean difference between topogram- and axial-based DW estimates was -3.5% ± 2.2 (standard deviation). The mean difference between estimated and measured image noise and volume CT dose index on the anthropomorphic phantoms was -6.9% ± 5.5 and 0.8% ± 1.8, respectively. A three-dimensional radiologist image quality preference model was developed. For the prediction model validation studies, mean differences between predicted and actual effective tube current-time product, SSDE, and estimated image noise were -0.9% ± 9.3, -1.8% ± 10.6, and -0.5% ± 4.4, respectively. CT image quality and radiation dose can be mathematically predicted and optimized on the basis of patient size and radiologist-specific image noise target curves.


The critical importance of a vascularized flap in preventing recurrence after endoscopic repair of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks and meningoencephaloceles.
Spontaneous CSF leaks into the anterior skull base nasal sinuses are often associated with meningoencephaloceles and occur in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Endonasal endoscopic repair has become the primary method of choice for repair. The authors sought to evaluate the success rate of endoscopic closure and to identify predictive factors for CSF leak recurrence. A consecutive series of endonasally repaired anterior skull base meningoencephaloceles was drawn from a prospectively acquired database. Lumbar punctures were not performed as part of a treatment algorithm. All patients had at least 5 months of follow-up. Chart review and phone calls were used to determine the timing and predictors of recurrence. Demographic information and details of operative technique were correlated with recurrence. Two independent radiologists reviewed all preoperative imaging to identify radiographic markers of IIH, as well as the location and size of the meningoencephalocele. From a total of 54 patients there were 5 with recurrences (9.3%), but of the 39 patients in whom a vascularized nasoseptal (n = 31) or turbinate (n = 8) flap was used there were no recurrences (p = 0.0009). The mean time to recurrence was 24.8 months (range 9-38 months). There was a trend to higher BMI in patients whose leak recurred (mean [± SD] 36.6 ± 8.6) compared with those whose leak did not recur (31.8 ± 7.4; p = 0.182). Although the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus was the most common site of meningoencephalocele, the fovea ethmoidalis was the most common site in recurrent cases (80%; p = 0.013). However, a vascularized flap was used in significantly more patients with sphenoid (78.3%) defects than in patients with fovea ethmoidalis (28.6%) defects (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.005). Radiographic signs of IIH were equally present in all patients whose leak recurred (75%) compared with patients whose leak did not recur (63.3%); however, an enlarged Meckel cave was present in 100% (2/2) of patients whose leaks recurred compared with 13.3% (4/30) of patients whose leaks did not recur (p = 0.03). The average meningoencephalocele diameter tended to be larger (1.73 ± 1.3 cm) in patients with recurrence compared to those without recurrence (1.2 ± 0.66 cm; p = 0.22). A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was already in place in 3 patients, placed perioperatively in 5, and placed at recurrence in 2, none of whose leaks recurred. Recurrence after endonasal repair of spontaneous CSF leaks from meningoencephaloceles can be dramatically reduced with the use of a vascularized flap. Although failures of endonasal repair tend to occur in patients who have higher BMI, larger brain herniations, and no CSF diversion, the lack of vascularized flap was the single most important risk factor predictive of failure.


Test-retest reliability of the functional rotation test in healthy adults.
Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity for a Functional Rotation Test, developed as a clinical tool for quantifying the extent of body rotation while sitting or standing, were evaluated with healthy adults in this study. Participants, ages 20 to 72 years (n = 36) donned laser-pointing devices, stood or sat in the center of a room calibrated for the test, and actively turned and pointed to the right (or left) as far as they could comfortably. The locations of the lasers were recorded and subsequently scored. Testing was repeated after a brief rest. Concurrent measurements between a clinical goniometer and the Functional Rotation Test were also compared. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) indicated good to excellent test-retest reliability indices, ranging from .89 to .96 for standing and .87 to .95 for sitting tests. Agreement between the Functional Rotation Test and the goniometer was excellent (ICC = 1.0). The relevance and possible applications of the Functional Rotation Test are discussed.


Utilization of internet technology by low-income adults: the role of health literacy, health numeracy, and computer assistance.
To examine whether low-income adults' utilization of Internet technology is predicted or mediated by health literacy, health numeracy, and computer assistance. Low-income adults (N = 131) from the midwestern United States were surveyed about their technology access and use. Individuals with low health literacy skills were less likely to use Internet technology (e.g., email, search engines, and online health information seeking), and those with low health numeracy skills were less likely to have access to Internet technology (e.g., computers and cell phones). Consistent with past research, males, older participants, and those with less education were less likely to search for health information online. The relationship between age and online health information seeking was mediated by participant literacy. The present study suggests that significant advances in technology access and use could be sparked by developing technology interfaces that are accessible to individuals with limited literacy skills.


Per meal dose and frequency of protein consumption is associated with lean mass and muscle performance.
It has been hypothesized that for older adults evenly distributing consumption of protein at 30-40 g per meal throughout the day may result in more favorable retention of lean mass and muscular strength. Such a thesis has not, to our knowledge, been tested outside of short-term studies or acute measures of muscle protein synthesis. To examine whether the number of times an individual consumed a minimum of 30 g of protein at a meal is associated with leg lean mass and knee extensor strength. Data from the 1999-2002 NHANES were used, with 1081 adults (50-85 y) constituting the analytic sample. A "multiple pass" 24-h dietary interview format was used to collect detailed information about the participants' dietary intake. Knee extensor strength was assessed objectively using the Kin Com MP dynamometer. Leg lean mass was estimated from whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Participants with 1 vs. 0 (βadjusted = 23.6, p = 0.002) and 2 vs. 0 (βadjusted = 51.1, p = 0.001) meals of ≥30 g protein/meal had greater strength and leg lean mass (1 vs. 0, βadjusted = 1160, p < 0.05 and 2 vs. 0, βadjusted = 2389, p < 0.05). The association of protein frequency with leg lean mass and strength plateaued at ∼45 g protein/meal for those consuming 2 vs. 0 meals above the evaluated protein/meal threshold. However, for those with only 1 meal at or above the evaluated threshold, the response plateaued at 30 g/meal. Leg lean mass mediated the relationship between protein frequency and strength, with the proportion of the total effect mediated being 64%. We found that more frequent consumption of meals containing between 30 and 45 g protein/meal produced the greatest association with leg lean mass and strength. Thus, the consumption of 1-2 daily meals with protein content from 30 to 45 g may be an important strategy for increasing and/or maintaining lean body mass and muscle strength with aging.


Three-dimensional identification of biological microorganism using integral imaging.
In this paper, we address the identification of biological microorganisms using microscopic integral imaging (II). II senses multi-view directional information of 3D objects illuminated by incoherent light. A micro-lenslet array generates a set of elemental images by projecting a 3D scene onto a detector array. In computational reconstruction of II, 3D volumetric scenes are numerically reconstructed by means of a geometrical ray projection method. The identification of the biological samples is performed using the 3D volume of the reconstructed object. In one approach, the multivariate statistical distribution of the reference sample is measured in 3D space and compared with an unknown input sample by means of statistical discriminant functions. The multivariate empirical cumulative density of the 3D volume image is determined for classification. On the other approach, the graph matching technique is applied to 3D volumetric images with Gabor feature extraction. The reference morphology is identified in unknown input samples using 3D grids. Experimental results are presented for the identification of sphacelaria alga and tribonema aequale alga. We present experimental results for both 3D and 2D imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on 3D identification of microorganisms using II.


Regulated docking of nuclear membrane vesicles to vimentin filaments during mitosis.
During mitosis, several types of intermediate-sized filaments (IFs) undergo an extensive remodelling in response to phosphorylation by cdc 2 and other protein kinases. However, unlike the nuclear lamins, the cytoplasmic IFs do not seem to follow a fixed disassembly stereotype and often retain their physical continuity without depolymerizing into soluble subunits. To investigate potential interactions between mitotically modified IFs and other cellular structures, we have examined prometaphase-arrested cells expressing the IF protein vimentin. We demonstrate here that vimentin filaments associate in situ and co-fractionate with a distinct population of mitotic vesicles. These vesicles carry on their surfaces nuclear lamin B, the inner nuclear membrane protein p58, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-binding proteins. Consistent with a tight interaction between the IFs and the mitotic membranes, vimentin, nuclear lamin B, and a 180-kD WGA-binding protein are co-isolated when whole mitotic homogenates are incubated with anti-vimentin or anti-lamin B antibodies immobilized on magnetic beads. The vimentin-associated vesicles are essentially depleted of ER, Golgi and endosomal membrane proteins. The interaction of vimentin with lamin B-carrying membranes depends on phosphorylation and is weakened by dephosphorylation during nuclear reassembly in vitro. These observations reveal a novel interaction between IFs and cellular membranes and further suggest that the vimentin filaments may serve as a transient docking site for inner nuclear membrane vesicles during mitosis.


Risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in Fars province (Southern Iran) dairy herds.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2006 in dairy herds in Fars province, southern Iran to determine the herd-level risk factors for infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Statistical analysis using multivariable logistic regression showed that contamination of udders of periparturient cows with manure (OR = 6.4, P = 0.02) and history of having suspected cases of Johne's disease in the herd (OR = 6.7, P = 0.04) were significantly associated with the herd infection status. No relationship between breed, herd size and other management practices with the infection status of the herd were found in this study. Implementing high sanitary measures in the farm, particularly with respect to manure handling and cleaning could be considered as one of the important aspects in controlling disease in the region as well as in the future educational effort.


[Imbalance diets in preschool children: study in a day-care center in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina].
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of low fat diets in children aged 2 to 5. Eighty two children (40 females and 42 males) attending a school cafeteria (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), in a cross sectional study, were evaluated. Body weight (W), height (H) and body composition (BC) by bioimpedance were recorded. The anthropometric raw data were processed as Z-score of the weight-for-age (WEZ) and of the height-for-age (HAZ). Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and Zinc/haemoglobin ratio (Zn/Hb) were also measured. Results showed that 73.2% of the children were adequate (A) according WEZ, 13.4% were lean (L) and 13.4% overweight (O). 8.5% presented simultaneously impairment in WEZ and HAZ. Body fat percentage and energy metabolism were higher in O than in L and A (p < 0.05). Serum IGF-1's children--aged 4 to 5 years--with HAZ deficit were low than adequate HAZ ones. No statistical differences in Zn/Hb ratio between A, L and O were found. This cross sectional study suggests metabolic disorders in young children attending school cafeterias. These conclusions will allow to design balanced diets in order to optimize the resources, promote optimal growth and development and prevent adult diseases through dietary practices in childhood.


Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery in Depressed Patients: Is it Worth it?
The objective of this study is to compare surgical results (pain, function, and satisfaction) between a group of depressed patients and a nondepressed group who had been operated on for a degenerative lumbar condition. Prospective observational study. Preoperative pain (lumbar and radicular visual analog scale [VAS]), function (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), and depression (Zung depression scale) data were collected in patients listed to be operated on for a lumbar degenerative condition. One year postoperatively, ODI and VAS data were collected again as well as a satisfaction question (are you satisfied with the surgical results? Yes/no). Ninety-seven patients were included in the study, 78 nondepressed patients (80.4%) and 19 depressed patients (19.6%). Preoperatively, depressed patients had more lumbar pain (P = .00) and more functional limitation (P = .01) than nondepressed patients. One year postoperatively, depressed patients had more radicular pain (P = .029) and more functional limitation (P = .03) than non-depressed patients. The overall improvement of pain and function was similar between both groups (not significant). Seventy percent of depressed patients and 80% of nondepressed patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome (P = .52) 1 year postoperatively. Depressed patients experience the same overall level of improvement as nondepressed patients, despite having more pain and functional limitation preoperatively and 1 year after elective lumbar spine surgery than nondepressed patients. The level of satisfaction does not differ significantly between the two groups. 2.


Depression and diabetes.
Diabetes, a condition that places responsibility for management firmly on the individual, has a serious impact on daily life, and can have psychosocial and emotional consequences. Psychologic problems such as depressive symptomatology are much more common in those with diabetes than in those without this disease. Symptoms may recur more frequently and be longer-lasting, and diabetes self-care may be compromised. Recent studies have suggested that women with diabetes may be more likely to suffer from depression compared with their male counterparts, and there are strong links with poor metabolic control and diabetes complications. Despite the availability of appropriate screening tools, less than half of those with depression are identified and treated. However, when individuals are referred for psychologic treatment, various therapies (both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic) have been found to be successful. Two case studies within this article highlight the effectiveness of these different approaches, and indicate that an individualized patient-focused approach is useful.


Roles of lncRNA in the diagnosis and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that seriously endangers women's lives. The prognosis of breast cancer patients differs among molecular types. Compared with other subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been a research hotspot in recent years because of its high degree of malignancy, strong invasiveness, rapid progression, easy of recurrence, distant metastasis, poor prognosis, and high mortality. Many studies have found that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in the occurrence, proliferation, migration, recurrence, chemotherapy resistance, and other characteristics of TNBC. Some lncRNAs are expected to become biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of TNBC, and even new targets for its treatment. Based on a PubMed literature search, this review summarizes the progress in research on lncRNAs in TNBC and discusses their roles in TNBC diagnosis, prognosis, and chemotherapy with the hope of providing help for future research.


Predictors of good functional outcome in counterpulsation-treated recent ischaemic stroke patients.
External counterpulsation (ECP) is a non-invasive method being investigated for ischaemic stroke. We aimed to explore predictors of good functional outcome for ECP-treated ischaemic stroke patients who completed a minimum of 10 sessions. We analysed our ECP registry of ischaemic stroke patients with cerebral large artery stenosis who underwent ECP therapy at the Prince of Wales Hospital from 2004 to 2010. We included 155 patients who completed at least 10 sessions of ECP and had 3-month follow-up data as well as 52 medical controls. Functional outcomes were dichotomised into good outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2) and bad outcome (mRS 3-6). We compared the differences in two groups in terms of demographics, medical history and parameters of ECP treatment. At 3 months after stroke, 70.5% of patients who finished the whole course of ECP had a good outcome (only 46.5% in the unfinished group and 38.5% in the medical group). Among all 207 recruited cases, 119 (57.5%) patients had a good outcome at 3 months after stroke. Compared with the bad outcome group, patients in the good outcome group were younger and had a lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and longer ECP therapy duration. Multivariate logistic regression showed that ECP duration (OR 1.032), baseline NIHSS (OR 0.734) and age (OR 0.961) were independent predictors for a favourable outcome. Duration of ECP therapy is first found to be an important predictor for good outcome of ECP-treated ischaemic stroke patients, in addition to the well-known prognostic factors such as age and NIHSS.


Enhancing gesture decoding performance using signals from posterior parietal cortex: a stereo-electroencephalograhy (SEEG) study.
Hand movement is a crucial function for humans' daily life. Developing brain-machine interface (BMI) to control a robotic hand by brain signals would help the severely paralyzed people partially regain the functional independence. Previous intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG)-based BMIs towards gesture decoding mostly used neural signals from the primary sensorimotor cortex while ignoring the hand movement related signals from posterior parietal cortex (PPC). Here, we propose combining iEEG recordings from PPC with that from primary sensorimotor cortex to enhance the gesture decoding performance of iEEG-based BMI. Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) signals from 25 epilepsy subjects were recorded when they performed a three-class hand gesture task. Across all 25 subjects, we identified 524, 114 and 221 electrodes from three regions of interest (ROIs), including PPC, postcentral cortex (POC) and precentral cortex (PRC), respectively. Based on the time-varying high gamma power (55-150 Hz) of SEEG signal, both the general activation in the task and the fine selectivity to gestures of each electrode in these ROIs along time was evaluated by the coefficient of determination r 2. According to the activation along time, we further assessed the first activation time of each ROI. Finally, the decoding accuracy for gestures was obtained by linear support vector machine classifier to comparatively explore if the PPC will assist PRC and POC for gesture decoding. We find that a majority(L: [Formula: see text] 60%, R: [Formula: see text] 40%) of electrodes in all the three ROIs present significant activation during the task. A large scale temporal activation sequence exists among the ROIs, where PPC activates first, PRC second and POC last. Among the activated electrodes, 15% (PRC), 26% (POC) and 4% (left PPC) of electrodes are significantly selective to gestures. Moreover, decoding accuracy obtained by combining the selective electrodes from three ROIs together is 5%, 3.6%, and 8% higher than that from only PRC and POC when decoding features across, before, and after the movement onset, were used. This is the first human iEEG study demonstrating that PPC contains neural information about fine hand movement, supporting the role of PPC in hand shape encoding. Combining PPC with primary sensorimotor cortex can provide more information to improve the gesture decoding performance. Our results suggest that PPC could be a rich neural source for iEEG-based BMI. Our findings also demonstrate the early involvement of human PPC in visuomotor task and thus may provide additional implications for further scientific research and BMI applications.


Transport of peptide-MHC class II complexes in developing dendritic cells.
Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules capture peptides within the endocytic pathway to generate T cell receptor (TCR) ligands. Immature dendritic cells (DCs) sequester intact antigens in lysosomes, processing and converting antigens into peptide-MHC II complexes upon induction of DC maturation. The complexes then accumulate in distinctive, nonlysosomal MHC II+ vesicles that appear to migrate to the cell surface. Although the vesicles exclude soluble lysosomal contents and antigen-processing machinery, many contain MHC I and B7 costimulatory molecules. After arrival at the cell surface, the MHC and costimulatory molecules remain clustered. Thus, transport of peptide-MHC II complexes by DCs not only accomplishes transfer from late endocytic compartments to the plasma membrane, but does so in a manner that selectively concentrates TCR ligands and costimulatory molecules for T cell contact.


[The use of placebos in phase III clinical trials in Brazil].
In 2008, Brazil's Federal Council of Medicine [Conselho Federal de Medicina] (CFM)--regulatory and supervisory agency on the ethical practice of medicine--banned the participation of Brazilian doctors in studies using placebos for diseases with efficient and effective treatment. This position differs with the Helsinki Declaration, which allows the use of placebos in methodologically justified conditions. To ascertain whether the CMF's ethical regulation modified the use of placebos in phase III clinical trials in Brazil, characteristics of the records in ClinicalTrials.gov were researched in the periods from 2003 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2013. The conclusions reached were: a) the regulations issued by the CFM in 2008 were ineffective and the position adopted by the Helsinki Declaration prevails; b) there was significant sponsorship by the multinational pharmaceutical industry of trials with placebos; c) the research was predominantly on new drugs for chronic diseases, with little study done of the neglected diseases which are of great importance to Brazil.


Anxiety: An overlooked confounder in the characterisation of chronic stress-related conditions?
Although anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent of psychiatric disorders, childhood trauma-related studies seldom consider anxiety proneness as distinct aetiological contributor. We aimed to distinguish between trauma- and anxiety-associated physiological profiles. South African adolescent volunteers were categorised for trauma exposure (CTQ, mean score 39±11) and anxiety proneness (AP)(CASI, mean score 37±7, STAI-T, mean score 41±8). Circulating hormone and leukocyte glucocorticoid receptor levels, as well as leukocyte functional capacity, were assessed. AP was associated with lower DHEAs (P<0.05) and higher leukocyte GR expression (P<0.05). DHEAs was also negatively correlated with anxiety sensitivity (CASI, P<0.05). In conclusion, AP may have more predictive power than trauma in terms of health profile. Increased glucocorticoid sensitivity previously reported after trauma, may be a unique function of anxiety and not trauma exposure per se. DHEAs concentration was identified as potentially useful marker for monitoring progressive changes in HPA-axis sensitivity and correlated with psychological measures of anxiety.


A new method to measure aquaporin-facilitated membrane diffusion of hydrogen peroxide and cations in plant suspension cells.
Plant aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate the membrane diffusion of water and small solutes, including hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and, possibly, cations, essential signalling molecules in many physiological processes. While the determination of the channel activity generally depends on heterologous expression of AQPs in Xenopus oocytes or yeast cells, we established a genetic tool to determine whether they facilitate the diffusion of H2 O2 through the plasma membrane in living plant cells. We designed genetic constructs to co-express the fluorescent H2 O2 sensor HyPer and AQPs, with expression controlled by a heat shock-inducible promoter in Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 suspension cells. After induction of ZmPIP2;5 AQP expression, a HyPer signal was recorded when the cells were incubated with H2 O2 , suggesting that ZmPIP2;5 facilitates H2 O2 transmembrane diffusion; in contrast, the ZmPIP2;5W85A mutated protein was inactive as a water or H2 O2 channel. ZmPIP2;1, ZmPIP2;4 and AtPIP2;1 also facilitated H2 O2 diffusion. Incubation with abscisic acid and the elicitor flg22 peptide induced the intracellular H2 O2 accumulation in BY-2 cells expressing ZmPIP2;5. We also monitored cation channel activity of ZmPIP2;5 using a novel fluorescent photo-switchable Li+ sensor in BY-2 cells. BY-2 suspension cells engineered for inducible expression of AQPs as well as HyPer expression and the use of Li+ sensors constitute a powerful toolkit for evaluating the transport activity and the molecular determinants of PIPs in living plant cells.


First identification of a fatal fungal infection of the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis by Aspergillus tubingensis.
Sponges are considered promising sources of biomolecules for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic interests as well as for the production of biomaterials suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Accordingly, the ability to grow sponges in captivity and in healthy conditions to increase their biomass is a required goal for the development of sponge aquaculture systems. To date, little information is available about the pathogenicity of fungi associated with sponges. In our study, we identified an infection in freshly collected specimens of Chondrosia reniformis (Porifera, Demospongiae) and determined that the fungus Aspergillus tubingensis was the pathogen responsible. This is the first description of a natural infection of C. reniformis by A. tubingensis. Despite raising an inflammatory response by means of an increase in tumour necrosis factor (TNF) mRNA, the infected C. reniformis specimens were not able to control the fungal infection, leading to rotting in 15 d. Characterization of this infection shows that a widely distributed fungus can represent a potential hazard to sponge aquaculture industries and how, especially in stressed or compromised marine environments, this fungus could represent a fatal opportunistic pathogen.


MR features of an intracerebellar chloroma.
Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) is a rare tumor almost always associated with leukemia. Intraaxial brain lesions are rare, and can mimic infection or primary neoplasm. This intracerebellar chloroma arose after autologous bone marrow transplantation in a 29-year-old woman with leukemia. On T1-weighted MR images, the lesion was isointense with gray matter, and enhanced homogeneously. On T2-weighted and proton density-weighted MR sequences, the center was isointense with gray matter and the periphery was isointense with white matter. The lesion's tendency to remain isointense on sequences with long repetition times is presumably attributable to the presence of myeloperoxidase.


Eave tubes for malaria control in Africa: initial development and semi-field evaluations in Tanzania.
Presented here are a series of preliminary experiments evaluating "eave tubes"-a technology that combines house screening with a novel method of delivering insecticides for control of malaria mosquitoes. Eave tubes were first evaluated with overnight release and recapture of mosquitoes in a screened compartment containing a hut and human sleeper. Recapture numbers were used as a proxy for overnight survival. These trials tested physical characteristics of the eave tubes (height, diameter, angle), and different active ingredients (bendiocarb, LLIN material, fungus). Eave tubes in a hut with closed eaves were also compared to an LLIN protecting a sleeper in a hut with open eaves. Eave tubes were then evaluated in a larger compartment containing a self-replicating mosquito population, vegetation, and multiple houses and cattle sheds. In this "model village", LLINs were introduced first, followed by eave tubes and associated house modifications. Initial testing suggested that tubes placed horizontally and at eave height had the biggest impact on mosquito recapture relative to respective controls. Comparison of active ingredients suggested roughly equivalent effects from bendiocarb, LLIN material, and fungal spores (although speed of kill was slower for fungus). The impact of treated netting on recapture rates ranged from 50 to 70 % reduction relative to controls. In subsequent experiments comparing bendiocarb-treated netting in eave tubes against a standard LLIN, the effect size was smaller but the eave tubes with closed eaves performed at least as well as the LLIN with open eaves. In the model village, introducing LLINs led to an approximate 60 % reduction in larval densities and 85 % reduction in indoor catches of host-seeking mosquitoes relative to pre-intervention values. Installing eave tubes and screening further reduced larval density (93 % relative to pre intervention values) and virtually eliminated indoor host-seeking mosquitoes. When the eave tubes and screening were removed, larval and adult catches recovered to pre-eave tube levels. These trials suggest that the "eave tube" package can impact overnight survival of host-seeking mosquitoes and can suppress mosquito populations, even in a complex environment. Further testing is now required to evaluate the robustness of these findings and demonstrate impact under field conditions.


Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Diketopyrrolopyrroles with Tunable Amphiphilicity.
In this work, we present the formation of H- and J-aggregates of amphiphilic centrosymmetric diketopyrrolopyrroles containing aliphatic or aromatic amino groups. The inherent amphiphilicity of these dyes predestines their assembly at interfaces to form ordered supramolecular structures. In this work, we employed the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique to generate, manipulate, and deposit such supramolecular structures. The aforementioned amines provide an additional means to control the formation of the supramolecular assemblies. In the resulting LB films, both H- and J-aggregates of the dyes can be realized, leading to very broad absorption spectra. In contrast to many reports on H- and J-aggregates, the interactions between the symmetric diketopyrrolopyrroles are controlled via interface assembly and π-stacking and not by dipolar interactions. We show that in the case of the aliphatic, but not for the aromatic amine functionalization, the usage of an acidic subphase enables the transition from H- to J-aggregate-dominated LB films via an increase in the surface pressure during deposition.