Population genetic structure of the German cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae) in apartment buildings.
The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae), is a major residential pest with the potential to vector various pathogens and produce and disseminate household allergens. Understanding population genetic structure and differentiation of this important pest is critical to efforts to eradicate infestations, yet little is known in this regard. Using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation within and among 18 apartments from six apartment complexes located in Raleigh, NC. No departure from panmixia was found between rooms within apartments, indicating that active dispersal resulting in gene flow may occur among rooms within apartment units. Alternatively, aggregations within apartments may exist in relative isolation under a metapopulation framework, derived from a recent, common source. Thus, in the event of population control practices leading to incomplete cockroach eradication within an apartment, recolonization of shelters and rooms is likely to occur from a genetically similar aggregation. A pattern of isolation-by-distance across the six apartment complexes indicated that dispersal was more common within complexes than among them, and F statistics suggested greater genetic similarity between apartments in a single building than between separate buildings of an apartment complex. Similarly, neighbor-joining tree and Bayesian clustering analyses were able to cluster only those apartments that were within a single building, indicating higher dispersal with associated gene flow within buildings than between them. The lack of any broader connectivity, as indicated by significant F(ST) and G-tests suggests that human-mediated dispersal of B. germanica between buildings of an apartment complex or between complexes occurs infrequently enough to have negligible effects on gene flow.


[Upgrading of clinicoimmunological effectiveness of combined treatment in patients with chronic prostatitis].
Our investigation of immune and cytokine status in patients with chronic prostatitis shows that basic treatment neither normalizes nor improves life quality in patients with chronic prostatitis. The addition of azoximer injections to basic treatment of chronic prostatitis improves or normalizes the majority of abnormal parameters of immune and cytokine status except neutrophil phagocyte activity, IL-1beta concentration in the blood serum, IL-6 and IL-1beta concentration in prostatic gland secretion. Chronic prostatitis treatment with azoximer injections in combination with LRS has positive immunological and clinical effects.


Waning significance of anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titres in diagnosing streptococcal infections in Lagos, Nigeria.
A total of 200 serum specimens comprising 100 specimens from patients with streptococcal disease conditions, 50 from patients with other diseases and another 50 specimens from apparently healthy individuals were collected from Lagos University Teaching Hospital and from various areas of Lagos metropolis and screened for the presence of anti-streptolysin O (ASO). For streptococcal disease conditions, other diseases and for apparently healthy persons, anti-streptolysin O titres above 250 iu/ml recorded for each category of clinical conditions in terms of the number examined were 34%, 36% and 28% respectively. It is therefore suggested that high anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titres occur in apparently healthy individuals with no history of streptococcal infection and individuals with disease conditions other than those of streptococcal origin. Consequently the diagnosis of streptococcal diseases based on high titres of ASO in Lagos, is not pathognomonic, should be interpreted with caution and must not be definitive since healthy individuals and others without streptococcal infections develop high ASO titres.


Mechanisms of Radiation-Induced Degradation of CFCl3 and CF2Cl2 in Noble-Gas Matrixes: An Evidence for "Hot" Ionic Channels in the Solid Phase.
The X-ray-induced transformations of simple chlorofluorocarbons (CFCl3 and CF2Cl2) in solid noble-gas matrixes (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) at 7 K were studied in order to elucidate basic mechanisms of the radiation-chemical degradation with possible implications for stratospheric and extraterrestrial ice chemistry. The decomposition of parent molecules and formation of products were monitored by FTIR spectroscopy, and the identification was supported by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level. It was shown that the ionic reaction channels were predominating in most cases (except for CF2Cl2/Xe system). The primary radical cations (CFCl3+• and CF2Cl2+•) are either stabilized in matrixes or undergo fragmentation to yield the corresponding secondary cations (CFCl2+, CCl3+, CF2Cl+) and halogen atoms. The probability of fragmentation through different channels demonstrates a remarkable matrix dependence, which was explained by the effect of excess energy resulting from the exothermic positive hole transfer from matrix atoms to freon molecules. A qualitative correlation between "hot" ionic fragmentation at low temperatures and gas-phase ion energetics was found. However, dissociative electron attachment leads to formation of neutral radicals (CFCl2• or CF2Cl•) and chloride anions. One more possible way of dissociative electron attachment in the case of CF2Cl2 is formation of CF2•• and Cl2-•. A general scheme of the radiation-induced processes is proposed.


An update on pediatric endoscopy.
Advances in endoscopy and anesthesia have enabled gastrointestinal endoscopy for children since 1960. Over the past decades, the number of endoscopies has increased rapidly. As specialized teams of pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatric intensive care physicians and pediatric endoscopy nurses are available in many medical centers, safe and effective procedures have been established. Therefore, diagnostic endoscopies in children are routine clinical procedures. The most frequently performed endoscopies are esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP). Therapeutic interventions include variceal bleeding ligation, foreign body retrieval and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. New advances in pediatric endoscopy have led to more sensitive diagnostics of common pediatric gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease; likewise, new diseases, such as eosinophilic esophagitis, have been brought to light.Upcoming modalities, such as capsule endoscopy, double balloon enteroscopy and narrow band imaging, are being established and may contribute to diagnostics in pediatric gastroenterology in the future.


Exopolysaccharides of lactic acid bacteria: Structure, biological activity, structure-activity relationship, and application in the food industry: A review.
Over the past few decades, researchers have discovered that probiotics play an important role in our daily lives. With the further deepening of research, more and more evidence show that bacterial metabolites have an important role in food and human health, which opens up a new direction for the research of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Many LAB have been widely studied because of the ability of exopolysaccharides (EPS). Lactic acid bacteria exopolysaccharides (LAB EPS) not only have great potential in the treatment of human diseases but also can become natural ingredients in the food industry to provide special qualitative structure and flavor. This paper has organized and summarized the biosynthesis, strain selection, production process parameters, structure, and biological activity of LAB EPS, filling in the monotony and incompleteness of previous articles' descriptions of LAB EPS. Therefore, this paper focuses on the general biosynthetic pathway, structural characterization, structure-activity relationship, biological activity of LAB EPS, and their application in the food industry, which will help to deepen people's understanding of LAB EPS and develop new active drugs from LAB EPS. Although the research results are relatively affluent, the low yield, complex structure, and few clinical trials of EPS are still the reasons that hinder its development. Therefore, future knowledge expansion should focus on the regulation of structure, physicochemical properties, function, higher production of EPS, and clinical trial applications, which can further increase the commercial significance and value of EPS. Furthermore, better understanding the structure-function relationship of EPS in food remains a challenge to date.


Coenzyme Q10 supplementation rescues renal disease in Pdss2kd/kd mice with mutations in prenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2.
Homozygous mice carrying kd (kidney disease) mutations in the gene encoding prenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2 (Pdss2kd/kd) develop interstitial nephritis and eventually die from end-stage renal disease. The PDSS2 polypeptide in concert with PDSS1 synthesizes the polyisoprenyl tail of coenzyme Q (Q or ubiquinone), a lipid quinone required for mitochondrial respiratory electron transport. We have shown that a deficiency in Q content is evident in Pdss2kd/kd mouse kidney lipid extracts by 40 days of age and thus precedes the onset of proteinuria and kidney disease by several weeks. The presence of the kd (V117M) mutation in PDSS2 does not prevent its association with PDSS1. However, heterologous expression of the kd mutant form of PDSS2 together with PDSS1 in Escherichia coli recapitulates the Q deficiency observed in the Pdss2kd/kd mouse. Dietary supplementation with Q10 provides a dramatic rescue of both proteinuria and interstitial nephritis in the Pdss2kd/kd mutant mice. The results presented suggest that Q may be acting as a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant, rather than by boosting kidney mitochondrial respiration. Such Q10 supplementation may have profound and beneficial effects in treatment of certain forms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis that mirror the renal disease of the Pdss2kd/kd mouse.


Effects of metabolic inhibitors on the efflux of 5-hydroxytryptamine from pancreatic Beta-cells.
The influence of glucose and metabolic inhibitors on the efflux of tritiated 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was studied in perifused beta-cell-rich ob/ob mouse islets loaded with trace amounts of 3H-5-hydroxytryptophan. Glucose stimulated exocytotic release of 5-HT but the effect was rapidly inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, antimycin A or N-ethylmalemide. This inhibition was followed by a marked stimulation of 5-HT efflux. The later phenomenon was reversible when 2,4-dinitrophenol was used by appeared irreversible with antimycin A or N-ethylmalemide. The results show that the maintenance of 5-HT within the beta-cell depends on energy. It is suggested that both inhibitory and stimulatory effects of 5-HT on insulin secretion depend on release of calcium from the secretory granules after short-circuiting a proton pump across the granule membrane.


Efficacy of a brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention for college students.
Epidemiologic data indicate most adolescents and adults experience multiple, simultaneous risk behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention (MBI) for college students. A total of 303 college students were randomly assigned to: (1) a brief MBI or (2) a standard care control, with a 3-month postintervention follow-up. Omnibus treatment by time multivariate analysis of variance interactions were significant for three of six behavior groupings, with improvements for college students receiving the brief MBI on alcohol consumption behaviors, F(6, 261) = 2.73, p = 0.01, marijuana-use behaviors, F(4, 278) = 3.18, p = 0.01, and health-related quality of life, F(5, 277) = 2.80, p = 0.02, but not cigarette use, exercise, and nutrition behaviors. Participants receiving the brief MBI also got more sleep, F(1, 281) = 9.49, p = 0.00, than those in the standard care control. A brief image-based multiple-behavior intervention may be useful in influencing a number of critical health habits and health-related quality-of-life indicators of college students.


Deficient nucleotide excision repair capacity enhances human prostate cancer risk.
Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. The etiology of CaP is not fully understood. Because most of the DNA adducts generated by some CaP-related carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic amines, and pesticides, are removed by the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, we pilot tested the hypothesis that CaP is associated with deficient NER capacity (NERC), measured by a plasmid-based host reactivation assay. Using cryopreserved lymphocytes collected in an ongoing, clinic-based case-control study, our results showed that the mean NERC was significantly lower (P = 0.03) in 140 cases (mean +/- SD, 8.06 +/- 5.17) than in 96 controls (9.64 +/- 5.49). There was a significant association between below-median NERC and CaP risk: odds ratio (OR), 2.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-3.86, after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, smoking history, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and family history. This association was stronger in younger (<60 years of age) subjects (OR, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.13-14.02) compared with older (> or = 60) subjects (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 0.90-3.37). When we stratified NERC values by quartiles of controls, there was a significant dose-dependent association between lower NERC and elevated CaP risk (p (test for linear trend), 0.01). Compared with the highest quartile of NERC as the referent group, the adjusted ORs for the 75th, 50th, and 25th quartiles were: 1.09 (95% CI, 0.46-2.59); 1.81 (95% CI, 0.77-4.27); and 2.63 (95% CI, 1.17-5.95), respectively. This pilot study is the first direct evidence associating deficient NERC with human CaP risk.


[Stroke-like conditions and ischemic strokes in patients with mitochondrial diseases].
Mitochondrial diseases (MD) make up a heterogenous group of pathological conditions characterized by disordered intracellular energy metabolism due to genetically determined disturbances of oxidative phosphorylation. Brain and muscles are most frequently affected in MD. Its systemic manifestations include cardiac (cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia), endocrine (diabetes), gastrointestinal, and renal disorders. This review focuses on neurologic symptoms of MD, such as stroke-like episodes (SLE) in patients with mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis (MELAS), and ischemic stroke associated with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy and occlusive arteriopathy of main intra- and extracranial vessels. Clinical features and pathogenesis of SLE are considered along with related morphological changes in the brain, methods of laboratory and instrumental diagnosis and approaches to treatment. Mitochondrial respiratory chain and mechanisms of its' dual genetic control by nuclear and mitochondrial genomes are briefly described. Peculiarities of MD inheritance are discussed.


A circadian-regulated gene, Nocturnin, promotes adipogenesis by stimulating PPAR-gamma nuclear translocation.
Nocturnin (NOC) is a circadian-regulated protein related to the yeast family of transcription factors involved in the cellular response to nutrient status. In mammals, NOC functions as a deadenylase but lacks a transcriptional activation domain. It is highly expressed in bone-marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), hepatocytes, and adipocytes. In BMSCs exposed to the PPAR-gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma) agonist rosiglitazone, Noc expression was enhanced 30-fold. Previously, we reported that Noc(-/-) mice had low body temperature, were protected from diet-induced obesity, and most importantly exhibited absence of Pparg circadian rhythmicity on a high-fat diet. Consistent with its role in influencing BMSCs allocation, Noc(-/-) mice have reduced bone marrow adiposity and high bone mass. In that same vein, NOC overexpression enhances adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells but negatively regulates osteogenesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. NOC and a mutated form, which lacks deadenylase activity, bind to PPAR-gamma and markedly enhance PPAR-gamma transcriptional activity. Both WT and mutant NOC facilitate nuclear translocation of PPAR-gamma. Importantly, NOC-mediated nuclear translocation of PPAR-gamma is blocked by a short peptide fragment of NOC that inhibits its physical interaction with PPAR-gamma. The inhibitory effect of this NOC-peptide was partially reversed by rosiglitazone, suggesting that effect of NOC on PPAR-gamma nuclear translocation may be independent of ligand-mediated PPAR-gamma activation. In sum, Noc plays a unique role in the regulation of mesenchymal stem-cell lineage allocation by modulating PPAR-gamma activity through nuclear translocation. These data illustrate a unique mechanism whereby a nutrient-responsive gene influences BMSCs differentiation, adipogenesis, and ultimately body composition.


Royal sun medicinal mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis (higher Basidiomycetes) and the attenuation of pulmonary inflammation induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK).
Agaricus brasiliensis currently is one of the most studied fungi because of its nutritional and therapeutic properties as an anti-inflammatory agent and an adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy. The effects of orally administered aqueous A. brasiliensis extract (14.3- and 42.9-mg doses) on parenchymal lung damage induced by carcinogenic 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were observed in Wistar rats. NNK treatment induced pulmonary inflammation, but not lung cancer, in the rats. The lungs of animals treated with NNK showed a higher level of inflammation than those of the control group according to histopathologic examinations (P < 0.01) and kurtosis analysis (P < 0.001) of a global histogram generated from thoracic computed tomography scans. There was no significant difference in the alveolar and bronchial exudates between animals treated with a 14.3-mg dose of A. brasiliensis extract and the control without NNK. However, a significant difference was found between animals treated with NNK, received a 42.9-mg dose of A. brasiliensis (P < 0.05), and the controls not treated with NNK. We did not observe a significant difference between the kurtoses of the A. brasiliensis (14.3 mg) and control groups. However, a 42.9-mg dose of A. brasiliensis resulted in lower kurtosis values than those observed in the control group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, a low dose of A. brasiliensis was more effective in attenuating pulmonary inflammation. Similar to the histopathological results, the computed tomography scans also showed a protective effect of A. brasiliensis at the lower dose, which prevented gross pulmonary consolidation.


Inducible clindamycin resistance in β-hemolytic streptococci and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Resistance to macrolides in beta-hemolytic streptococci and Streptococcus pneumoniae arises primarily due to Erm(B) or Mef(A). Erm(B) typically confers high level resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramin B (MLSB phenotype), whereas Mef(A) confers low level resistance to macrolides only (M phenotype). To investigate the incidence of macrolide resistance mechanisms in isolates of beta-hemolytic streptococci and pneumococci in Israel, with particular emphasis on inducible MLSB phenotype. We collected 316 clinical isolates of streptococci during May-August 2010. Erythromycin resistance mechanism was determined by the erythromycin-clindamycin double disk diffusion method. Erythromycin and clindamycin resistance rates were 19.4% and 13.4% for S. pneumoniae, 4.7% and 1.6% for group A Streptococcus (GAS), 17% and 17% for group B Streptococcus (GBS), and 38.8% and 27.8% for group G Streptococcus (GGS) respectively. The most common resistance mechanism for all streptococci was constitutive MLSB (cMLSB). Inducible MLSs (iMLSB) mechanism was found in 3% of all strains and represented 25% of resistance mechanisms. The prevalence of macrolide resistance and the distribution of resistance mechanisms differ among beta-hemolytic streptococci and S. pneumoniae, with GBS, GGS and S. pneumoniae showing the highest resistance rate. Macrolide or lincosamide cannot be empirically used for severe streptococcal infections before strains are proved to be susceptible. Continuous surveillance of erythromycin and clindamycin resistance patterns among streptococci is needed.


A novel assay to measure tertiary and quaternary amines in wastewater: An indicator for NDMA wastewater precursors.
This study examined the potential of using a novel bulk amine assay as an approximation for the tertiary and quaternary amine load in wastewaters and surface water samples, and this approximation was compared to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation potential using chloramines. An existing colorimetric method was examined and optimized for the detection of amines in environmental water samples. The method consists of liquid-liquid extraction followed by a catalyzed reaction to form a yet-undefined product that is known to be both a strong chromophore and fluorophore. Previous work verified that this reaction was effectively catalyzed by a number of compounds containing tertiary and quaternary amine moieties. Many tertiary and quaternary compounds are also efficient producers of NDMA under chloramination conditions, and a linear correlation was consequently derived from the bulk amine signals vs. NDMA formation potential in various wastewater samples (R2 = 0.74; n = 24; p-value < 0.05). The results provide evidence that approximately 2% of the tertiary and quaternary amines measured can form NDMA and an estimated 0.01-1.3% of nitrogen in dissolved organic nitrogen originates from these bulk amines. The normalization of NDMA concentration by the amine measurement revealed that ozone effectively destroyed those tertiary and quaternary amine structures more likely to form NDMA in treated wastewater samples. This bulk amine assay illustrates that proxy measurements of tertiary and quaternary amines can be linked to the NDMA formation potential of a given sample, and this approach may prove useful as a characterizing tool for NDMA precursors in wastewater.


Effects of crossbreeding indigenous Hair Goat with Saanen on carcass measurements and meat quality of kids under an intensive production system.
The aim of study was to investigate the effect of genotype on carcass measurements and meat quality characteristics of purebred Hair Goat, Saanen x Hair Goat (F(1) and B(1)) kids under an intensive production system. In total, 24 kids were slaughtered at the age of approximately 133 days. Kids were fattened for 56 days immediately after weaning. Hot carcass weights were 6.78, 7.61 and 7.02 kg and dressing percentages were 49.71, 49.27 and 48.78%, respectively (P > 0.05). Differences between genotypes for carcass measurements and indexes were not significant. Effect of genotype on pH measurements, drip loss, water holding capacity, cooking loss and Warner Bratzler shear force values were not significant. Meat lightness values at 0 h, 1 h and 1 day after cutting were higher in crossbred kids than Hair Goat kids (P < 0.05). Redness value was significantly higher in meat samples of Hair goat kids at 0 h, 1 h and 1 day measurements (P < 0.05). Kid genotype had no significant effect on meat sensory characteristics, except tenderness. Panelists gave lower scores for meat tenderness to F(1) and B(1) crosses compared to purebred Hair Goat kids. In conclusion, higher meat lightness values of crossbred kids, at particularly B(1) level, might have a positive effect on the consumer choices.


Applications in in ovo technology.
By mid-August 1995, 55% of broiler embryos in North America were vaccinated for Marek's disease using the INOVOJECT system, with 201 INOVOJECT machines placed with 16 of the top 25 poultry producers, providing the industry with the capacity to inject in excess of 400 million eggs per month or about 5 billion eggs per annum. In ovo administration of a bursal disease antibody-infectious bursal disease virus (BDA-IBDV) complexed vaccine to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) embryos was safer and more potent than conventional IBDV vaccine alone because it delayed the appearance of bursal lesions, produced no early mortality, produced higher geometric mean antibody titers against IBDV, and generated protective immunity against challenge. In ovo administration of a BDA-IBDV complexed vaccine to broiler embryos generated antibody titers against IBDV sooner than conventional virus vaccinates, and generated protective immunity against challenge Direct DNA injection of plasmid DNA encoding beta-galactosidase into breast muscle in ovo and posthatch was an effective means to achieve both gene transfer and expression, with potential for the development of gene vaccines using plasmids encoding protective antigens from poultry pathogens. In ovo administration of 800 U chicken myelomonocytic growth factor (cMGF), a chicken hematopoietic cytokine for cells of the monocytic-granulocytic lineages, significantly reduced mortality associated with Escherichia coli exposure within the hatcher when compared to PBS controls (6.1 vs 12.4, P < or = 0.05), but not when compared to a yeast expression control. A procedure was developed enabling injection prior to the onset of incubation without compromising embryo viability. This in ovo injection process has opened up the window of embryo development during incubation for intervention, as illustrated by the 100% male phenotype produced in chicks hatching from eggs injected with aromatase inhibitor prior to incubation. These data illustrate some of the in ovo applications presently in use by the poultry industry, and under development or in research at EMBREX.


Validation of the Singapore nomogram for outcome prediction in breast phyllodes tumours in a large patient cohort.
To validate the Singapore nomogram for outcome prediction in breast phyllodes tumours in a large cohort of Singaporean patients, as previous validation studies were conducted on small numbers of patients. We also investigate the association of fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours within a subset of our cohort. Histological parameters, surgical margin status and clinical follow-up data of 259 women diagnosed with phyllodes tumours were analysed. Patients with concurrent malignant or premalignant disease were excluded from the validation to minimise confounding influences. Biostatistics modelling was performed, and the concordance between predicted and observed survivals was calculated. The association between fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours was quantified in a subset of the women. Phyllodes tumours with higher number of mitoses, stromal overgrowth and positive surgical margins were found to be associated with greater risk of clinical recurrence. Patients with a higher nomogram score had a significantly higher risk of developing relapse. Forty out of 78 (51.3%) of the subset of phyllodes cases reviewed showed either fibroadenoma-like areas within the phyllodes tumours or concurrent fibroadenomas in the ipsilateral or contralateral breast. The Singapore nomogram is useful in predicting outcome in breast phyllodes tumours when applied to a large cohort of Singaporean women.


[Histogenesis of the liver of Japanese quail embryos developed in the conditions of microgravity].
The article reports the results of histogenetic studies of the liver extracted from Japanese quail embryos and hatchlings that had passed the embryonic and postnatal development in microgravity. Comparison of the liver from the flight and laboratory embryos showed identity of organogenesis and histogenesis processes in space and on Earth. However, it should be noted that early histogenetic development of the space embryo liver had been retarded which was concluded from an enlarged lumen in bile capillaries and loose arrangement of epithelium girders as compared with the control On day-10 post flight, the flight embryos exhibited liver induration through narrowing of sinusoids lumen. Haemopoietic zones became less numerous. By the end of embryonic development these histological differences of the flight and control liver disappeared essentially. Organogenesis and histogenesis of the liver obtained from the hatchlings that had spent 5 days in microgravity did not depart from the norm. However, inability of the birds to adapt to microgravity and ensuing starvation was the reason for dystrophic changes in the liver, venous congestion and increased histoleucocytic activity. All the liver changes faded away soon alter the hatchlings were settled in favorable life conditions


[Bibliometric indicators of nephrology journals: strengths and weaknesses].
Scientific journals are an important communication tool through which authors, publishers, editors, readers, librarians support the circulation of information. How do I select the journal to submit for publication? How can my research have the widest circulation? How can I make my article and my scientific activities to be positively considered by assessment boards? These are some of the main questions that arise when an author chooses to write an article. The research evaluation can be based on qualitative indicators such as the peer review and/or quantities of a not bibliometric or bibliometric type, such as the Impact Factor or SCImago Journal Rank indicator. The study aims to analyze, with no presumption of completeness, the impact and the specificities of nephrology journals to support those who decide to publish an article. The comparison of the data of some bibliometric indicators brings out a common view about many medical disciplines in which England and the United States on one side and the English language on the other side have a leading role in constituting a reference point for those who want to try to publish an article. The Italian reality, especially, through some magazines offers interesting ideas for publication. Bibliometric indicators, therefore, are a valuable reference for orientation in the complex world of scientific publications, only if you know how to look beyond the purely mathematical and statistical data, not neglecting "minor" realities which in some cases may be the right launching pad for a production of scientific value.


Mechanisms of aerobic performance impairment with heat stress and dehydration.
Environmental heat stress can challenge the limits of human cardiovascular and temperature regulation, body fluid balance, and thus aerobic performance. This minireview proposes that the cardiovascular adjustments accompanying high skin temperatures (T(sk)), alone or in combination with high core body temperatures (T(c)), provide a primary explanation for impaired aerobic exercise performance in warm-hot environments. The independent (T(sk)) and combined (T(sk) + T(c)) effects of hyperthermia reduce maximal oxygen uptake (Vo(2max)), which leads to higher relative exercise intensity and an exponential decline in aerobic performance at any given exercise workload. Greater relative exercise intensity increases cardiovascular strain, which is a prominent mediator of rated perceived exertion. As a consequence, incremental or constant-rate exercise is more difficult to sustain (earlier fatigue) or requires a slowing of self-paced exercise to achieve a similar sensation of effort. It is proposed that high T(sk) and T(c) impair aerobic performance in tandem primarily through elevated cardiovascular strain, rather than a deterioration in central nervous system (CNS) function or skeletal muscle metabolism. Evaporative sweating is the principal means of heat loss in warm-hot environments where sweat losses frequently exceed fluid intakes. When dehydration exceeds 3% of total body water (2% of body mass) then aerobic performance is consistently impaired independent and additive to heat stress. Dehydration augments hyperthermia and plasma volume reductions, which combine to accentuate cardiovascular strain and reduce Vo(2max). Importantly, the negative performance consequences of dehydration worsen as T(sk) increases.


Malnutrition during brain growth spurt alters the effect of fluoxetine on aggressive behavior in adult rats.
Malnutrition effect during the suckling period on aggressive behavior was investigated in adult rats treated and not treated with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Sixty-four Wistar male rats were allocated in two groups, according to their mothers' diet during lactation. The well-nourished group was fed by mothers receiving a 23% protein diet; the malnourished one by mothers receiving a 8% protein diet. Following weaning, all rats received the 23% protein diet. On the 90th day after birth, each nutritional group was divided into two subgroups, one receiving a single daily injection of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) and the other of a saline solution (0.9% NaCl) for 14 days. Treatment with Fluoxetine reduced aggressive response in well-nourished but not in malnourished rats. These findings suggest that the serotoninergic system was affected by malnutrition during the critical period of brain development, and persisted even after a long period of nutritional recovery.


Bronchoscopic instillation of surfactant in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Abnormalities of surfactant action in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) result in decreased lung compliance and significant hypoxemia. Several case reports and small studies suggest that there is an improvement in patients with ARDS following the administration of surfactant. However, there is no clear-cut ideal method for surfactant administration. The bronchoscopic administration of surfactant may represent an effective method of surfactant delivery in ARDS. Bronchoscopic instillation offers the theoretical advantages that the surfactant may be distributed directly to the desired regions of the lung, a more economical use of surfactant, and the opportunity to lavage leaked serum proteins prior to instillation. Surfactant has been administered in adults with success. We present a case of initial improvement in oxygenation index, ventilation index, and mechanical ventilatory support in a pediatric patient with ARDS following the bronchoscopic administration of surfactant.


BrainTV: a novel approach for online mapping of human brain functions.
Our understanding of the brain's functional organisation has greatly benefited from occasional exploratory sessions during electrophysiological studies, trying various manipulations of an animal's environment to trigger responses in particular neurons. Famous examples of such exploration have unveiled various unexpected response properties, such as those of mirror neurons. This approach, which relies on the possibility to test online the reactivity of precise neural populations has no equivalent so far in humans. The present study proposes and applies a radically novel framework for mapping human brain functions in ecological situations based on a combination of a) exploratory sessions, using real-time electrophysiology to formulate hypotheses about the functional role of precise cortical regions and b) controlled experimental protocols specifically adapted to test these hypotheses. Using this two-stage approach with an epileptic patient candidate for surgery and implanted with intracerebral electrodes, we were able to precisely map high-level auditory functions in the patients' superior temporal lobe. We propose that this procedure constitutes at the least a useful complement of electrical cortical stimulations to map eloquent brain areas in epileptic patients before their surgery, but also a path of discovery for human functional brain mapping.


Exploring how attorneys address grooming in criminal trials of child sexual abuse.
Grooming is a common tactic among perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA). It is important that grooming is addressed in court to explain the unintuitive ways a child may act when they have been victims of abuse. The present study draws upon 134 transcripts of CSA criminal trials to establish how attorneys talk about grooming in court. Only 1.8% of attorney's questions addressed grooming behaviors. The majority of these focusing on exposure to pornography (27%) or boundary pushing (19%). Invitations elicited the most productive reports of grooming from children. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion with which defense and prosecuting attorney's raised grooming issues, with prosecutors raising grooming issues more often than defense attorneys. We suggest that attorneys consider devoting proportionally more time to addressing grooming in court, to help jurors demystify common myths surrounding CSA.


Effects of interleukin-9 blockade on chronic airway inflammation in murine asthma models.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways associated with structural changes and airway remodeling. Interleukin (IL)-9 has pleiotropic effects on both inflammatory cells and airway structural cells, which are involved in asthma pathogenesis. We evaluated the effects of IL-9 blockade on chronic airway inflammation. Acute airway inflammation was induced in Balb/c mice using aerosolized ovalbumin (OVA), whereas chronic asthma was induced by OVA exposure for 5 weeks with anti-IL-9 or isotype-matched antibody (Ab) treatment during the OVA challenge. Inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted and lung tissues were stained to detect cellular infiltration, mucus deposition, and collagen accumulation. The levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-17, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) in BALF were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, and profiles of inflammatory cells and subsets of T helper (Th) cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. IL-9, IL-17, and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the chronic group compared to the acute asthma group. However, the number of IL-9-positive cells was not affected, with a decrease in Th17 cells in OVA-challenged caspase-1 knockout mice. Numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils, B cells, mast cells, and Th17 cells decreased after administration of anti-IL-9 Ab. Total IgE, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-17 levels were also lower in the anti-IL-9 group. Our results suggest that anti-IL-9 Ab treatment inhibits pulmonary infiltration of inflammatory cells and cytokine production, especially IL-17. These results provide a basis for the use of an anti-IL-9 Ab to combat IL-17-mediated airway inflammation.


"Crash induction" in patients with full stomach.
The rationale of "crash induction" in patients with full stomach is reviewed. The technique does not precipitate regurgitation in normal patients having competent cardia, provided respiratory obstruction and IPPV are avoided during induction. On the other hand, in patients with incompetent cardia such as intestinal obstruction or hiatus hernia, excessive material may accumulate in the lower esophagus. The accumulation will be suddenly released with the cricopharyngeal relaxation subsequent to "crash induction". The stomach and esophagus should be adequately decompressed pre-operatively, and precautionary measures such as backward cricoid pressure must be taken during induction.


Propagation of Homalodisca coagulata virus-01 via Homalodisca vitripennis cell culture.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis) is a highly vagile and polyphagous insect found throughout the southwestern United States. These insects are the predominant vectors of Xylella fastidiosa (X. fastidiosa), a xylem-limited bacterium that is the causal agent of Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevine. Pierce's disease is economically damaging; thus, H. vitripennis have become a target for pathogen management strategies. A dicistrovirus identified as Homalodisca coagulata virus-01 (HoCV-01) has been associated with an increased mortality in H. vitripennis populations. Because a host cell is required for HoCV-01 replication, cell culture provides a uniform environment for targeted replication that is logistically and economically valuable for biopesticide production. In this study, a system for large-scale propagation of H. vitripennis cells via tissue culture was developed, providing a viral replication mechanism. HoCV-01 was extracted from whole body insects and used to inoculate cultured H. vitripennis cells at varying levels. The culture medium was removed every 24 hr for 168 hr, RNA extracted and analyzed with qRT-PCR. Cells were stained with trypan blue and counted to quantify cell survivability using light microscopy. Whole virus particles were extracted up to 96 hr after infection, which was the time point determined to be before total cell culture collapse occurred. Cells were also subjected to fluorescent staining and viewed using confocal microscopy to investigate viral activity on F-actin attachment and nuclei integrity. The conclusion of this study is that H. vitripennis cells are capable of being cultured and used for mass production of HoCV-01 at a suitable level to allow production of a biopesticide.


MITOP: database for mitochondria-related proteins, genes and diseases.
The MITOP database http://websvr.mips.biochem.mpg. de/proj/medgen/mitop/ consolidates information on both nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded genes and their proteins. The five species files- Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mus musculus, Caenorhabditis elegans, Neurospora crassa and Homo sapiens -include annotated data derived from a variety of online resources and the literature. A wide spectrum of search facilities is given in the interelated sections 'Gene catalogues', 'Protein catalogues', 'Homologies', 'Pathways and metabolism', and 'Human disease catalogue' including extensive references and hyperlinks for each entry. Precomputed FASTA searches using all the MITOP yeast protein entries and a list of the best EST hits with graphical cluster alignments related to the yeast reference sequence are presented. The MITOP orthologue tables with cross-listing to all the protein entries for each species in the database facilitate investigations into interspecies homology. A program (MITOPROT) is available to identify mitochondrial targeting sequences and graphical depictions of several important mitochondrial processes are included. The 'Human disease catalogue' lists a total of 101 disorders related to mitochondrial protein abnormalities, sorted by clinical criteria and age of onset.


The molecular action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a polypeptide hormone newly synthesized by different cell types upon stimulation with endotoxin, inflammatory mediators (C5a anaphylatoxin), or cytokines such as interleukin-1 and, in an autocrine manner, TNF itself. The net biological effect of TNF-alpha may vary depending on relative concentration, duration of cell exposure and presence of other mediators which may act in synergism with this cytokine. TNF-alpha may be relevant either in pathological events occurring in cachexia and endotoxic shock and inflammation or in beneficial processes such as host defense, immunity and tissue homeostasis. The biological effects of TNF-alpha are triggered by the binding to specific cell surface receptors. The formation of TNF-alpha-receptor complex activates a variety of biochemical pathways that include the transduction of the signal at least in part controlled by guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins), its amplification through activation of adenyl cyclase, phospholipases and protein kinases with the generation of second messenger pathways. The transduction of selected genes in different cell types determines the characteristics of the cell response to TNF-alpha. The full understanding of the molecular mechanisms of TNF-alpha will provide the basis for a pharmacological approach intended to inhibit or potentiate selected biological actions of this cytokine.


[Origin of colloid cyst: immunoperoxidase study].
Despite their consistent anatomic location and histological features, the histogenesis of colloid cysts has remained obscure. We report immunohistochemical data on surgically excised cysts in attempt to define the origin of the lining epithelial cells. Paraffin-embedded tissues from colloidal cysts (7 in the 3rd ventricle and one in the sella) and two similar epithelial cysts (one in the cerebellopontine angle and one in the sella) were investigated. After examination by conventional stains, immunoperoxidase studies were carried out using primary antisera against epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), epidermal keratin (EK) and S-100 protein. The apical plasma membrane, surface microstructures were consistently EMA positive. Columnar cells demonstrated cytoplasmic staining for TPA. Basal cells of lining epithelia expressed EK. All epithelia studied were negative for S-100 protein. These findings suggest an endodermal origin of colloid cysts.


RISC-interacting clearing 3'- 5' exoribonucleases (RICEs) degrade uridylated cleavage fragments to maintain functional RISC in Arabidopsis thaliana.
RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) is composed of miRNAs and AGO proteins. AGOs use miRNAs as guides to slice target mRNAs to produce truncated 5' and 3' RNA fragments. The 5' cleaved RNA fragments are marked with uridylation for degradation. Here, we identified novel cofactors of Arabidopsis AGOs, named RICE1 and RICE2. RICE proteins specifically degraded single-strand (ss) RNAs in vitro; but neither miRNAs nor miRNA*s in vivo. RICE1 exhibited a DnaQ-like exonuclease fold and formed a homohexamer with the active sites located at the interfaces between RICE1 subunits. Notably, ectopic expression of catalytically-inactive RICE1 not only significantly reduced miRNA levels; but also increased 5' cleavage RISC fragments with extended uridine tails. We conclude that RICEs act to degrade uridylated 5' products of AGO cleavage to maintain functional RISC. Our study also suggests a possible link between decay of cleaved target mRNAs and miRNA stability in RISC.


Impact of extracellular HIV-TAT on the regulation of EDF-1 levels in human endothelial cells.
EDF-1 has been isolated by RNA fingerprinting from human endothelial cells exposed to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-) Tat, a viral protein known to function as a cytokine in the activation of endothelial cells. Here we provide the molecular evidence that the inhibition of EDF-1 mRNA is transcriptionally regulated in human endothelial cells. Indeed, HIV-Tat inhibits the luciferase activity of endothelial cells transiently transfected with a construct containing 2300 bp of EDF-1 promoter cloned upstream of a luciferase reporter system. The decrease of EDF-1 RNA, however, does not translate into any alteration at the protein level, even when the cells are exposed to MG132, a proteasome inhibitor. Analogously, no modulation of the total amounts of EDF-1 by HIV-Tat has been observed in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1beta, which induces endothelial responsiveness to the in vitro effects of HIV-Tat. We have previously shown that EDF-1 is cytosolic and can be translocated to the nucleus upon activation of protein kinases A and C. In response to HIV-Tat, EDF-1 is mainly in the cytosol. Since cytosolic EDF-1 binds and sequesters calmodulin, an important regulator of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, these results might explain why we do not observe any induction of nitric oxide in endothelial cells exposed to HIV-Tat.


Spatially explicit analyses of environmental and health data to determine past, emerging and future threats to child health.
Dire forecasts predict that an increasingly hostile environment globally will increase the threats to human health. Infants and young children are especially at risk because children are particularly vulnerable to climate-related stressors. The childhood diseases most affected, the breadth and magnitude of future health problems and the time frame over which these problems will manifest remain largely unknown. To review the possibility that spacially explicit analyses can be used to determine how climate change has affected children's health to date and whether these analyses can be used for future projections. As an example of whether these objectives can be achieved, all available Australian environmental and health databases were reviewed. Environmental and health data in Australia have been collected for up to 30 years for the same spatial areas at 'Statistical Area level 1' (SA1) scale. SA1s are defined as having a population of between 200 and 800 people and collectively they cover the whole of Australia without gaps or overlap. Although the SA1 environmental and health data have been collected separately, they can be merged to allow detailed statistical analyses that can determine how climate change has affected the health of children. The availability of environmental and health datasets that share the same precise spatial coordinates provides a pathway whereby past and emerging effects on child health can be measured and predicted into the future. Given that the future health and well-being of children is one of society's greatest concerns, this information is urgently needed.


Inhibition of peptidases potentiates enkephalin-stimulated contraction of gastric muscle cells.
Cell surface peptidases degrade enkephalins and thereby restrict the number of molecules available to activate receptors. The effects of peptidase inhibitors on degradation of enkephalins and on enkephalin-stimulated contraction of gastric smooth muscle cells were examined. Muscle cells dispersed from the guinea pig stomach degraded [Tyr1-3H] [Leu5]enkephalin (41.6 +/- 9.0% degradation at 60 min incubation, mean +/- SD, n = 4 animals). Amastatin (10 microM, an aminopeptidase inhibitor) inhibited degradation by 72.1 +/- 1.5% The residual peptidase activity was inhibited by phosphoramidon (1 microM, an endopeptidase EC 188.8.131.52 inhibitor) by 58.0 +/- 11.0%. [Tyr1-125I] [Met5]enkephalin was similarly degraded. Phosphoramidon (1 microM) inhibited the degradation of the aminopeptidase-resistant peptide [Tyr1-3H] [D-Ala2]-[Leu5]enkephalin by greater than 95%. [Met5]enkephalin, incubated with cells for 30 s, stimulated contraction [50% maximal contraction (EC50) 120 +/- 50 nM, n = 6]. Pretreatment of cells with phosphoramidon alone, amastatin alone, or phosphoramidon plus amastatin, caused 20-fold (EC50 6.5 +/- 1.1 nM), 2-fold (EC50 63 +/- 23 nM), and 100-fold (EC50 1.1 +/- 0.3 nM) increase in potency of [Met5]enkephalin, respectively. The results show that endopeptidase EC 188.8.131.52 and aminopeptidases contribute to degradation of enkephalins by gastric muscle cells. The rapidity and magnitude of the potentiating effects of the inhibitors on enkephalin-stimulated contraction suggest a close physical relationship between the peptidases and the enkephalin receptors.


[The volumes of the orbit and the eyeball in human embryos].
The orbital and eyeball volumes in 176 and 126 human embryos were measured respectively. The results showed that the orbit and the eyeball increased in volume with the age of the fetuses, while the corresponding ratios between the two differed insignificantly, indicating that the orbit and the eyeball developed parallelly during gestation.


Restoration of supporting teeth for existing removable partial dentures.
A technique for restoration of abutment teeth under existing removable partial dentures is presented. This technique uses rubber dam isolation for moisture control and involves condensing the amalgam with the partial denture seated to assure correct adaptation to the existing framework.


Functional Characterization of the Nep1-Like Protein Effectors of the Necrotrophic Pathogen - Alternaria brassicae.
Alternaria brassicae is an important necrotrophic pathogen that infects the Brassicaceae family. A. brassicae, like other necrotrophs, also secretes various proteinaceous effectors and metabolites that cause cell death to establish itself in the host. However, there has been no systematic study of A. brassicae effectors and their roles in pathogenesis. The availability of the genome sequence of A. brassicae in public domain has enabled the search for effectors and their functional characterization. Nep1-like proteins (NLPs) are a superfamily of proteins that induce necrosis and ethylene biosynthesis. They have been reported from a variety of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes. In this study, we identified two NLPs from A. brassicae viz. AbrNLP1 and AbrNLP2 and functionally characterized them. Although both AbrNLPs were found to be secretory in nature, they localized differentially inside the plant. AbrNLP2 was found to induce necrosis in both host and non-host species, while AbrNLP1 could not induce necrosis in both species. Additionally, AbrNLP2 was shown to induce pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity in both host and non-host species. Overall, our study indicates that AbrNLPs are functionally and spatially (subcellular location) distinct and may play different but important roles during the pathogenesis of A. brassicae.


Patients surviving six months in hospice care: who are they?
On January 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began requiring U.S. hospices to conduct a "face-to-face" (F2F) assessment of eligibility for continued hospice care with patients entering their third certification period (180 days after initial enrollment). Understanding which patient populations require F2F assessment is important for evaluating the impact of the CMS regulation and gauging the appropriateness of the 6-month prognosis criteria for different patient groups. Retrospective program records were obtained for patients enrolled in a large hospice 6 months prior to implementation of the CMS regulation (N=375). Patients who remained in hospice and received a F2F (n=140) were compared to patients who were no longer in hospice (n=235) on demographics, terminal condition (categorized as debility/dementia, cancer, or other), presence of serious comorbidity, length of stay, setting of care prior to admission, and hospice outcome using bivariate statistics. Predictors of F2F recertification were examined using a multivariable logistic regression model controlling for demographics, setting of care prior to admission, comorbidity, and primary terminal diagnosis. At the bivariate level, patients who received an F2F were older (p<0.001), and more likely to have lived in a facility care setting prior to hospice admission (p<0.001) than their non-F2F counterparts. Findings from the logistic regression analysis indicate that initial setting of care (odds ratio [OR] for inpatient versus home=0.20; p=0.01), presence of serious comorbidity (OR=2.84; p<0.001), and primary diagnosis (OR for debility/dementia versus cancer=3.35; p<0.001) were significant predictors of F2F recertification. Unlike hospice patients with cancer, patients with a primary diagnosis of dementia or debility are more likely to remain in hospice care beyond 6 months and require F2F recertification. Still, these patients need the services provided by hospice care and may be limited by the 6-month recertification criteria.


The Effectiveness of Incorporating a Play-based Intervention to Improve Functional Mobility for a Child with Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: A Case Report.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is one of the most common forms of cancer seen in children, accounting for one-fourth of all childhood cancers. These children typically present with decreased functional mobility, weakened lower extremity muscle strength and reduced exercise endurance and interests because of disease progressions and chemotherapy treatments. The purpose of this case report was to examine the effectiveness of incorporating a play-based physical therapy (PT) intervention programme to improve functional mobility for an inpatient with relapsed ALL undergoing chemotherapy. The patient was a 3-year-old male admitted to the hospital for relapsed ALL. He was diagnosed approximately 1 year earlier for which he had undergone chemotherapy and was later considered in remission at that time. When the patient relapsed, he underwent another round of chemotherapy and was waiting for a bone marrow transplant during his treatment during the course of this case report. For PT intervention, therapeutic exercises were incorporated into play to strengthen his lower extremity strength and muscle endurance. Functional activities were also incorporated into play to improve his aerobic capacity and overall quality of life. Multi-attribute health status classification system (HUI3) utility scores, 6-minute walk test distance (6MWT), lower extremity (LE) strength, transfer and tolerated treatment time were assessed to identify the effect of a PT intervention. Despite experiencing fatigue, the patient completed most of the treatments incorporated into play. After 5 weeks of PT intervention, the participant improved on HUI3 (pre: 0.72 and post: 0.92), 6MWT (pre: 156 ft and post: 489 ft), LE strength (squat), transfer (sit to stand) and tolerated treatment time (pre: 16 minutes and post: 44 minutes). This case report suggests that incorporating a play-based PT intervention programme could be physically tolerable and functionally beneficial for a young child with relapsed ALL undergoing inpatient chemotherapy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Natural selection and divergence in mate preference during speciation.
Sexual isolation can evolve due to natural selection against hybrids (reinforcement). However, many different forms of hybrid dysfunction, and selective processes that do not involve hybrids, can contribute to the evolution of sexual isolation. Here we review how different selective processes affect the evolution of sexual isolation, describe approaches for distinguishing among them, and assess how they contribute to variation in sexual isolation among populations of Timema cristinae stick-insects. Pairs of allopatric populations of T. cristinae living on different host-plant species exhibit greater sexual isolation than those on the same host, indicating that some sexual isolation has evolved due to host adaptation. Sexual isolation is strongest in regions where populations on different hosts are in geographic contact, a pattern of reproductive character displacement that is indicative of reinforcement. Ecological costs to hybridization do occur but traits under ecological selection (predation) do not co-vary strongly with the probability of between-population mating such that selection on ecological traits is not predicted to produce a strong correlated evolutionary response in mate preference. Moreover, F1 hybrid egg inviability is lacking and the factors contributing to reproductive character displacement require further study. Finally, we show that sexual isolation involves, at least in part, olfactory communication. Our results illustrate how understanding of the evolution of sexual isolation can be enhanced by isolating the roles of diverse ecological and evolutionary processes.


Exclusive breastfeeding and risk of atopic dermatitis in some 8300 infants.
Earlier studies on breastfeeding and atopy in infants have yielded contradictory results. We examined the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and atopic dermatitis (AD) in a cohort of infants born between 1 October 1997 and 1 October 1999 in south-east Sweden. We evaluated the risk of AD 'at least once' or 'at least three times' during the first year of life in relation to duration of exclusive breastfeeding: <4 months (short exclusive breastfeeding; SEBF) vs. > or = 4 months. All data were obtained through questionnaires. Of 8346 infants with breastfeeding data, 1943 (23.3%) had suffered from AD during the first year of life. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding was not associated with lower risk of AD (p = 0.868). SEBF did not influence the risk of any AD (OR = 1.03; 95% CI OR = 0.91-1.17; p = 0.614) or AD at least three times (OR = 0.97; 95% CI OR = 0.81-1.16; p = 0.755) during the first year of life. Adjustment for confounders did not change these point estimates. Neither was there any link between SEBF and risk of AD among infants with a family history of atopy [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.16; 95% CI AOR = 0.90-1.48; p = 0.254]. Furred pets at home were linked to a lower risk of AD both among infants with a family history of atopy (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI AOR = 0.60-0.96; p = 0.021) and among infants with no such history (AOR = 0.79; 95% CI AOR = 0.69-0.90; p < 0.001). Infants with no family history of atopy were less prone to develop AD if parents smoked (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI AOR = 0.61-0.95; p = 0.016). This study indicates that exclusive breastfeeding does not influence the risk of AD during the first year of life, while presence of furred pets at home seems to be negatively associated with AD.


Spectrophotometric estimation of tamsulosin hydrochloride by acid-dye method.
A new spectrophotometric method for the estimation of tamsulosin hydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage forms has been developed and validated. The method is based on reaction between drug and bromophenol blue and complex was measured at 421 nm. The slope, intercept and correlation coefficient was found to be 0.054, -0.020 and 0.999, respectively. Method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, range, precision and accuracy. The developed method can be used to determine drug in both tablet and capsule formulations. Reaction was optimized using three parameters i.e., concentration of the dye, pH of the buffer, volume of the buffer and shaking time. Maximum stability of the chromophore was achieved by using pH 2 and 2 ml volume of buffer. Shaking time kept was 2 min and concentration of the dye used was 2 ml of 0.05% w/v solution. Method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, range, accuracy, LOD and LOQ and stochiometry of the method was also established using Mole ratio and Job's method of continuous variation. The dye benzonoid form (blue color) of dye ionized into quinonoid form (purple color) in presence of buffer and reacts with protonated form of drug in 1:1 ratio and forms an ion-pair complex (yellow color).


Creation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Guideline for neonatal intestinal surgery patients: a knowledge synthesis and consensus generation approach and protocol study.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines integrate evidence-based practices into multimodal care pathways designed to optimise patient recovery following surgery. The objective of this project is to create an ERAS protocol for neonatal abdominal surgery. The protocol will identify and attempt to bridge the gaps between current practices and best evidence. Our study is the first paediatric ERAS protocol endorsed by the International ERAS Society. A research team consisting of international clinical and family stakeholders as well as methodological experts have iteratively defined the scope of the protocol in addition to individual topic areas. A modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus. The second phase will include a series of knowledge syntheses involving a rapid review coupled with expert opinion. Potential protocol elements supported by synthesised evidence will be identified. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system will be used to determine strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. The third phase will involve creation of the protocol using a modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method. Group consensus will be used to rate each element in relation to the quality of evidence supporting the recommendation and the appropriateness for guideline inclusion. This protocol will form the basis of a future implementation study. This study has been registered with the ERAS Society. Human ethics approval (REB 18-0579) is in place to engage patient families within protocol development. This research is to be published in peer-reviewed journals and will form the care standard for neonatal intestinal surgery.


Medication-taking experiences in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review.
Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition for which pharmacotherapy is considered an effective treatment, guidelines on the treatment of ADHD have been challenging to implement. Considering the views of patients and caregivers involved in medication-taking could help shed light on these challenges. This review combines the findings of individual studies of medication-taking experiences in ADHD in order to guide clinicians to effectively share decisions about treatment. Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, SCOPUS and CINAHL) were systematically searched for relevant published research articles. Articles were assessed for quality using a Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist, and synthesis was performed using meta-ethnography. Thirty-one articles were included in the final synthesis, comprising studies of caregivers, paediatric patients and adult patients across seven countries. Findings were categorized into five different constructs, including coming to terms with ADHD, anticipated concerns about medication, experiences of the effects of medication, external influences and the development of self-management. The synthesis demonstrates that decisions surrounding medication-taking for ADHD evolve as the child patient enters adulthood and moves towards autonomy and self-management. In all parts of this journey, decisions are shaped by a series of 'trade-offs', where potential benefits and harms of medication are weighed up. This review offers a comprehensive insight into medication-taking experiences in ADHD. By considering the shifting locus of decision-making over time and the need for individuals and families to reconcile a variety of external influences, primary care and mental health clinicians can engage in holistic conversations with their patients to share decisions effectively.


["Fabulous things". Drug narratives about coca and cocaine in the 19th century].
This contribution focuses on the history of Coca leaves and Cocaine in the second half of 19th century Europe. Even though, to date, no direct link has been established between the activities of the Milano physician Paolo Mantegazza, and the Göttingen chemist Friedrich Wöhler, it is not a mere coincidence that both published their findings in the same year, namely, 1859. Mantegazza authored the first treatise claiming that Coca had psychoactive qualities and touted its broad therapeutic faculties; he claimed that it should be introduced into European pharmacotherapy. In Wöhler's laboratory, cocaine was isolated from leaves by his pupil Alfred Niemann; later, Wilhelm Lossen refined and corrected Niemann's results. Narratives about medicinal drugs often streamline history into a story that starts with multiple meanings and impure matters and ends with well-defined substances, directed at clear-cut diseases and symptoms. In the case of Coca, however, the pure substance triggered no such process well into the 1880s, whereas the leaves continued to circulate as an exotic, pluripotent drug whose effects where miraculous and yet difficult to establish.


Clinical significance of circulating immune complexes in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Serum circulating immune complexes (CIC) were repeatedly measured by means of the CIq binding assay (Cba) and the Raji cell assay (Rca) in 158 patients with metastatic breast cancer (mbc). Frequency of occurrence and levels of CIC were only slightly increased in mbc when compared to age-matched healthy women. They were identical to those of patients with localized breast cancer prior to mastectomy and to those of post mastectomy patients without evidence of recurrent disease. In mbc the results of the Cba and the Rca showed a poor correlation, whereas in a control group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis both tests showed significantly elevated levels of CIC. Patients with mbc were followed up clinically and biochemically by serially measuring CIC for an average of 10 months. Patients with positive CIC did not prove to be an unfavorable group regarding progression of disease and response to chemotherapy. When CEA and CIC levels were compared, CIC, unlike CEA, was a poor tumor marker. In conclusion, CIC as measured by CIq binding assay and Raji cell assay are not clinically significant tumor markers or prognostic indicators in patients with metastatic breast cancer.


Tandem affinity purification and identification of GPCR-associated protein complexes.
The first tandem affinity purification (TAP) protocol was described in 1999. Originally designed for the purification of protein complexes in yeast RNA splicing, its application rapidly expanded towards whole proteome analysis in yeast and mammalian cells. More recently, TAP has been applied to the purification of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-associated protein complexes (GAPCs). This approach is particularly attractive for GPCRs, as the native, seven transmembrane structure is used as bait to purify GAPCs from mammalian cells expressing receptors at physiological levels. Here, a detailed protocol of the TAP method applied to GPCRs is presented.


Physiologic effects of furosemide in combination with water restriction when administered at 4 and 24 hours prior to high-intensity treadmill training.
Although controversial, due to its reported effectiveness in attenuating bleeding associated with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), furosemide is currently a permitted race day medication in most North American racing jurisdictions. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of furosemide in reducing the presence and severity of EIPH when administered 24 hr prior to strenuous treadmill exercise. Eight exercised Thoroughbred horses received saline or 250 mg of furosemide either 4 or 24 hr prior to high-speed treadmill exercise in a balanced 3-way cross-over design. Blood samples were collected for determination of furosemide, lactate, hemoglobin, blood gas, and electrolyte concentrations. Heart rate and pulmonary arterial pressure were measured throughout the run and endoscopic examination and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) performed. Horses were assigned an EIPH score and the number of red blood cells in BAL fluid determined. Although not significantly different, endoscopic EIPH scores were lower in the 4-hr versus the 24-hr and saline groups. RBC counts were not significantly different between the treatment groups. Pulmonary arterial pressures were significantly increased at higher speeds; however, there were no significant differences between dose groups when controlling for speed. A small sample size and unknown bleeding history warrant a larger-scale study.


Radiocesium-bearing microparticles found in dry deposition fallout samples immediately after the Fukushima nuclear accident in the Kanto region, Japan.
Radiocesium released by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident still exists in the environment in two forms: adsorbed species on mineral particles in the soil and microparticles containing radiocesium mainly composed of silicate glass (CsMPs). CsMPs are dispersed not only around the FDNPP but also over a wide area of the Kanto region. The behavior and characteristics of CsMPs must be investigated to evaluate the impact of the FDNPP accident. Deposited particles including radiocesium were wiped from metal handrails on balconies and car hoods using tissue papers at six locations in the Kanto region (Tokai village, Ushiku City, Abiko City, Chiba City, Kawaguchi City, and Arakawa Ward) between March 15 and 21, 2011. CsMPs were isolated from the samples, and their characteristics were investigated. In total, 106 CsMPs derived from Unit 2 were successfully separated from 13 tissue paper samples. The radiation images of the two types of CsMPs discovered in Ushiku City demonstrate that CsMPs can easily become susceptible to fragmentation over time, even in the absence of weathering effects.


Reconstruction of traumatic plantar foot defects in diabetic patients.
Plantar reconstruction is often challenging for plastic surgeons because of the peculiar anatomical features of this region. A large variety of reconstructive techniques for the plantar aspect of the foot have been described previously, including skin grafts, local flaps, fasciocutaneous flaps, perforator flaps, cross-limb flaps, and free flaps. This article presents a case of a 64-year-old patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in a large plantar tissue defect (9x4 cm) extending to the base of the toes. After debridement of the wound, a subcutaneous flap was raised from the medial aspect of the lower leg in a sovrafascial plane. The flap was based on a double vascularization given by the great saphenous vein and by the perforator vessels from the posterior tibial artery, located anteriorly and inferiorly to the medial malleolus. The flap showed excellent vitality and long-term result with reduced donor site morbidity. We believe this flap represents a reliable surgical option in superficial plantar defects due to easy harvesting, short operative time, and minimal donor site morbidity. The subcutaneous flap of the distal medial fourth of the leg is a safe technique because of the vascular components of the pedicle. It provides durable coverage, mechanical resistance to pressure and shear stresses and, in selected cases (superficial defects, thin patients), is an interesting option to avoid major free flap procedures.


Near-Infrared Organic Photodetectors toward Skin-Integrated Photoplethysmography-Electrocardiography Multimodal Sensing System.
In the fast-evolving landscape of decentralized and personalized healthcare, the need for multimodal biosensing systems that integrate seamlessly with the human body is growing rapidly. This presents a significant challenge in devising ultraflexible configurations that can accommodate multiple sensors and designing high-performance sensing components that remain stable over long periods. To overcome these challenges, ultraflexible organic photodetectors (OPDs) that exhibit exceptional performance under near-infrared illumination while maintaining long-term stability are developed. These ultraflexible OPDs demonstrate a photoresponsivity of 0.53 A W-1 under 940 nm, shot-noise-limited specific detectivity of 3.4 × 1013 Jones, and cut-off response frequency beyond 1 MHz at -3 dB. As a result, the flexible photoplethysmography sensor boasts a high signal-to-noise ratio and stable peak-to-peak amplitude under hypoxic and hypoperfusion conditions, outperforming commercial finger pulse oximeters. This ensures precise extraction of blood oxygen saturation in dynamic working conditions. Ultraflexible OPDs are further integrated with conductive polymer electrodes on an ultrathin hydrogel substrate, allowing for direct interface with soft and dynamic skin. This skin-integrated sensing platform provides accurate measurement of photoelectric and biopotential signals in a time-synchronized manner, reproducing the functionality of conventional technologies without their inherent limitations.


Sensory nerve conduction study of the mental nerve.
We describe a technique for sensory nerve conduction study of the mental nerve. A monopolar recording needle is placed near the mandibular foramen using the same approach as that for routine inferior alveolar nerve block in dentistry, and a surface reference electrode is positioned over the ipsilateral mastoid process. Sensory nerve action potentials to stimulation of the mental nerve at the chin can be reliably recorded orthodromically in normal healthy subjects. The method is simple and well tolerated and provides a useful means to evaluate mental nerve function electrophysiologically.


Need for comprehensive hormonal workup in the management of adrenocortical tumors in children.
Clinical findings do not reflect the excess hormonal status in adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) in children. Identification of abnormal hormone secretion may help provide the tumor marker and delineate those patients with a risk of adrenal suppression following tumor removal. To analyze the impact of complete hormonal assessment regardless of the clinical presentation in hormone-secreting ACTs in childhood. Association of hormonal workup at diagnosis with the clinical findings and frequency of adrenal suppression postoperatively were analyzed in 18 children with ACT. Seventeen of the 18 patients had functional ACT. Clinical findings suggested isolated virilization and isolated Cushing's syndrome in 38.8% and 17.6% of patients, respectively. Hormonal workup revealed a frequency of 83.3% for hyperandrogenism. The majority of the tumors (50%) had mixed type hormonal secretion. Hypercortisolism existed in 28.5% of children with isolated virilization and hyperandrogenism was found in 2/3 of children with isolated Cushing's syndrome. Various androgens other than dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were also determined to be high in hyperandrogenism. Increased testosterone was a highly prevalent tumor marker. Nine patients (3 with no signs of hypercortisolism) had adrenal suppression following tumor removal which lasted 1-24 months. Complete hormonal workup showed the predominance of mixed hormone-secreting type of tumor in the patients who lacked the appropriate clinical findings and also showed that patients lacking signs of Cushing's syndrome could have postoperative adrenal suppression. Clinical findings may not reflect the abnormal hormone secretion in all cases and tumor markers as well as risk of postoperative adrenal suppression can best be determined by complete hormonal evaluation at the time of diagnosis.


Moxibustion for breech version: a randomized controlled trial.
To estimate the efficacy of moxibustion between 34 and 38 weeks of gestation to facilitate the cephalic version of fetuses in breech presentation and the acceptability of this method by women. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in a Swiss university hospital maternity unit. We proposed to stimulate the acupoint BL 67 by moxibustion daily for 2 weeks for 212 consenting women between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation with a single fetus in breech presentation. We did the intervention three times weekly in the hospital and a teaching session and information leaflet on the technique for additional daily therapy at home. The control group received expectant management care. The availability of external cephalic version was maintained for both groups. The main outcome measure was the comparison of the proportion of women with cephalic presentation at delivery. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except more nulliparous women were randomized to moxibustion. The percentage of versions was similar between groups: 18% in the moxibustion group compared with 16% in the control group (relative risk 1.12, 95% confidence interval 0.62 to 2.03). Adjustment for the imbalance in parity did not change these results. The frequency of cesarean delivery was similar (64% compared with 58% in the moxibustion group and the control group, respectively). Acceptability of the intervention and women's perceptions of moxibustion were favorable. We observed no beneficial effect of moxibustion to facilitate the cephalic version of fetuses in breech presentation. Despite this lack of proven effectiveness, women had positive opinions on the intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov,NCT00890474. I.


The first ibis fly in mid-Cretaceous amber of France (Diptera: Athericidae).
A new genus and species of ibis fly is described from an isolated wing in amber from the Late Albian-Early Cenomanian of Charentes, southwestern France. Galloatherix incompletus gen. et sp. n., is the first Athericidae fossilized in Cretaceous amber, and only the eighth Mesozoic species. It adds to the diverse aquatic and semiaquatic paleobiota already identified from Charentese amber.


Compliance with smoke-free policies in korean bars and restaurants in california: a descriptive analysis.
Compliance with California's smoke-free restaurant and bar policies may be more a function of social contingencies and less a function of legal contingencies. The aims of this study were: 1) to report indications of compliance with smoke-free legislation in Korean bars and restaurants in California; 2) to examine the demographic, smoking status, and acculturation factors of who smoked indoors; and 3) to report social cues in opposition to smoking among a sample of Koreans in California. Data were collected by telephone surveys administered by bilingual interviewers between 2007-2009, and included California adults of Korean descent who visited a Korean bar or restaurant in a typical month (N=2,173, 55% female). 1% of restaurant-going participants smoked inside while 7% observed someone else smoke inside a Korean restaurant. Some 23% of bar-going participants smoked inside and 65% observed someone else smoke inside a Korean bar. Presence of ashtrays was related to indoor smoking in bars and restaurants. Among participants who observed smoking, a higher percentage observed someone ask a smoker to stop (17.6%) or gesture to a smoker (27.0%) inside Korean restaurants (N=169) than inside Korean bars (n=141, 17.0% observed verbal cue and 22.7% observed gesture). Participants who smoked inside were significantly younger and more acculturated than participants who did not. Less acculturated participants were significantly more to likely to be told to stop smoking. Ten years after implementation of ordinances, smoking appears to be common in Korean bars in California.


Clinical effects produced by a standardized herbal medicinal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa on patients with hypertension. A randomized, double-blind, lisinopril-controlled clinical trial.
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) has been used in different countries as an antihypertensive. Pharmacological work has demonstrated that this effect is probably produced by a diuretic activity and inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Two clinical trials have confirmed the antihypertensive effect using watery infusions, in which a natriuretic effect was also detected. To compare therapeutic effectiveness, tolerability, and safety, as well as the effect on serum electrolytes and the ACE inhibitory effect of a herbal medicinal product prepared from the dried extract of H. sabdariffa calyxes (HsHMP) with those of lisinopril on patients with hypertension (HT), a randomized, controlled, and double-blind clinical trial was conducted. Patients of either sex, 25 - 61 years of age, with hypertension stage I or II, were daily treated for 4 weeks with the HsHMP, 250 mg of total anthocyanins per dose (experimental group), or 10 mg of lisinopril (control group). Outcome variables included effectiveness (diastolic blood pressure [DBP] reduction, >or= 10 mmHg), safety (absence of pathological modifications in the biochemical tests of hepatic and renal function), tolerability (absence of intense side effects), effect on serum electrolytes, and effect on ACE activity. Basal analysis included 193 subjects (100 in the experimental group), while outcome variable analysis integrated 171. Results showed that the experimental treatment decreased blood pressure (BP) from 146.48/97.77 to 129.89/85.96 mmHg, reaching an absolute reduction of 17.14/11.97 mmHg (11.58/12.21%, p < 0.05). The experimental treatment showed therapeutic effectiveness of 65.12 % as well as tolerability and safety of 100 %. BP reductions and therapeutic effectiveness were lower than those obtained with lisinopril (p < 0.05). Under the experimental treatment, the serum chlorine level increased from 91.71 to 95.13 mmol/L (p = 0.0001), the sodium level showed a tendency to decrease (from 139.09 to 137.35, p = 0.07), while potassium level was not modified. ACE plasmatic activity was inhibited by HsHMP from 44.049 to 30.1 Units (Us; p = 0.0001). In conclusion, the HsHMP exerted important antihypertensive effectiveness with a wide margin of tolerability and safety, while it also significantly reduced plasma ACE activity and demonstrated a tendency to reduce serum sodium (Na) concentrations without modifying potassium (K) levels. Further studies are necessary for evaluating the dose-dependency of HsHMP and for detecting lower effective doses.


First record of Dero (Aulophorus) bimagnasetus Harman (Oligochaeta) from Brazil and habitat characteristics.
Annelid worms represent a significant part of freshwater benthic communities worldwide and Oligochaeta is a particularly species-rich group. Dero (A) bimagnasetus (Naididae) previously found and described from a small marsh in Surinam in 1974, has now been found for the first time in Barra Lake, MG, Brazil. Due to the scarce biological data and absence of ecological information in the literature regarding this species we are presenting morphological information on the specimens obtained and the physical and chemical characteristics of the habitat they were found. This species occurred only in the littoral zone of Barra Lake, in muddy, low oxygen, low conductivity and low organic matter sediment. The four individuals collected ranged 3.17-4.15 mm total length; 0.25 - 0.26 mm body width and 0.16-0.21 mm3 total volume. Considering the present anthropic pressures on freshwater biota and fast biodiversity losses worldwide it is now recognized that attention must be paid to low abundance species and the urgency for preservation of their habitats.


Telomere shortening and accelerated aging in COPD: findings from the BODE cohort.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may be associated with accelerated aging. Telomere shortening is a biomarker of aging. Cross-sectional studies describe shorter telomeres in COPD compared with matched controls. No studies have described telomere length trajectory and its relationship with COPD progression. We investigated telomere shortening over time and its relationship to clinical and lung function parameters in a COPD cohort and smoker controls without COPD. At baseline leukocyte telomere length was measured by qPCR in 121 smokers with COPD and 121 without COPD matched by age (T/S0). The measurements were repeated in 70 of those patients with COPD and 73 non-COPD smokers after 3 years of follow up (T/S3). At initial measurement, telomeres were shorter in COPD patients when compared to smoker controls (T/S = 0.68 ± 0.25 vs. 0.88 ± 0.52, p = 0.003) independent from age and sex. During the follow-up period, we observed an accelerated telomere shortening in individuals with COPD in contrast to smoker controls (T/S0 = 0.66 ± 0.21 vs. T/S3 = 0.46 ± 0.16, p < 0.001, for the patients with COPD and T/S0 = 0.83 ± 0.56 vs. T/S3 = 0.74 ± 0.52, p = 0.023 for controls; GLIM, p = 0.001). This shortening was inversely related to the baseline telomere length (r = -0.49, p < 0.001). No significant relationship was found between the rate of change in telomere length and change in lung function in the patients with COPD (p > 0.05). Compared with smokers, patients with COPD have accelerated telomere shortening and this rate of attrition depends on baseline telomere length. Furthermore, the telomere length and its rate of shortening did not relate to clinical and lung function parameters changes over 3 years of follow-up.


Coverage and effectiveness of hypertension screening in different altitudes of Tibet autonomous region.
Tibet is an autonomous region in China located around an average altitude of 4500 m above sea level. Since 2012 the local government of Tibet has been providing free physical examinations, including screening for hypertension. However, the coverage and effectiveness of this free program have not been uncovered. This study aims to assess the coverage and effectiveness of hypertension screening and management program in 3 altitude levels of Tibet, and also the determinants of the success of the screening program. A stratified cluster survey was conducted among 1636 residents aged 18 years or over in three different altitude areas in Tibet. We adjusted for age and sex based on national census data and used weighted logistic regression models to find factors associated with hypertension screening. The coverage of the hypertension screening program evaluated by participation rate in the previous screening was 94.9%, while 24.7% (95% CI: 22.1-27.3%) of them were diagnosed with hypertension. Females and alcohol drinkers were more likely to be screened. Among those diagnosed with hypertension, 28.7% had it under control. High altitude areas had a high proportion of controlled hypertension. The overall rate of controlled hypertension in high, moderate and low altitude areas was 35.1% (95% CI: 24.8-45.3%), 32.7% (95% CI: 22.2-43.2%) and 23.7% (95% CI: 14.7-32.6%), respectively. Younger aged persons were more likely to have better control of their hypertension. The coverage of hypertension screening in Tibet was high, especially in the low altitude areas. However, the effectiveness of hypertension control was low, indicating a need to implement the treatment adherence routines into the current screening interventions.


Cardiovascular effects and clearance of arginine vasopressin in the fetal lamb.
Increased fetal secretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP) occurs in association with complicated pregnancies, asphyxia, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (AF); yet, the role of AVP in fetal homeostasis remains unclear. Using chronically instrumented, near-term lamb fetuses (n = 8), we have ascertained the cardiovascular responses to doses of AVP ranging from 1.94 to 8.73 mU/min, the clearance of AVP from plasma, and the occurrence of meconium release into AF during AVP infusions. AVP administration resulted in a dose-related rise in arterial pressure; although heart rate fell, the decline was not dose-related and occurred before the pressor response. Clearance of plasma AVP was 60 +/- 8.7 ml X kg-1 X min-1, and the half-time in plasma was 2.8 min. AVP was not cleared across the fetal placenta nor by fetal-maternal transport. However, the AF concentration of AVP rose fourfold after the infusion of AVP was stopped. Meconium release into AF occurred in fetuses infused with AVP at rates greater than or equal to 7.76 mU/min. AVP has hemodynamic effects that mimic fetal responses to intrauterine "stress" and may be causally associated with the fetal release of meconium into AF. Furthermore, plasma AVP is cleared in part by the fetal kidney.


Plant-based diets and bone health: nutritional implications.
Hip fracture incidence rates are predicted to increase dramatically in the first half of the 21st century, especially in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. These increased rates will result primarily from the effects of public health efforts to improve nutrition and infectious-disease control, both of which contribute to improved longevity of populations. An example of a rapid increase in hip fracture incidence rates has been reported in Hong Kong. Findings of studies there suggest that environmental changes, ie, westernization, urbanization, or both, are strongly related with declines in bone mineral density and increases in fractures. Hip fracture incidence rates in Western nations are typically increasing at much more modest rates than those in Hong Kong and other Asian nations. Epidemiologic investigations have identified multiple risk factors, including exposures earlier in life to adverse factors that are considered to contribute to the development of osteoporosis in both Western and Asian nations. The major risk factors are inadequate nutrition, limited physical activity, and low lifetime estrogen exposure. A dietary shift toward a more plant-based diet in Western nations may be beneficial to bone health, but is not likely to counter the adverse effects of limited physical activity and low estrogen exposure.


Aging Influences Hepatic Microvascular Biology and Liver Fibrosis in Advanced Chronic Liver Disease.
Advanced chronic liver disease (aCLD) represents a major public health concern. aCLD is more prevalent and severe in the elderly, carrying a higher risk of decompensation. We aimed at understanding how aging may impact on the pathophysiology of aCLD in aged rats and humans and secondly, at evaluating simvastatin as a therapeutic option in aged animals. aCLD was induced in young (1 month) and old (16 months) rats. A subgroup of aCLD-old animals received simvastatin (5 mg/kg) or vehicle (PBS) for 15 days. Hepatic and systemic hemodynamic, liver cells phenotype and hepatic fibrosis were evaluated. Additionally, the gene expression signature of cirrhosis was evaluated in a cohort of young and aged cirrhotic patients. Aged animals developed a more severe form of aCLD. Portal hypertension and liver fibrosis were exacerbated as a consequence of profound deregulations in the phenotype of the main hepatic cells: hepatocytes presented more extensive cell-death and poorer function, LSEC were further capillarized, HSC over-activated and macrophage infiltration was significantly increased. The gene expression signature of cirrhosis significantly differed comparing young and aged patients, indicating alterations in sinusoidal-protective pathways and confirming the pre-clinical observations. Simvastatin administration for 15-day to aged cirrhotic rats improved the hepatic sinusoidal milieu, leading to significant amelioration in portal hypertension. This study provides evidence that aCLD pathobiology is different in aged individuals. As the median age of patients with aCLD is increasing, we propose a real-life pre-clinical model to develop more reliable therapeutic strategies. Simvastatin effects in this model further demonstrate its translational potential.


254 W laser-diode dual-end-pumped Tm:YAP InnoSlab laser.
A compact laser-diode dual-end-pumped 3 at. % a-cut Tm:YAP InnoSlab laser with the output power of 254 W in 1.99 µm has been demonstrated. The slope efficiency with respect to the incident pumped power is 45.9%, and the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 36.5%. The RMS stability of the maximum output power is better than 0.1% in 30 min. Beam quality factors M2 are 250 in the x direction and 4.7 in the y direction. Additionally, the shape of the output laser spot is rectangular.


Wise women: mentoring as relational learning in perinatal nursing practice.
The focus of this paper is on one of four themes from a study exploring mentoring relationships between nurses in the intrapartum setting. The theme, relational learning, highlights how perinatal nurses engage with each other and engage with birthing women on a journey of learning in perinatal nursing practice. Few studies have explored the contextual, lived experiences of informal mentoring relationships within nursing, particularly within perinatal nursing. A qualitative feminist phenomenological study that considered a gender-centred, embodied exploration of human lived experiences was conducted. Five registered nurses practicing on a tertiary level labour and delivery unit in eastern Canada were purposefully recruited. Data were collected by phenomenological interviews, practice observations in the clinical setting and reflective journaling. Four themes emerged through thematic analysis and researcher interpretation: the meaning of nurse-to-nurse mentoring, mentoring as relational learning, mentoring as embodied learning and a contextual understanding of nurse-to-nurse mentoring. Relational learning came to be understood through feminist phenomenological analysis, which revealed that expert perinatal nursing knowledge develops within positive mentoring relationships between perinatal nurses practicing with birthing women. This learning extends beyond tasks to a holistic understanding of clinical situations within specific health and social contexts. The mentor models positive perinatal nursing practices and creates a sense of enthusiasm that harnesses the raw passion new nurses often have for practice. The findings in this study aim to promote the understanding of the importance of relational, experiential learning for perinatal nurses' professional development. The results from this study will encourage nurses and nurse leaders to support mentoring by providing adequate resources and positive feedback for mentoring relationships. This will foster and sustain expert nurses to support novice nurses in perinatal practice. The findings also offer insight for perinatal practices beyond nursing, including midwifery.


Qualitative study of socio-cultural challenges in the nursing profession in Pakistan.
In a patriarchal social system, a women-dominated profession like nursing is mostly seen as a disempowered group due to its stereotypical image and negative connotations. The low social prestige of this profession is based on the roles typically assigned to men and women to maintain gender identity according to their performance and embodiment. The aim of this study was to explore the social and cultural challenges faced by nurses while creating their professional image within the regional context of Lahore (Punjab) in Pakistan. A qualitative research design was chosen to conduct one-to-one, in-depth interviews with twelve nurses. Recruitment was based on purposive sampling from three large public hospitals in Lahore to learn about nurses' perceptions of social and cultural challenges in the nursing profession. A thematic analysis was conducted using the data analysis software package NVivo 12 Plus. Cultural values give preference for female nurses. We have identified four major themes related to the social and cultural challenges facing the nursing profession: 1) gender-segregated profession, 2) inappropriate portrayals by the media, 3) issues around marriage settlement, and 4) identity from a religious perspective. These conflicts are affecting the professional status and changing perceptions of nurses, who either do not choose to remain in the nursing profession or do not recommend nursing as a career option. These ongoing constraints are still perpetuating and increasing shortage of nurses within the Pakistani healthcare system. The present study solely highlights nurses' perspectives on redefining gender roles and gender integration within the nursing profession. It argues that there is a need for positive portrayals in the media for the removal of public misperceptions related to nursing. This would reduce the shortage of nurses along with increasing retention and improving the quality of healthcare delivered to the public.