Cysticercal encephalitis with cortical blindness.
The authors report a 6-year-old boy, who had presented with low-grade fever, altered sensorium, headache and seizure for 5 days. On examination, he had features of raised intracranial pressure with left VI cranial-nerve palsy and bilateral extensor plantar response. CT scan showed multiple calcifications in cerebral cortex. MRI cranium showed multiple cysts involving whole of the brain. He was diagnosed as having cysticercal encephalitis, based on immunological and imaging study. He was managed with 20% mannitol, phenytoin and albendazole, and regained consciousness 7 days later, but had residual neurological deficit as left-lower-limb monoparesis and visual acuity of just projection of rays (PR+) and perception of light (PL+).


A review and update on the guidelines for the acute non-operative management of cervical spinal cord injury.
Acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important cause of impairment globally with estimates of incidence varying from 10.4 to 83 million inhabitants annually. These injuries typically impact younger individuals, reduce quality of life years, and are costly to patients, with lifetime costs estimated to exceed $ 4 million. Given the lifetime impact of SCI, establishing clear practice guidelines for the acute non-operative management of these injuries remains important. In 2013 the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) released revised guidelines on the topic of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). In the present article, we explore the seven general management subsections of the cervical SCI guidelines, review the key literature supporting each recommendation, and review the additional literature since the publication of the 2013 guidelines. Our review found a paucity of significant updates within several of the SCI guideline sections. As a result of our findings we propose a collaborative, multi-institutional prospective study to evaluate many pressing limitations of the current literature. In particular, the development of common data elements that allow consistent, reproducible data collection should be made a priority.


Long-term survival of hamster hearts in presensitized rats.
We transplanted hamster hearts into rats that had been sensitized to hamster cardiac grafts 5 days earlier as a model for discordant xenotransplantation. Sensitized rats had high serum levels of elicited anti-donor IgM and IgG that caused hyperacute rejection. Transient complement inhibition with cobra venom factor (CVF) plus daily and continuing cyclosporin A (CyA) prevented hyperacute rejection. However, grafts underwent delayed xenograft rejection (DXR). DXR involved IgG and associated Ab-dependent cell-mediated rejection, because depletion of IgG or Ab-dependent cell-mediated rejection-associated effector cells prolonged graft survival and the serum-mediated Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Blood exchange in combination with CVF/CyA treatment dramatically decreased the level of preexisting Abs, but DXR still occurred in association with the return of Abs. Splenectomy and cyclophosphamide acted synergistically to delay Ab return, and when combined with blood exchange/CVF/CyA facilitated long-term survival of grafts. These grafts survived in the presence of anti-donor IgM, IgG, and complement that precipitated rejection of naive hearts, indicating that accommodation (survival in the presence of anti-graft Abs and complement) had occurred. We attribute the long-term survival to the removal of preexisting anti-donor Abs and therapy that attenuated the rate of Ab return. Under such conditions, the surviving hearts showed expression in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of protective genes and an intragraft Th2 immune response. Th2 responses and protective genes are associated with resistance to IgM- and IgG-mediated, complement-dependent and -independent forms of rejection.


An inhibitory region of the DNA-binding domain of thyroid hormone receptor blocks hormone-dependent transactivation.
We have employed a chimeric receptor system in which we cotransfected yeast GAL4 DNA-binding domain/retinoid X receptor beta ligand-binding domain chimeric receptor (GAL4RXR), thyroid hormone receptor-beta (TRbeta), and upstream activating sequence-reporter plasmids into CV-1 cells to study repression, derepression, and transcriptional activation. In the absence of T3, unliganded TR repressed transcription to 20% of basal level, and in the presence of T3, liganded TRbeta derepressed transcription to basal level. Using this system and a battery of TRbeta mutants, we found that TRbeta/RXR heterodimer formation is necessary and sufficient for basal repression and derepression in this system. Additionally, an AF-2 domain mutant (E457A) mediated basal repression but not derepression, suggesting that interaction with a putative coactivator at this site may be critical for derepression. Interestingly, a mutant containing only the TRbeta ligand binding domain (LBD) not only mediated derepression, but also stimulated transcriptional activation 10-fold higher than basal level. Studies using deletion and domain swap mutants localized an inhibitory region to the TRbeta DNA-binding domain. Titration studies further suggested that allosteric changes promoting interaction with coactivators may account for enhanced transcriptional activity by LBD. In summary, our findings suggest that TR heterodimer formation with RXR is important for repression and derepression, and coactivator interaction with the AF-2 domain may be needed for derepression in this chimeric system. Additionally, there may be an inhibitory region in the DNA-binding domain, which reduces TR interaction with coactivators, and prevents full-length wild-type TRbeta from achieving transcriptional activation above basal level in this chimeric receptor system.


Daily, limited access to methamphetamine self-administration during pregnancy leads to increased methamphetamine sensitivity in adult offspring.
Methamphetamine use by women, even throughout pregnancy, is common. But there is limited knowledge about the effects in prenatally methamphetamine-exposed children. This study investigated how prenatal methamphetamine exposure in rats, via maternal i.v. self-administration, affected the sensitivity of adult offspring to methamphetamine in comparison with controls. The offspring were generated from dams either self-administering methamphetamine daily under limited-access conditions prior to and throughout pregnancy, or their respective saline-yoked control dams. Spontaneous and methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity was assessed in male and female offspring of both exposure groups after a range of methamphetamine doses. In a separate group of offspring, acquisition of i.v. methamphetamine self-administration, responding under fixed and progressive ratio schedules of methamphetamine reinforcement, and reinstatement of extinguished drug-seeking behavior were assessed. Methamphetamine dose-dependently increased locomotor activity in both exposure groups. However, methamphetamine-exposed males showed significantly enhanced locomotor activity compared with controls at 1 mg/kg, and methamphetamine-exposed females showed significantly enhanced locomotor activity compared with controls at 3.2 mg/kg. Methamphetamine-exposed offspring of both sexes acquired methamphetamine self-administration faster and showed overall higher levels of methamphetamine-induced reinstatement compared with controls. Taken together, these results indicate that prenatal methamphetamine exposure to relatively low levels alters methamphetamine sensitivity in male and female adult offspring.


Breastfeeding and infant hospitalisation: analysis of the UK 2010 Infant Feeding Survey.
To investigate the contributions of overall breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding in reducing the risk of hospitalisation for infectious causes, we analysed data from a three-stage survey on infant feeding practices and health outcomes in over 10 000 UK women in 2010-2011. The main outcome measures were risk of overnight hospital admission in the first 8-10 months of infancy. A graded beneficial effect was found between longer duration of any breastfeeding and hospital admission for infectious causes and for respiratory tract infections, with a significantly lower risk in infants breastfed for at least 3 months compared with those never breastfed. The effects were stronger in the subgroup who was also exclusively breastfed. For example, among infants breastfed for 3-6 months, the reduction in risk for infectious causes for those who were also exclusively breastfed for at least 6 weeks was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.22-0.81) and for those not exclusively breastfed for 6 weeks 0.79 (95% CI: 0.49-1.26). Likewise, among infants breastfed for 6 months or more, the odds ratio for those who were also exclusively breastfed for at least 6 weeks was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.32-0.72) and for those not exclusively breastfed for 6 weeks 0.72 (95% CI: 0.48-1.08). The apparent protective effect of any breastfeeding for a long duration may in part be driven by a prolonged period of exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding in the initial weeks after childbirth and continuing to breastfeed (either exclusively or partially) for at least 3 months, preferably 6 months, may reduce morbidity due to infectious illness in infants.


The meaning of neutropenia and homecare needs according to caregivers of children with cancer.
This study aimed to understand the meanings caregivers attributed to the process of caring for a neutropenic child at home and know their needs for orientation related to care for these children. This descriptive study was carried out at the Pediatric Oncology Institute through semi-structured interviews, involving eleven caregivers. Data were organized according to the content analysis technique and interpreted according to Social Representations theory. Results indicate changes in the physical environment, people and human relationships, evidencing crises and transition towards stability. The following care procedures raised doubts: hyperthermia, body, food and environmental hygiene, risks of interpersonal contact and special care. The conclusion is that caregivers need technical and emotional preparedness to cope with the reported difficulties, including aggravating situations.


Predictors of poor outcomes in functionally dependent patients undergoing ventral hernia repair.
Preoperative functional health status has been shown previously to affect outcomes following ventral hernia repair. The objective of this study was to identify specific factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality in functionally dependent patients who undergo elective ventral hernia repair. We reviewed all patients in the ACS NSQIP database who underwent elective ventral hernia repair from 2005 to 2009. Patients were selected based on the following CPT codes: 49560, 49561, 49565, 49566, 49568, 49570, 49572, 49585, 49587, 49652, 49653, 49654, 49655, 49656, and 49657. Only patients classified as partially or totally dependent were included in this study. Thirty-day outcomes included mortality, wound occurrences, pulmonary occurrences, venous thromboembolism, development of sepsis/shock, renal failure/insufficiency, and cardiovascular events. We analyzed risk factors using multivariate analyses. We identified 75,865 patients who underwent elective ventral hernia repair, of which 1,144 were classified as functionally dependent. Overall, major morbidity was observed in 211 (18.4 %) patients. There was no statistically significant difference in any measurable outcomes between laparoscopic and open hernia repairs. Increasing age proved to be an independent predictor of mortality, with an odds ratio of 1.63 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.27-2.12) for each 10 years of age beyond the mean. Ascites and preoperative renal failure also were identified as independent predictors of mortality, with odds ratios of 9.7 and 11.5, respectively. Preoperative pulmonary compromise was shown to be an independent predictor of both mortality and major morbidity, with odds ratios of 4.1 and 2.47, respectively. Elective ventral hernia repair in the functionally dependent patient population has significant morbidity and mortality. Increasing age, ascites, preoperative renal failure, and preoperative pulmonary compromise are independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Nonoperative management should be strongly considered in the presence of these risk factors. Further studies are needed to determine optimum management strategies for functionally dependent patients with ventral hernias.


The specification and design of a substitute medial collateral ligament.
In this paper attempts are made to define the properties necessary for a substitute medial collateral ligament (MCL). The boundaries that envelope the desired load-extension curve of the MCL are extracted from existing research results and are complemented by in vivo experiments on a knee analyzer. A substitute MCL is designed, manufactured, and tested. The element mimics the action of the natural tissue and it produces a load-extension curve that fits within the prescribed boundaries. Proposals for the fixation design and the further testing of the substitute ligament are made. The possibilities for the application of the material as a substitute for other ligaments are discussed.


Ecological requirements of macaques.
Macaques are believed to have originated in northern Africa about 6 million years ago. These primates ultimately colonized much of southern and eastern Asia where today some 15 to 19 species exist in habitats that range from broadleaf evergreen forests to agricultural and urbanized areas. Their diets are heavily vegetarian and, for most species, include a preponderance of wild fruits. Groups are large and cohesive and consist of female kin and several immigrant males. Kinship and hierarchy are the main behavior regulators within groups. Female macaques are polyestrous, and have a modal cycle length of 31 days. Most, but not all, macaque species are seasonally reproductive. Females are the primary caretakers, but species differences in allomothering and male affinities with infants occur and may, in some cases, be important for socialization. In captive colonies, social and rearing environments and modes of provisioning often depart significantly from those that occur in nature. Within limits, naturalistic patterns can serve as useful models for improving the quality of life for captive macaques.


[Clinical problems of microleakage of restorative materials in primary teeth].
The purpose of this research is to evaluate the clinical problems associated with microleakage of different restorative materials. We have compared the microleakage when we restore Class II cavities in primary molars with amalgams and with posterior composite resins. The results of this study suggest that posterior composite resins present more frequently pulp inflammation, necrosis, marginal discoloration and secondary marginal caries. This factors mus to be considered when we choose a material for temporary restoration.


A new tumorgraft panel to accelerate precision medicine in prostate cancer.
Despite the significant advances in the management of advanced prostate cancer (PCa), metastatic PCa is currently considered incurable. For further investigations in precision treatment, the development of preclinical models representing the complex prostate tumor heterogeneity are mandatory. Accordingly, we aimed to establish a resource of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that exemplify each phase of this multistage disease for accurate and rapid evaluation of candidate therapies. Fresh tumor samples along with normal corresponding tissues were obtained directly from patients at surgery. To ensure that the established models reproduce the main features of patient's tumor, both PDX tumors at multiple passages and patient's primary tumors, were processed for histological characteristics. STR profile analyses were also performed to confirm patient identity. Finally, the responses of the PDX models to androgen deprivation, PARP inhibitors and chemotherapy were also evaluated. In this study, we described the development and characterization of 5 new PDX models of PCa. Within this collection, hormone-naïve, androgen-sensitive and castration-resistant (CRPC) primary tumors as well as prostate carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (CRPC-NE) were represented. Interestingly, the comprehensive genomic characterization of the models identified recurrent cancer driver alterations in androgen signaling, DNA repair and PI3K, among others. Results were supported by expression patterns highlighting new potential targets among gene drivers and the metabolic pathway. In addition, in vivo results showed heterogeneity of response to androgen deprivation and chemotherapy, like the responses of patients to these treatments. Importantly, the neuroendocrine model has been shown to be responsive to PARP inhibitor. We have developed a biobank of 5 PDX models from hormone-naïve, androgen-sensitive to CRPC primary tumors and CRPC-NE. Increased copy-number alterations and accumulation of mutations within cancer driver genes as well as the metabolism shift are consistent with the increased resistance mechanisms to treatment. The pharmacological characterization suggested that the CRPC-NE could benefit from the PARP inhibitor treatment. Given the difficulties in developing such models, this relevant panel of PDX models of PCa will provide the scientific community with an additional resource for the further development of PDAC research.


High-speed adaptive interferometer for optical coherence-domain reflectometry through turbid media.
Two-wave mixing in a dynamic holographic film acts as the adaptive beam combiner in a short-coherence interferometer that performs optical coherence-domain reflectometry (OCDR) through turbid media. This approach combines the high spatial resolution and sensitivity of coherence-domain reflectometry with photorefractive quantum-well-based adaptive homodyne detection. A depth resolution of 28 microm and penetration through 16 mean free paths in a turbid medium have been obtained in this adaptive OCDR application.


Ciprofloxacin triggers the apoptosis of human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells via the p53/Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics induce cytotoxicity in various cancer cell lines and may therefore represent a potentially important source of novel anticancer agents. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ciprofloxacin on the viability, redox balance, apoptosis, expression of p53, Bax and Bcl-2, cell cycle distribution and DNA fragmentation of triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that ciprofloxacin decreases cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values of ciprofloxacin in MDA-MB-231 cells following treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h were 0.83, 0.14 and 0.03 µmol/ml, respectively. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that ciprofloxacin altered the redox signaling pathway, as determined by intracellular glutathione depletion. The results of Annexin V/propidium iodide staining revealed that ciprofloxacin triggered the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, cipfloxacin treatment stimulated the loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential via the Bax/Bcl-2-dependent pathway, thus inducing apoptosis. Ciprofloxacin induced cell cycle arrest at the S-phase; therefore it was hypothesized that ciprofloxacin inhibits topoisomerase II. Oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the elevation of p53 expression were observed in the present study, indicating that this late-apoptotic event may be mediated by the p53-dependent pathway. Therefore, the results of the current study provide important molecular data concerning the cellular cascade, which may explain the cytotoxicity induced by ciprofloxacin in human triple-negative breast cancer cells, thus providing a novel insight into the therapeutic properties of this drug.


Interrogation of the dynamic properties of higher-order heterochromatin using CRISPR-dCas9.
Eukaryotic chromosomes feature large regions of compact, repressed heterochromatin hallmarked by Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1). HP1 proteins play multi-faceted roles in shaping heterochromatin, and in cells, HP1 tethering to individual gene promoters leads to epigenetic modifications and silencing. However, emergent properties of HP1 at supranucleosomal scales remain difficult to study in cells because of a lack of appropriate tools. Here, we develop CRISPR-engineered chromatin organization (EChO), combining live-cell CRISPR imaging with inducible large-scale recruitment of chromatin proteins to native genomic targets. We demonstrate that human HP1α tiled across kilobase-scale genomic DNA form novel contacts with natural heterochromatin, integrates two distantly targeted regions, and reversibly changes chromatin from a diffuse to compact state. The compact state exhibits delayed disassembly kinetics and represses transcription across over 600 kb. These findings support a polymer model of HP1α-mediated chromatin regulation and highlight the utility of CRISPR-EChO in studying supranucleosomal chromatin organization in living cells.


A single-cell transcriptome atlas of marsupial embryogenesis and X inactivation.
Single-cell RNA sequencing of embryos can resolve the transcriptional landscape of development at unprecedented resolution. To date, single-cell RNA-sequencing studies of mammalian embryos have focused exclusively on eutherian species. Analysis of mammalian outgroups has the potential to identify deeply conserved lineage specification and pluripotency factors, and can extend our understanding of X dosage compensation. Metatherian (marsupial) mammals diverged from eutherians around 160 million years ago. They exhibit distinctive developmental features, including late implantation1 and imprinted X chromosome inactivation2, which is associated with expression of the XIST-like noncoding RNA RSX3. Here we perform a single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of embryogenesis and X chromosome inactivation in a marsupial, the grey short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). We resolve the developmental trajectory and transcriptional signatures of the epiblast, primitive endoderm and trophectoderm, and identify deeply conserved lineage-specific markers that pre-date the eutherian-marsupial divergence. RSX coating and inactivation of the X chromosome occurs early and rapidly. This observation supports the hypothesis that-in organisms with early X chromosome inactivation-imprinted X chromosome inactivation prevents biallelic X silencing. We identify XSR, an RSX antisense transcript expressed from the active X chromosome, as a candidate for the regulator of imprinted X chromosome inactivation. Our datasets provide insights into the evolution of mammalian embryogenesis and X dosage compensation.


The cycling of carbon into and out of dust.
Observational evidence seems to indicate that the depletion of interstellar carbon into dust shows rather wide variations and that carbon undergoes rather rapid recycling in the interstellar medium (ISM). Small hydrocarbon grains are processed in photo-dissociation regions by UV photons, by ion and electron collisions in interstellar shock waves and by cosmic rays. A significant fraction of hydrocarbon dust must therefore be re-formed by accretion in the dense, molecular ISM. A new dust model (Jones et al., Astron. Astrophys., 2013, 558, A62) shows that variations in the dust observables in the diffuse interstellar medium (n(H) < or = 10(3) cm(-3)), can be explained by systematic and environmentally-driven changes in the small hydrocarbon grain population. Here we explore the consequences of gas-phase carbon accretion onto the surfaces of grains in the transition regions between the diffuse ISM and molecular clouds (e.g., Jones, Astron. Astrophys., 2013, 555, A39). We find that significant carbonaceous dust re-processing and/or mantle accretion can occur in the outer regions of molecular clouds and that this dust will have significantly different optical properties from the dust in the adjacent diffuse ISM. We conclude that the (re-)processing and cycling of carbon into and out of dust is perhaps the key to advancing our understanding of dust evolution in the ISM.


Orbital radiotherapy in the management of Graves' orbitopathy--current state of knowledge.
The treatment of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians worldwide. The elimination of risk factors, such as encouraging smoking cessation and achieving euthyroidism, are the most important and usually sufficient treatment methods in most mild cases. A course of selenium may also be beneficial. High-dose systemic corticosteroid therapy remains the first-line therapy in moderate-to-severe orbitopathy; however in some patients such treatment may be insufficient. Radiotherapy for GO has been used for decades and is considered to be effective in active GO, although less than systemic corticosteroids. Unfortunately, there are only eight randomised studies that may be analysed to assess its true effectiveness and applicability. It has been indicated that radiotherapy affects mainly eye motility and soft tissue changes, with almost no influence on exophthalmos. The combination of these two therapies has proven to be even more effective than either treatment alone, especially in subjects with resistant or recurrent GO. Orbital radiotherapy seems to be a safe procedure with few adverse effects observed long after the therapy. It should be avoided in patients with retinopathy, due to diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and in young subjects (< 35 years old). Orbital radiotherapy, as a safe and generally effective second-line therapy, is used in some countries as a supporting method during the second course of systemic corticosteroid therapy, if the response to the first course is unsatisfactory. Further randomised, double-blind studies are needed to confirm fully its clinical usefulness.


Feedback control of Purkinje cell activity by the cerebello-olivary pathway.
The pathway from the deep cerebellar nuclei to the inferior olive, the source of the climbing fibre input to the cerebellum, inhibits olivary transmission. As climbing fibre activity can depress the background firing of the Purkinje cells, it was suggested that nucleo-olivary (N-O) inhibition is a negative feedback mechanism for regulating Purkinje cell excitability. This suggestion was investigated, in a set-up with decerebrate ferrets, both by blocking and by stimulating cerebellar output while recording Purkinje cell activity. Blocking the N-O pathway was followed by an increased climbing fibre activity and a dramatic reduction in simple spike firing. Stimulation of the N-O fibres depressed climbing fibre responses and caused an increase in simple spike firing. These results are taken as support for the feedback hypothesis.


Pyridine-4-carbaldehyde-fumaric acid (2/1).
In the title co-crystal, 2C6H5NO·C4H4O4, two crystallographically different hydrogen-bonded trimers are formed, one in which the components occupy general positions, and one generated by an inversion centre. This results in the uncommon situation of Z = 3 for a triclinic crystal. In the formula units, mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds.


Mechanical properties of toothpastes with diamond abrasives.
The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare surface roughness, gloss, and color change of dental enamel after being brushed with toothpastes containing diamond powder and traditional abrasives. Seventy enamel slabs were derived from 70 bovine incisors. The slabs were brushed with six different toothpastes and artificial saliva as a negative control. The specimens were then stained with black tea mixed with citric acid (3 days, pH = 4) and again brushed with the same toothpastes. Ra (contact profilometer), gloss (glossmeter), and color (CIE L* a* b* system) values were measured after each step. Emoform-F Diamond (contains diamond powder and traditional abrasives) offered significantly the best improvement of Ra and gloss values after the first brushing sequence and the best recovery of the brightness of enamel after staining and second brushing sequence (P < .05). AMC 2.5 (contains only diamond powder as abrasive) was not able to offer such improvement. Diamond powder as an additional abrasive in toothpastes could be able to offer a further improvement of Ra , gloss, and color values of enamel.


Efficacy and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection of ileocecal valve polyps.
Background and study aims Standard endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of ileocecal valve (ICV) polyps is challenging. Cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (C-EMR) can be performed when polyps are not easily amenable to standard EMR. Current literature is limited regarding its efficacy and safety for ICV polyps. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy and safety of C-EMR for ICV polyps. Patients and methods A retrospective review was conducted from September 2008 to November 2018 at a tertiary care center. Patients included in the study underwent C-EMR for ICV polyps by a single gastroenterologist (LHJ). Polyps were successfully eradicated if they were removed en-bloc as confirmed by pathology, or had a negative biopsy on follow-up colonoscopy. Outcomes of the procedures were evaluated, including complete adenoma clearance and adverse events. Results Twenty-one ICV polyps were removed with C-EMR. Median polyp size was 15 mm (range, 5-45). The rate of complete adenoma clearance was 100 %. Procedure-related complications occurred in five patients (24 %): delayed GI bleeding (4.8 %) and deep mucosal resection/visible vessel (14.3 %). Three patients had subsequent surveillance colonoscopies at 8, 56, and 67 months, respectively. The third patient was found to have a 6-mm flat polyp at the edge of the previous polypectomy site. This was treated with C-EMR and repeat colonoscopy 6 months later did not show residual. Conclusion C-EMR is highly effective in treating ICV polyps with a low complication rate. It is our suggested method in approaching ICV polyps that are difficult to remove via standard freehand snare EMR technique.


[Bile duct decompression and immune correction in the surgical treatment of mechanical jaundice of non-tumor origin].
The aims of the study were: 1) to determine optimal duration of bile ducts decompression (BDD) and terms for radical operation performance; 2) to define criteria of effectiveness of the decompression and readiness of the patients for radical surgical treatment; 3) to analyze disorders in liver function and indices of immunoreactivity in relation to the method and duration of BDD; 4) to develop method of immunocompression for increase of effectiveness of BDD. The patients were divided in to three groups. 28 patients of group 1 had duration of jaundice up to 5 days and bilirubinemia up to 86.3 +/- 3.12 mmol/l. 35 patients of group 2 jaundice up to 15 days and bilirubinemia up to 184.7 +/- 4.22 mmol/l. In group 342 patients had bilirubinemia up to 124.4 +/- 2.23 mmol/l and cholangitis. External decompression of bile ducts quickly promotes restoration of drainage function of the liver and normalization of biochemical indexes. Restoration of immunological indexes in groups 2 and 3 is progressing slowly and demands immunocorrection. Indexes of immunoreactivity and biochemical data of functional status of the liver could serve as criteria of effectiveness of bile ducts decompression and possibility of radical surgical treatment. Regional immunocorrection is indicated for the patients' preparation for surgery.


Bottleneck Size-Dependent Changes in the Genetic Diversity and Specific Growth Rate of a Rotavirus A Strain.
RNA viruses form a dynamic distribution of mutant swarms (termed "quasispecies") due to the accumulation of mutations in the viral genome. The genetic diversity of a viral population is affected by several factors, including a bottleneck effect. Human-to-human transmission exemplifies a bottleneck effect, in that only part of a viral population can reach the next susceptible hosts. In the present study, two lineages of the rhesus rotavirus (RRV) strain of rotavirus A were serially passaged five times at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1 or 0.001, and three phenotypes (infectious titer, cell binding ability, and specific growth rate) were used to evaluate the impact of a bottleneck effect on the RRV population. The specific growth rate values of lineages passaged under the stronger bottleneck (MOI of 0.001) were higher after five passages. The nucleotide diversity also increased, which indicated that the mutant swarms of the lineages under the stronger bottleneck effect were expanded through the serial passages. The random distribution of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions on rotavirus genome segments indicated that almost all mutations were selectively neutral. Simple simulations revealed that the presence of minor mutants could influence the specific growth rate of a population in a mutant frequency-dependent manner. These results indicate a stronger bottleneck effect can create more sequence spaces for minor sequences.IMPORTANCE In this study, we investigated a bottleneck effect on an RRV population that may drastically affect the viral population structure. RRV populations were serially passaged under two levels of a bottleneck effect, which exemplified human-to-human transmission. As a result, the genetic diversity and specific growth rate of RRV populations increased under the stronger bottleneck effect, which implied that a bottleneck created a new space in a population for minor mutants originally existing in a hidden layer, which includes minor mutations that cannot be distinguished from a sequencing error. The results of this study suggest that the genetic drift caused by a bottleneck in human-to-human transmission explains the random appearance of new genetic lineages causing viral outbreaks, which can be expected according to molecular epidemiology using next-generation sequencing in which the viral genetic diversity within a viral population is investigated.


Tendon interposition arthroplasty of carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.
Osteoarthritis of the thumb carpal metacarpal joint is effectively managed by complete excision of the trapezium or excision of the distal half of the trapezium with maintenance of the space by insertion of interposition tendinous material from palmaris longus or flexor carpi radialis. The more recent modification of partial trapezium excision has improved pinch strength and maintenance of thumb length and so has enhanced the final results. Carpal metacarpal ligament reconstruction is demonstrated because it is occasionally necessary.


An overview of protein identification studies in cassava.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and is originated from the Southern Amazon basin. The storage root is the most important product of cassava as food for more than 800 million people in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In this review, we present a retrospective of studies aiming the identification of cassava proteins, starting from the first investigations using SDS-PAGE and classical two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) to recent studies with advanced technologies such as high-resolution 2DE, mass spectrometry, and iTRAQ-based analysis that have contributed for characterization of cassava proteome. Several cassava proteins have been identified, including those involved in the storage root formation and post-harvest physiological deterioration processes.


Racial and ethnic differences in leaving and returning to the parental home: The role of life course transitions, socioeconomic resources, and family connectivity.
Although Black and Hispanic young adults in the U.S. are less likely than Whites to move out of the parental home and more likely than Whites to return, reasons for these differences have not been clearly identified. This study examines the ability of racial/ethnic disparities in life course transitions, socioeconomic resources, and family connectivity to account for racial/ethnic differences in leaving and returning home. Using data from the 2005-2011 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics' Transition into Adulthood study (N=1,491, age 18 to 26), we estimated discrete-time event history models predicting the timing of moving out of and back into the parental home. Although no single factor completely explained racial-ethnic differences in the timing of leaving and returning to the parental home, the bulk of the Black-White differences in both home-leaving and home-returning was explained by group differences in transitions into adult roles, the ability to afford independent living, and connections to the origin family. These factors also explained most of the Mexican-White difference in home-leaving. However, only a small portion of the Hispanic-White difference in returning home was attributable to the proposed explanatory variables. Explanations for racial and ethnic differences in the timing of leaving and returning to the parental home need to consider a broad array of life course characteristics in which Black, Hispanic, and White youth differ. The factors that explain Black-White differences in home-leaving and home-returning may differ from those that explain Hispanic-White differences in these behaviors.


Regulation of cytotoxic T-cell responses by p53 in cancer.
An intriguing aspect of the tumor suppressor p53 is its ability to communicate to the adaptive immune system and control the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to cancer cells. Wild-type p53 (wtp53) communicates with CTLs through proteins involved in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen presentation pathway [e.g., transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) and endoplasmic reticulum amino peptidase 1 (ERAP1)], the apoptosis signal receptor Fas/APO-1, and the inhibitory immune-checkpoint programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). The presence of wtp53 in cancer cells ultimately promotes effector CTL-induced tumor cell death. Analogously, wtp53 in tumors unleashes the CTL response via inhibition of PD-L1 and enhances their effectiveness by upregulating Fas/APO-1 and MHC I. Given that p53 is mutated in approximately 50% of human cancers and also impacts the immunoreactivity of cancer cells, a significant number of patients can be affected by the impaired CTL response that results from non-functional p53. An attenuated CTL response due to p53 mutations could decrease response rates to immunotherapeutic drugs, leading to poor patient prognoses. This review article will summarize how p53 can regulate the cell-mediated adaptive immune response to cancer.


Effects of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (Daflon) on pelvic pain in women with laparoscopically diagnosed pelvic congestion syndrome: a randomized crossover trial.
We evaluated the effects of daflon, a venomimetic agent that regulates the circulatory tonus of the venous system, on pelvic pain and investigated the role of enlarged veins in the pathophysiology of pelvic congestion syndrome. Twenty women (age 28-35 yrs) with chronic pelvic pain were diagnosed with the syndrome at laparoscopy. They all had prominent broad ligaments and ovarian veins without other pathologies such as endometriosis to explain the etiology of pelvic pain. Ten women were randomized in a fashion to receive 500 mg of Daflon twice/daily for six months, and ten a vitamin pill for placebo effect; they were crossed over for another six months. At the end of the third month, the frequency and severity of pelvic symptoms began to decrease with daflon compared with the pretreatment and vitamin arm. The mean scores were significantly less at the end of six months, respectively, p < 0.05. Pharmacologic enhancement of venous tonus may restore pelvic circulation and relieve pelvic symptomatology.


The rug3 locus of pea encodes plastidial phosphoglucomutase.
Two cDNA clones were isolated from pea (Pisum sativum L.) and their deduced amino acid sequences shown to have significant homology to phosphoglucomutases from eukaryotic and prokaryotic sources. The longer cDNA contained a putative transit-peptide-encoding sequence, supporting the hypothesis that the isolated clones represent the cytosolic and plastidial isoforms of phosphoglucomutase in pea. Plastid protein import assays confirmed that the putative plastidial isoform was targeted to the plastid stroma where it was proteolytically processed. Expression, co-segregation, linkage, and molecular analyses have confirmed that the rug3 locus of pea encodes plastidial phosphoglucomutase. Mutations at this locus result in a near-starchless phenotype of the plant.


Applications of S-layers.
The wealth of information existing on the general principle of S-layers has revealed a broad application potential. The most relevant features exploited in applied S-layer research are: (i) pores passing through S-layers show identical size and morphology and are in the range of ultrafiltration membranes; (ii) functional groups on the surface and in the pores are aligned in well-defined positions and orientations and accessible for binding functional molecules in very precise fashion; (iii) isolated S-layer subunits from many organisms are capable of recrystallizing as closed monolayers onto solid supports at the air-water interface, on lipid monolayers or onto the surface of liposomes. Particularly their repetitive physicochemical properties down to the subnanometer scale make S-layers unique structures for functionalization of surfaces and interfaces down to the ultimate resolution limit. The following review focuses on selected applications in biotechnology, diagnostics, vaccine development, biomimetic membranes, supramolecular engineering and nanotechnology. Despite progress in the characterization of S-layers and the exploitation of S-layers for the applications described in this chapter, it is clear that the field lags behind others (e.g. enzyme engineering) in applying recent advances in protein engineering. Genetic modification and targeted chemical modification would allow several possibilities including the manipulation of pore permeation properties, the introduction of switches to open and close the pores, and the covalent attachment to surfaces or other macromolecules through defined sites on the S-layer protein. The application of protein engineering to S-layers will require the development of straightforward expression systems, the development of simple assays for assembly and function that are suitable for the rapid screening of numerous mutants and the acquisition of structural information at atomic resolution. Attention should be given to these areas in the coming years.


HSP90 Inhibition Suppresses PGE2 Production via Modulating COX-2 and 15-PGDH Expression in HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells.
The existence of multiple-interactive roles between several signaling pathways in tumorigenesis shows the significance of pharmacological factors like heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors which control several signaling pathways simultaneously. HSP90 as a molecular chaperone supports the active conformational structure and function of several oncogenic signal proteins, termed "client" proteins, some of them act as a link between cancer and inflammation. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is one of the major mediators of inflammation in colorectal cancer development and progress. However, the relationship between chaperone activity of HSP90 and PGE2 levels remains unclear. We evaluated the inhibitory effects of 17-demethoxy-17-allylamino geldanamycin (1 7-AAG), an HSP90 inhibitor, on PGE2 levels in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. For the first time, we showed inhibitory effects of 17-AAG, on PGE2 levels in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. 17-AAG inhibited PMA-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and protein level. We showed 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) expression induced by 17-AAG treatment at both mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, we found that inhibitory effects of 17-AAG on PGE2 levels in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells were mediated through modulating COX-2 and 15-PGDH expression.


[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the area of the head and neck].
Although malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of adult life, it is fairly rare in the head and neck region (3-6%). Between 1983 and 1991 8 patients with MFH in the head and neck region have been observed and treated at the ENT-department of the University of Tübingen. 5 patients have been operated (laryngopharyngeal localization), 2 patients underwent irradiation (unresectable fast growing T4-tumors of the pharynx and thyroid) and one female patient refused further therapy after two resections elsewhere. Operated patients showed no evidence of disease 2-8 years after resection (all margins have been controlled histologically). Both irradiated patients died 4 respectively 2 months after full (70 Gy) and incomplete (17 Gy) radiotherapy without visible positive effects. Both patients developed pulmonary metastasis. Since MFH can grow in thin layers along musculaoponeurotic structures the exact size is not always demonstrable by ultrasound, CT or MR scans. Metastasis occur in up to 40%, preferentially in regionary lymph nodes, in lung, liver and skeletal system. These phenomenon requires a full pretherapeutic staging. Histologically MFH is sometimes hard to distinguish from other tumors as for example various sarcomas and pleomorphic carcinoma. Therefore, immunohistochemical (mesenchymal markers) and electron microscopical investigations are advised. Resection with exact histological controll of all margins is the therapy of choice. We experienced that laryngeal MFH (n = 3) can be resected without laryngectomy under certain circumstances. Although unsuccessfull in our two cases, according to the literature, radiotherapy should be administered in unresectable cases. Depending on localization and size of MFH long survival, in single cases healing, of this disease is possible by surgical treatment.


Power Is More Relevant Than Ascensional Speed to Determine Metabolic Demand at Different Gradient Slopes During Running.
Hingrand, C, Olivier, N, Combes, A, Bensaid, S, and Daussin, FN. Power is more relevant than ascensional speed to determine metabolic demand at different gradient slopes during running. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2298-2301, 2023-Trail running is characterized by successive uphill and downhill running sessions. To prescribe training intensity, an assessment of maximal running capacity is required. This study compared 2 uphill incremental tests using the same ascensional speed increment to identify the influence of the slope gradient on performance. Ten subjects (8 men and 2 women) performed 3 incremental exercises on various slope (1%: IT01, 10%: IT10, and 25%: IT25), and the ascensional speed increment was similar between IT10 and IT25 (100 m·h-1 every minute). Gas exchanges, heart rate, and power were monitored continuously during the tests. Similar V̇o2max levels were observed in the 3 conditions: 68.7 ± 6.2 for IT01, 70.1 ± 7.3 for IT10, and 67.6 ± 7.0 for IT25. A greater maximal ascensional speed was reached in the IT25 (1760 ± 190 vs. 1,330 ± 106 for IT25 and IT10, respectively, p < 0.01). A significant relationship was observed between relative V̇o2 levels and relative power without any effect of slope. Power should be the parameter used for prescribing training intensity compared with ascensional speed in trail.


The impact of airway strategy on the patient outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A propensity score matched analysis.
While guidelines mentioned supraglottic airway management in the case of out-of- hospital cardiac arrest, robust data of their impact on the patient outcome remain scare and results are inconclusive. To assess the impact of the airway strategy on the patient outcome we prospectively enrolled 2224 individuals suffering cardiac arrest who were treated by the Viennese municipal emergency medical service. To control for potential confounders, propensity score matching was performed. Patients were matched in four groups with a 1:1:1:1 ratio ( n=210/group) according to bag-mask-valve, laryngeal tube, endotracheal intubation and secondary endotracheal intubation after primary laryngeal tube ventilation. The laryngeal tube subgroup showed the lowest 30-day survival rate among all tested devices ( p<0.001). However, in the case of endotracheal intubation after primary laryngeal tube ventilation, survival rates were comparable to the primary endotracheal tube subgroup. The use of a laryngeal tube was independently and directly associated with mortality with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.97 (confidence interval: 1.14-3.39; p=0.015). Additionally, patients receiving laryngeal tube ventilation showed the lowest rate of good neurological performance (6.7%; p<0.001) among subgroups. However, if patients received endotracheal intubation after initial laryngeal tube ventilation, the outcome proved to be significantly better (9.5%; p<0.001). We found that the use of a laryngeal tube for airway management in cardiac arrest was significantly associated with poor 30-day survival rates and unfavourable neurological outcome. A primary endotracheal airway management needs to be considered at the scene, or an earliest possible secondary endotracheal intubation during both pre-hospital and in-hospital post-return of spontaneous circulation critical care seems crucial and most beneficial for the patient outcome.


Infrasound propagation in tropospheric ducts and acoustic shadow zones.
Numerical computations of the Navier-Stokes equations governing acoustic propagation are performed to investigate infrasound propagation in the troposphere and into acoustic shadow zones. An existing nonlinear finite-difference, time-domain (FDTD) solver that constrains input sound speed models to be axisymmetric is expanded to allow for advection and rigid, stair-step topography. The FDTD solver permits realistic computations along a given azimuth. It is applied to several environmental models to examine the effects of nonlinearity, topography, advection, and two-dimensional (2D) variations in wind and sound speeds on the penetration of infrasound into shadow zones. Synthesized waveforms are compared to a recording of a rocket motor fuel elimination event at the Utah Test and Training Range. Results show good agreement in the amplitude, duration, and spectra of synthesized and recorded waveforms for propagation through 2D atmospheric models whether or not topography, advection, or nonlinearity is explicitly included. However, infrasound propagation through a one-dimensional, range-averaged, atmospheric model yields waveforms with lower amplitudes and frequencies, suggesting that small-scale atmospheric variability causes significant scatter within the troposphere, leading to enhanced infrasound penetration into shadow zones. Thus, unresolved fine-scale atmospheric dynamics are not required to explain infrasound propagation into shadow zones.


Mutations in multicopy Tn10 tet plasmids that confer resistance to inhibitory effects of inducers of tet gene expression.
Escherichia coli K-12 strains that carry the Tn10 tetracycline resistance determinant (tet) on multicopy plasmids are hypersensitive to 5a,6-anhydrotetracycline and heated chlortetracycline, two tetracycline derivatives that are relatively more effective as inducers of tet gene expression than as inhibitors of bacterial growth. Twenty spontaneous mutations that confer resistance to anhydrotetracycline (Atr) and resistance to heated chlortetracycline (Ctr) were isolated and characterized. All of these Atr mutations are located in the Tn10 tet region; the majority (18 of 20) have no effect on tetR repressor function. Atr mutations can increase, reduce, or eliminate the phenotypic expression of plasmid tetracycline resistance (Tcr). IS insertions that result in an Atr Tcs phenotype are clustered in a 150-base-pair promoter-proximal region of the tetA resistance gene. Some Atr mutations reduce expression of the tetA gene by altering either the tetR repressor or the tetA promoter. In addition, it appears that E. coli cannot tolerate constitutive expression of the wild-type tetA gene from a multicopy plasmid containing a tetR deletion. These observations support the proposal that high level expression of the 36-kilodalton tetA gene product inhibits the growth of E. coli. We speculate that this inhibition is related to the interaction of the tetA gene product with the cytoplasmic membrane.


Hypersensitivity to penicillin V with good tolerance to other beta-lactams.
A 24 year-old man developed an anaphylactic reaction within thirty minutes of an oral administration of penicillin V. He suffered from recurrent streptococal pharyngitis that was usually treated with penicillin V with good tolerance. Skin prick and intradermal tests with penicilloyl-polylysine, minor determinant mixture, amoxicillin, ampicillin and cefuroxima were negative. However, a skin prick test with penicillin V was positive in the patient and negative in 10 controls. Determination of specific (Immunogloblulin (Ig) E to penicillin V was 0.64 kU/L. Specific IgE to penicillin G, amoxicillin and ampicillin were all negative. Single blind controlled oral challenge with amoxicillin and cefuroxime were both negative. This is an exceptional case of an anaphylactic reaction induced by phenoxymethylpenicillin with positive allergologic study in vivo and in vitro tests and with negative allergological study to other beta-lactams.


Pharmacologic therapy for prostatism.
Although the general approach to management of a sufficient degree of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the past was surgical intervention (transurethral resection of the prostate), the current availability of effective pharmacologic therapy has changed the initial management strategy. At present, two types of drugs are available for treatment of prostatism: (1) selective alpha-adrenergic blocking agents (terazosin, doxazosin, and tamsulosin) and (2) an inhibitor of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme (finasteride). Pharmacologic blockade of the alpha(1)-adrenoceptors is thought to result in relaxation of the smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck, which reduces urethral resistance, improves voiding function, and minimizes the symptoms of prostatism. These effects may be noted by the patient within several weeks after initiation of treatment. The mechanism of action of finasteride is a blocking of the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and an associated volume shrinkage of the prostate. On the average, a 25% reduction in prostate volume can be achieved, but a period of 12 months or longer of finasteride therapy is needed for maximal shrinkage and maximal decrease in symptoms of prostatism. The expanding population of middle-aged and elderly men with prostatism of moderate severity will undoubtedly prompt the development of additional pharmacologic options for treatment of prostatism and benign prostatic hyperplasia.


Comparison Between Flap and Primary Closures of Persistent Tracheocutaneous Fistula: A Scoping Review.
Objectives: To compare the susceptibility and complication rates between flap and primary closures for tracheocutaneous fistula (TCF). Methods: We searched 4 online databases (Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus) for relevant articles published from study inception until August 2022. Studies including at least 5 adult or child patients with persistent TCFs who underwent closure surgery via primary or flap repair were included. All included studies reported outcomes of surgical repairs such as successful closure rates and complications. In addition, we performed single-arm meta-analyses for each surgical method using the Open Meta-Analyst software to calculate the pooled event rate with a 95% confidence interval (CI); compared the 2 surgical procedures using the Review Manager software using the risk ratio with 95% CI; and assessed study quality based on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria. Results: Overall, 27 studies with 997 patients were included. No significant difference was observed between the closure success and major complication rates of surgical methods. The primary and flap closures had overall success rates of 0.979 and 0.98, respectively. The overall major complication rates in primary and flap closures were 0.034 and 0.021, respectively; and that of minor were 0.045 and 0.04, respectively. In primary closure, a significant decrease in the success rate with increasing age at the time of decannulation was observed. In addition, the risk of major complications increased with increasing time from decannulation to closure. Conclusions: Both the primary and flap repairs of TCF are effective based on closure success and complication rates; therefore, they are both acceptable therapeutic alternatives, and flap repair can be considered when other techniques have failed. However, further prospective randomized studies comparing these 2 procedures are needed to support our results.


Risk factors for neonatal hyperglycemia associated with 10% dextrose infusion.
As part of an intensive drug surveillance program, we identified rates and associated risk factors for hyperglycemia related to intravenous 10% dextrose solution in a population of 1,157 newborns in two neonatal intensive care units. Hyperglycemia related to 10% dextrose solution was observed in 64 exposed infants (5.5%), a rate similar to that observed for hypoglycemia (6.7%) in this population. There was a highly significant trend toward an increasing risk of hyperglycemia with decreasing body weight, such that the risk of hyperglycemia among infants weighing less than 1,000 g was 18 times greater than the risk among infants weighing more than 2,000 g. The risk of hyperglycemia also increased with increasing dextrose dose. The effects of weight and dose were independent. Certain measures of disease severity also were associated with increased risks of hyperglycemia. Because increases in blood glucose levels may affect renal function or possibly lead to intraventricular hemorrhage, it is important that glucose levels in neonates receiving 10% dextrose solution be carefully monitored, and the total dextrose dose be adjusted accordingly.


Mechanistic insight into the interactions of EDDS with copper in the rhizosphere of polluted soils.
The biodegradable S,S-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) is a promising chelant for chelant-assisted phytoextraction of trace metals in polluted soil. The interactions between EDDS and trace metals/major elements in the soil affect the metal bioavailability and their subsequent phytoextraction efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the macroscopic and molecular-level interactions of EDDS with Cu in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of a Cu-polluted agricultural soil. A multi-interlayer rhizobox planted with ryegrass was used to simulate the transport of EDDS and Cu from the non-rhizosphere to rhizosphere soils. The results showed that EDDS (5 mM kg-1) significantly dissociated Cu (285-690 fold), Fe (by 3.47-60.2 fold), and Al (2.43-5.31 fold) from the soil in comparison with a control group. A combination of micro-X-ray fluorescence, X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy, and sequential extraction analysis revealed that EDDS primarily chelated the adsorbed fraction of Cu by facilitating the dissolution of goethite. Moreover, as facilitated by ryegrass transpiration, CuEDDS was moved from the non-rhizosphere to rhizosphere and accumulated in ryegrass. In situ processes of Cu extraction and transport by EDDS in the rhizosphere were further elucidated with chemical speciation analysis and geochemical modeling methods.


Sigmoidal Acquisition Curves Are Good Indicators of Conformist Transmission.
The potential for behaviours to spread via cultural transmission has profound implications for our understanding of social dynamics and evolution. Several studies have provided empirical evidence that local traditions can be maintained in animal populations via conformist learning (i.e. copying the majority). A conformist bias can be characterized by a sigmoidal relationship between a behavior's prevalence in the population and an individual's propensity to adopt that behavior. For this reason, the presence of conformist learning in a population is often inferred from a sigmoidal acquisition curve in which the overall rate of adoption for the behavior is taken as the dependent variable. However, the validity of sigmoidal acquisition curves as evidence for conformist learning has recently been challenged by models suggesting that such curves can arise via alternative learning rules that do not involve conformity. We review these models, and find that the proposed alternative learning mechanisms either rely on faulty or unrealistic assumptions, or apply only in very specific cases. We therefore recommend that sigmoidal acquisition curves continue to be taken as evidence for conformist learning. Our paper also highlights the importance of understanding the generative processes of a model, rather than only focusing solely on the patterns produced. By studying these processes, our analysis suggests that current practices by empiricists have provided robust evidence for conformist transmission in both humans and non-human animals.Arising from: Acerbi, A. et al. Sci. Rep. 6, 36068 (2016); https://doi.org/10.1038/srep36068 .


Tolosa-Hunt syndrome--diagnostic problem of painful ophthalmoplegia.
Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is an uncommon disease caused by non-specific inflammation of the cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure and the apex of the orbit. The disease is characterized by periorbital pain, paresis of the bulbomotor and quick response to steroid treatment. The orbital process may lead to optic nerve atrophy. According to the International Headache Society Classification of 2004, the diagnostic protocol includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy. We presented 46-year old male patient, with THS. The patient had unilateral periorbital pain, inflammatory process in the cavernous sinus, the apex of the orbit and the paranasal sinuses. Inflammatory process had spread into the fascia of the bulbomotor and performed compression to the optic nerve, causing paresis of the bulbomotor, protrusion of the eyeball and atrophy of the optic nerve. Pulse doses of corticosteroids were effective. Regarding the presented patient, diagnostic dilemmas arose from nonspecific sinusitis. The initial ophthalmological diagnosis, based on periorbital pain, drop in visual acuity and the narrow chamber angle was angular glaucoma, which resulted in a delayed diagnosis of THS and the beginning of the treatment. MRI and positive response to the treatment with corticosteroids were relevant for making the diagnosis. According to the International Headache Society Classification of 2004, THS is an entity that occurs rarely, its etiopathogenesis is unknown, it is manifested clinically by unilateral orbital pain associated with simple or multiple oculomotor paralyses, which resolves spontaneously but may recur. MRI orbital phlebography and biopsy are the recommended methods for making diagniosis. In our patient MRI findings and positive response to the corticosteroide treatment were relevant for making the diagnosis.


Cardiovascular involvement in metabolic diseases.
Cardiomyopathies are a group of disorders that result in dysfunction of the contractility of the myocardium anda decrease in cardiac function. Cardiomyopathies may be primary or idiopathic or secondary due to an underlying definable systemic disorder. Cardiomyopathies may be further defined as according to the World Health Organization (WHO) as: 1) congestive or dilated; 2) obstructive as in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; 3) restrictive as in infiltrative disorders such as storage diseases. Two additional categories have been added that include arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and unclassified cardiomyopathies. A number of metabolic disorders result in cardiomyopathy and are frequently the cause of death in these disorders.


Formation of ADP-sensitive phosphorylated intermediate in the electric eel Na, K-ATPase preparation.
The ADP-sensitive and K+ -sensitive phosphorylated forms of Na,K-ATPase (E1P and E2P, respectively) are believed to be the main phosphorylated intermediates of Na,K-ATPase. In the presence of 100 mM Na+, E2P is the major component of the phosphorylated form in all native Na,K-ATPase preparations known, including the microsomes of shark rectal glands. However, the Na,K-ATPase-rich membrane fragments of the electric eel formed a different type of phosphoenzyme, of which 80% was dephosphorylated by both 2 mM K+ and 1 mM ADP within 1 sec at 4 degrees under the same conditions. In the presence of oligomycin (50 micrograms/ml), only the percentage of K+ -sensitive phosphoenzyme was reduced in the eel enzyme, but no such effects were observed in the shark enzyme. However, the eel enzyme produced E2P-rich phosphoenzyme in the presence of 10 mM Na+, as did the shark enzyme in the presence of 100 mM Na+, and the shark enzyme formed the E1P-rich phosphoenzyme in the presence of 500-700 mM Na+, as did the eel enzyme in the presence of 100 mM Na+. These results suggest that the eel enzyme has a much higher affinity for Na+ on the Na+ site controlling the E1P-E2P equilibrium than does the shark enzyme, but we have not been able to explain this difference. Since the phosphorylated forms of both enzymes became more sensitive to both ADP and K+ at 25 degrees, both the interconversion of E1P to E2P and the reverse reaction seem to be accelerated by an increase in temperature. Oligomycin inhibited this conversion of E1P to E2P at 25 degrees as at 4 degrees, but did not inhibit the reverse reaction. Therefore, we conclude that E1P was the predominant phosphorylated form of the eel enzyme under the above conditions, and that E1P was converted to E2P and then dephosphorylated by K+.


Effects of Affordable Care Act Marketplaces and Medicaid Eligibility Expansion on Access to Cancer Care.
The aim of this study was to inform oncologists about how repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may affect their ability to provide cancer therapies for people with cancer enrolled in ACA health plans and why proposals to change Medicaid funding may make it even more difficult for Medicaid beneficiaries to access cancer treatments. We examined the regulations and provisions of the ACA related to how health insurance impacts access to diagnostic testing and treatments for people with cancer, including access to clinical trials. Similarly, we examined federal and state rules affecting Medicaid beneficiaries' access to cancer treatments. Repealing various provisions of the ACA will restrict who has access to both current and new cancer treatments. Such changes also will impact oncology research that depends on having heterogeneous people in clinical trials. Significant changes to the ACA will affect oncology treatment choices of everyone with health insurance-not only the 10 million people newly covered by ACA health plans and the 70 million people with Medicaid coverage.


Puumala hantavirus and Myodes glareolus in northern Europe: no evidence of co-divergence between genetic lineages of virus and host.
The genus Hantavirus (family Bunyaviridae) includes negative-strand RNA viruses that are carried by persistently infected rodent and insectivore species. Puumala virus (PUUV), carried by bank voles (Myodes glareolus), is a pathogenic hantavirus that causes outbreaks of mild haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome across Europe. In northern Europe, PUUV is represented by several genetic lineages that are maintained by distinct phylogroups of bank voles. The present study describes sequences of new PUUV strains recovered from northern and southern regions of Scandinavia and compares phylogenetic relationships between north-European PUUV strains and M. glareolus. This analysis revealed contradictions in phylogenetic clustering and remarkable differences in estimated divergence times between the lineages of PUUV and its host, suggesting that the established PUUV lineages did not co-diverge with the distinct phylogroups of M. glareolus that carry them at present.


Very Long-Term Follow-Up After Coronary Rotational Atherectomy: A Single-Center Experience.
We assessed the very long-term follow-up of a large cohort of unselected patients treated with coronary rotational atherectomy (RA). All 143 patients who underwent RA at our institution from 2000 to 2013 and with complete baseline and follow-up information were analyzed in a retrospective manner. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as the composite of target vessel revascularization (TVR), acute myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality. The mean follow-up was 8.2 years. The 10-year cumulative incidence of MACE for all patients was 57.9% (standard error [SE]: 5.0%). When comparing patients who received a drug-eluting stent (DES; n = 68) versus patients who did not (balloon only, bare-metal stent, or none of the aforementioned; n = 75), the RA + DES demonstrated very long-term MACE of 49.2% (SE: 7.5%) versus 62.7% (SE: 6.1%), P = .160 with TVR as the most discriminating factor, 10.7% (SE: 4.0%) versus 29.2% (SE: 6.0%), P = .016. Our results point to RA having reasonable long-term clinical results, especially in combined treatment with DES. To date, our study has the longest follow-up after RA.


The role of single-cell RNA sequencing in cardiac tumour - a case report.
A 65-year-old woman presented to our hospital with 5 days of chest tightness, dyspnoea, and lower abdominal distension. Echocardiography revealed a mass in the right atrium. An emergency operation was carried out to prevent tumour shedding. The patient was discharged on the 4th day of tumour resection, without any complications At the 18 months follow-up, she suffered from kidney and lung tumours. She refused any treatment and passed away. scRNA-seq was applied to analyse the nature of the tumour. The cellular components of benign tumours include chondrocytes, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stromal cells, and osteoblasts. Additionally, the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP-PKG) signalling pathway, transcriptional misregulation in cancer, and the p53 signalling pathway may be related to the growth of this tumour. scRNA-seq is a good approach to analyse growth patterns of cardiac tumours and helpful for distinguishing the nature of the tumour.


Chronodisruption, cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair.
Chronodisruption, a disturbance in "natural" daily light/dark regulation, is possibly linked to disturbances in cell cycle homeostasis. The association and the synchronization between circadian rhythms and mitosis are not yet clear. The circadian oscillator is involved in the major cellular pathways of cell division. A molecular link between the circadian clock and the mammalian DNA damage checkpoints has been outlined. Analyses suggest an association between light disruption and obstruction of the cell cycle homeostasis. Disruption in the homeostatic control of the cell cycle has been associated with cancer and acceleration of malignant growth, possibly as a result of the interruption of DNA damage check-points. Studies further indicate that light signal during the dark phase affects the transcription level of a substantial number of genes that are associated with cell cycle progression, cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Indeed, the International Agency for Research in Cancer categorized "shift work that involves circadian disruption" as possibly carcinogenic. In this review the current finding on light pollution and its potential influence on cell cycle check-points and DNA repair is presented.


Burkholderia cenocepacia utilizes a type VI secretion system for bacterial competition.
Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that poses a significant threat to individuals with cystic fibrosis by provoking a strong inflammatory response within the lung. It possesses a type VI secretion system (T6SS), a secretory apparatus that can perforate the cellular membrane of other bacterial species and/or eukaryotic targets, to deliver an arsenal of effector proteins. The B. cenocepacia T6SS (T6SS-1) has been shown to be implicated in virulence in rats and contributes toward actin rearrangements and inflammasome activation in B. cenocepacia-infected macrophages. Here, we present bioinformatics evidence to suggest that T6SS-1 is the archetype T6SS in the Burkholderia genus. We show that B. cenocepacia T6SS-1 is active under normal laboratory growth conditions and displays antibacterial activity against other Gram-negative bacterial species. Moreover, B. cenocepacia T6SS-1 is not required for virulence in three eukaryotic infection models. Bioinformatics analysis identified several candidate T6SS-dependent effectors that may play a role in the antibacterial activity of B. cenocepacia T6SS-1. We conclude that B. cenocepacia T6SS-1 plays an important role in bacterial competition for this organism, and probably in all Burkholderia species that possess this system, thereby broadening the range of species that utilize the T6SS for this purpose.


Neuroimmunomodulation and aging: a role for transferrin and the hypothalamus/thymus axis.
Advanced age is associated with an increased incidence of immune and degenerative disorders, mediated by metabolic changes, dysregulation of proinflammatory signals, and apoptosis. Concurrently, there is a progressive decline in self-recognition. Investigations on biologic functions of transferrin (Tf) other than iron transport showed that Tf has a profound cytoprotective (anti-apoptotic) effect on lympho-hematopoietic cells and the thymus, and interferes with stress-induced signals. Tf protects hepatocytes against Fas-induced cell death by reducing BID cleavage, inhibiting caspase-3 and -9 activation and up-regulating survival signals such as Bcl-xL. The involvement in the regulation of alloreactivity and apoptosis suggests that Tf participates in the maintenance of "self-identity" mechanisms, which are tightly linked to the capacity of the immune system to recognize and react against any noxious agent. Some of the disorders associated with aging are thought to be related to thymic involution, reflecting alterations in the interplay of neural, endocrine and immune factors. We established a murine model of thymic involution induced by stereotactically placed electrolytic lesions in the anterior hypothalamic area. The events observed in this model mimic those observed during senescence including thymus involution, i.e. enhanced glucocorticoid reaction to distress, and obesity. The described properties of Tf can be exploited to modify immune responses and provide cytoprotection against pro-apoptotic and cytotoxic signals when neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms are impaired, as is the case with aging.


Circulation of genotype-I hepatitis B virus in the primitive tribes of Arunachal Pradesh in early sixties and molecular evolution of genotype-I.
Retrospective serologic screening of 1077 serum samples collected from the primitive tribe from north-eastern India in 1963 revealed high prevalence of HBV (15% HBsAg carrier rate) and HCV (7% anti-HCV positivity) and co-circulation of multiple HBV genotypes-A, C, D and G. Full genome sequencing classified all the G-genotype samples as genotype-I. Comparison of genotype-I-HBV full-genome sequences representing 1963 (n=5, this study) and 2005 (reported earlier) showed identical recombination break-points of genotypes-A/G/C. Genotype-C and genotype-C-fragment of I-genotype circulating in 1963 were distinctly different. The data demonstrates that the recombination events were not recent. Molecular clock analysis predicted existence of genotype-I in this tribe during 1920s.


Actinorhizal plants.
Actinorhizal plants are a group of taxonomically diverse angiosperms with remarkable economic and ecological significance. Most actinorhizal plants are able to thrive under extreme adverse environmental conditions as well as to fix atmospheric nitrogen due to their capacity to establish root nodule symbioses with Frankia bacteria. This special issue of Functional Plant Biology is dedicated to actinorhizal plant research, covering part of the work presented at the 16th International Meeting onFrankia and Actinorhizal Plants, held on 5-8 September 2010, in Oporto, Portugal. The papers (4 reviews and 10 original articles) give an overall picture of the status of actinorhizal plant research and the imposed challenges, covering several aspects of the symbiosis, ecology and molecular tools.


Fine-needle aspiration of epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (epithelioid malignant schwannoma).
The epithelioid variant of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), also known as malignant epithelioid schwannoma, is a relatively rare and recently characterized clinicopathologic entity. The epithelioid variant of MPNST shares many clinical features with conventional MPNST but is characterized by different histologic and cytologic features. These include a distinctive nesting pattern and an abundance of cytoplasm not seen in histology of conventional nerve sheath tumors. Cytologically, the epitheliod variant shows a propensity to cellular discohesiveness and a plasmacytoid or epitheliod appearance that is in contradistinction to the spindled appearance of the usual MPNST. Herein, we report our experience with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of two epithelioid malignant schwannomas and discuss the FNA cytologic differential diagnosis.


Treatment of arteriovenous haemodialysis graft thrombosis associated to venous anastomotic stenosis by surgical thrombectomy, covered stenting and high-pressure angioplasty.
The NKF-K/DOQI guidelines recommend that the repermeabilisation of thrombosed arteriovenous (AV) grafts for haemodialysis must achieve positive results in 40% at 3 months, if it is performed by endovascular technique, or 50% at 6 months and 40% at one year if it is performed by surgical procedure. This study assesses the results of a hybrid treatment (minimally invasive surgical and endovascular treatment) of AV graft thrombosis associated to venous anastomotic stenosis. Between 2008 and 2012, 27 consecutive patients underwent surgery (average age: 69.7, 52% male) due to AV graft thrombosis associated to venous anastomotic stenosis (74.1% upper extremity) by open thrombectomy (mini-incision in the graft), covered self-expanding stent (Fluency, Bard), and high pressure angioplasty (>20atm). Immediate patency with effective haemodialysis was 89%, with an average stay of 1.9 days and no postoperative complications. Primary patency at 3, 6, and 12 months was 51.9%, 44.4%, and 16.2% respectively (mean follow-up: 15 months). Secondary patency after a new thrombotic episode and similar procedure (62.9% of cases) was 70.4%, 51.9%, and 37% respectively. Despite being safe and minimally invasive, this hybrid treatment for AV graft thrombosis associated to venous anastomotic stenosis only achieves competitive results compared to open surgery after a second iterative procedure. Because of this and the associated costs, this technique should be reserved for difficult surgical approach stenoses.


Alpha- and beta-adrenergically mediated responses in isolated lung strips of guinea pigs.
Thin strips of lung parenchyma from guinea pigs were mounted in an isolated tissue bath and placed under an initial tension of 1.2 gm. Drug-induced changes in resting tension were recorded isometrically upon the addition of representative alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists. Lung strips relaxed following challenge with isoproterenol, 10(-9) to 10(-6)M (beta-adrenergic agonist), and contracted following challenge with phenylephrine, 10(-6) to 10(-4)M (alpha-adrenergic agonist). The responses of lung strips to norepinephrine, 10(-8) to 10(-4)M (mixed alpha- or beta-agonist) were influenced by the presence of either an alpha- or beta-adrenergic antagonist: pretreatment with phentolamine, 10(-5)M (alpha-antagonist) resulted in relaxant responses to norepinephrine, whereas pretreatment with propranolol, 10(-5)M (beta-antagonist) resulted in contractile responses. Cocaine, an uptake-1 inhibitor, potentiated the contractile effect of norepinephrine but not the relaxant effect of isoproterenol or norepinephrine. These data support the existence of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors mediating contraction and relaxation, respectively, in guinea pig lungs.


Approach to vasculitic neuropathies.
Since vasculitic neuropathy is treatable and potentially debilitating, clinicians should develop an approach to neuropathy that increases the likelihood of uncovering existing systemic or nonsystemic vasculitis. The presence of a connective tissue disease, systemic vasculitis, asymmetric or non--length-dependent axonal polyneuropathy, or multiple axonal mononeuropathies should heighten suspicion, but vasculitic neuropathy can also present as a distal symmetric polyneuropathy with or without other organ involvement. Electrodiagnostic testing utilizing extensive nerve conductions may be helpful in identifying features suggestive of vasculitic neuropathy and in selecting an abnormal nerve and muscle for biopsy confirmation. An array of laboratory tests may lead to identification of a systemic disorder that is either characterized by or predisposes to vasculitic neuropathy. The mainstays of treatment are corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, but other drugs are used in specific conditions. With early diagnosis and careful monitoring of treatment regimens, the prognosis is usually good.


Electrochemically-responsive magnetic nanoparticles for reversible protein adsorption.
Electrochemical stimulus is a clean and simple choice of stimulating source in the field of stimuli-responsive materials. Herein, we report an electrochemically-responsive hybrid assembly of magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-PGMA-CD) and polyethylene glycol-Fc (PEG-Fc) based on the host-guest interaction between β-cyclodextrin and ferrocene groups. Through electrochemical control, the hydrophilic polymer chains can be reversibly linked to or dropped off from the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles. Thus, the hydrophobic property of the surface together with the protein adsorption ability of the magnetic nanoparticles can be conveniently adjusted by voltages applied. A reversible protein adsorption/release transition from this novel hybrid material has been realized, demonstrated by the bovine serum albumin adsorption experiment. Therefore, an elegant material is introduced to achieve electrochemically-controlled reversible magnetic separation of proteins.


Estimating Dietary Intake from Grocery Shopping Data-A Comparative Validation of Relevant Indicators in Switzerland.
In light of the globally increasing prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases, new scalable and non-invasive dietary monitoring techniques are urgently needed. Automatically collected digital receipts from loyalty cards hereby promise to serve as an objective and automatically traceable digital marker for individual food choice behavior and do not require users to manually log individual meal items. With the introduction of the General Data Privacy Regulation in the European Union, millions of consumers gained the right to access their shopping data in a machine-readable form, representing a historic chance to leverage shopping data for scalable monitoring of food choices. Multiple quantitative indicators for evaluating the nutritional quality of food shopping have been suggested, but so far, no comparison has validated the potential of these alternative indicators within a comparative setting. This manuscript thus represents the first study to compare the calibration capacity and to validate the discrimination potential of previously suggested food shopping quality indicators for the nutritional quality of shopped groceries, including the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index (FSA-NPS DI), Grocery Purchase Quality Index-2016 (GPQI), Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Healthy Trolley Index (HETI) and Healthy Purchase Index (HPI), checking if any of them performs differently from the others. The hypothesis is that some food shopping quality indicators outperform the others in calibrating and discriminating individual actual dietary intake. To assess the indicators' potentials, 89 eligible participants completed a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and donated their digital receipts from the loyalty card programs of the two leading Swiss grocery retailers, which represent 70% of the national grocery market. Compared to absolute food and nutrient intake, correlations between density-based relative food and nutrient intake and food shopping data are stronger. The FSA-NPS DI has the best calibration and discrimination performance in classifying participants' consumption of nutrients and food groups, and seems to be a superior indicator to estimate nutritional quality of a user's diet based on digital receipts from grocery shopping in Switzerland.


Dual centrifugation - A new technique for nanomilling of poorly soluble drugs and formulation screening by an DoE-approach.
The development of nanosuspensions of poorly soluble APIs takes a lot of time and high amount of active material is needed. In this publication the use of dual centrifugation (DC) for an effective and rapid API-nanomilling is described for the first time. DC differs from normal centrifugation by an additional rotation of the samples during centrifugation, resulting in a very fast and powerful movement of the samples inside the vials, which - in combination with milling beads - result in effective milling. DC-nanomilling was compared to conventional wet ball milling and results in same or even smaller particle sizes. Also drug concentrations up to 40% can be processed. The process is fast (typical 90min) and the temperature can be controlled. DC-nanomilling appears to be very gentle, experiments showed no change of the crystal structure during milling. Since batch sizes are very small (100-1000mg) and since 40 sample vials can be processed in parallel, DC is ideal for the screening of suitable polymer/surfactant combinations. Fenofibrate was used to investigate DC-nanomilling for formulation screening by applying a DoE-approach. The presented data also show that the results of DC-nanomilling experiments are highly comparable to the results obtained by common agitator mills.


Species From Feces: Order-Wide Identification of Chiroptera From Guano and Other Non-Invasive Genetic Samples.
Bat guano is a relatively untapped reservoir of information, having great utility as a DNA source because it is often available at roosts even when bats are not and is an easy type of sample to collect from a difficult-to-study mammalian order. Recent advances from microbial community studies in primer design, sequencing, and analysis enable fast, accurate, and cost-effective species identification. Here, we borrow from this discipline to develop an order-wide DNA mini-barcode assay (Species from Feces) based on a segment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI). The assay works effectively with fecal DNA and is conveniently transferable to low-cost, high-throughput Illumina MiSeq technology that also allows simultaneous pairing with other markers. Our PCR primers target a region of COI that is highly discriminatory among Chiroptera (92% species-level identification of barcoded species), and are sufficiently degenerate to allow hybridization across diverse bat taxa. We successfully validated our system with 54 bat species across both suborders. Despite abundant arthropod prey DNA in guano, our primers were highly specific to bats; no arthropod DNA was detected in thousands of feces run on Sanger and Illumina platforms. The assay is extendable to fecal pellets of unknown age as well as individual and pooled guano, to allow for individual (using singular fecal pellets) and community (using combined pellets collected from across long-term roost sites) analyses. We developed a searchable database (http://nau.edu/CEFNS/Forestry/Research/Bats/Search-Tool/) that allows users to determine the discriminatory capability of our markers for bat species of interest. Our assay has applications worldwide for examining disease impacts on vulnerable species, determining species assemblages within roosts, and assessing the presence of bat species that are vulnerable or facing extinction. The development and analytical pathways are rapid, reliable, and inexpensive, and can be applied to ecology and conservation studies of other taxa.


Modeling a suspended nanotube oscillator.
We present a general study of oscillations in suspended one-dimensional elastic systems clamped at each end, exploring a wide range of slack (excess length) and downward external forces. Our results apply directly to recent experiments in nanotube and silicon nanowire oscillators. We find the behavior to simplify in three well-defined regimes which we present in a dimensionless phase diagram. The frequencies of vibration of such systems are found to be extremely sensitive to slack.


Utility of Follow-up Radiographs After Pin Removal in Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Displaced supracondylar humerus fractures (SCFs) are common pediatric injuries, typically treated by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). Radiographs are obtained at pin removal and subsequently to evaluate fracture healing. We evaluated the utility of radiographs obtained after pin removal in pediatric SCF management. A retrospective cohort study of children aged 2 to 11 years with SCF requiring CRPP at a single institution from January 2007 to July 2017 was conducted. Radiographs were taken at pin removal and minimum 3 weeks later. Demographic and treatment data were collected via chart review. Radiographic measures were Baumann and lateral humeral-capitellar angles, anterior humeral line alignment, and number of cortices with callus. The McNemar-Bowker test analyzed anterior humeral line alignment and cortices with callus. The paired t-test analyzed Baumann and lateral humeral-capitellar angles. One hundred patients were included (47 males and 53 females, mean 5.7 years). The mean time to pin removal was 23.8 days, and the median clinical and radiographic follow-up periods were 109.0 and 52.2 days, respectively. Fracture patterns were extension type II (21%), III (73%), IV (1%), flexion (4%), and varus (1%). No patients' fracture management changed in the acute or long-term postoperative period because of findings on post-pin removal (PPR) radiographs. Fewer cortices with callus were seen at pin removal versus PPR (<0.001). At pin removal, no differences were found in the Baumann angle (75.8 ± 5.0 versus 74.6 ± 5.9; P = 0.053), lateral humeral-capitellar angles (30.7 ± 12.5 versus 31.6 ± 1.3; P = 0.165), or anterior humeral line alignment (P = 0.261). No patients' fracture management was modified because of findings evident on PPR radiographs. The number of cortices with callus was the only radiographic measure to differ over time, as is anticipated with routine healing. Elbow radiographic alignment measures did not differ in the interval between radiographs. Therefore, PPR radiographs may not provide clinical utility in the absence of other clinical findings. Level III, retrospective comparative study.


Monitoring pulmonary function during exercise in children with asthma.
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is defined as acute, reversible bronchoconstriction induced by physical exercise. It is widely believed that EIB occurs after exercise. However, in children with asthma the time to maximal bronchoconstriction after exercise is short, suggesting that the onset of EIB in such children occurs during exercise. In this study the authors investigate pulmonary function during exercise in cold air in children with asthma. 33 Children with asthma with a mean age of 12.3 years and a clinical history of exercise induced symptoms, underwent a prolonged, submaximal, exercise test of 12 min duration at approximately 80% of the predicted maximum heart rate. Pulmonary function was measured before and each minute during exercise. If EIB occurred (fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s >15% from baseline), exercise was terminated and salbutamol was administered. 19 Children showed EIB. In 12 of these children bronchoconstriction occurred during exercise (breakthrough EIB), while seven children showed bronchoconstriction immediately after exercise (non-breakthrough EIB). Breakthrough EIB occurred between 6 and 10 min of exercise (mean 7.75 min). In the majority of children with EIB in this study (ie, 12 out of 19), bronchoconstriction started during, and not after, a submaximal exercise test.


Effects of added silica nanoparticles on the nematic liquid crystal phase formation in beidellite suspensions.
In this article, we present a study of the liquid crystal phase behavior of mixed suspensions of the natural smectite clay mineral beidellite and nonadsorbing colloidal silica particles. While virtually all smectite clays dispersed in water form gels at very low concentrations, beidellite displays a first order isotropic-nematic phase transition before gel formation (J. Phys. Chem. B, 2009, 113, 15858-15869). The addition of silica nanospheres shifts the concentrations of the coexisting isotropic and nematic phases to slightly higher values while at the same time markedly accelerating the phase separation process. Furthermore, beidellite suspensions at volume fractions above the isotropic-nematic phase separation, trapped in a kinetically arrested gel state, liquefy on the addition of silica nanospheres and proceed to isotropic-nematic phase separation. Using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we probe the structural changes caused by the addition of the silica nanospheres, and we relate the modification of the phase transition kinetics to the change of the rheological properties.


Identity and effects of quorum-sensing inhibitors produced by Penicillium species.
Quorum sensing (QS) communication systems are thought to afford bacteria with a mechanism to strategically cause disease. One example is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which infects immunocompromised individuals such as cystic fibrosis patients. The authors have previously documented that blockage of the QS systems not only attenuates Ps. aeruginosa but also renders biofilms highly susceptible to treatment with conventional antibiotics. Filamentous fungi produce a battery of secondary metabolites, some of which are already in clinical use as antimicrobial drugs. Fungi coexist with bacteria but lack active immune systems, so instead rely on chemical defence mechanisms. It was speculated that some of these secondary metabolites could interfere with bacterial QS communication. During a screening of 100 extracts from 50 Penicillium species, 33 were found to produce QS inhibitory (QSI) compounds. In two cases, patulin and penicillic acid were identified as being biologically active QSI compounds. Their effect on QS-controlled gene expression in Ps. aeruginosa was verified by DNA microarray transcriptomics. Similar to previously investigated QSI compounds, patulin was found to enhance biofilm susceptibility to tobramycin treatment. Ps. aeruginosa has developed QS-dependent mechanisms that block development of the oxidative burst in PMN neutrophils. Accordingly, when the bacteria were treated with either patulin or penicillic acid, the neutrophils became activated. In a mouse pulmonary infection model, Ps. aeruginosa was more rapidly cleared from the mice that were treated with patulin compared with the placebo group.


Acoustic and perceptual evaluation of category goodness of /t/ and /k/ in typical and misarticulated children's speech.
This investigation explores perceptual and acoustic characteristics of children's successful and unsuccessful productions of /t/ and /k/, with a specific aim of exploring perceptual sensitivity to phonetic detail, and the extent to which this sensitivity is reflected in the acoustic domain. Recordings were collected from 4- to 8-year-old children with a speech sound disorder (SSD) who misarticulated one of the target plosives, and compared to productions recorded from peers with typical speech development (TD). Perceptual responses were registered with regards to a visual-analog scale, ranging from "clear [t]" to "clear [k]." Statistical models of prototypical productions were built, based on spectral moments and discrete cosine transform features, and used in the scoring of SSD productions. In the perceptual evaluation, "clear substitutions" were rated as less prototypical than correct productions. Moreover, target-appropriate productions of /t/ and /k/ produced by children with SSD were rated as less prototypical than those produced by TD peers. The acoustical modeling could to a large extent discriminate between the gross categories /t/ and /k/, and scored the SSD utterances on a continuous scale that was largely consistent with the category of production. However, none of the methods exhibited the same sensitivity to phonetic detail as the human listeners.