Infectious risk assessment of unsafe handling practices and management of clinical solid waste.
The present study was undertaken to determine the bacterial agents present in various clinical solid wastes, general waste and clinical sharp waste. The waste was collected from different wards/units in a healthcare facility in Penang Island, Malaysia. The presence of bacterial agents in clinical and general waste was determined using the conventional bacteria identification methods. Several pathogenic bacteria including opportunistic bacterial agent such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes were detected in clinical solid wastes. The presence of specific pathogenic bacterial strains in clinical sharp waste was determined using 16s rDNA analysis. In this study, several nosocomial pathogenic bacteria strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in clinical sharp waste. The present study suggests that waste generated from healthcare facilities should be sterilized at the point of generation in order to eliminate nosocomial infections from the general waste or either of the clinical wastes.


Effect of gestational age misclassification on the pattern of low birthweight in Aborigines.
Are most births of Aboriginal babies with low birthweight preterm or full term? There is no consensus because of the difficulty in obtaining valid measurements of gestational age. In Queensland, between 1988 and 1992, there were 519 births of Aboriginal babies with low birthweight in excess of the number expected if aborigines had the same risk of low birthweight as whites. Most of these were preterm (males 76 per cent, females 65 per cent). Sensitivity analyses were used to investigate whether this result was robust to gestational age misclassification. Implausibly large misclassification proportions were required to make preterm low birthweight an insignificant contributor to the low birthweight excess in Aborigines. Therefore, efforts to reduce the number of preterm births should be given high priority. Unfortunately, significant reductions in the number of preterm births will not be achieved by reducing the prevalence of traditional risk factors for full-term low birthweight (for example, maternal smoking, teenage pregnancy). More work is needed to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for preterm birth.


Carbohydrate synthesis by disaccharide phosphorylases: reactions, catalytic mechanisms and application in the glycosciences.
Disaccharide phosphorylases are glycosyltransferases (EC 2.4.1.α) of specialized carbohydrate metabolism in microorganisms. They catalyze glycosyl transfer to phosphate using a disaccharide as donor substrate. Phosphorylases for the conversion of naturally abundant disaccharides including sucrose, maltose, α,α-trehalose, cellobiose, chitobiose, and laminaribiose have been described. Structurally, these disaccharide phosphorylases are often closely related to glycoside hydrolases and transglycosidases. Mechanistically, they are categorized according the stereochemical course of the reaction catalyzed, whereby the anomeric configuration of the disaccharide donor substrate may be retained or inverted in the sugar 1-phosphate product. Glycosyl transfer with inversion is thought to occur through a single displacement-like catalytic mechanism, exemplified by the reaction coordinate of cellobiose/chitobiose phosphorylase. Reaction via configurational retention takes place through the double displacement-like mechanism employed by sucrose phosphorylase. Retaining α,α-trehalose phosphorylase (from fungi) utilizes a different catalytic strategy, perhaps best described by a direct displacement mechanism, to achieve stereochemical control in an overall retentive transformation. Disaccharide phosphorylases have recently attracted renewed interest as catalysts for synthesis of glycosides to be applied as food additives and cosmetic ingredients. Relevant examples are lacto-N-biose and glucosylglycerol whose enzymatic production was achieved on multikilogram scale. Protein engineering of phosphorylases is currently pursued in different laboratories with the aim of broadening the donor and acceptor substrate specificities of naturally existing enzyme forms, to eventually generate a toolbox of new catalysts for glycoside synthesis.


The complex role of adipokines in obesity, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
The global obesity epidemic is a major contributor to chronic disease and disability in the world today. Since the discovery of leptin in 1994, a multitude of studies have characterized the pathological changes that occur within adipose tissue in the obese state. One significant change is the dysregulation of adipokine production. Adipokines are an indispensable link between metabolism and optimal immune system function; however, their dysregulation in obesity contributes to chronic low-grade inflammation and disease pathology. Herein, I will highlight current knowledge on adipokine structure and physiological function, and focus on the known roles of these factors in the modulation of the immune response. I will also discuss adipokines in rheumatic and autoimmune diseases.


Should intrastate funding formulae for the Older Americans Act include a rural factor?
Most states maintain an Intrastate Funding Formula (IFF) to allocate Older Americans Act funds to planning and service areas within their state. The intention of these formulae is to target resources to those elders in the greatest economic and social need. To achieve this objective, the vast majority of states include measures of age, income, and race in their IFFs. In contrast, the inclusion of a geographic or rural factor is much more controversial. This research was initiated to determine if there was empirical support for the argument that residence influences the need for services after controlling for those factors commonly used by most states in their IFFs. Using data from the Supplement on Aging to the 1984 National Health Interview Survey, the results demonstrate that residing in a nonmetropolitan area increases the likelihood of poor health and the need for services after controlling for age, income, and race. Results also indicate that collectively the four predictor variables account for a very small proportion of the variance in need.


Rational Design of Dipicolylamine-Containing Carbazole Amphiphiles Combined with Zn2+ as Potent Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents with a Membrane-Disruptive Mechanism.
Antibiotic resistance has become one of the most urgently important problems facing healthcare providers. A novel series of dipicolylamine-containing carbazole amphiphiles with strong Zn2+ chelating ability were synthesized, biomimicking cationic antimicrobial peptides. Effective broad-spectrum 16 combined with 12.5 μg/mL Zn2+ was identified as the most promising antimicrobial candidate. 16 combined with 12.5 μg/mL Zn2+ exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MICs = 0.78-3.125 μg/mL), weak hemolytic activity, and low cytotoxicity. Time-kill kinetics and mechanism studies revealed 16 combined with 12.5 μg/mL Zn2+ had rapid bacterial killing properties, as evidenced by disruption of the integrity of bacterial cell membranes, effectively preventing bacterial resistance development. Importantly, 16 combined with 12.5 μg/mL Zn2+ showed excellent in vivo efficacy in a murine keratitis model caused by Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213 or Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027. Therefore, 16 combined with 12.5 μg/mL Zn2+ could be a promising candidate for treating bacterial infections.


Reevaluation of (241)Am content in the USTUR case 0102 leg phantom.
The (241)Am contents in the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries' (USTUR) case 0102 leg phantom were previously estimated to be 1,243 ± 11 Bq. Recent analysis of the computed tomography images of the phantom revealed multiple bone structures missing from various regions of the phantom skeleton including: posterior ilium, anterior ilium, ischium, femur proximal end, femur middle shaft, femur distal end, patella, tibia distal shaft, fibula distal shaft, and fibula distal end. Additionally, the fifth metatarsal and all of the fifth-digit phalanges were found to be completely missing from the foot. A three-dimensional (3D) model of the leg phantom was created using 3D-Doctor software. Volumes of missing bone structures were outlined separately based on the anatomical assessment of those structures. Weights of the missing bone samples were calculated. Consequently, the value of total( 241)Am activity in the USTUR leg phantom is 1,218 ± 11 Bq. This activity is about 2.0% less than the previously published value of 1,243 ± 11 Bq. External gamma detector response was simulated considering both activity values (1,243 and 1,218 Bq) across the five different locations along the USTUR leg phantom: foot, middle leg, knee, middle thigh, and hip. Each counting position was chosen such that it was above the missing bone structure locations. The highest difference observed between the two counting efficiencies (each corresponding to the two different quantities of estimated activity) was 8.2% and 9.4% for locations above the foot and middle thigh, respectively. Other counting locations (middle leg, knee, and hip) showed efficiency variations of about 1%.


Dimensional Stability and Reproducibility of Varying FFF Models for Aligners in Comparison to Plaster Models.
To test the impact of FFF filaments, printing parameters, thermoforming foils, repeated thermoforming cycles, and type of jaw on the dimensional stability of FFF models for aligners and to compare them with plaster models, FFF models (maxilla, n = 48; mandible, n = 48) from two filaments (SIMPLEX aligner and Renfert PLA HT, both Renfert GmbH) were fabricated using four printing parameters (one, two, or three loops; four loops acted as the default) and conventional plaster models (n = 12) based on a young, female dentition. All models were thermoformed under pressure three times in total using two different thermoforming foils, namely 0.75 mm × 125 mm Ø aligner foil (CA Pro+ Clear Aligner, Scheu Dental) and 1.0 mm × 125 mm Ø Duran foil (Duran+, Scheu Dental). Aligner foil was heated at 220 °C for 25 s and Duran foil at 220 °C for 30 s. All models were scanned after fabrication as well as after each thermoforming cycle. The obtained STL datasets were analyzed using the local best-fit method (GOM Inspect Pro, Carl Zeiss Metrology GmbH). Data were analyzed using a Kolmogorov-Smirnov-test, a one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Scheffé, and a t-test (p < 0.05). The dimensional stability of the models was most strongly affected by the printing parameters (number of loops; ηp2 = 0.768, p < 0.001) followed by the thermoforming foil used (ηp2 = 0.663, p < 0.001) as well as the type of model (ηp2 = 0.588, p < 0.001). In addition, various interactions showed an influence on the dimensional stability (ηp2 = 0.041-0.386, p < 0.035). SIMPLEX maxillary models (default; four loops), thermoformed using aligner foil, showed higher deformation stability than did plaster models. These initial FFF models provide comparable precision to plaster models, but the dimensional stability of the FFF models, in contrast to that of plaster models, decreases with increasing numbers of thermoforming cycles.


Determination of three antidepressants in urine using simultaneous derivatization and temperature-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection.
This paper presents a fast and simple method for the extraction, preconcentration and determination of fluvoxamine, nortriptyline and maprotiline in urine using simultaneous derivatization and temperature-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (TA-DLLME) followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). An appropriate mixture of dimethylformamide (disperser solvent), 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (extraction solvent) and acetic anhydride (derivatization agent) was rapidly injected into the heated sample. Then the solution was cooled to room temperature and cloudy solution formed was centrifuged. Finally a portion of the sedimented phase was injected into the GC-FID. The effect of several factors affecting the performance of the method, including the selection of suitable extraction and disperser solvents and their volumes, volume of derivatization agent, temperature, salt addition, pH and centrifugation time and speed were investigated and optimized. Figures of merit of the proposed method, such as linearity (r(2) > 0.993), enrichment factors (820-1070), limits of detection (2-4 ng mL(-1)) and quantification (8-12 ng mL(-1)), and relative standard deviations (3-6%) for both intraday and interday precisions (concentration = 50 ng mL(-1)) were satisfactory for determination of the selected antidepressants. Finally the method was successfully applied to determine the target pharmaceuticals in urine.


Molecular diagnosis of hypophosphatasia and differential diagnosis by targeted Next Generation Sequencing.
Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited skeletal dysplasia due to loss of function mutations in the ALPL gene. The disease is subject to an extremely high clinical heterogeneity ranging from a perinatal lethal form to odontohypophosphatasia affecting only teeth. Up to now genetic diagnosis of HPP is performed by sequencing the ALPL gene by Sanger methodology. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and campomelic dysplasia (CD) are the main differential diagnoses of severe HPP, so that in case of negative result for ALPL mutations, OI and CD genes had often to be analyzed, lengthening the time before diagnosis. We report here our 18-month experience in testing 46 patients for HPP and differential diagnosis by targeted NGS and show that this strategy is efficient and useful. We used an array including ALPL gene, genes of differential diagnosis COL1A1 and COL1A2 that represent 90% of OI cases, SOX9, responsible for CD, and 8 potentially modifier genes of HPP. Seventeen patients were found to carry a mutation in one of these genes. Among them, only 10 out of 15 cases referred for HPP carried a mutation in ALPL and 5 carried a mutation in COL1A1 or COL1A2. Interestingly, three of these patients were adults with fractures and/or low BMD. Our results indicate that HPP and OI may be easily misdiagnosed in the prenatal stage but also in adults with mild symptoms for these diseases.


Enlarged substantia nigra hyperechogenicity and risk for Parkinson disease: a 37-month 3-center study of 1847 older persons.
To evaluate whether enlarged substantia nigra hyperechogenicity (SN+) is associated with an increased risk for Parkinson disease (PD) in a healthy elderly population. Longitudinal 3-center observational study with 37 months of prospective follow-up. Individuals 50 years or older without evidence of PD or any other neurodegenerative disease. Of 1847 participants who underwent a full medical history, neurological assessment, and transcranial sonography at baseline, 1535 could undergo reassessment. Incidence of new-onset PD in relation to baseline transcranial sonography status. There were 11 cases of incident PD during the follow-up period. In participants with SN+ at baseline, the relative risk for incident PD was 17.37 (95% confidence interval, 3.71-81.34) times higher compared with normoechogenic participants. In this prospective study, we demonstrate for the first time a highly increased risk for PD in elderly individuals with SN+. Transcranial sonography of the midbrain may therefore be a promising primary screening procedure to define a risk population for imminent PD.


Volume-activated chloride current is not related to P-glycoprotein overexpression.
It has been suggested that P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-dependent transporter responsible for classical multidrug resistance, is also a volume-regulated chloride channel. We reexamined this hypothesis by use of whole-cell patch clamp recordings of three matched pairs of cell lines, which were either drug-sensitive or drug-resistant due to P-gp overexpression. We demonstrate here that volume-regulated chloride-selective currents can be induced in cells with or without P-gp expression. Overexpression of either P-gp or cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, the protein product of the CF gene and another member of the ATP-dependent transporters, is associated with a hypotonicity-induced, rapid onset, transient current prior to onset of the volume-sensitive chloride-selective current, an apparent nonspecific effect related to the overexpression of an integral membrane protein. These results suggest that there is no relationship between P-gp and the chloride channel activated by cell swelling.


[Treatment of Paget's disease with olpadronate. Its efficacy in partial responders to oral pamidronate].
Bisphosphonates are the treatment of choice in patients with Paget's disease. However in patients with an extensive disease it has been difficult to achieve complete biochemical remission. We studied the efficacy of the new bisphosphonate: olpadronate (dimethyl APD) in 37 patients (21 men and 16 women) with Paget's disease of (mean +/- 1SD) 68 +/- 8 years of age: Group I: 12 patients without previous specific treatment. Group II: 25 patients who had been treated before (time free of treatment before olpadronate: 11 +/- 8 months). (Table 1). Olpadronate was given orally in doses of 100 to 200 mg/day. Initial dose and/or increment of the dose during treatment were decided accordingly to the biochemical response. The length of therapy was (mean +/- 1SD) 3.5 +/- 2.4 months (range 0.5-13 months) and was adjusted to the changes produced upon the biochemical indexes of bone turnover. Olpadronate was well tolerated by all the patients except for one who discontinued the treatment due to gastrointestinal symptoms. Mean alkaline phosphatase (APh) decreased in both groups of patients as follows: Group I: basal: 36 +/- 20 KAU, final: 12 +/- 3 KAU (normal range: 5 to 15 KA units) and group II: basal 45 +/- 30 KAU final 14 +/- 10 KAU. (Table 2). Normalization of APh was observed in all patients of group I and in 21/25 patients of group II. Three patients of group II had partial responses (60% of diminution of APh without reaching normal values) and treatment was not effective in 1 patient. The length of remission was 8.7 +/- 5.7 months in group I and 10.4 +/- 8.1 months in group II. There was a significant inverse correlation between duration of remission and APh level post treatment. Fourteen patients of group II (7 women and 7 men) had previously received oral pamidronate (APD) in different cycles during a period of 6.6 +/- 4.2 years. After the first APD cycle, only 2 out of 14 achieved normal APh values and none of the 14 achieved complete biochemical remission after the last APD cycle. Olpadronate caused a significant decrease of serum APh and THP compared to the lowest values observed during APD treatment. Normalization of APh was observed in 12/14 of these partial responders to APD. (Table 3 and Figure 1). In conclusion, oral Olpadronate in a dose of 100 to 200 mg was well tolerated and effective in the treatment of Paget's disease even in those previous partial responders to APD.


Speech masking release in listeners with flat hearing loss: effects of masker fluctuation rate on identification scores and phonetic feature reception.
Consonant identification was measured for a stationary and amplitude-modulated noise masker in four listeners with flat cochlear hearing loss, and four age-matched normal-hearing listeners. The masker modulation rate was systematically varied between 2 and 128 Hz. Masking release (MR), that is better identification performance in fluctuating, than in stationary noise, was highest in a masker fluctuating at 8-16 Hz in all normal-hearing listeners. In comparison, MR was only observed in two out of the four impaired listeners. In these listeners, MR was poorer than normal, and peaked at lower rates, that is 2 or 8 Hz. MR corresponded to increased reception of information for voicing, place, and manner between 2 and 64 Hz in all normal-hearing listeners. In impaired listeners, increased reception of information was mainly observed for manner, and mainly reduced for place, but these differences were not significant. For all phonetic features, MR was observed at lower masker fluctuation rates (< or =32 Hz) than in normal-hearing listeners. This study therefore shows that cochlear damage affects MR, both quantitatively and qualitatively.


Sex differences in US mortality rates for stroke and stroke subtypes by race/ethnicity and age, 1995-1998.
Ischemic stroke accounts for 70% to 80% of all strokes, but intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhagic strokes have greater fatality. Age-standardized death rates from overall stroke are higher among men than women, but little is known about sex differences in stroke subtype mortality by race/ethnicity. We analyzed 1995 to 1998 national death certificate data to compare sex-specific age-standardized death rates (per 100 000) for ischemic stroke (n=507 256), intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (n=98 709), and subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke (n=27 334) among whites, blacks, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. We calculated rate ratios and 95% CIs comparing women with men within age and racial/ethnic groups. Age-specific rates of ischemic and intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke deaths were lower for women than for men aged 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 years but were higher for ischemic stroke among older women, aged > or =65 years. Only among whites did women have higher age-standardized rates of ischemic stroke. Age-standardized death rates for intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke among women were lower than or similar to those among men in all racial/ethnic groups. Women had higher risk of death from subarachnoid hemorrhagic; this sex differential increased with age. The female-to-male mortality ratio differs for stroke subtypes by race/ethnicity and age. A primary public health effort should focus on increasing the awareness of stroke symptoms, particularly among people at high risk, to decrease delay in early detection and effective stroke treatment.


Interleukin-1 beta modulates the acute release of growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin from rat hypothalamus in vitro, whereas tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 have no effect.
There is clear evidence for communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. However, the effect of cytokines as major immune mediators on the hypothalamic growth peptides, GHRH and somatostatin (SRIH), is not well established. To investigate a possible hypothalamic action of the cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, on the release of GHRH and SRIH, we used a previously validated acute rat hypothalamic explant system. IL-1 caused a pronounced dose-dependent stimulation of SRIH in the dose-range 1-100 U/ml (P less than 0.01). GHRH showed a slight, but significant, increase in response to IL-1 tested in the dose-range 10-100 U/ml. Similar studies with mediobasal hypothalamic (GHRH and SRIH) or median eminence (SRIH) fragments produced no change in either GHRH or SRIH release. The effects of IL-1 were antagonized by the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 micrograms/ml). Stimulation of GHRH and SRIH could not be blocked by the CRH-antagonist alpha-helical CRH (9-41) at 10(-6) M. Interleukin-6, in the dose range 10-100 U/ml, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in the dose range 10-10,000 U/ml, had no effect on the acute hypothalamic release of either GHRH or SRIH. It is concluded that IL-1 stimulates the acute hypothalamic release of GHRH and SRIH, and that this effect is mediated by cyclo-oxygenase products. The marked IL-1 stimulation of hypothalamic SRIH release may override the minor increase of GHRH increase, and may thus contribute to disturbances in growth seen in the presence of chronic inflammation.


Influence of Traps and Lorentz Force on Charge Transport in Organic Semiconductors.
Charge transport characteristics in organic semiconductor devices become altered in the presence of traps due to defects or impurities in the semiconductors. These traps can lead to a decrease in charge carrier mobility and an increase in recombination rates, thereby ultimately affecting the overall performance of the device. It is therefore important to understand and mitigate the impact of traps on organic semiconductor devices. In this contribution, the influence of the capture and release times of trap states, recombination rates, and the Lorentz force on the net charge of a low-mobility organic semiconductor was determined using the finite element method (FEM) and Hall effect method through numerical simulations. The findings suggest that increasing magnetic fields had a lesser impact on net charge at constant capture and release times of trap states. On the other hand, by increasing the capture time of trap states at a constant magnetic field and fixed release time, the net charge extracted from the semiconductor device increased with increasing capture time. Moreover, the net charge extracted from the semiconductor device was nearly four and eight times greater in the case of the non-Langevin recombination rates of 0.01 and 0.001, respectively, when compared to the Langevin rate. These results imply that the non-Langevin recombination rate can significantly enhance the performance of semiconductor devices, particularly in applications that require efficient charge extraction. These findings pave the way for the development of more efficient and cost-effective electronic devices with improved charge transport properties and higher power conversion efficiencies, thus further opening up new avenues for research and innovation in this area of modern semiconductor technology.


Electron microscopic analysis of the rod pathway of the rat retina.
Two immunocytochemical markers were used to label the rod pathway of the rat retina. Rod bipolar cells were stained with antibodies against protein kinase C and AII-amacrine cells with antibodies against parvalbumin. The synaptic circuitry of rod bipolars in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) was studied. Rod bipolar cells make approximately 15 ribbon synapses (dyads) in the IPL. Both postsynaptic members of the dyads are amacrine cells; one is usually the process of an AII-amacrine cell and the other one frequently provides a reciprocal synapse. No direct output from rod bipolar cells into ganglion cells was found. AII-amacrine cells make chemical output synapses with cone bipolar cells and ganglion cells in sublamina a of the IPL. They make gap junctions with cone bipolar cells and other AII-amacrine cells in sublamina b of the IPL. The rod pathway of the rat retina is practically identical to that of the cat and of the rabbit retina. It is very likely that this circuitry is a general feature of mammalian retinal organization.


Differential item functioning magnitude and impact measures from item response theory models.
Measures of magnitude and impact of differential item functioning (DIF) at the item and scale level, respectively are presented and reviewed in this paper. Most measures are based on item response theory models. Magnitude refers to item level effect sizes, whereas impact refers to differences between groups at the scale score level. Reviewed are magnitude measures based on group differences in the expected item scores and impact measures based on differences in the expected scale scores. The similarities among these indices are demonstrated. Various software packages are described that provide magnitude and impact measures, and new software presented that computes all of the available statistics conveniently in one program with explanations of their relationships to one another.


Aging characteristics of asphalt binders modified with waste tire and plastic pyrolytic chars.
Globally, the growing volume of waste tires and plastics has posed significant concerns about their sustainable and economical disposal. Pyrolysis provides a way for effective treatment and management of these wastes, enabling recovery of energy and produces solid pyrolytic char as a by-product. The use of pyrolytic chars in asphalt binder modification has recently gained significant interest among researchers. As asphalt binder aging influences the cracking, rutting, and moisture damage performance of asphalt binder and the mixtures, evaluation of aging characteristics of char modified asphalt binders is quite important. The main objective of this study is the investigation of the aging characteristics of asphalt binders modified with waste tire pyrolytic char (TPC) and waste plastic pyrolytic char (PPC) through rheological and spectroscopic evaluations. To imitate short-term and long-term aging conditions, the asphalt binders were first treated in a rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and then in a pressure aging vessel (PAV). The aging characteristics were determined using four rheological aging indices based on complex modulus (G*), phase angle (δ), zero shear viscosity (ZSV), and non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) from multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) test. The fatigue cracking potential was then measured through binder yield energy test (BYET). These parameters were measured through a dynamic shear rheometer. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy analyses were then used to investigate changes in chemical composition due to aging in the char modified binders. Both TPC and PPC improved the high-temperature deformation resistance properties of asphalt binder. The TPC-modified binder showed better aging resistance than the control and PPC-modified binders, based on the different rheological and spectroscopic indices. The pyrolytic char modified binders also demonstrated good fatigue performance.


Velcade sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth in vivo.
Inducing apoptosis via the extrinsic death receptor pathway is an attractive anti-cancer treatment strategy, however, numerous cancer cells exhibit significant resistance to death ligand stimuli. Here, we investigated the anti-neoplastic capability of proteasome inhibition, through the administration of Velcade, to synergize with a death receptor agonist in vivo. The death ligand-resistant LNCaP prostate xenograft model was utilized. Tumors were established and mice were treated with Velcade, TRAIL (TNF-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand) or the combined regimen. Only mice treated with a combination of Velcade and TRAIL was tumor growth inhibited with a corresponding loss of the hemorrhagic phenotype, decreased tumor cell proliferation and increased tumor cell apoptosis. Next, to determine if the extrinsic pathway is critical for mediating the anti-tumor efficacy that can be achieved in some cell types with Velcade treatment alone, the death receptor sensitive PC-3 xenograft model was used. PC-3 tumors exhibited a 54% decrease in tumor volume in response to Velcade, while c-FLIP overexpressing PC-3 xenografts were resistant to the treatment. These findings suggest that the extrinsic apoptotic pathway can mediate the anti-tumor effects of Velcade and support the therapeutic use of proteasome inhibition in combination with a death receptor stimulus in the treatment of prostate cancer.


The influence of chain dynamics on the far-infrared spectrum of liquid methanol-water mixtures.
Far-infrared-absorption spectroscopy has been used to study the low-frequency (<or=100 cm-1) intermolecular modes of methanol in mixtures with water. With the aid of a first-principles molecular-dynamics simulation on an equivalent system, a detailed understanding about the origin of the low-frequency IR modes has been established. The total dipole spectrum from the simulation suggests that the bands appearing in the experimental spectra at approximately 55 and 70 cm-1 in methanol and methanol-rich mixtures arise from both fluctuations and torsional motions occurring within the methanol hydrogen-bonded chains. The influence of these modes on both the solvation dynamics and the relaxation mechanisms in the liquid is discussed within the context of recent experimental and theoretical results that have emerged from studies focusing on the short-time dynamics in the methanol hydrogen bond network.


Systematic Evaluation of Protein Reduction and Alkylation Reveals Massive Unspecific Side Effects by Iodine-containing Reagents.
Reduction and alkylation of cysteine residues is part of virtually any proteomics workflow. Despite its frequent use, up to date no systematic investigation of the impact of different conditions on the outcome of proteomics studies has been performed. In this study, we compared common reduction reagents (dithiothreitol, tris-(2-carboxyethyl)-phosphine, and β-mercaptoethanol) and alkylation reagents (iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, acrylamide, and chloroacetamide). Using in-gel digests as well as SAX fractionated in-solution digests of cytosolic fractions of HeLa cells, we evaluated 13 different reduction and alkylation conditions resulting in considerably varying identification rates. We observed strong differences in offsite alkylation reactions at 7 amino acids as well as at the peptide N terminus, identifying single and double adducts of all reagents. Using dimethyl labeling, mass tolerant searches, and synthetic peptide experiments, we identified alkylation of methionine residues by iodine-containing alkylation reagents as one of the major factors for the differences. We observed differences of more than 9-fold in numbers of identified methionine-containing peptide spectral matches for in-gel digested samples between iodine- and noniodine-containing alkylation reagents. This was because of formation of carbamidomethylated and carboxymethylated methionine side chains and a resulting prominent neutral loss during ESI ionization or in MS/MS fragmentation, strongly decreasing identification rates of methionine-containing peptides. We achieved best results with acrylamide as alkylation reagent, whereas the highest numbers of peptide spectral matches were obtained when reducing with dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol for the in-solution and the in-gel digested samples, respectively.


Sequential Gating Ensemble Network for Noise Robust Multiscale Face Restoration.
Face restoration from low resolution and noise is important for applications of face analysis recognition. However, most existing face restoration models omit the multiple scale issues in the face restoration problem, which is still not well solved in the research area. In this paper, we propose a sequential gating ensemble network (SGEN) for a multiscale noise robust face restoration issue. To endow the network with multiscale representation ability, we first employ the principle of ensemble learning for SGEN network architecture design. The SGEN aggregates multilevel base-encoders and base-decoders into the network, which enables the network to contain multiple scales of receptive field. Instead of combining these base-en/decoders directly with nonsequential operations, the SGEN takes base-en/decoders from different levels as sequential data. Specifically, it is visualized that SGEN learns to sequentially extract high-level information from base-encoders in a bottom-up manner and restore low-level information from base-decoders in a top-down manner. Besides, we propose realizing bottom-up and top-down information combination and selection with a sequential gating unit (SGU). The SGU sequentially takes information from two different levels as inputs and decides the output based on one active input. Experimental results on the benchmark dataset demonstrate that our SGEN is more effective at multiscale human face restoration with more image details and less noise than state-of-the-art image restoration models. Further utilizing an adversarial training scheme, SGEN also produces more visually preferred results than other models under subjective evaluation.


Regulation of the mid-blastula transition in amphibians.
The cleavage cycles during early amphibian development are synchronous, rapid, and biphasic. There is no transcription and no growth of the embryo, and the nuclear cycle is independent of the cytoplasmic cleavage cycle. All components necessary for development through the blastula stage are provided by maternal stores. At the twelfth cleavage division, a major transition occurs that involves initiation of transcription, an elongation of the cell cycle, an increase in cell movement, and asynchrony of cell division. It is probable that the major controlling factor in the regulation of all the aforementioned events is the cell cycle. During early cleavage stages, the cell cycle is both rapid (30-35 min) and synchronous. There is evidence that the cycling time may be controlled by the presence of several mitotic factors, such as MPF, CSF (cytostatic factor), and a titratable component that binds to nuclear membranes. The rapid rate of DNA synthesis may inhibit the formation of transcription complexes, resulting in the absence of detectable transcription before the MBT. Cellular movement may also be inhibited in the rapidly dividing cell. As the cell cycle elongates (possibly due to the functional loss or sequestration of one or more of the mitotic control factors), the G1 and G2 phases are incorporated into the cell cycle. Under conditions of slower rates of DNA replication and the presence of the G1 and G2 phases, the transcriptional machinery becomes functional. It is apparent that at the MBT, not all classes of transcripts are activated simultaneously in every cell, nor is their expression regulated by a common mechanism. Incorporation of the G1 and G2 phases in the cell cycle may also permit the synthesis and assembly of microtubules and cytoskeletal components necessary for the initiation of the cell movements characteristic of this stage of development. The role of the cell cycle in controlling events at the MBT is supported by evidence from studies in which perturbation of the cell cycle that results in its elongation or arrest produces subsequent initiation of events that occur normally at the MBT. The MBT therefore appears to be a window in the developmental time frame, during which a number of molecular and morphogenetic events occur independently of one another, but all are necessary for subsequent morphogenesis and cellular differentiation. It is a transition from the strict reliance on the maternal program to a dependence on the new transcription from the embryonic genetic program. It is probable that the major regulatory mechanism involved in the occurrence of this constellation of cellular events is the change in the cell cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Deronectes taron sp. n. from the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae).
Deronectes taron sp. n. from the Muş province in the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey is described and illustrated in detail. The species belongs to the D. longipes subgroup of the D. parvicollis species group and resembles in particular D. syriacus Wewalka, 1971. It can be differentiated from this and the other species of the group by the shape of the median lobe which is strongly bent in lateral view. A part of the key to species of the subgroup is updated. Together with the new species the number of the known species of the genus Deronectes Sharp, 1882 is now 59 and that of the longipes-subgroup is 13.


Apomyoglobin as a molecular recognition surface: expression, reconstitution and crystallization of recombinant porcine myoglobin in Escherichia coli.
Recombinant porcine myoglobin has been produced in Escherichia coli using the lambda cII fusion expression system of Nagai and Thøgersen [Nature, 309, 810-812 (1984)]. After processing and reconstitution with haem, the protein is gel-electrophoretically and spectrophotometrically indistinguishable from native pig myoglobin. Large crystals of both native and recombinant porcine myoglobin were grown from 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.1, 80% ammonium sulphate. The crystals belong to space group C2 (a = 156.9 A, b = 42.0 A, c = 92.2 A, beta = 127.9 degrees) and diffract to a nominal 2.5 A resolution. We plan to explore apomyoglobin as a binding surface in studies combining site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray analysis. These experiments will be extended by studying the binding of haem analogues to the mutant apoproteins.


Carotid Artery Stenosis in the Setting of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Clinical and Technical Considerations of Carotid Stenting.
No consensus exists regarding the safety and efficacy of treatment of carotid stenosis before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Our objective was to review our series of patients treated for carotid stenosis with stenting in the setting of severe aortic valve disease and TAVR to evaluate its safety and efficacy. We reviewed patients who underwent carotid stenting in the setting of preoperative work-up or after TAVR from August 2012 through January 2015. Perioperative patient outcomes were collected to assess the safety and efficacy of carotid stenting. Five patients (4 men, 1 woman; median age, 83 years; range, 72-88 years) underwent successful carotid stenting before (median, 30 days before; range, 2 days-3 months) TAVR. The median extent of carotid stenosis was 80% (range, 75%-90%), but the diagnoses were incidental and all patients were asymptomatic. One patient suffered acute systolic heart failure during stenting requiring emergent balloon aortic valvuloplasty and vasopressor therapy. Median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (range, 1-16 days) for all patients, and 1 day for patients treated electively. The median hospital stay was 1 day (range, 1-16 days) for all patients, and 1 day for patients treated electively. All patients were discharged home. None suffered immediate or delayed neurological complications. We successfully performed carotid stenting in 5 patients before TAVR for severe aortic pathology. These patients require intensive care and careful monitoring. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether carotid stenting in the setting of TAVR can provide long-term neurological benefits.


[Renal prostaglandins in DOCA-sodium chloride-induced hypertension in rats].
The changes in arterial pressure, sodium excretion, diuresis, and content of renal prostaglandins were studied in rats with COD-salt hypertension. The administration of DOC to rats with unilateral nephrectomy resulted in more distinct hypertension than in those with both kidneys preserved. Arterial pressure elevation was accompanied by a gradual reduction of renal prostaglandins concentration, the removal of one kidney causing an earlier and more distinct reduction of their content. Unilateral nephrectomy (without DOC administration) resulted in a reduction of prostaglandins concentration in the remaining kidney, but their total content in the medullar layer of this kidney practically did not change.


Circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals invariant conformation of guanine runs in DNA.
We demonstrate that the characteristic circular dichroism (CD) features of the parallel-stranded DNA tetraplex of d(G4), especially the strong band at 260 nm, are characteristic for the B and A forms of the antiparallel duplex of d(C4G4). Hence, this band evidently originates from intrastrand guanine-guanine stacking, which is therefore very similar in the duplex and tetraplex DNA. In addition, the same type of the CD spectrum is provided by the ordered single strand of d(GA)10. This observation suggests that the ordered single strand of d(GA)10 is stabilized by a core of guanines stacked like in the parallel tetraplex. This view is used to start the modeling of the molecular structure of the ordered d(GA)10 single strand. Our studies suggest that guanine itself is strong enough to stabilize various secondary structures of DNA, which is a property relevant to thinking about the origin and evolution of molecular replicators.


Use of the blue cotton screen method with endoscopy to detect occult esophageal foreign bodies.
More than 20,000 cases of upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FBs) have been reported in the last 5 years in China. Early detection and treatment is vital in these patients. Differential diagnosis of esophageal injury and occult esophageal foreign bodies is challenging, particularly in the case of non-radio-opaque foreign bodies. A diagnostic technique with high accuracy and low risk is needed for clinical practice. We describe successful use of the "blue cotton screen method" to detect esophageal foreign bodies in 2 patients. The advantages and disadvantages of various diagnostic modalities in the management of patients with foreign body ingestion are presented. This technique is safer and more effective than traditional methods for foreign body impaction in the esophageal cavity. It could be applied for screening and in the differential diagnosis of esophageal injury and FBs in the esophageal lumen.


METTL14 mediates m6a modification on osteogenic proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by regulating the processing of pri-miR-873.
N6-methyl-adenosine (m6a) is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases such as autogenic immune disease and tumors. Methyltransferases regulate primary (pri)-microRNA (miRNA/miR) processing by mediating m6a modifications, consequently affecting pathological processes including immune-related diseases by regulating both innate and adaptive immune cells. However, the roles of m6a on the biological functions of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) remain to be elucidated. The relative expression levels of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) and other methyltransferases, demethylases, and miR-873 in bone samples from patients with osteoporosis and from normal individuals were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to examine the proliferation of BMSCs. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) was used to investigate the binding of METTL14 to DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (DGCR8). RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) was used to examine the binding of METTL14 to pri-miR-873. METTL14 and m6a modifications were highly detected in patients with osteoporosis compared with the controls. Co-IP results indicated that silencing of METTL14 reduced METTL14 and m6a modification levels in BMSCs. Downregulation of METTL14 significantly promoted the proliferation of BMSCs. RIP results suggested that METTL14/m6a methylation modification promoted the processing of pri-miR-873 by binding to DGCR8 in BMSCs. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-873 inhibited the proliferation of BMSCs. The results also showed that miR-873 mimics significantly inhibited the proliferation in small interfering (si)-METTL14 transfected BMSCs; however, miR-873 inhibitors markedly promoted the proliferation of si-METTL14 transfected BMSCs. METTL14 and m6a modifications were upregulated in osteoporosis samples. METTL14 promoted the processing of pri-miR-873 into mature miR-873 by regulating m6a modification. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-873 significantly inhibited the proliferation of BMSCs. Therefore, the METTL14/m6a/miR-873 axis may be a potential target for the treatment of osteoporosis.


[The incidence of acute urinary retention as an indicator of the quality of care for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].
To evaluate the incidence of acute urinary retention as an indicator of the quality of care for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia by the example of "Urology" Program implemented in the Voronezh region. As part of the program "Urology", the incidence of AUR was used as an indicator of quality of care for patients with BPH. Urological health care for patients with BPH was provided within a three-stage model. For each of the stages standardized packages of detailed methodological materials, including regional standards were developed. Over the 3 years of the program (2011-2013) questionnaire survey was conducted among 762 937 men 50-75 years old with 85.3-88.1% annual coverage of respondents. Over the past three years (2009-2012) there was consistent and statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease (from 11.27 to 1.5%) in the proportion of hospitalizations for AUR reaching a "plateau" (p>0.05) in 2012-2013. There was a significant correlation of AUR with the main indicators of effectiveness of BPH treatment: the structure of morbidity (prevalence of early BPH forms - groups 1 and 2), the number of surgical interventions, the frequency of complications (including surgical), general and specific costs for diagnosis and treatment of BPH. Acute urinary retention may be regarded as an integral indicator of the quality of care for patients with BPH.


Influence of mechanical properties on the relation between EMG activity and torque.
An attempt was made to determine the average stiffness and viscosity of the muscle groups responsible, in human subjects, for the flexion and extension of the forearm, when these movements are produced intentionally. To this end, the subjects were instructed to produce sinusoidal movements by tracking acoustic and visual signals. 1. By recording simultaneously the sinusoidal angular variations and the EMG activity of both triceps and biceps it was possible to determine the phase angle between EMG and inertial torque at different frequencies (between 0.2 and 5 Hz). 2. The known phase relations between EMG and torque were then subtracted from this plot obtaining, therefore, the phase characteristics of the mechanical system (forearm-lever complex). 3. The average resonant frequency for different amounts of intentional contraction of the muscles responsible for the motion was 0.8 Hz, leading to an estimate of the average stiffness of 2.57 kgw.m/rad. 4. The slope of the phase in proximity of the resonant frequency lends an estimate for the viscosity of 0.85 kgw.m.sec/rad. 5. The contribution to the motion by elastic forces and the active contraction due to intentional motor commands was also considered.


Cluster headache in the Taiwanese -- a clinic-based study.
Cluster headache has not been fully investigated in Asians. One hundred and four patients (90M/14F; mean age 39.2 +/- 12.2 years) with cluster headache were recruited from two major headache clinics in Taiwan. They filled out a structured cluster headache questionnaire. All participants were diagnosed to have episodic cluster headache. Mean age of onset was 26.9 years; mean latency of diagnosis was 8.1 years. A trend of decrease in male/female ratio with time was noted. Seventy-three percent were ex- or current smokers (M: 79%, F: 36%). Restlessness was reported by 51% patients. Only 1 patient (1%) reported visual aura. Patients responded well to standard acute and prophylactic treatment. The monthly incidence of cluster period was inversely related to sunshine duration. Compared to Western series, our patients were different in several aspects including the absence of chronic cluster headaches and a low prevalence of restlessness and aura. Racial and geographical factors might contribute to these discrepancies.


Magnetic resonance imaging and radiofrequency ablations.
Cardiac MRI has evolved one of the major imaging technologies in cardiology. Increasingly MRI has also been used for electrophysiological applications. Anatomically based procedures such as the circumferential pulmonary vein ablation emphasized the importance of including the individual's cardiac anatomy in a tailored ablation approach. Today, many centers routinely perform pre-ablation imaging to identify left atrial anatomy. Three-dimensional reconstructions based on MRI are frequently integrated in clinical mapping systems to provide cardiac anatomy during the ablation procedure. Similarly, MRI is a clinically very valuable tool in assessing potential ablation complications such as pulmonary vein stenosis. New innovative use of MRI is likely to occur in three areas over the next several years. During ventricular tachycardia ablations volume rendering/fusion imaging will enable a detailed three-dimensional substrate evaluation and provide supplementary scar characterization using a combination of different imaging approaches. With the ongoing technical improvements real-time MRI will likely emerge as a stand-alone clinical modality to directly guide catheter ablation procedures. The advent of stronger field strength MRI, faster imaging protocols, and improved gating techniques will allow accurate peri- and post-procedural visualization of ablation lesions. These developments should result in shorter procedure times and decreased complications rates. Ultimately, they will enable the development of novel ablation strategies and expand the current indications for electrophysiological ablations.


Public involvement in breast cancer research: an analysis and model for future research.
Public involvement in health program planning has been taking place for many years, and has provided a precedent for the emergence of public involvement in research conducted since the early 1990s. Such involvement is now widely seen in breast cancer research, due to the large public concern and major social movement activity. This article reviews current practices and general models of public involvement in research and constructs a prototype. The authors interviewed researchers, program officers, and laypeople in order to understand the obstacles, processes, and benefits. They conclude that public involvement has major ramifications for the democratization of science and the construction of knowledge by teaching lay people about science and sensitizing researchers to concerns of the public. There is growing support on the part of scientists and government agents for public involvement.


An Effective Hypoxia-Related Long Non-Coding RNA Assessment Model for Prognosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma.
Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) represents one of the highest incidence rates worldwide. Hypoxia is a significant biomarker associated with poor prognosis of LUAD. However, there are no definitive markers of hypoxia-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in LUAD. Methods: From The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB), we acquired the expression of hypoxia-related lncRNAs and corresponding clinical information of LUAD patients. The hypoxia-related prognostic model was constructed by univariable COX regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariable Cox regression analysis. To assess the performance of the model, the Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results: We found seven lncRNAs, AC022613.1, AC026355.1, GSEC, LINC00941, NKILA, HSPC324, and MYO16-AS1, as biomarkers of the potential hypoxia-related prognostic signature. In the low-risk group, patients had a better overall survival (OS). In addition, the results of ROC analysis indicated that the risk score predicted LUAD prognosis exactly. Furthermore, combining the expression of lncRNAs with clinical features, two predictive nomograms were constructed, which could accurately predict OS and had high clinical application value. Conclusion: In summary, the seven-lncRNA prognostic signature related to hypoxia might be useful in predicting clinical outcomes and provided new molecular targets for the research of LUAD patients.


Ciclosporin-associated hypertrichosis is not related to sex hormone levels following renal transplantation.
To study a possible relationship between ciclosporin-induced hypertrichosis and sex hormone pattern, the hair growth in different areas of the body was graded and hormone levels were assayed before and up to 6 months after kidney transplantation. Increased hair growth was observed in 100% (23/23) of the patients in skin areas connected with androgen action and in 78% of the patients in androgen-insensitive areas. After renal transplantation the pituitary, testicular and adrenal hormone levels normalized. The posttransplantation levels of these hormones would not explain the observation of increased hairgrowth. Thus, ciclosporin induces hypertrichosis via a mechanism independent of sex hormones.


Access Cavity Preparation and Localization of Root Canals Using Guides in 3D-Printed Teeth with Calcified Root Canals: An In Vitro CBCT Study.
Pulp canal obliteration (PCO) is a significant complication in endodontics that can occur due to various factors. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a useful diagnostic tool for identifying root canal anatomy and variations, and guided endodontics is emerging as an alternative treatment solution for teeth with partially or entirely obliterated pulpal canals. However, the accuracy of CBCT-guided 3D-printed guides on different materials and layer thicknesses is not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of guides prepared using CBCT images on 3D-printed teeth with stereolithography (SLA) using three different materials and two different layer thicknesses. This study found that 3D-printed guides were accurate and reliable for accessing 3D-manufactured obliterated teeth and reaching the apical area. No significant differences in distance or angle measurements were found when different guide materials were used, suggesting that materials can be selected based on availability and cost. These findings contribute to the knowledge base regarding the effectiveness of 3D printing technology in guided endodontics and can help to identify the most suitable materials and techniques for this application.


Attraction of the Euwallacea sp. near fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Quercivorol and to Infestations in Avocado.
The Euwallacea sp. near fornicatus (Euwallacea sp. 1 hereafter) feeds on many woody shrubs and trees and is a pest of avocado, Persea americana Mill., in several countries including Israel and the United States. Quercivorol baits are commercially available for Euwallacea sp. 1 females (males do not fly), but their attractive strength compared to other pheromones and potential for mass trapping are unknown. We used sticky traps baited with quercivorol released at 0.126 mg/d (1×) and at 0.01×, 0.1×, and 10× relative rates to obtain a dose-response curve of Euwallacea sp. 1 attraction. The curve fitted well a kinetic formation function of first order. Naturally infested limbs of living avocado trees had attraction rates equivalent to 1× quercivorol. An effective attraction radius (EAR) was calculated according to previous equations for each of the various baits (1× EAR = 1.18 m; 10× EAR = 2.00 m). A pole with six sticky traps spaced from 0.25-5.75 m in height had captures of Euwallacea sp. 1 yielding a mean flight height of 1.24 m with vertical flight distribution SD of 0.88 m (0.82-0.96 m, 95% CI). The SD with specific EAR was used to calculate EARc, two-dimensional EAR (1× EARc = 0.99 m; 10× EARc = 2.86 m), for comparison with other insect pheromone traps and for use in simulations. The simulation methods described previously were performed with combinations of 1-16 traps with 1-50 aggregations per 9-ha plot. The simulations indicate mass trapping with quercivorol could be effective if begun in spring before Euwallacea sp. 1 establishes competing sources of attraction.


Deregulation of Plant Cell Death Through Disruption of Chloroplast Functionality Affects Asexual Sporulation of Zymoseptoria tritici on Wheat.
Chloroplasts have a critical role in plant defense as sites for the biosynthesis of the signaling compounds salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and nitric oxide (NO) and as major sites of reactive oxygen species production. Chloroplasts, therefore, regarded as important players in the induction and regulation of programmed cell death (PCD) in response to abiotic stresses and pathogen attack. The predominantly foliar pathogen of wheat Zymoseptoria tritici is proposed to exploit the plant PCD, which is associated with the transition in the fungus to the necrotrophic phase of infection. In this study virus-induced gene silencing was used to silence two key genes in carotenoid and chlorophyll biosynthesis, phytoene desaturase (PDS) and Mg-chelatase H subunit (ChlH). The chlorophyll-deficient, PDS- and ChlH-silenced leaves of susceptible plants underwent more rapid pathogen-induced PCD but were significantly less able to support the subsequent asexual sporulation of Z. tritici. Conversely, major gene (Stb6)-mediated resistance to Z. tritici was partially compromised in PDS- and ChlH-silenced leaves. Chlorophyll-deficient wheat ears also displayed increased Z. tritici disease lesion formation accompanied by increased asexual sporulation. These data highlight the importance of chloroplast functionality and its interaction with regulated plant cell death in mediating different genotype and tissue-specific interactions between Z. tritici and wheat.


Design and Optimization of Novel Competitive, Non-peptidic, SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors.
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) has been proven to be a highly effective target for therapeutic intervention, yet only one drug currently holds FDA approval status for this target. We were inspired by a series of publications emanating from the Jorgensen and Anderson groups describing the design of potent, non-peptidic, competitive SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, and we saw an opportunity to make several design modifications to improve the overall pharmacokinetic profile of these compounds without losing potency. To this end, we created a focused virtual library using reaction-based enumeration tools in the Schrödinger suite. These compounds were docked into the Mpro active site and subsequently prioritized for synthesis based upon relative binding affinity values calculated by FEP+. Fourteen compounds were selected, synthesized, and evaluated both biochemically and in cell culture. Several of the synthesized compounds proved to be potent, competitive Mpro inhibitors with improved metabolic stability profiles.


Cerium oxide nanoparticles alter the salt stress tolerance of Brassica napus L. by modifying the formation of root apoplastic barriers.
Rapidly growing global population adds significant strains on the fresh water resources. Consequently, saline water is increasingly tapped for crop irrigation. Meanwhile, rapid advancement of nanotechnology is introducing more and more engineered nanoparticles into the environment and in agricultural soils. While some negative effects of ENPs on plant health at very high concentrations have been reported, more beneficial effects of ENPs at relatively low concentrations are increasingly noticed, opening doors for potential applications of nanotechnology in agriculture. In particular, we found that cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) improved plant photosynthesis in salt stressed plants. Due to the close connections between salt stress tolerance and the root anatomical structures, we postulated that CeO2NPs could modify plant root anatomy and improve plant salt stress tolerance. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis with Brassica napus in the presence of CeO2NPs (0, 500 mg kg-1 dry sand) and/or NaCl (0, 50 mM) in a growth chamber. Free hand sections of fresh roots were taken every seven days for three weeks and the suberin lamellae development was examined under a fluorescence microscope. The results confirmed the hypothesis that CeO2NPs modified the formation of the apoplastic barriers in Brassica roots. In salt stressed plants, CeO2NPs shortened the root apoplastic barriers which allowed more Na+ transport to shoots and less accumulation of Na+ in plant roots. The altered Na+ fluxes and transport led to better physiological performance of Brassica and may lead to new applications of nanotechnology in agriculture.


Increases in core body temperature precede hot flashes in a prostate cancer patient.
An effective and safe alternative treatment to hormone replacement therapy for hot flashes is needed for cancer patients. Interventions targeting the triggering mechanisms of hot flashes hold promise. Increases in core body temperature are a precursor of most hot flashes in women, and similar findings in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy would support further research in this area. We present preliminary findings of physiological changes in a prostate cancer patient with frequent hot flashes. Physiological changes in sternal skin conductance, heart rate, and core body temperature were continuously measured during two 3.5 h laboratory sessions. Perceived characteristics of hot flashes were recorded in a diary. Five hot flashes were reported during laboratory sessions. Severity and bother ratings were low. All hot flashes were accompanied by large increases in sternal skin conductance and moderate increases in heart rate. Core body temperature increased 0.11-0.32 degrees C prior to and fell 0.23-0.44 degrees C following the peak increase in skin conductance. This case study suggests that hot flashes in men may be preceded by increases in core body temperature. Identification of behavioral factors that raise core body temperature may lead to specific treatment strategies to reduce the frequency of hot flashes.


Histological and histochemical study of the uropygial gland of chimango caracara (Milvago chimango vieillot, 1816).
The uropygial glands of birds are sebaceous organs that contribute to the water-repellent properties of the feather coat. We studied the histological and histochemical characteristics of the uropygial gland of chimango caracara using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Gomori´s trichrome, orcein, Gomori´s reticulin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) and a variety of lectins. The gland is composed of two lobes and a papilla with 20 downy feathers. It is surrounded by a capsule of dense connective tissue that contains elastic, reticular and smooth muscle fibers. The papilla is delicate and has two excretory ducts. The gland mass relative to body mass was 0.143%. Both adenomer cells and their secretions were stained with Sudan IV, PAS and AB, and were positive for numerous lectins that indicated the presence of lipids and carbohydrates. Immunohistochemical techniques to detect PCNA confirmed cell proliferation in the basal stratum of the adenomer cells. The lipids and glycoconjugates secreted by the uropygial gland serve numerous functions including protection against microorganisms.


Near-hanging as presenting to hospitals in Queensland: recommendations for practice.
Near-hanging is an increasing presentation to hospitals in Australasia. We reviewed the clinical management and outcome of these patients as they presented to public hospitals in Queensland. A retrospective clinical record audit was made at five public hospitals between 1991 and 2000. Of 161 patients enrolled, 82% were male, 8% were indigenous and 10% had made a previous hanging attempt. Chronic medical illnesses were documented in 11% and previous psychiatric disorders in 42%. Of the 38 patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) of 3 on arrival at hospital, 32% returned to independent living and 63% died. Fifty-two patients received CPR, of whom 46% had an independent functional outcome. Independent predictors of mortality were a GCS on hospital arrival of 3 (AOR 150, CI 95% 12.4-1818, P<0.001), taking plain X-rays of the cervical spine (AOR 0.06, CI 95% 0.004-0.97, P=0.047) and contact with the ground (AOR 0.03, CI 95% 0.002-0.62, P=0.02). Only 66% had imaging of the cervical spine performed with other imaging performed infrequently. There were three laryngeal, two hyoid bone and three cervical spine injuries and one carotid dissection. The number of cervical spine X-rays required to find a significant cervical spine fracture was 54. Near-hanging presenting to hospital with a poor conscious state or even cardiac arrest can have a favourable clinical outcome. Radiological investigations are infrequently performed despite a low GCS precluding early accurate assessment. Given the general favourable outcome, an aggressive approach to searching for correctable injuries is recommended.


Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
We present a patient with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the breast whose diagnosis is illustrative of the pathology nuances that must be taken into account to successfully reach correct identification of the disease. We also present an overview of our patient's proposed treatment in the context of 16 other reported LELC cases. Although LELC cases are rare, a sufficient number have been reported to discern the natural history of this pathologic entity and to undertake a review of those cases and of the application of oncologic first principles in their management. Given the potential for locoregional spread and distant metastases in LELC, adjuvant therapy has a role in the treatment of this entity.


Methylmercury induces apoptosis of rat cerebellar neurons in primary culture.
Cerebellar neurons in primary culture were exposed to methylmercury, a well-established neurotoxicant known as a cause of Minamata disease, at 0.1-1.0 microM for up to 72 hours and compared with the neurons undergoing apoptosis induced by withdrawing K+ from the medium. Cerebellar neurons treated with methylmercury at up to 0.3 microM showed morphological changes characteristic to apoptosis, depending on methylmercury dose; formation of apoptotic vesicles, disappearance of neurites and condensation of nuclear chromatin. In addition, soluble DNA prepared from the methylmercury-treated cells exhibited the typical DNA fragmentation pattern similar to that in cells undergoing apoptosis induced by K+ withdrawal. At higher concentration of methylmercury, however, a non-apoptotic pathway of cell death started to predominate over the apoptotic pathway. These results indicate that the death of cerebellar granule neurons induced by methylmercury is, at least at lower doses, apoptotic.


Selective interference on the holistic processing of faces in working memory.
Faces and objects of expertise compete for early perceptual processes and holistic processing resources (Gauthier, Curran, Curby, & Collins, 2003). Here, we examined the nature of interference on holistic face processing in working memory by comparing how various types of loads affect selective attention to parts of face composites. In dual tasks, all loads impaired overall performance on face judgment compared with no load. However, a face load reduced holistic face processing (Experiment 1) whereas an object load did not, regardless of expertise (Experiments 2 and 3). Also, 2 types of faces produced asymmetrical interference on each other (Experiment 4), refuting the hypothesis that any faces would produce equal interference. Thus, the interference on holistic face processing in working memory does not depend on overlap in expertise or face processing, but may be modulated by limitations in encoding or maintenance of highly similar representations.


Effects of cardiac failure on the pharmacokinetics of the diuretic tizolemide.
Tizolemide, an alkaline sulphonamide diuretic, was given i.v. in one dose and orally during one week to eight patients with compensated cardiac failure. They had essentially normal glomerular filtration rate but reduced renal plasma flow. Tizolemide was almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The drug was mainly eliminated via tubular secretion. Renal clearance of the drug was much lower than in healthy subjects because of low renal plasma flow. As a consequence plasma half-life was prolonged considerably in some patients. It was concluded that drugs with mainly tubular renal elimination may have a reduced elimination rate in patients with cardiac diseases despite normal glomerular filtration rate.


Autism-like behavior in the BTBR mouse model of autism is improved by propofol.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by symptoms of impaired social interactions, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Recent studies in humans and animal-models suggest that reduced GABAergic neurotransmission in the brain may underlie autism-related behavioral symptoms. It has been shown that propofol, a commonly used anesthetic, facilitates γ-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission. The present study investigated whether propofol improved autistic phenotypes in BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a model of idiopathic autism. We found that i.p. injection of propofol in BTBR mice significantly improved aspects of social approach and repetitive behaviors without affecting reciprocal social interactions and without any detrimental effects in C57BL/6J mice. The ability of propofol to improve autistic phenotypes in BTBR mice through GABAergic neurotransmission suggests a potential pharmacological target for interventions to treat symptoms of autism.


Regulation of autophagy and EMT by the interplay between p53 and RAS during cancer progression (Review).
Cellular autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are key events mostly resulted from the interplay of tumor suppressors and oncogenes during cancer progression. The master tumor suppressor p53 may control tumor cell autophagy and EMT through the transcriptional induction of multiple target genes, while the activated oncogene RAS may also play a critical role in regulating mitogenic signaling to tumor cell autophagy and EMT. Although the fundamental functions of p53 and RAS are well understood, the interactive effects of p53 and RAS on autophagy and EMT are still unclear. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in the regulation of autophagy and EMT by p53 and RAS, aiming to explore novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers in cancer treatment and prevention.


Ultralow-quantum-defect single-frequency fiber laser.
A single-frequency distributed-Bragg-reflector fiber laser at 980 nm with a quantum defect of less than 0.6% was developed with a 1.5-cm 12 wt% ytterbium-doped phosphate fiber pumped by a 974.5-nm laser diode. Linearly polarized single-longitude-mode laser with a polarization extinction ratio (PER) of nearly 30 dB and spectral linewidth of less than 1.8 kHz was obtained. A maximum output power of 275 mW was measured at a launched pump power of 620 mW. The performance of the single-frequency fiber laser pumped at 909 nm and 976 nm was also characterized. This research demonstrated an approach to high-power single-frequency fiber laser oscillators with mitigated thermal effects.


Weighted Vest Use during Dietary Weight Loss on Bone Health in Older Adults with Obesity.
To examine the effects of daily weighted vest use during a dietary weight loss intervention, on (a) hip and spine bone mineral density (aBMD), and (b) biomarkers of bone turnover, in older adults with obesity. 37 older (70.1 ± 3.0 years) adults with obesity (BMI=35.3 ± 2.9) underwent a 22 week dietary weight loss intervention (1100-1300 kcal/day) with (Diet+Vest; n=20) or without (Diet; n=17) weighted vest use (goal: 10+ h/day; weight added incrementally based on amount of weight lost). Total body weight; DXA-acquired aBMD of the total hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine; and biomarkers of bone turnover (OC, BALP, P1NP, CTX) were measured at baseline and follow up. General linear models, adjusted for baseline values of the outcome and gender, were used to examine intervention effects. Average weight loss was significant in both groups (-11.2 ± 4.4 kg and -11.0 ± 6.3 kg, Diet+Vest and Diet groups, respectively), with no difference between groups (p=0.91). Average weighted vest use was 6.7 ± 2.2 h/day. No significant changes in aBMD or biomarkers were observed, although trends were noted for total hip aBMD and BALP. Loss in total hip aBMD was greater in the Diet group compared with Diet+Vest (Δ: -18.7 [29.3, -8.1] mg/cm2 versus -6.1 [-15.7, 3.5] mg/cm2; p=0.08). BALP increased in the Diet+Vest group by 3.8% (Δ: 0.59 [-0.33, 1.50] μg/L) and decreased by -4.6% in the Diet group (Δ: -0.70 [-1.70, 0.31] μg/L, p=0.07). Weighted vest use during weight loss may attenuate loss of hip aBMD and increase bone formation in older adults with obesity. Further study is warranted.


A noise-controlling method by hybrid current-stimulation and voltage-measurement for electrical impedance tomography (HCSVM-EIT).
Image reconstruction in electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a typical ill-posed inverse problem, from which the stability of conductivity reconstruction affects the reliability of physiological parameters evaluation. In order to improve the stability, the effect of boundary voltage noise on conductivity reconstruction should be controlled. A noise-controlling method based on hybrid current-stimulation and voltage-measurement for EIT (HCSVM-EIT) is proposed for stable conductivity reconstruction. In HCSVM-EIT, the boundary voltage is measured by one current-stimulation and voltage-measurement pattern (high-SNRpattern) with a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); the sensitivity matrix is calculated by another current-stimulation and voltage-measurement pattern (low-condpattern) with a lower condition number; the boundary voltage is then transformed from thehigh-SNRpattern into thelow-condpattern by multiplying by an optimized transformation matrix for image reconstruction. The stability of conductivity reconstruction is improved by combining the advantages of thehigh-SNRpattern for boundary voltage measurement and thelow-condpattern for sensitivity matrix calculation. The simulation results show that the HCSVM-EIT increases the correlation coefficient (CC) of conductivity reconstruction. The experiment results show that theCCof conductivity reconstruction of the human lower limb is increased from 0.3424 to 0.5580 by 62.97% compared to the quasi-adjacent pattern, and from 0.4942 to 0.5580 by 12.91% compared to the adjacent pattern. In conclusion, the stable conductivity reconstruction with higherCCin HCSVM-EIT improves the reliability of physiological parameters evaluation for disease detection.


Population shifts in some faeces and rumen bacteria profiles and subsequent blood LPS and lactate concentrations in lambs in the early period of subacute ruminal acidosis.
It is known that ruminal acidosis can induce harmal population shifts in some ruminal bacteria profiles. However, there is little information related to alterations in faecal and ruminal bacterial communities and relevant serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in sheep with subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). This study aimed to investigate alterations in the defined faecal and ruminal bacteria profiles and serum LPS and blood lactate concentrations in lambs with empirically induced SARA. Fifteen lambs were served and undergone to induce SARA during a 7-day period. Faecal and ruminal samples were taken to measure the pH and to perform the bacteriological works at 0 (just before induction), 8, 9, and 10 days of the challenge. Blood samples were collected to determine the serum LPS and lactate levels. The rumen and faecal samples were cultured to specify colony-forming units (CFU) for Escherichia coli, Streptococcus Group D (SGD), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Serum LPS value had no significant increase in the affected lambs with SARA. Significant increasing trends were observed in faecal E. coli and LAB populations (p < 0.01). Rumen bacteriology revealed a rising trend for LAB and a falling trend for SGD populations (p < 0.01). Unlike cattle, LPS appears to be of minor importance in the pathogenesis of SARA in sheep. The increased ruminal and faecal LAB (4.00 × 107 CFU/ml or g) are proposed as valuable biomarkers for improving nutritional strategy and screening SARA in lambs.


Improvements of the Tada formula in estimating the intracerebral hemorrhage volume based on computed tomography.
The Tada formula has been used widely for assessing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volume. However, it is only suitable for calculating regular and small volume hematomas. Therefore, we attempted to improve the formula to increase its accuracy and maintain its efficiency. Computed tomography (CT) data of 15 balls of different shapes filled with predetermined volumes of water were collected to verify the high accuracy of FireVoxel in measuring the volume. CT data from 329 patients with ICH from two different hospitals grouped by hematoma shape and volume were retrospectively reviewed. The distinctly shaped ICH volumes of 245 patients from one of the hospitals were estimated using FireVoxel and the Tada formula grouped by the hematoma shape and volume. Taking the hematoma volumes measured by FireVoxel as the reference standard, the accuracy and reliability of the Tada formula were evaluated. Polynomial fitting was employed to determine the associations of the values calculated between the Tada formula and FireVoxel. Then, a corrected Tada formula (C-Tada formula) was produced, and the limits of agreement between the C-Tada formula and Tada formula were analyzed with Bland-Altman analysis. The C-Tada formula was validated by the CT data of 84 patients from another hospital. The volume measured by FireVoxel can be set as the reference standard. The ICH volume calculated by the Tada formula was significantly greater than that calculated by FireVoxel for different shapes and volumes. The percentage deviation between the volumes calculated by FireVoxel and the Tada formula was also statistically significant and influenced by ICH shape and volume. The limits of agreement between the C-Tada formula and FireVoxel were tighter than those between the Tada formula and FireVoxel. The percentage deviation of the C-Tada formula calculation from the FireVoxel estimate was greatly reduced relative to that for the Tada formula for each group. The C-Tada formula is more clinically valuable than the Tada formula, given its sufficient efficiency and greater accuracy and reliability in ICH volume calculation.


Multicenter epidemiological study to assess the population of CKD patients in Greece: results from the PRESTAR study.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a relatively common condition not only associated with increased morbidity and mortality but also fuelling End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Among developed nations, Greece has one of the highest ESRD incidence rates, yet there is limited understanding of the epidemiology of earlier stages of CKD. Cross-sectional survey of pre-dialysis CKD outpatients in nephrology clinics in the National Health Care system between October 2009 and October 2010. Demographics, cause of CKD, blood pressure, level of renal function, duration of CKD and nephrology care, and specialty of referral physician were collected and analyzed. Different methods for estimating renal function (Cockroft-Gault [CG], CKD-Epi and MDRD) and staging CKD were assessed for agreement. A total of 1,501 patients in 9 centers were enrolled. Diabetic nephropathy was the most common nephrologist assigned cause of CKD (29.7%). In total, 36.5% of patients had self-referred to the nephrologist; patients with diabetes or serum creatinine above 220 µmol/l (eGFR<40 ml/min/1.73 m2) were more likely to have been referred by a physician. Agreement between MDRD and CKD-Epi, but not between CG, the other estimating equations, was excellent. There was substantial heterogeneity with respect to renal diagnoses, referral patterns and blood pressure among participating centers. In this first epidemiologic assessment of CKD in Greece, we documented delayed referral and high rates of self-referral among patients with CKD. eGFR reporting, currently offered by a limited number of laboratories, may facilitate detection of CKD at an earlier, more treatable stage.


[Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolates from river water ecosystems].
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest problems facing global public health. The emergence of resistant clinical and environmental strains worsens the situation. Among the microorganisms with antimicrobial resistance, Escherichia coil species stands out due to its dual role as fecal contamination indicator and pathogen. To isolate and identify Escherichia coil isolates from water samples from polluted rivers located in La Habana, and to determine their antimicrobial in vitro susceptibility. One hundred thirteen isolates of coliform bacteria isolated from 10 sampling stations in the capital's urban areas near Almendares, Quibú and Luyanó rivers were studied in the period of February 2008 to June 2010. The identification of isolates, the determination of antimicrobial susceptibility and the search for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase were all performed using VITEK automated method. One hundred thirteen environmental strains of Escherichia coli were identified. It showed that 23% of the isolates were resistant to at least one of the tested antimicrobials. The highest percentages of resistance were observed to ampicilline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin. The presence of E. coil isolates with multiple antimicrobial resistances in these rivers clearly indicates the biological risk involving the use of their waters.


The structural and functional essentiality of the N-terminal alpha-helix in the phospholipase A2 of the Taiwan banded krait.
In order to identify the structural and functional essentiality of the N-terminal alpha-helix of Bungarus multicinctus PLA2 for its enzymatic activity, comparative studies of the biochemical properties of native and recombinant PLA2 were made. It was found that the appearance of a Met residue preceding the N-terminus Asn-1 of the recombinant protein appreciably affected PLA2 activity and the hydrophobic character of the ANS-binding site. Additionally, the charged state and the hydrophobicity of the molecular surface changed as well. However, removal of the N-terminal Met-1 from the recombinant PLA2 resulted in the production of a fully active PLA2, whose biochemical properties were indistinguishable from those of the native enzyme. These observations, together with the findings that the helical wheel plot of the N-terminal alpha-helix showed distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces and that the ANS-binding site was the active site of PLA2 enzymes, suggest that the hydrophobic face of the N-terminal alpha-helix in native PLA2 should be in the interior of the enzyme molecule for binding with ANS and the phospholipid/substrate.


Long-term Memories: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
Traumatic memories haunt the lives of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other illnesses. Fortunately, recent research into the changeability of long-term memories may someday develop into treatments for such individuals. But before this can happen, writes Cristina Alberini, Ph.D., of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, researchers must determine just how effectively the fear associated with older memories-especially those involved in PTSD-can be reduced and for how long. Researchers must also address the ethical issues that go hand in hand with modifying memory.


Divergent Rhodium-Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions of Enoldiazoacetamides with Nitrosoarenes.
The first cyclization reactions of enoldiazo compounds with nitrosoarenes have been developed. Under the catalysis of rhodium(II) octanoate, [3 + 2]-cyclization between enoldiazoacetamides and nitrosoarenes occurred through cleavages of the enol double bond and the amide bond, thus furnishing fully substituted 5-isoxazolone derivatives. Upon changing the catalyst to rhodium(II) caprolactamate, the reaction pathway switched to an unprecedented formal [5 + 1]-cyclization that provided multifunctionalized 1,3-oxazin-4-ones with near exclusivity under otherwise identical conditions. Mechanistic studies uncovered distinct catalytic activities and reaction intermediates, which plausibly rationalized the novel reactivity and catalyst-controlled chemodivergence. Furthermore, a mechanism-inspired enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed reaction of γ-substituted enoldiazoacetamide with nitrosobenzene produced highly enantioenriched heterocycle-linked trialkylamine.


Redox-Neutral α-C-H Functionalization of Pyrrolidin-3-ol.
A redox-neutral α-C-H oxygenation of commercially available pyrrolidin-3-ol with a monoprotected p-quinone generated an N-aryliminium ion intermediate, which reacted in situ with boronic acid nucleophiles to produce a series of cis-2-substituted pyrrolidin-3-ols. With this strategy, 8-epi-(-)-lentiginosine was synthesized from (3R,4R)-pyrrolidine-3,4-diol in three steps.


A systematic review of the efficacy of cesarean section in the preservation of anal continence.
Elective primary cesarean section is performed largely to avoid maternal pelvic trauma that may result in anal incontinence, although its efficacy in this regard has not been thoroughly assessed. We perform a systematic review of published reports that compare anal incontinence risk by mode of delivery. PubMed was searched from 1966 through August 2005. Authors were contacted for missing data or analyses. Both randomized and nonrandomized reports were included. Eligible studies included females having vaginal delivery or cesarean section, fecal and/or flatal incontinence was reported as an outcome, and risk was calculable from the reported data. Crude data were extracted from the reports, as well as reported odds ratios and confidence intervals. In the nonrandomized studies, adjusted odds ratios also were extracted and additional data obtained from authors to adjust risks for age and parity if not originally done. Sensitivity analyses were performed using quality indicators: age and parity adjustment, time to continence assessment, and mode of previous delivery. Fifteen studies were found eligible, encompassing 3,010 cesarean sections and 11,440 vaginal deliveries. The summary relative risk for fecal incontinence was 0.91 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.74-1.14). For flatus the relative risk was 0.98 (range, 0.86-1.13). The number needed to treat by cesarean section was 167 to prevent a single case of fecal incontinence. Five studies were judged to be of high quality. In these studies, the summary relative risk was 0.94 (range, 0.72-1.22) and number needed to treat was 198. The best evidence to assess the efficacy of cesarean section in the prevention of anal incontinence would be in randomized trials of average-risk pregnancies with few crossovers. In the absence of such trials and based on this review, cesarean section does not prevent anal incontinence. This implies that incontinence associated with delivery may be more likely incontinence caused by pregnancy.


Dental trauma in children: a survey.
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the type and prevalence of injuries presenting to the pediatric dental service of the Child Nat Med Ctr. During the 12 months survey, 227 patients presented. This patient group consisted of 159 males (M) and 68 females (F) (2.34 M to 1.0 F); 96 (62 M, 34 F) were less than 5 y age; 85 (64 M, 21 F) were 5 to 12 y age; 46 (33 M, 13 F) were greater than or equal to 13 y age. The leading cause of injury was falls (105/227; 46%). Approx 50% (115/227) of the injuries occurred between May and September; 132 children sustained soft tissue injury (88 intraoral; 20 extraoral; 24 intra and extraoral); 61 permanent teeth were fractured in 44 children; 36 primary teeth were fractured in 31; 133 permanent teeth in 63 and 148 primary teeth in 79 patients sustained a displacement type of injury; 13 presented with an alveolar fracture. These observations extend earlier information regarding the epidemiology of dental injuries in childhood.


West Nile virus isolation from equines in Argentina, 2006.
West Nile virus (WNV) was isolated from the brains of 3 horses that died from encephalitis in February 2006. The horses were from different farms in central Argentina and had not traveled outside the country. This is the first isolation of WNV in South America.


Comparison of the efficacy of kinesiotaping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with newly diagnosed lateral epicondylitis: A prospective randomized trial.
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of kinesiotaping (KT) and Extracorporeal Shock Wave therapy (ESWT) for patients with acute/subacute (complaints exist <3 months) lateral epicondylitis(LE) in terms of pain control, hand grip strength, and functionality. In total, 40 patients with newly diagnosed LE (27 females and 13 males with a mean age of 42.6 ± 8.4 years) were randomly allocated to receive a 3-week treatment of either KT for 5 days a week (n = 20) or ESWT once a week (n = 20). Patients were evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS), hand grip strength (HGS), Roles and Maudsley scale (RMS), and quick DASHat baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks of the treatment. Both KT and ESWT could achieve significant improvements in VAS, HGS, RMS, and Q-Dash after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. However, these improvements were more prominent in the KT group compared with ESWT after 4 and 8 weeks. KT group achieved lower VAS scores, higher HGS, lower RMS compared with ESWT (all P < 0.05). Both KT and ESWT could significantly improve pain, hand strength, and functionality in patients with newly diagnosed LE. However, these improvements were more prominent in the KT group. Considering the feasibility and the low cost of KT compared with ESWT, we recommend that KT should be considered for treating patients with newly diagnosed LE.


Isolation and characterization of the solvent-tolerant Bacillus cereus strain R1.
Toluene-tolerant gram-positive bacteria were isolated and identified to belong to the genus Bacillus. They grew in a medium containing yeast extract and in the presence of a separate phase of toluene or other hydrocarbons, but not when aliphatic alcohols were present. The isolate Bacillus cereus R1 did not metabolise or transform toluene. Toluene accumulation in its cells was rapid, unless the organism was supplied with glucose as energy source. In bacteria adapted to toluene, the amount of toluene accumulating in cells was one-half that in nonadapted bacteria. Valinomycin (K+ ionophore) and o-vanadate (ATPase inhibitor) as inhibitors of energy metabolism partly counteracted the effect of glucose as energy source. These results suggest the presence of an efflux mechanism for toluene in strain R1. The nature of this mechanism and its function in a solvent-tolerant gram-positive strain are discussed.


The new cell physiology: an outline, presented against its full historical background, beginning from the beginning.
The primary objective of this review is to present a brief outline of the new cell physiology. First introduced in 1962 under the title of the association-induction hypothesis, the theory is now confirmed in its essence, after more than thirty years of world-wide experimental testing. While minor, and even more than minor, improvements and revisions may yet be needed, the weight and scope of the confirmatory evidence have left little doubt that a comprehensive and coherent new theory of cell physiology is established. For the first time in history we have available a realistic cell physiology, awaiting to unite and to guide future biomedical research and teaching. The review also demonstrates in passing how, as well as why, the old cell physiology has fizzled so miserably. Instead of providing the guiding light for all biomedical research it has degenerated into a fairy tale of make-believe. This degradation began with a wrong theory. The situation has grown steadily worse with time by the impact of premature progressive fragmentation on something inherently indivisible; and by the universal adoption of the peer-review system which gives to those with strong vested interests in the preservation of the status quo absolute power in determining who prospers and who is cast out (see Endnote 9). It is thus hardly surprising that up to now, despite superlative chemical engineering know-how available and the lure of great financial awards, not a single drug has been designed from understanding, an understanding that will remain forever beyond reach as long as the guiding theory of the cell physiology is basically wrong. In contrast, in its brief history, and despite its minuscule list of subscribers and their endless debilitating struggle merely to stay alive (see Endnote 9), the new cell physiology has already generated one mankind-enhancing medical technology of major proportions, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI (see Ling, 1984, p. vii; 1992, p. xxv). To this day, most biomedical research scientists, teachers as well as students, still operate under the delusion that the old cell physiology, a little battered perhaps, is still basically sound. By far the greatest majority of them simply do not know enough; and it is hard for them to find a convenient source of relevant information that will help in this regard. A second purpose of the present review is to fill this need. To a few "true believers" of the old cell physiology the preservation of the status quo is of overriding importance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Study on the preparation and biological activities of low molecular weight squid ink polysaccharide from Sepiella maindroni.
Sepiella maindroni ink polysaccharide (SIP) from the ink of cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni and its sulfated derivative (SIP-SII) have been demonstrated to possess diverse biological activities. But little is known about low molecular weight squid ink polysaccharides (LMWSIPs). In this study, LMWSIPs were prepared by acidolysis, and the fragments with molecular weight (Mw) distribution in the ranges of 7 kDa to 9 kDa, 5 kDa to 7 kDa and 3 kDa to 5 kDa were grouped and named as LMWSIP-1, LMWSIP-2 and LMWSIP-3, respectively. The structural features of LMWSIPs were elucidated, and their anti-tumor, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities were also studied. The results showed that with the exception of LMWSIP-3, the main structures of LMWSIP-1 and LMWSIP-2 did not change compared with SIP. Though there were no significant differences in the antioxidant capacity between LMWSIPs and SIP, the anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities of SIP were enhanced to a certain extent after degradation. It is particularly noteworthy that the activities of LMWSIP-2 in anti-proliferation, promoting apoptosis and inhibiting migration of tumor cells as well as promoting the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes were significantly higher than those of SIP and the other degradation products, which is promising in the anti-tumor pharmaceutical field.