Toward the emergence of nanoneurosurgery: part I--progress in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and the comprehension of events in the mesoscale realm.
Since its original conception in 1959, the notion of nanotechnology and its potential ramifications have not only created fascination, but also intense scientific effort and scrutiny. Currently, research activities are being principally conducted in mesoscale, the realm between nanoscale and macroscale, with the rudiments of nanoscience being defined in realities and principles that will determine activities and discoveries in the future. This paper reviews and discusses the evolution of nanoscience, its contemporary status, and the discoveries that currently constitute the main components of the body of knowledge from a neurosurgical perspective. Specific attention is given to the developments in imaging, fabrication, nanostructures, nanoelectromechanical systems, molecular manufacturing, nanocomputation, and emerging physical and chemical concepts in mesoscale, as they will establish foundations for the realization of nanomedicine and nanoneurosurgery.


Transition from fetal to adult repair occurring in mouse forelimbs maintained in organ culture.
In previous wound healing experiments with the use of midgestation murine fetal forelimb explants, wounds were made before or immediately after amputation from the fetus. This experimental technique allows one to ask the question: do circulatory elements initiate or sustain the repair process in vitro? The hypotheses tested in the current study were that repair occurs in organ culture in the absence of systemic influences and that the in vivo transition from fetal-like to adult-type repair persists in an unperfused in vitro system. Gestational day-14 mouse forelimbs were harvested and placed in serum-free culture medium. Before amputation, control forelimbs received linear full-incision microscalpel wounds that were closed primarily. The animals in the other group were not immediately wounded but cultured for 4 days and then wounded with primary wound closure. All limbs were cultured for 7 days after wounding and then processed for histologic analysis. In the immediately wounded limbs, scarless healing occurred with collagen fibers deposited in a reticular form. In contrast, the delay-wounded limbs had collagen organized in parallel arrays (disordered), constituting repair by scarring. Wound repair proceeded as a local phenomenon in the absence of systemic mediators. We conclude that day-14 gestation forelimbs undergo maturation in culture, causing a transition from scarless to adult scar repair.


Simultaneous analysis of advanced glycation end products using dansyl derivatization.
Herein, new pre-column derivatization based on dansylation is present to resolve analytical difficulties, such as chromatographic separation difficulty, in identifying and quantifying advanced glycation end products (AGEs) owing to their high hydrophilicity, wide variety, and structural similarity. The proposed analytical method facilitated the separation of 14 AGEs, including structural isomers. Limits of detection of 1.0-43.3 ng/mL and linear ranges of the double- or triple-digit were achieved. Intra- and inter-day precisions of 1.1-3.0% and 1.3-3.1%, respectively, were achieved for standard solutions, while those for food specimens were 1.4-11.2% and 1.7-15.7%, respectively. The matrix effect was insignificant with regard to the percent recoveries and differences between slopes for both the standard solutions and food specimens. Furthermore, the quantitation results of AGEs in foods (coffee, beer, and sausage) and glycated proteins revealed the potential applicability of the developed method in various fields of food chemistry and biochemistry.


Inflammation markers in healthy and periodontitis patients: a preliminary data screening.
Advances in diagnostic research are moving towards methods whereby the periodontal risk can be identified and quantified by objective measures using biomarkers. Patients with periodontitis may have elevated circulating levels of specific inflammatory markers that can be correlated to the severity of the disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether differences in the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers are differentially expressed in healthy and periodontitis patients. Twenty-five patients (8 healthy patients and 17 chronic periodontitis patients) were enrolled in the study. A 15 mL blood sample was used for identification of the inflammatory markers, with a human inflammatory flow cytometry multiplex assay. Among 24 assessed cytokines, only 3 (RANTES, MIG and Eotaxin) were statistically different between groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, some of the selected markers of inflammation are differentially expressed in healthy and periodontitis patients. Cytokine profile analysis may be further explored to distinguish the periodontitis patients from the ones free of disease and also to be used as a measure of risk. The present data, however, are limited and larger sample size studies are required to validate the findings of the specific biomarkers.


Awareness and management of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome by paediatric intensive care physicians: a national survey.
This study aimed to evaluate the current awareness and management of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) among paediatric intensivists. A web-based electronic survey was sent to all physicians working in paedia-tric intensive care units (PICUs) in Saudi Arabia. The survey questions obtained information regarding awareness of ACS and IAH, recognition criteria, monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), and experience in managing ACS. A total of 79 physicians responded to the survey (response rate: 53%). Among respondents 48% were consultants. 85% of respondents were familiar with IAP/IAH/ACS. Only 35% and 10% were aware of the Abdominal Compartment Society consensus definitions for IAH and ACS in the paediatric population, respectively. Most respondents considered the cut-off for IAH to be ≥ 15 mm Hg, and approximately two-thirds thought that the cut-off for ACS was higher than the currently suggested consensus definition (10 mm Hg). More than two-thirds of respondents monitored IAP in the PICU, and it was measured almost exclusively via the bladder (96%); the majority (70%) reported that they instilled volumes well above the current recommendations. Medical management was the most frequent therapeutic approach to treat IAH/ACS, while surgical decompression was the least attempted option. Decisions to decompress the abdomen were predominantly based on the presence of organ dysfunction (74.4%). This survey showed that although most responding physicians claim to be familiar with IAH and ACS, their knowledge of published consensus definitions, measurement techniques, and clinical management must be updated.


Prevalence of Erosive Tooth Wear and Associated Dietary Factors among a Group of Finnish Adolescents.
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of erosive tooth wear (ETW) among Finnish adolescents and to evaluate how frequency as well as amount of the use of erosive products is associated with ETW. The study population consisted of 328 voluntary, >15-year-old secondary school students (males 49.1%, females 50.9%) in three municipalities in Finland. Clinical examination to measure ETW (BEWE index) was carried out by trained and calibrated dentists. Piloted questionnaires included questions on consumption of drinks, fruits and berries, as well as tooth brushing frequency. Means and medians of frequencies and amounts of consumed erosive products were calculated and associations with ETW severity were analysed by logistic regression models. One-third (36.9%) of the participants were in need of at least preventive measures for ETW (BEWE sum score ≥3), but severe ETW (BEWE sum score >9) was rare (2.1%). Boys had severe ETW significantly more frequently than girls (p < 0.001). Habitual consumption of erosive drinks was common especially among boys compared to girls (p = 0.001). ETW was significantly associated with the amount of consumed erosive drinks, fruits, or berries. The prevalence of ETW among adolescences in Finland seems to be at the same level as in other Nordic and European countries. Consumption of erosive products is common and thus, the risk for tooth erosion is high, especially in boys. In addition to erosive drinks, also berries and fruits are associated with ETW and should be included in individual dietary counselling when early signs of ETW are clinically detected.


Psychiatric disorders associated with Cushing's syndrome.
Cushing's syndrome is the term used to describe a set of symptoms associated with hypercortisolism, which in most cases is caused by hypophysial microadenoma over-secreting adrenocorticotropic hormone. This endocrine disorder is often associated with psychiatric comorbidities. The most important include mood disorders, psychotic disorders, cognitive dysfunctions and anxiety disorders. The aim of this article was to review the prevalence, symptoms and consequences of psychiatric disorders in the course of Cushing's syndrome. We therefore performed a literature search using the following keywords: Cushing's syndrome and psychosis, Cushing's syndrome and mental disorders, Cushing's syndrome and depression, Cushing's syndrome and anxiety. The most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity of Cushing's syndrome is depression. Psychiatric manifestations can precede the onset of full-blown Cushing's syndrome and therefore be misdiagnosed. Despite the fact that treatment of the underlying endocrine disease in most cases alleviates psychiatric symptoms, the loss of brain volume persists. It is important to be alert to the symptoms of hypercortisolism in psychiatric patients to avoid misdiagnosis and enable them receiving adequate treatment.


Evaluation of malignant mesothelioma in central Anatolia: a study of 67 cases.
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a fatal neoplasm which frequently results from exposure to asbestos or erionite. Sixty-seven patients with MM were seen between 1990 and 2001. Their clinical and radiological features, as well as the therapy, were retrospectively evaluated. In 51 patients (76.1%), the MM was confined to the pleura, in 14 patients it was exclusively peritoneal and in two patients, it involved both areas. Of the 67 cases, 35 (52.2%) were women. The mean (+/- SD) age for all cases was 57.6+/-11.5 years. Dyspnea (67.2%), cough (55.2%) and chest pain (50.7%) were the most frequent symptoms of onset. Pleural effusion (92.4%) was the most common chest x-ray finding, whereas pleural effusion (60.8%), pleural nodules (34.7%) and pleural thickening (34.7%) were the most common computed tomography findings in pleural MM patients. The histological subtypes of MM were determined as epithelial in 60 patients (89.5%), sarcomatous in four patients (5.9%) and mixed in three patients (4.4%). Although 50.7% and 25.4% of the cases were exposed to erionite and asbestos, respectively, 23.9% of the cases recalled no exposure to asbestos or erionite. Exposures were environmental as opposed to occupational. Thirty-five patients (52.2%) were administered chemotherapy, and follow-up data were available for 22 patients. For these patients, the two-year survival rate was 22% and the two-year progression-free interval was 15.7%. There were no differences between patients with asbestos and erionite exposure. MM should be considered when exudative pleural effusion is detected in a patient who has been exposed to asbestos or erionite. MM is a major public health problem in parts of Turkey and compulsory environmental control of fibrous mineral should be considered.


Suicidality among adolescents engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and firesetting: the role of psychosocial characteristics and reasons for living.
Co-occurrence of problem behaviors, particularly across internalizing and externalizing spectra, increases the risk of suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and attempt) among youth. We examined differences in psychosocial risk factors across levels of suicidality in a sample of 77 school-based adolescents engaging in both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and repeated firesetting. Participants completed questionnaires assessing engagement in problem behaviors, mental health difficulties, negative life events, poor coping, impulsivity, and suicidality. Adolescents endorsing suicidal ideation reported greater psychological distress, physical and sexual abuse, and less problem solving/goal pursuit than those with no history of suicidality; adolescents who had attempted suicide reported more severe NSSI, higher rates of victimization and exposure to suicide, relative to those with suicidal ideation but no history of attempt. Additional analyses suggested the importance of coping beliefs in protecting against suicidality. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research relating to suicide prevention are discussed.


Overall safety and efficacy of high-dose and low-dose intravenous glucocorticoid therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe active Graves' ophthalmopathy.
The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of high-dose and low-dose intravenous (iv) glucocorticoid (GC) therapy in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and to investigate which factors may help determine appropriate iv GC doses. The medical records of 43 patients who received different doses of iv GCs for GO were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients received high-dose iv GCs (HD group, cumulative dose 9.0-12.0 g) and 18 received low-dose iv GCs (LD group, cumulative dose 4.5 g). Five patients with previous treatment for GO were excluded. Changes in ophthalmic parameters after treatment and frequencies of adverse effects due to GCs of the 2 groups were compared. We also reviewed the incidence of GO progression and hepatic dysfunction after patients were discharged. We evaluated correlations among pretreatment (before treatment) ophthalmic parameters and investigated useful predictive factors for determining iv GC doses. There were no significant differences in ophthalmic parameters reflecting treatment efficacy or overall safety between the groups. Among baseline ophthalmic parameters, corrected signal intensity ratio (cSIR) correlated well with magnetic resonance imaging findings and were more strongly associated with changes in ophthalmic parameters after treatment in the HD group than in the LD group, indicating that pretreatment cSIR might be useful for determining iv GC doses. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in overall safety and efficacy between high-dose and low-dose iv GC therapy in patients with active GO. Further randomized clinical trials with longer observation periods are required to establish the optimal treatment regimen of GO.


Tissue-associated cytokine expression in HIV-positive persons with oropharyngeal candidiasis.
Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), caused by Candida albicans, is the most common infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive persons. Although CD4(+) T cells are considered to be important for host defense against C. albicans at the oral mucosa, a recent immunohistochemical evaluation of T cells in OPC lesions of HIV-positive persons with reduced CD4(+) T cells showed high numbers of CD8(+) T cells. The present study investigated tissue-associated expression of cytokine and chemokine mRNA at the site of infection. Results showed some effects of HIV (primarily increased chemokine mRNA levels) but little effect of blood CD4(+) T cells. In contrast, mRNA for several proinflammatory, T helper, and CD8(+) T cell-associated cytokines and chemokines were increased in subjects with OPC versus those without. These results support the presence of CD8(+) T cells in OPC lesions and suggest evidence for a response against OPC, despite reduced levels of CD4(+) T cells.


NMR structural and dynamical investigation of the isolated voltage-sensing domain of the potassium channel KvAP: implications for voltage gating.
The structure and dynamics of the isolated voltage-sensing domain (VSD) of the archaeal potassium channel KvAP was studied by high-resolution NMR. The almost complete backbone resonance assignment and partial side-chain assignment of the (2)H,(13)C,(15)N-labeled VSD were obtained for the protein domain solubilized in DPC/LDAO (2:1) mixed micelles. Secondary and tertiary structures of the VSD were characterized using secondary chemical shifts and NOE contacts. These data indicate that the spatial structure of the VSD solubilized in micelles corresponds to the structure of the domain in an open state of the channel. NOE contacts and secondary chemical shifts of amide protons indicate the presence of tightly bound water molecule as well as hydrogen bond formation involving an interhelical salt bridge (Asp62-R133) that stabilizes the overall structure of the domain. The backbone dynamics of the VSD was studied using (15)N relaxation measurements. The loop regions S1-S2 and S2-S3 were found mobile, while the S3-S4 loop (voltage-sensor paddle) was found stable at the ps-ns time scale. The moieties of S1, S2, S3, and S4 helices sharing interhelical contacts (at the level of the Asp62-R133 salt bridge) were observed in conformational exchange on the micros-ms time scale. Similar exchange-induced broadening of characteristic resonances was observed for the VSD solubilized in the membrane of lipid-protein nanodiscs composed of DMPC, DMPG, and POPC/DOPG lipids. Apparently, the observed interhelical motions represent an inherent property of the VSD of the KvAP channel and can play an important role in the voltage gating.


Large segmental necrosis of the tibia with deep infection after open fracture.
Fifteen patients with large segmental necrosis of the tibia with deep infection, following open fractures, were treated according to the Burri-Papineau protocol. After radical debridement, the segmental bone defects averaged 8.4 (5-15) cm. Necrectomy, external fixation, and open cancellous grafting, in a two-stage procedure, gave infection control in 14 cases and bone healing in 12. Additional procedures, i.e., plating and posterolateral bone grafting, provided union in another 2 cases. One patient underwent amputation. Functional results in the other 14, after a follow-up averaging 4 years, were good in 9 cases, fair in 3, and poor in 2.


[Feeding behavior disorders in man].
Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is easily made using symptom lists. It is mandatory to check that the weight loss is due to no somatic cause. The prevalence of bulimia and syndromes associating bulimia and anorexia is increasing considerably. In these latter syndromes, while not in typical anorexia, major affective disorders are often found. Endocrinological abnormalities are numerous. However the part of denutrition itself in these abnormalities is not clear. Pathogenesis of these eating disorders remains mysterious. But most probably, the endogenous opioid system is involved, at least in their perpetuation.


Analysis of 2438 cycles for the impact of endometrioma and its surgery on the IVF outcomes.
Management of ovarian endometrioma before IVF treatment is still challenging. We aimed to assess the effect of the pre-cycle surgical removal of endometriomas on IVF outcomes in a large number of cycles in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment. Besides this, we also proposed to compare the cycle outcomes within both normo and poor responder patients to evaluate the impact of endometrioma and its surgery. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a private IVF clinic between September 2014 and December 2018. A total of 2438 IVF/ICSI cycles of 1936 patients were reviewed. Patients who had previous endometrioma surgery (Group 1), patients with non-operated endometrioma (Group 2), and patients without endometriosis, including tubal factor infertility confirmed by laparoscopy and unexplained infertility without endometrioma (Group 3) were analyzed in this study. Total dose of gonadotropins was significantly higher in group 1 than others (p < 0.05). However, antral follicle counts, estradiol levels on the day of hCG trigger, the number of retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were significantly lower in group 1 than in other groups (p < 0.05). Poor response to gonadotropins was more frequent in group 1 as compared to other groups (47.9%, 34.3%, 35.5%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Cycle cancellation rates were significantly higher in group 1 than in other groups (6.7%, 1.4%, and 2.8%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Clinical pregnancy (CPR) and live birth rates (LBR) per cycle and embryo transfer were not different among groups. However, CPR per cycle and embryo transfer were significantly higher in the operated endometrioma group within unexpected poor responders (p = 0.023, p = 0.010, respectively). CPR and LBR per cycle and per embryo transfer were similar within normo-responder patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female age and poor response to gonadotropins were the significant variables in predicting live birth (OR: 0.946, CI: 0.926-0.966, p < 0.001 and OR: 3.294, CI: 2.336-4.645, p < 0.001, respectively). Pre-cyle removal of endometrioma may have an adverse impact on ovarian reserve, and pregnancy outcomes seem to be similar with or without surgery in patients undergoing IVF treatment. However, endometrioma surgery may be considered in the subsequent IVF cycles of patients with lower than expected ovarian response.


Interpretable Predictive Modelling of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete Splitting Tensile Strength Using Ensemble Machine Learning Methods and SHAP Approach.
Basalt fibers are a type of reinforcing fiber that can be added to concrete to improve its strength, durability, resistance to cracking, and overall performance. The addition of basalt fibers with high tensile strength has a particularly favorable impact on the splitting tensile strength of concrete. The current study presents a data set of experimental results of splitting tests curated from the literature. Some of the best-performing ensemble learning techniques such as Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Random Forest, and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost) have been applied to the prediction of the splitting tensile strength of concrete reinforced with basalt fibers. State-of-the-art performance metrics such as the root mean squared error, mean absolute error and the coefficient of determination have been used for measuring the accuracy of the prediction. The impact of each input feature on the model prediction has been visualized using the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithm and individual conditional expectation (ICE) plots. A coefficient of determination greater than 0.9 could be achieved by the XGBoost algorithm in the prediction of the splitting tensile strength.


Design Principles for Covalent Organic Frameworks in Energy Storage Applications.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an exciting class of porous materials that have been explored as energy-storage materials for more than a decade. This review discusses efforts to develop these materials for applications in gas and electrical power storage. Some of the design strategies for developing the gas sorption properties of COFs and mechanistic studies on their formation are also discussed.


Nocardia spp infections among hematological patients: results of a retrospective multicenter study.
To describe the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of hematological patients affected by Nocardia spp infections. We retrospectively evaluated all the cases diagnosed in four Italian institutions. Between 2002 and 2012, 10 cases of nocardiosis were recorded. The median age of the patients was 66 years (range 24-85 years). The underlying hematological disease was a lymphoproliferative disorder in all but two patients. Eight patients (80%) showed active underlying hematological disease, relapsed or refractory in five (50%); one patient had a history of previous allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Eight patients (80%) were on steroid therapy; lymphopenia was present in 8/10 (80%) patients. All patients showed lung involvement. Six patients were affected by disseminated nocardiosis. Three patients (30%) were nocardemic and three (30%) showed central nervous system involvement. Skin, lymph nodes, and bone were involved in one patient each. The median overall survival was 65 days. Older age, a longer period between hematological diagnosis and Nocardia spp infection, and relapsed/refractory hematological disease were associated with a worse prognosis. Although rare, nocardiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary and central nervous system lesions among hematological patients. Lymphoproliferative disorders, prolonged steroid treatment, lymphopenia, and active hematological disease are the conditions that are worth considering as predisposing factors for the development of this disease.


A comprehensive assay for targeted multiplex amplification of human DNA sequences.
We developed a robust and reproducible methodology to amplify human sequences in parallel for use in downstream multiplexed sequence analyses. We call the methodology SMART (Spacer Multiplex Amplification Reaction), and it is based, in part, on padlock probe technology. As a proof of principle, we used SMART technology to simultaneously amplify 485 human exons ranging from 100 to 500 bp from human genomic DNA. In multiple repetitions, >90% of the targets were successfully amplified with a high degree of uniformity, with 70% of targets falling within a 10-fold range and all products falling within a 100-fold range of each other in abundance. We used long padlock probes (LPPs) >300 bases in length for the assay, and the increased length of these probes allowed for the capture of human sequences up to 500 bp in length, which is optimal for capturing most human exons. To engineer the LPPs, we developed a method that generates ssDNA molecules with precise ends, using an appropriately designed dsDNA template. The template has appropriate restriction sites engineered into it that can be digested to generate nucleotide overhangs that are suitable for lambda exonuclease digestion, producing a single-stranded probe from dsDNA. The SMART technology is flexible and can be easily adapted to multiplex tens of thousands of target sequences in a single reaction.


Craniosynostosis With Preoperative Iron Supplementation Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study Examining Preoperative Iron Supplementation and Transfusion Practice in a National Paediatric Craniofacial Centre.
Blood loss and subsequent transfusion are key concerns in the surgical management of craniosynostosis, and have been associated with increased morbidity, requirement for intensive care admission and increased length of hospital stay. Patient blood management guidelines advocate treatment of anemia before elective surgical procedures where significant blood loss is anticipated. At present there is little evidence in the literature investigating the clinical value of this practice in pediatric craniofacial surgery. The authors examined the effect of preoperative oral iron supplementation on blood loss and transfusion rates in a national pediatric craniofacial unit. A total of 157 patients were included in a retrospective and prospective observational cohort study conducted between July 2011 and November 2016. Eighty-five (85) patients included in the preoperative iron supplementation group were prescribed oral ferrous fumarate before total cranial vault reconstruction, frontal-orbital advancement or extended strip cranial vault remodeling procedures. This cohort was retrospectively compared to seventy-two (72) consecutive patients who did not receive iron supplementation. Calculated blood loss was 51.3 mL/kg in the intervention group, and 56.65 mL/kg in the control group. Transfusion rate and mean volumes for the intervention group were 85.9% and 25 mL/kg. The control group had transfusion rate of 86.1% with mean transfused volume of 24.7 mL/kg. These differences were not statistically significant. Intraoperative tranexamic acid was associated with significantly reduced transfusion volumes overall. This study did not show a statistically significant benefit to preoperative iron supplementation. Secondary outcomes of this study showed a statistically significant difference in estimated versus calculated intraoperative blood loss. Further research in to specific iron supplementation protocols is indicated.


miR-378a-5p and miR-630 induce lens epithelial cell apoptosis in cataract via suppression of E2F3.
Cataract, an eye disease that threatens the health of millions of people, brings about severe economic burden for patients and society. MicroRNA (miR)-378a-5p and miR-630 were recognized as essential regulators in multiple cancers. However, the exact functions of miR-378a-5p and miR-630 in cataract are still unclear. The expression of miR-378a-5p, miR-630, and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) in tissues and cells was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay was used to evaluate cell viability. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze cell apoptosis. The interaction between E2F3 and miR-378a-5p or miR-630 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression of proteins E2F3, B cell lymphoma (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), and cleaved caspase 3 was detected by western blot assay. The expression of miR-378a-5p and miR-630 was up-regulated whereas E2F3 was down-regulated in human cataract lens tissues compared with normal lens tissues. Depletion of miR-378a-5p or miR-630 enhanced proliferation and reduced apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells. Interestingly, up-regulation of E2F3 exhibited the same trend. Next, dual-luciferase reporter assay validated the interaction between E2F3 and miR-378a-5p or miR-630. The rescue experiments further revealed that E2F3 knockdown could recover miR-378a-5p, and miR-630 inhibitor induced promotion of cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis in cataract. miR-378a-5p and miR-630 repressed proliferation and induced apoptosis of lens epithelial cells by targeting E2F3 in cataract, representing a prospective alternative therapy for cataract.


Biosynthesis of mycobacterial methylglucose lipopolysaccharides.
Mycobacterial pathogenesis is closely associated with a unique cell envelope rich in complex carbohydrates and unique lipids, among which are the mycolic acids. Mycobacteria also synthesize unique intracellular polymethylated polysaccharides (PMPSs), namely methylglucose lipopolysaccharides (MGLPs), which are acylated with short-chain fatty acids, and methylmannose polysaccharides (MMPs). Since PMPSs modulate the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids in vitro, the possibility of a similar role in vivo and the regulation of mycolic acids assembly have been anticipated. Unlike MGLPs, MMPs have been identified in M. smegmatis and other fast-growing mycobacteria but not in M. tuberculosis, implying an essential role for MGLPs in this pathogen and turning the biosynthetic enzymes into attractive drug targets. The genome of M. tuberculosis was decoded 14 years ago but only recently has the identity of the genes involved in MGLPs biosynthesis been investigated. Two gene clusters (Rv1208-Rv1213 and Rv3030-Rv3037c) containing a few genes considered to be essential for M. tuberculosis growth, have initially been proposed to coordinate MGLPs biosynthesis. Among these genes, only the product of Rv1208 for the first step in the MGLPs pathway has, so far, been crystallized and its three-dimensional structure been determined. However, recent results indicate that at least three additional clusters may be involved in this pathway. The functional assignment of authentic roles to some of these M. tuberculosis H37Rv genes sheds new light on the intricacy of MGLPs biogenesis and renewed interest on their biological role.


Solution-Processable Organic Molecule for High-Performance Organic Solar Cells with Low Acceptor Content.
A new planar D2-A-D1-A-D2 structured organic molecule with bithienyl benzodithiophene (BDT) as central donor unit D1 and fluorine-substituted benzothiadiazole (BTF) as acceptor unit and alkyl-dithiophene as end group and donor unit D2, BDT-BTF, was designed and synthesized for the application as donor material in organic solar cells (OSCs). BDT-BTF shows a broad absorption in visible region, suitable highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of -5.20 eV, and high hole mobility of 1.07 × 10(-2) cm(2)/(V s), benefitted from its high coplanarity and strong crystallinity. The OSCs based on BDT-BTF as donor (D) and PC71BM as acceptor (A) at a D/A weight ratio of 3:1 without any extra treatment exhibit high photovoltaic performance with Voc of 0.85 V, Jsc of 10.48 mA/cm(2), FF of 0.66, and PCE of 5.88%. The morphological study by transmission electron microscopy reveals that the blend of BDT-BTF and PC71BM (3:1, w/w) possesses an appropriate interpenetrating D/A network for the exciton separation and charge carrier transport, which agrees well with the good device performance. The optimized D/A weight ratio of 3:1 is the lowest acceptor content in the active layer reported so far for the high-performance OSCs, and the organic molecules with the molecular structure like BDT-BTF could be promising high-performance donor materials in solution-processable OSCs.


Prostaglandin E2-histamine in interactions on cAMP, cGMP, and acid production in isolated fundic glands.
Relations among cAMP, cGMP, acid production [measured by the intraglandular accumulation of [14C]aminopyrine (AP)], and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activity were studied in isolated glands from rabbit fundic mucosa. AP, cAMP, and cGMP responses to histamine, PGE2, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IMX) were compared with controls. Histamine and PGE2 significantly increased glandular cAMP levels twofold, and histamine and IMX stimulated AP uptake two- to fourfold. PGE2 significantly inhibited both histamine- and IMX-stimulated AP accumulation, but it did not alter basal AP uptake. PGE2 also decreased histamine-stimulated cAMP production but only at a low concentration (10(-7) M). This dose of PGE2 was near to the endogenous PGE2 content found in unstimulated glands (10(-8) M). Intraglandular cGMP levels in unstimulated glands (10(-8) M). Intraglandular cGMP levels were increased by IMX but not by PGE2 or histamine. It is concluded that histamine stimulation of acid secretion is mediated by cAMP, that secretory and biochemical responses to histamine are modulated by PGE2 because PGE2 antagonized histamine-stimulated cAMP and AP uptake, and that the rise in cAMP induced solely by PGE2 appears to be localized within nonparietal cells because PGE2 alone did not stimulate AP accumulation.


Pentatomidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in Herbaceous and Shrub Strata of Atlantic Forest Remnants in Northeastern Brazil.
Most pentatomids are phytophagous, many of which are economically important crop pests. The family may also be a potentially important group to monitor the health of neotropical forests. However, there is a lack of biological inventories of Pentatomidae, especially in forest remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic forest. This is the first systematic survey of pentatomids reported in three Atlantic forest fragments in northeastern Brazil. In total, 997 individuals belonging to 38 species were recorded, some of which are considered economically important pests. Singletons and doubletons represented 45.9% of all species collected. The most abundant genera were Mormidea Amyot & Serville, 1843; Stictochilus Bergroth, 1918; Xynocoris Garbelotto & Campos 2014; and Edessa F., 1803. Species richness differed among fragments, with a richness gradient correlated with decreased urbanization and increased fragment size. The species abundance distribution fitted the logseries function but not the lognormal, in accordance with what is found for other assemblages in southern Brazil. Species composition also changed, in association with changes in temperature (revealed by the canonical correspondence analysis [CCA]), among fragments. Murici is one of the last remaining dense forests with high plant diversity in the region, having higher pentatomid species richness and a distinctive fauna. This first diversity study for Pentatomidae in fragments of tropical Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil reveals richness comparable with those from subtropical southern Brazil, with some species in common as well.


Candida meningitis/ventriculitis over a decade. Increased morbidity and length of stay a concern.
The primary aim of this study was to review the diagnosis, management and outcome of Candida meningitis/ventriculitis in our hospital over a ten-year period. We retrospectively reviewed all culture and 18s rRNA nucleic acid positive CSF specimens processed between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020. Patient records were subsequently reviewed to assess the significance of the isolate. Of 851 culture-positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens, Candida spp. were isolated from 29 (3.4%), representing infection in 12 patients. One culture-negative specimen was positive for Candida on 18s rRNA testing. Of the 13 patients, eight were male; 61.5% and the median age was 47 years; range: 20-70. The median interval from admission to onset of infection and culture positivity was 24 days (range: 1-63 days). All patients had a central nervous system (CNS) device in situ (external ventricular drain: 11; ventriculoperitoneal shunt: 1; lumbar drain: 1). Four were colonised with Candida spp. before meningitis/ventriculitis diagnosis, from wounds (n = 3), respiratory (n = 3), and urine (n = 1) specimens. On culture, the most common species was Candida albicans (n = 8), followed by C. parapsilosis (n = 2), C. tropicalis (n = 1), and C. dubliniensis (n = 1). The median number of follow-up CSFs per patient was nine (range; 3-22), with a median of 6 days to CSF sterility (range 3-10 days). Treatment included; liposomal amphotericin B (n = 5), fluconazole (n = 2), liposomal amphotericin B, and flucytosine (n = 2), liposomal amphotericin B, fluconazole and flucytosine (n = 3), and intra-ventricular amphotericin B (n = 1). Median treatment duration was 25 days (range 11-76) and CNS device removal occurred in 12 patients. The median length-of-stay (LOS) was 58 days (range 24-406). On discharge, moderate to severe disability (Modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 3-5) was evident in eight patients. Two patients died and one was lost to follow-up. Meningitis/ventriculitis due to Candida spp. is an uncommon but challenging infection, usually associated with a device, increased morbidity, LOS, and necessitating prolonged treatment. Neurosurgeons need to be aware of these issues in managing and in communicating with such complex patients.


Sensitization to common allergens in adults with asthma.
To estimate the prevalence of atopy (ie, allergen sensitization) in a sample of adult asthma outpatients. Population consisted of a total of 218 patients, 18 to 55 years of age, who were currently receiving care for asthma; and 13 physicians, whose specialties were Family Practice, Allergy, or Pulmonology and who were providing care to at least 10 to 15 asthma patients weekly. Patients provided a blood sample for quantification of total and allergen-specific IgE. Outcomes were the proportion of patients with atopy and the proportions of patients with elevated serum IgE specific to each of 8 specific common allergens. The patients' mean age was 42 years, and 74% were women; 68% of patients met the study definition of atopy. Total serum IgE > or = 114 kU/L was observed in 48% of patients, and 59% had elevated levels of IgE specific to one or more of 8 common allergens. The majority of adult asthma outpatients had evidence of atopy and most were sensitive to a specific identifiable allergen. Awareness of the high prevalence of atopy among asthma patients might improve patient management.


Regulation of the Tpo, Tg, Duox2, Pds, and Mct8 genes involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones after subchronic exposure to sodium nitrate in female Wistar rats.
Nitrates are natural compounds present in soil and water; however, the intense use of fertilizers has increased their presence in groundwater with deleterious effects on human health. There is evidence of nitrates acting as endocrine disruptors; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully described. Here, we investigated the effect of subchronic exposure to different concentrations of sodium nitrate in female Wistar rats, evaluating thyroid hormonal parameters, such as Nis transporter (Na+ /I- symporter, Slc5a5) and Tsh-R receptor protein expression, as well as transcription of the Tpo (thyroperoxidase), Tg (tiroglobulin), Duox2 (dual oxidase 2), Pds (pendrin), and Mct8 (Mct8 transporter, Slc16a2) genes. Hematological and histochemical changes in the liver and thyroid were also explored. Significant differences were found in platelet and leukocyte counts; although a significant increase in the weight of the thyroid gland was observed, no differences were found in the levels of the hormones Tsh, T3, and T4, but a modulation of the mRNA expression of the Tg, Tpo, Duox2, Mct8, and Pds genes was observed. Morphological changes were also found in liver and thyroid tissue according to the exposure doses. In conclusion, subchronic exposure to sodium nitrate induces leukocytosis consistent with an inflammatory response and upregulation of Sod2 in the liver and increases the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, keeping thyroid hormone levels stable. Histological changes in the thyroid gland suggest a goitrogenic effect.


Genetic polymorphisms of human platelet antigens-1 to -6, and -15 in the Malaysian population.
Human platelet antigens (HPA) are determinant in several platelet-specific alloimmune disorders, such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, post-transfusion purpura and platelet transfusion refractoriness. The distribution of HPA systems in the Malaysian population is not known. Defining the patterns of HPA systems provides a basis for risk assessment and management of the above complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of HPA -1 to -6 and -15 in the three major ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian) in the Malaysian population. A total of 600 random donor samples, 200 from each of the three ethnic groups, were genotyped by means of real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with hydrolysis probes and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The most common genotype observed in this study was HPA-1a/1a-2a/2a-3a/3b-4a/4a-5a/5a-6a/6a-15a/15b (17%) followed by HPA-1a/1a-2a/2a-3a/3a-4a/4a-5a/5a-6a/6a-15a/15b (14.33%). The allele frequencies of HPA in Malays and Chinese were found to be similar those of other East and South-East Asian populations, while those of Indians were comparable to the frequencies found in Europeans. The results of this study have been useful for determining the distribution of HPA polymorphisms in this region and for potential clinical implications.


Parallel and antiparallel cyclic d/l peptide nanotubes.
Nanotubes made from H-bonded cyclic d/l peptide (CP) subunits have great potential for the construction of nanomaterials of wide chemical and structural diversity but, to date, difficulties in structural characterisation have restricted development of these materials. We present the first crystal structures of continuous CP nanotubes with antiparallel and parallel stacking arrangements, assembled separately from two peptides; cyclo[(Asp-d-Leu-Lys-d-Leu)2] and cyclo[(Asp-d-Ala-Lys-d-Ala)2].


Silicon multi-mode micro-ring modulator for improved robustness to optical nonlinearity.
Due to the resonant nature and silicon's strong optical nonlinearity, the system's performance of silicon micro-ring modulators can be seriously affected by the input optical power. In this Letter, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a multi-mode silicon micro-ring modulator to mitigate its optical nonlinear effects by operating in the TE1 mode. The TE1 mode features a high nonlinear threshold compared with the TE0 mode because of its larger waveguide loss and larger mode effective area. Under the condition of 10 mW optical input power, the resonance spectrum maintains a good symmetric Lorentz shape. The resonant wavelength shifts less than one resonance linewidth, showing an improved robustness to optical nonlinearity compared with regular silicon micro-ring modulators.


Pilot phase evaluation of the elective general practice class: results of student surveys of the first two years.
Background: Primary health care in rural regions is currently undergoing a global crisis in respect of the next generation of practitioners. National and international recommendations advise placing greater emphasis upon practical skills and competences in medical studies. It is also in the interest of training the next generation to include mentoring and longitudinal integration of contact to teaching practices for general medicine in an early stage. Consequently, the General Practice Class (KAM) was introduced in Halle in 2011 as an elective with 20 individually mentored students per year, beginning with the first subject-related semester. We are now reporting on the results of the evaluation for the first two years. Method: A standardised online survey was carried out with all students who took part in the KAM in the two years 2011 and 2012 (N=38). For both years the survey was made at the end of the first summer semester on the basis of an adapted version of the Heidelberger Inventar zur Lehrevaluation (Heidelberg Inventory for the Evaluation of Teaching, HILVE-II) and the Berliner Evaluationsinstrument für selbsteingeschätzte, studentische Kompetenzen (Berlin Evaluation Instrument for the self-assessment of student competences, BEvaKomp). Furthermore, each year the preference for the choice of specialty and location of a medical practice was queried. Predictors for the preference of the chosen specialty and the location of a medical practice were estimated by binary logistic regression analysis. Via univariate evaluations the number of students who reported an increase in knowledge in different areas of competence as a result of the KAM was counted. Correlations between the intention to remain in the KAM and the quality of teaching were evaluated on the basis of bivariate correlations. Results: 48% of the students agreed partly or fully that the KAM seminars enhanced their specialist competence. This individual acquiring of competence in the model project represented a significant predictor for the preferred choice of the area (OR 7.98; 95% CI [1.27-50.27], p=0.027). Students who assessed the commitment (r=0.504), support (r=0.526) and interaction management (r=0.529) of the mentors positively were more likely inclined to continue their participation in the KAM. Conclusion: The successful conveyance of care-relevant competences to students proved to be an important predictor in our project for the preference of the specialty general practice. This requires that the medical mentors are suitably trained and that the students are specifically prepared for practical experience.


Design and characterization of a varifocal camera system with an extended depth of field and focal range.
This paper presents the design and characterization of a compact and affordable varifocal camera system. With its entrance pupil located in front as the first element for easy access, the camera system offers a working F/# as low as 2, is capable of focusing across a wide depth range from optical infinity to as close as 4 diopters through an electrically tunable lens, and maintains nearly constant angular magnification through the focus range by placing the focusing element at proximity to the entrance pupil. These unique features can find a myriad of applications such as image-based head-mounted display calibration and extended depth of field (EDOF) imaging. The paper further demonstrates a single-shot EDOF imaging function by utilizing its property of nearly constant angular magnification through focus scanning.


Crosslinking of the glycoproteins in human erythrocyte membranes.
The glycoproteins of human erythrocyte membranes were crosslinked with dimethyl adipimidate dihydrochloride. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoregrams of the crosslinked solubilized membranes, at least three new glycoprotein complexes appeared in addition to the normal glycoprotein species. One of the new glycoprotein complexes was shown to contain two of the three species of membrane glycoproteins.


Modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine biology by unsaturated fatty acids.
The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukins 1 and 6 and tumour necrosis factors, occurs rapidly following trauma or invasion of the body by pathogenic organisms. The cytokines mediate the wide range of symptoms associated with trauma and infection, such as fever, anorexia, tissue wasting, acute phase protein production and immunomodulation. In part, the symptoms result from a co-ordinated response, in which the immune system is activated and nutrients released, from endogenous sources, to provide substrate for the immune system. Although the cytokine mediated response is an essential part of the response to trauma and infection, excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, or production of cytokines in the wrong biological context, are associated with mortality and pathology in a wide range of diseases, such as malaria, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and AIDS. Cytokine biology can be modulated by antiinflammatory drugs, recombinant cytokine receptor antagonists and nutrients. Among the nutrients, fats have a large potential for modulating cytokine biology. A number of trials have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oils, which are rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and asthma. Animal studies, conducted by ourselves and others, indicate that a range of fats can modulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production and actions. In summary fats rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance IL1 production and tissue responsiveness to cytokines, fats rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have the opposite effect, monounsaturated fatty acids decrease tissue responsiveness to cytokines and IL6 production is enhanced by total unsaturated fatty acid intake. There are a large number of potential cellular mechanisms which may mediate the effects observed. The majority relate to the ability of fats to alter the composition of membrane phospholipids. As a consequence of alterations in phospholipid composition, membrane fluidity may change, altering binding of cytokines to receptors and G protein activity. The nature of substrate for various signalling pathways associated with cytokine production and actions may also be changed. Consequently, alterations in eicosanoid production and activation of protein kinase C may occur. We have examined a number of these potential mechanisms in peritoneal macrophages of rats fed fats with a wide range of fatty acid composition. We have found that the total C18:2 and 20:4 diacyl species of phosphatidylethanolamine in peritoneal macrophages relates in a positive curvilinear fashion with dietary linoleic acid intake; that TNF induced IL1 and IL6 production relate in a positive curvilinear fashion to linoleic acid intake; that leukotriene B4 production relates positively with dietary linoleic acid intake over a range of moderate intakes and is suppressed at high intakes, while PGE2 production is enhanced. There was no clear relationship between linoleic acid intake and membrane fluidity, however fluidity was influenced in a complex manner by the type of fat in the diet, the period over which the fat was fed and the presence of absence of TNF stimulation. None of the proposed mechanisms, acting alone, can explain the positive effect of dietary linoleic acid intake on pro-inflammatory cytokine production. However each may be involved, in part, in the modulatory effects observed.


Characterization and evaluation of a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system containing tectorigenin, an isoflavone with low aqueous solubility and poor permeability.
The purpose of this study was to characterize and evaluate tectorigenin-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (TG-SMEDDS), a previously studied preparation, and further confirm the improvement of TG in solubility and bioavailability. The appearance of TG-SMEDDS was clear and transparent, with good mobility. The microemulsion formed by TG-SMEDDS was globular, edge smooth, clear-cut, and distribution homogeneous under transmission electron microscope. The stability studies revealed that TG-SMEDDS remained stable at room temperature for at least 3 months. TG-SMEDDS showed excellent dissolution behavior that more than 90% of TG was released in only 5 min. The in situ intestinal perfusion studies indicated enhancement of absorption in four tested intestinal segments, and the main absorption site of TG was changed to duodenum. In addition, TG-SMEDDS showed significantly higher Cmax and AUC values (11-fold and 5-fold higher values, respectively; P < 0.05) than TG, and the absolute oral bioavailability of TG-SMEDDS was 56.33% (5-fold higher than that of crude TG). What's more, the AUC0-t of crude TG and TG-SMEDDS in bile duct non-ligation rats were 6.05 and 2.80 times, respectively, than that in bile duct ligation rats, indicating the existence of enterohepatic circulation and the secretion of bile could significantly affect the absorption of TG. Further studies showed that even the bile duct was ligation, TG-SMEDDS can still keep a better oral bioavailability (179.67%, compared with crude TG in the bile duct non-ligation rats). Therefore, our study implies that SMEDDS containing TG could be an effective strategy for the oral administration of TG.


Treatment strategy for maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3): Experience with two sisters and their mother.
Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a relatively young-onset diabetes mellitus with an autosomal dominant inheritance. Among these phenotypes, MODY3, caused by mutations in HNF1A, is one of the most frequent. Although MODY3 is known to respond markedly to sulfonylureas (SU), many cases require insulin therapy. However, there are no clear guidelines for factors to consider when introducing antidiabetic drugs and insulin. This report describes a familial case in which an older sister was diagnosed with diabetes and subsequently with MODY3, followed by the onset of diabetes in the younger sister and mother. The elder sister initially denied insulin treatment and exhibited a suboptimal response to SU but finally agreed to insulin use. The mother initially selected insulin therapy because of the challenges associated with adherence to strict dietary therapy. Conversely, the younger sister responded positively to SU and maintained effective glycemic control. The management of MODY3, even though they have the same single-gene mutation and similar residual insulin secretion at diagnosis, should be flexibly individualized for each family member to ensure long-term adherence and appropriate glycemic control.


[Influence of cholesterol on macrophage foam cells formation at zymosan-induced inflammation of mice].
It has been shown recently that significant number (to 40% from total population) of macrophage foam cells (MFC) is formed during early time (24 h) of zymosan-induced peritonitis resolution and agonists of peroxisome proliferation activated receptors-α, -γ (PPAR-α, -γ) exert anti-inflammatory action, protecting their formation (Dushkin et al., 2007). The work is devoted to investigate of the influence of cholesterol-containing liposomes (CHL) on dinamic of zimozan-induced peritonitis in C57Bl/6 mice. The accumulation of cholesterol, the change of cytokine production, PPAR-γ activity and cholesterol efflux in macrophages of C57Bl/6 mice has been investigated. The infiltration of neutrophils, amounts of mononuclear cells and MFC formation were significantly increased in peritonel cavity of zymosan-induced mice that led to in expansion of the period of inflammatory resolution and of the period of MFC resolution. If macrophages obtained after zymosan injection mainly accumulated triglycerides (TG) and at high speed incorporated [1-14C]oleate into TG, the injection of CHL after zymosan-indused inflammation lead to dramatic promotion MFC containing primarily free cholesterol and Ch ethers and been aggravation of [1-14C]oleate incorporation into cholesterol ethers in macrophages (mainly for 2 days). It has to shown that CHL against a background of inflammation promoted reduction of fluorescent NBD-cholesterol efflux from macrophages throughout the studied period (5 days) whereas zymosan inhibited cholesterol efflux at the early stages of inflammation (1 and 2 days), then, on 3ed day, the cholesterol efflux was recovered and increased on day 5. At the same time CHL stimulated the production of TNFα and TGFβ and inhibited the production of IL-10 and DNA-binding activity of PPAR-γ macrophages obtained at early as well as late stages of zymosan-induced peritonitis (compared with injection zymosan only). Thus, accumulation of cholesterol in inflammatory macrophages and promotion of MFC formation prolog timely resoluti- on of acute inflammation inducing alteration of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance and evoking the repression of macrophage DNA-binding activity of PPAR-γ and cholesterol efflux.


Experimental study of prognosis of chronic compartment syndrome.
There is little in the literature concerning the pathobiology and repair processes of impaired skeletal muscle after decompressive operation for chronic compartment syndrome (CCS), which would be valuable for prognosis. Repeated tourniquet compression through cuff inflation on rabbits' claves was performed daily for 2 hr, then stopped for 30 min, and applied for another 2 hr. The contralateral hindlimb, which was not compressed, served as a control. Rabbits were allocated to four groups: groups I and II were pressured with 80 and 120 mmHg for 3 days, and groups III and IV were pressured with 80 and 120 mmHg for 14 days. Skeletal muscle specimens from each group were obtained for histological and ultrastructural observation at day 1, 7, 14, and 28 post-compression. In groups I and II, a few necrotic fibers were observed and basal lamina was intact at 1 day after compression. Seven days after compression, there was an observable increase in the proliferation of satellite cells and development of myotube structures. Fourteen days after compression, regeneration of muscles was complete, and there was no significant difference compared with the control group. In groups III and IV, 1 day post-compression examination revealed a large area of necrotic fibers, fibrotic interstitium, and disintegratin basal lamina. Seven days later, proliferation of satellite cells was observed around the surviving basal lamina, and 28 days after compression we could see a large area of fibrosis. The degree of recovery of impaired muscle in rabbit's CCS-induced tissues is related to pressure and duration of compression. Complete recovery of the impaired muscle is determined by survival of basal lamina.


Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Memantine.
Memantine was the first breakthrough medication for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and represents a fundamentally new mechanism of action (moderate-affinity, uncompetitive, voltage-dependent, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that exhibits fast on/off kinetics) to modulate glutamatergic dysfunction. Since its approval by the FDA in 2003, memantine, alone and in combination with donepezil, has improved patient outcomes in terms of cognition, behavioral disturbances, daily functioning, and delaying time to institutionalization. In this review, we will highlight the historical significance of memantine to AD (and other neuropsychiatric disorders) as well as provide an overview of the synthesis, pharmacology, and drug metabolism of this unique NMDA uncompetitive antagonist that clearly secures its place among the Classics in Chemical Neuroscience.


Influence of plasma protease inhibitors and Trasylol on trypsin-induced bradykinin-release in vitro and in vivo. Protease inhibitors and trypsin-induced bradykinin release.
The release in dog plasma of bradykinin in an experimental model in vitro and in vivo secondary to the addition of increasing amounts of trypsin was studied. The release was correlated with the degree of saturation of the plasma protease inhibitors, alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 1-antitrypsin, without and in the presence of Trasylol. There was a good correlation between the saturation of alpha 2-macroglobulin with trypsin and the release of bradykinin. A simultaneous fall in blood pressure was seen in the in vivo experiments. alpha 1-Antitrypsin was unable to block this tryptic activity in the absence of free alpha 2-macroglobulin. In the presence of Trasylol, the saturation of alpha 2-macroglobulin was not followed by any significant kinin liberation and the blood pressure remained stable.


Automated low-cost terrestrial laser scanner for measuring diameters at breast height and heights of plantation trees.
A terrestrial laser scanner is a fast, high-precision data acquisition device, which has been applied more and more to the research area of forest inventory. In this study, a type of automated low-cost terrestrial laser scanner was designed and implemented based on a SICK LMS-511 two-dimensional laser scanning sensor and a stepper motor. The new scanner was named BEE(developed by the department of Electronic Engineering, Beijing Forestry University), which can scan the forest trees in three dimensions. The BEE scanner and its supporting software are specifically designed for forest inventory. The specific software was developed to smoothly control the BEE scanner and to acquire the data, including the angular data, range data, and intensity data, and the data acquired by the BEE scanner could be processed into point cloud data, a range map, and an intensity map. Based on the point cloud data, the trees were detected by a single slice of the single scan in a plot, and the local ground plane was fitted for each detected tree. Then the diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, and tree position could be estimated automatically by using the specific software. The experiments have been performed by using the BEE scanner in an artificial ginkgo forest which was located in the Haidian District of Beijing. Four 10 m × 10 m square plots were selected for the experiments. The BEE scanner scanned in the four plots and acquired the single-scan data, respectively. The DBH, tree height, and tree position of the trees in the four plots were estimated and analyzed. For comparison, manually-measured data was also collected in the four plots. The trunk detection rate for all four plots was 92.75%; the root mean square error of the DBH estimation was 1.27 cm; the root mean square error of the tree height estimation was 0.24 m; and the tree position estimation was in line with the actual position. The scanner also was tested in more natural forest in the JiuFeng Forest Park. Two plots with a radius of 5 meters were scanned. Eleven trees in the plot with a flat ground were detected and DBH were estimated. But tree detection was failed in the other plot because of the undulating ground. Experimental results show that the BEE scanner can efficiently estimate the structure parameters of plantation trees and has good potential in practical applications of forest inventory.


Search for optimal frequencies and amplitudes of therapeutic electrical carotid sinus nerve stimulation by application of the evolution strategy.
In humans, electrical, bipolar, bilateral carotid sinus nerve stimulation (CSNS; impulse duration 0.35 ms) was applied, using frequencies between 10 and 110 Hz and voltages between individual thresholds and maximal amplitudes of stimulation. Ten anginal patients and two hypertensive patients were studied at an interval of up to 12 years after implantation of electrodes and a radiofrequency receiver for chronic therapeutic CSNS. In search of combinations of frequency and voltage of CSNS, eliciting largest ("optimal") depressor responses of blood pressure and heart rate in the individual patient, Rechenberg's evolution strategy was applied. This strategy simulates mutation and selection of biological evolution. In each patient and on each test stimulation, a value of quality was computed from actual heart rate and blood pressure values as a selection criterion for the strategy. Either responses to uninterrupted CSNS were investigated, while stimulation parameters were adjusted every 3 min, according to the strategy, or responses to 3 min of CSNS after a change in stimulation parameters were compared to intercalated 3-min control periods. In each patient, one or more combined settings of frequency and voltage elicited "optimal" responses. In principle, "optimal" CSNS frequencies ranged between 35 and 105 Hz with large interindividual differences. Due to chronic implantation of electrodes and technical features of radiofrequency transmitted stimulation energy, interindividually different voltages led to an optimal response to CSNS. Also according to the present results, the frequency of CSNS has to be determined individually. It is concluded that the evolution strategy was applied successfully, because voltage and frequency settings leading to "optimal" responses were found within 90-180 min, whereas intraindividual systematic investigations would not be feasible due to their necessarily very long duration. So far, only short-term responses have been evaluated. A broader use of the strategy in other applications is encouraged, as for example in pacemaker optimization and especially in functional electrostimulation.


Pathophysiological changes induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection are involved in MMP-12 and MMP-13 upregulation in human carcinoma epithelial cells and a pneumonia mouse model.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections persist in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and drive lung disease progression. P. aeruginosa potently activates the innate immune system mostly through the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as flagellin. Matrix metalloproteinases 12 and 13 (MMP-12 and MMP-13, respectively) exacerbate chronic lung infection and inflammation by promoting uncontrolled tissue rearrangements and fibrosis, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms by which this occurs remain largely unknown. In this study, we used quantitative bacteriology, histological examination, and proinflammatory cytokine levels to evaluate the effects of MMP-12 and MMP-13 on P. aeruginosa strain K-induced infection and pneumonia in H292 epithelial cells and mice, respectively. Under inflammatory stimulation, mRNA and protein expression levels of proinflammatory mediators were higher in strain K-infected mice and cells than in uninfected counterparts, in which MMP-12 and MMP-13 expression reached levels similar to those observed in epithelial cells. Moreover, we also found that the NF-κB pathway might be involved in the induction of cytokines in response to strain K infection. Taken together, these data suggest that MMP-12 and MMP-13 alter strain K infection in mice and play a role in inflammatory regulation by modulating cytokine levels.


Type I Interferons as Stimulators of DC-Mediated Cross-Priming: Impact on Anti-Tumor Response.
Induction of potent tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses is a fundamental objective in anticancer therapeutic strategies. This event requires that antigen-presenting cells present tumor-associated antigens (Ag) on their MHC class-I molecule, in a process termed cross-presentation. Dendritic cells (DC) are particularly keen on this task and can induce the cross-priming of CD8(+) T cells, when exposed to danger or inflammatory signals that stimulate their activation. Type I interferons (IFN-I), a family of long-known immunostimulatory cytokines, have been proven to produce optimal activation signal for DC-induced cross-priming. Recent in vitro and in vivo evidences have suggested that IFN-I-stimulated cross-priming by DC against tumor-associated Ag is a key mechanism for cancer immunosurveillance and may be usefully exploited to boost anti-tumor CD8(+) T-cell responses. Here, we will review the cross-presentation properties of different DC subsets, with special focus on cell-associated and tumor Ag, and discuss how IFN-I can modify this function, with the aim of identifying more specific and effective strategies for improving anticancer responses.


Coordination preference of Ga in hydrides.
Aluminum and gallium show some interesting differences in their coordination chemistry. Solid GaH3 is unknown, in contrast to solid AlH3. Ga equivalents of Li3AlH6, Na3AlH6, and other hydrides whose structure contain AlH(3-)6 ions, are unknown. We relate these differences to an instability of the hexacoordinated gallium moiety.


[Primary lymphoma of the breast].
Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast accounts for fewer than 3% of extranodal lymphomas. As compared to extranodal lymphomas in other sites they are characterised by more rapid progression and a worse prognosis. The aim of the study was to investigate 5 cases of primary lymphoma of the breast and review previous studies in a search for any preoperative characteristics that could assist in the management of lymphoma of the breast. All patients (n = 5) who were diagnosed with lymphomatous involvement of the breast between 1996 and 2004 were evaluated retrospectively. All patients staged IE (breast involvement only) or IIE (limited to the breast and ipsilateral armpit) were included. Most of the primary breast lymphomas were of intermediate grade. Patients received some combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The mean follow-up was 48 months (range 24 to 72 months). All 5 patients survived at least 6 years from the time of diagnosis. Long-term survival in patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast is possible. The clinical outcome of patients with breast lymphoma depends on the histology and appears to parallel that of patients with lymphoma of similar histology involving other sites.


New Strategies in the New Millennium: Servant Leadership As Enhancer of Service Climate and Customer Service Performance.
In a world in which customers are increasingly looking for solutions to their own concerns on how to make a better globalized world, new organizational strategies are emerging to approach the customer in the current third millennium. Servant leadership, which involves putting employees' needs first and serving the broader society, is emerging as a new strategic mechanism to approach the customer in line with the new social values-driven Marketing 3.0 era. Yet research has ignored the role and the various mechanisms servant leadership might utilize to improve customer service performance of their service units. Spanning 185 hotels located in Spain, a sample of 247 service units -in close contact with customers- was used to investigate whether servant leadership enhances customer service performance through shaping a service climate within the service unit. Results revealed that service climate mediates the positive influence of servant leadership on customer service performance. Managers can use these findings to note the value of leading the service unit in a servant friendly direction, which is better aligned with the new aspirations of customers today.


Exploiting Chirality in Confined Nanospaces.
Spatial organization using confinement has been of great interest since the early ages of supramolecular chemistry. Application such as sensing, catalysis and delivery are continuously emerging. This minireview highlights the evolution of chiral supramolecular cages (CSC) applications in the fields of catalysis, sensing and chiroptical properties. More in detail, beside the description of the strategies adopted for the preparation of chiral supramolecular cages, either of purely organic supramolecular architectures or prepared using metal-ligand coordination bonds, recent findings on their applications, with particular attention to stereodynamic systems, are presented to highlight the recent scientific interests and the future opportunities.


Pencil Graphite Electrodes: A Versatile Tool in Electroanalysis.
Due to their electrochemical and economical characteristics, pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) gained in recent years a large applicability to the analysis of various types of inorganic and organic compounds from very different matrices. The electrode material of this type of working electrodes is constituted by the well-known and easy commercially available graphite pencil leads. Thus, PGEs are cheap and user-friendly and can be employed as disposable electrodes avoiding the time-consuming step of solid electrodes surface cleaning between measurements. When compared to other working electrodes PGEs present lower background currents, higher sensitivity, good reproducibility, and an adjustable electroactive surface area, permitting the analysis of low concentrations and small sample volumes without any deposition/preconcentration step. Therefore, this paper presents a detailed overview of the PGEs characteristics, designs and applications of bare, and electrochemically pretreated and chemically modified PGEs along with the corresponding performance characteristics like linear range and detection limit. Techniques used for bare or modified PGEs surface characterization are also reviewed.


Optimisation of aqueous two-phase extraction of anthocyanins from purple sweet potatoes by response surface methodology.
Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) method was investigated for extraction of anthocyanins from purple sweet potatoes using response surface methodology (RSM). Results showed that the optimal conditions for anthocyanin extraction were that, 45:1 (mL/g) liquid-solid ratio, 25% (W/W) ethanol, 22% (W/W) concentration of ammonium sulphate and pH3.3; the anthocyanin yield and partition coefficient under the optimal conditions were 90.02% and 19.62, respectively. The result of HPLC-ESI-MS analysis revealed eight kinds of compounds, and the major anthocyanins as cyanidi-caffeoy-fumaroy-sophoroside-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-caffeoyl-hydroxybenzoyl-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-caffeoyl-sophoroside-3-O-glucoside, and peonidin-caffeoyl-fumaroyl-sophorosid-3-O-glucoside. Meanwhile, we found a compound as a dimer of galloyl procyanin. These results suggest that ATPE is efficient in extracting anthocyanins and has the potential to be used in natural anthocyanin extraction industry.


Relationship between epidemiologic and endocrinologic aspects of cervical cancer.
In search of etiologic relevancy of the steroid deviations in urine, we compared the reproductive activities of patients having cervical cancer with those of normal controls. A premenopausal patient experienced the birth of her first child significantly earlier than did the urban control of corresponding age, despite their similarity of age at menarche. However, when the same patient was compared with the premenopausal rural control, this differences was not found. The same parameter also failed to differentiate a postmenopausal patient from the corresponding control of urban origin. The premenopausal patient who was indistinguishable from the rural control by age at first delivery was distinguished from the rural control by reduced excretions of adrenal steroids including 11-deoxy-17 ketosteroids and some corticosteroid metabolites. The spectrum and the degree of deviation of urinary steroids for a patient coincided with the spectrum and the degree of age dependency of the urinary steroids for a normal woman during and after adolescence. These findings indicated that the inability of the reproductive parameter to discriminate a patient was associated with growth retardation in a population, and a maturation deficiency of the adrenal gland (arrest of adrenarche) was implicated in the genesis of cervical cancer.


Cross-Cultural Translation, Adaptation and Reliability of the Danish M. D. Andeson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.
The objectives were to translate and culturally adapt the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) into Danish and subsequently test the reliability of the Danish version. The MDADI was translated into Danish and cross culturally adapted through cognitive interviews. The final version was test-retest evaluated in a group of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who responded to the questionnaire twice with a mean of eight days apart. Interclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, floor and ceiling effects, standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were investigated. Fourteen patients were interviewed on the comprehensibility of the Danish MDADI, and all found the questionnaire meaningful, easy to understand, non-offensive and to include relevant aspects of dysphagia related to HNC. Sixty-four patients were included in the test-retest study. Especially, one item in the emotional scale (E7) appeared to be often misinterpreted, and ceiling effects were found in all four subdomains (global, emotional, functional and physical). The four subdomains and the composite score showed acceptable test-retest reliability and internal consistency in a Danish population of HNC patients. The Danish MDADI is reliable in terms of internal consistency and test-retest reproducibility and can be used in assessing the health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients with dysphagia.


Food Additive (Sodium benzoate)-induced Damage on Renal Function and Glomerular Cells in Rats; Modulating Effect of Aqueous Extract of Atriplex halimus L.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the preventive and curative effect of Atriplex halimus L. (Ah) extract against the kidney damages induced by Sodium benzoate (SB) in rats. Thirty male albino rats were divided into five groups of 6 rats each: Control, Ah, SB, AhP+SB and SB+AhC. SB (100 mg/kg b.w) was added to drinking water for 15 weeks. Aqueous extract of aerial parts of Atriplex halimus received intragastrically during the last 30 days of SB exposure for curative treatment (AhC) and all the duration of SB exposure for preventive treatment (AhP). Some Biochemical markers, oxidative stress parameters and histopathology of kidney tissue were studied. Administration of Sodium benzoate to rats caused a loss of weight and a significant elevation in creatinine, urea, renal malondialdehyde levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity. These changes were accompanied by decreasing in antioxidant defenses, like reduced glutathione level, catalase and glutathione S transferase activities in the kidney. Histopathological studies showed a massive degeneration in kidney tissue in SB-exposed rats. However, treatment with Atriplex halimus (A. halimus) restored the altered of biochemical and oxidative stress markers. A. halimus also regenerated the architectural kidneys lesions to near control. With more protection offered in the curative than preventive models of treatment. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that Sodium benzoate damages kidney structure and function and is a nephrotoxic substance. Atriplex halimus was able to improve the renal damage as an antioxidant and a nephroprotective agent.


[Comparative bacteriostatic activity of ticarcillin, alone and combined with clavulanic acid, 5 cephalosporins and metronidazole against 100 strains of Bacteroides fragilis].
In vitro activity against 100 strains of Bacteroides fragilis of ticarcillin alone and combined with 4 or 8 mg of clavulanic acid was compared with those of cefoxitin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, lamoxactam , ceftriaxone and metronidazole. The Cl 90 was 29.7 mg/l for ticarcillin alone, and 1.3 and 0.5 mg/l for ticarcillin combined with 4 and 8 mg of clavulanic acid respectively. Every strain was susceptible to ticarcillin combined with clavulanic acid (CMI less than or equal to 16 mg/l) and metronidazole (CMI less than or equal to 4 mg/l). Among the cephalosporins tested, lamoxactam (Cl 90 : 1 mg/l) was the most active, followed by cefotaxime (22.7 mg/l), cefoxitin (23 mg/l), ceftriaxone (51.2 mg/l) and ceftazidime (347 mg/l).


Nucleoli in human pseudostratified columnar epithelium cells. (Microscopic classification of nucleoli).
The human pseudostratified epithelium was investigated to provide more information on the incidence of main nucleolar types in its epithelial cells. The compact nucleoli or nucleoli with nucleolonemas investigated by light microscopy were usually present in epithelial cells with highly basophilic cytoplasm. The absence of these nucleoli and the presence of ring-shaped nucleoli and/or micronucleoli (reflecting the decrease or inhibition of the RNA synthesis) were observed in epithelial cells which were characterized by the diminished or disappeared basophilic properties of the cytoplasm. These observations indicating the gradual inhibition of the nucleolar (ribosomal) RNA suggest that similar maturation processes may occur in investigated human pseudostratified columnar epithelium which are known for cell lines of the mesenchymal origin.


Designing a Community-Based Population Health Model.
The pace of change from volume-based to value-based payment in health care varies dramatically among markets. Regardless of the ultimate disposition of the Affordable Care Act, employers and public-private payers will continue to increase pressure on health care providers to assume financial risk for populations in the form of shared savings, bundled payments, downside risk, or even capitation. This article outlines a suggested road map and practical considerations for health systems that are building or planning to build population health capabilities to meet the needs of their local markets. The authors review the traditional core capabilities needed to address the medical determinants of health for a population. They also share an innovative approach to community service integration to address the social determinants of health and the engagement of families to improve their own health and well-being. The foundational approach is to connect insurance products, the health care delivery system, and community service agencies around the family's well-being goals using human-centered design strategy.


Refined secondary-structure models of the core of yeast and human telomerase RNAs directed by SHAPE.
Telomerase catalyzes the addition of nucleotides to the ends of chromosomes to complete genomic DNA replication in eukaryotes and is implicated in multiple diseases, including most cancers. The core enzyme is composed of a reverse transcriptase and an RNA subunit, which provides the template for DNA synthesis. Despite extensive divergence at the sequence level, telomerase RNAs share several structural features within the catalytic core, suggesting a conserved enzyme mechanism. We have investigated the structure of the core of the human and yeast telomerase RNAs using SHAPE, which interrogates flexibility of each nucleotide. We present improved secondary-structure models, refined by addition of five base triples within the yeast pseudoknot and an alternate pairing within the human-specific element J2a.1 in the human pseudoknot, both of which have implications for thermodynamic stability. We also identified a potentially structured CCC region within the template that may facilitate substrate binding and enzyme mechanism. Overall, the SHAPE findings reveal multiple similarities between the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens telomerase RNA cores.


Systems Analysis by a Cross-sector Workgroup to Address Housing Insecurity in Cancer Survivorship.
Cancer survivors face many financial burdens that generate additional stress such as housing insecurity or homelessness. Because this leads to worse health outcomes, it is essential for health care and housing organizations to begin mobilizing resources to support this vulnerable population. Create a "Housing in Cancer" workgroup to conduct systems-led analysis of housing insecurity in cancer survivorship in the Greater New Orleans area. A cross-sector workgroup employed a systems analysis toolkit to explore the system. The group engaged in systems analysis exercises and generated observations on the current system. The problem was discerned into three components. Through reflection, the group created a new focus to support housing policies in cancer survivors and one group member was awarded a grant to provide financial assistance to cancer survivors. The workgroup's insights identified systemic policies and additional funding for sponsoring organizations who expressed authority over this issue.


Narrative in a nutshell: sharing hopes, fears, and dreams with self-advocates.
The grand narrative of modernism is a dominating story with profound sociopolitical implications in the lives of people with the label of intellectual disabilities. In this article, we throw light on the life stories and interpretive theories of self-advocates, which usually remain hidden between the story-lines of life. Professionals in the field are being pressed to address self-advocates' existential challenges and move us, as theoretical allies, towards deeper conversations about disability theory. Here, we search for a useful theoretical framework to support the circulation of their wisdom and knowledge. We experiment with poststructuralist and feminist pointers and, in particular, some of the notions of Deleuze and Guattari's (1987) rhizome.


Simian immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase. Purification and partial characterization.
Native reverse transcriptase from simian immunodeficiency virus was purified from virus with good recovery to near homogeneity. The optimum reaction conditions of the enzyme were determined with respect to divalent cations, pH and ionic strength. The enzyme was shown to possess both RNA-dependent and DNA-dependent DNA synthesis activity. In addition, we could demonstrate an associated RNase H activity. Employing novel assay conditions, activated DNA as a heteropolymeric substrate was used more efficiently than the homopolymeric substrate poly(rA).oligo(dT) which in turn was used twofold more effectively as the template primer than poly(dC).oligo(dG). Other homopolymeric substrates, including poly(rC).oligo(dG), were also tested but were found to be poorly used by the reverse transcriptase. The Miachaelis-Menten constants were determined for each of the four nucleotides needed to elongate a natural template primer. Simultaneously, using dideoxyadenosine triphosphate as nucleotide analogue, we could show that this compound acts as a competitive inhibitor with respect to dATP, whereas it acts as a non-competitive inhibitor with respect to the other nucleotides. Gel electrophoretic analysis showed the enzyme to consist of two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 64 and 48 kDa. Using activity gel electrophoresis, we were able to demonstrate that both subunits exhibit DNA synthesis activity.


Hybrid model for the personal exposure meter response in an outdoor environment.
When a personal exposure meter (PEM) is worn by a human subject, the electric-field strength measured at the PEM is affected by a body shadowing effect. In our study, a hybrid model is proposed for modeling the body shadowing effect for when the PEM is used in an outdoor environment. The hybrid model contains responses to direct and diffused waves, the factors related to the transmission path and cross-polarization discrimination, respectively. To derive the hybrid model, responses for the direct and diffused waves are measured using a human phantom in an anechoic chamber and a reverberation chamber, respectively. Responses are measured at multiple locations in an outdoor environment and compared to the responses of the hybrid model. The hybrid model response has quartiles that deviate by an average of only 2.2 dB (1.29) from the same quartiles of the outdoor responses. Such quartile deviations are significantly smaller than those of the previous model with a body shadowing effect. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:626-647, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis for measurement of acesulfame-K in diet foods.
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was investigated as a method for analysis of acesulfame-K content after a simple extraction procedure for certain commercial diet food samples. Partial least squares (PLS) models were developed for prediction of acesulfame-K using select spectral ranges on the basis of relevant IR absorption bands associated with acesulfame-K. The acesulfame-K content of test food samples was predicted accurately in the fingerprint region between 1100 and 1300 cm(-1) with a maximum prediction error of 9.82% when compared with conventional HPLC method. The PLS was found to be a consistently better predictor when both PLS and principal component regression (PCR) analyses were used for quantification of acesulfame-K. The developed procedure was further validated by comparing with HPLC results as well as recovery studies. As a quick tool, the method developed is expected to be used for routine estimation of acesulfame-K in commercial products.


Automatic Assessment of Intelligibility in Noise in Parkinson Disease: Validation Study.
Most individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) experience a degradation in their speech intelligibility. Research on the use of automatic speech recognition (ASR) to assess intelligibility is still sparse, especially when trying to replicate communication challenges in real-life conditions (ie, noisy backgrounds). Developing technologies to automatically measure intelligibility in noise can ultimately assist patients in self-managing their voice changes due to the disease. The goal of this study was to pilot-test and validate the use of a customized web-based app to assess speech intelligibility in noise in individuals with dysarthria associated with PD. In total, 20 individuals with dysarthria associated with PD and 20 healthy controls (HCs) recorded a set of sentences using their phones. The Google Cloud ASR API was used to automatically transcribe the speakers' sentences. An algorithm was created to embed speakers' sentences in +6-dB signal-to-noise multitalker babble. Results from ASR performance were compared to those from 30 listeners who orthographically transcribed the same set of sentences. Data were reduced into a single event, defined as a success if the artificial intelligence (AI) system transcribed a random speaker or sentence as well or better than the average of 3 randomly chosen human listeners. These data were further analyzed by logistic regression to assess whether AI success differed by speaker group (HCs or speakers with dysarthria) or was affected by sentence length. A discriminant analysis was conducted on the human listener data and AI transcriber data independently to compare the ability of each data set to discriminate between HCs and speakers with dysarthria. The data analysis indicated a 0.8 probability (95% CI 0.65-0.91) that AI performance would be as good or better than the average human listener. AI transcriber success probability was not found to be dependent on speaker group. AI transcriber success was found to decrease with sentence length, losing an estimated 0.03 probability of transcribing as well as the average human listener for each word increase in sentence length. The AI transcriber data were found to offer the same discrimination of speakers into categories (HCs and speakers with dysarthria) as the human listener data. ASR has the potential to assess intelligibility in noise in speakers with dysarthria associated with PD. Our results hold promise for the use of AI with this clinical population, although a full range of speech severity needs to be evaluated in future work, as well as the effect of different speaking tasks on ASR.


Serological Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pregnant Women Related to ABO Blood Group.
Helicobacter pylori was known as a pathogen related to peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma. Some researches confirmed that the infected pregnant women with H. pylori have poor pregnancy outcomes so that its effects extended to other systems other than gastrointestinal tracts. This study aimed to evaluate H. pylori infection in pregnant women who had morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) related to the ABO blood group. In total, 202 pregnant women within the age range of 15-45 years with severe nausea and vomiting attended the outpatient and specialized clinic. The seroprevalence of H. pylori was 62% in pregnant women, especially at the age group of 20-24 years with 32.5% of the cases who had epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, and burning of the stomach, the majority of which related to O+ (33.3%), followed by A+ and B+ (25.39%) blood groups. Most infected pregnant women with H. pylori were during the first (41.26%) and second trimesters (34.12%), especially in multigravida (68.25%) cases. This study found that hyperemesis (severe nausea and vomiting), dyspepsia, and other gastrointestinal symptoms during pregnancy were related to the infection with H. pylori; therefore, it is a risk factor for complications in pregnancy and its poor outcomes, especially in developing countries, such as Iraq. These results can be minimized by improving the socioeconomic and sanitation conditions. H. pylori infection in pregnancy is considered a health problem and should be treated before and during pregnancy. Further investigations are required in this regard and researchers are recommended to conduct studies on the RBC antigens to recognize the pathophysiology related to H. pylori infection.


Levels and causes of maternal mortality in Senegal.
To report the findings of a direct, community-based, assessment of maternal mortality and medical causes of death using verbal autopsy in three unique cohorts in rural Senegal. Methods from ongoing demographic surveillance systems. We obtained records of all deaths and births in women of age 15-49 over a period of 14 years in Niakhar, 10 years in Bandafassi and 13 years in Mlomp. Relatives of all women who died were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Causes of death were assigned by three physicians independently. Maternal deaths were defined according to the ninth and tenth revisions of the International Classification of Diseases. The maternal mortality ratio was similar in Mlomp [436 per 100 000 live births (95% confidence interval 209-802)] and Niakhar [516 per 100 000 (413-636)] but significantly higher in the more remote area of Bandafassi [852 (587-1196)] [relative risk compared with Niakhar 1.6 (1.0-2.4)]. Two-thirds of the maternal deaths were from direct obstetric causes, haemorrhage being the most common. Abortion was rare. Demographic surveillance systems are useful tools for the measurement of maternal mortality provided special studies are carried out to arrive at the levels and causes of maternal death. The estimates of maternal mortality reported here are lower than those published by the WHO and UNICEF but remain extremely high, particularly in the very remote areas with very limited health infrastructure, where as many as one in 19 women may be expected to die as a consequence of childbirth.


Effect of allergen inhalation on airway oxidant stress, using exhaled breath condensate 8-isoprostane, in mild asthma.
Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) 8-isoprostane concentrations are increased in asthma, but it is not known if they acutely change following bronchoprovocation. The objective of this study was to evaluate EBC 8-isoprostane concentrations following allergen-induced bronchoprovocation in asthma. This comparison study included eight mild atopic asthmatics and six controls. Asthmatics were challenged with inhaled specific allergen, methacholine, and irrelevant allergen in random order. Controls were challenged with irrelevant allergen. EBCs collected at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 23 hours by the R-tube method were measured for 8-isoprostanes by ELISA technique. Repeated measures ANOVA technique was used for analysis. EBC 8-isoprostane concentrations did not change following any inhalational challenge, as compared to baseline, in either asthmatics or controls. EBC 8-isoprostane concentrations do not acutely change following bronchoprovocation in subjects with mild asthma.


Persistent proatlas with additional segmentation of the craniovertebral junction - The Tsuang-Goehmann-Malformation.
Case study description and analysis of a complex craniovertebral dysplasia in an 8-year-old male patient, in which conventional cervical spine radiographs demonstrated a regularly differentiated occipital base, as well as the presence of two lateral masses of the proatlas vertebra and two lateral masses of the atlas vertebra. Further assessment included computed tomography of the occipital base and the upper cervical spine as well as three-dimensional reconstruction. Malsegmentation of the fourth occipital vertebra can result in various anomalies that are known as 'manifestation of the proatlas'. The occurrence of a persistent proatlas with additional segmentation of the craniovertebral junction represents an extremely rare dysplasia. To our knowledge, it is the second report concerning the persistence of a complete human proatlas vertebra. We consider the biomechanical and embryological particularities of this complex dysplasia to represent sufficient basis for future differentiation from other malformations of the fourth occipital vertebra. Comprehensive literature review and discussion about the entity will be provided.