cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estudio aleatorizado controlado comparando los efectos de la anestesia con propofol, isoflurano, desflurano y sevoflurano sobre el dolor poscolecistectomía videolaparoscópica

Resumen Justificacion y objetivo el dolor es el principal motivo de queja y tambien la principal razon de una prolongada recuperacion tras una colecistectomia laparoscopica. Nuestra hipotesis fue que los pacientes sometidos a colecistectomia laparoscopica tenian menos dolor 4 h despues de la cirugia cuando recibian propofol para la anestesia en comparacion con isoflurano, desflurano o sevoflurano. Metodos en este estudio prospectivo y aleatorizado, 80 pacientes programados para colecistectomia laparoscopica fueron designados para recibir propofol, isoflurano, desflurano o sevoflurano para el mantenimiento de la anestesia. Nuestro primer resultado fue el dolor medido en escala analogica numerica 4 h despues de la cirugia. Tambien registramos el uso intraoperatorio de opiaceos y el consumo de analgesicos durante las primeras 24 h del postoperatorio. Resultados no hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas en las puntuaciones del dolor 4 h despues de la cirugia (p = 0,72). Tampoco hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas en las puntuaciones del dolor entre los grupos de tratamiento durante las 24 h del postoperatorio (p = 0,45). El uso intraoperatorio de fentanilo y morfina no vario significativamente entre los grupos (p = 0,21 y 0,24 respectivamente). No hubo una diferencia en el consumo total de morfina e hidrocodona/APAP durante las primeras 24 h (p = 0,61 y 0,53 respectivamente). Conclusiones los pacientes que recibieron propofol para el mantenimiento de la anestesia general no tenian menos dolor poscolecistectomia videolaparoscopica en comparacion con los que recibieron isoflurano, desflurano o sevoflurano.
Pineal Region Masses—Imaging Findings and Surgical Approaches

The anatomy of the pineal region is complex. Despite advances in surgical techniques since the first reported successful pineal region surgery in the early 20th century, pineal region surgery remains challenging owing to the proximity of deep cerebral veins and dorsal midbrain structures critical for vision. In this article, we review the relevant surgical anatomy of the pineal region and discuss historically important and current surgical approaches. We describe specific imaging features of pineal region masses that may affect surgical planning and review neoplastic and nonneoplastic masses that occur in the pineal region.
The Concept of the Learning Organization.

Starts from the premiss that, although initiatives such as Investors in People and total quality management link with the concept of the learning organization and attempt to inspire change to structural, cultural and ethical aspects of work organization, our understanding of organizations must aspire to a higher level of intellectual analysis if they are to be recognized as complex learning organisms within a turbulent environment. Beginning with a systems approach, explores ways in which organizations may learn and positively influence their environments. Suggests further insight, using biological, cybernetic, dialectical and chaos analyses to connect with the concept of the learning organization. Discusses implications for the position and perception of organizations in society if learning organizations are to evolve, and concludes that, while the concept presents a viable and, indeed, essential ideology to match current and future uncertainty, managers may find the transition problematic, with little g...
Utility of late N-isopropyl-p-(iodine-123)-iodoamphetamine brain distribution in predicting outcome following cerebral infarction.

The purpose of this study was to determine utility of late N-isopropyl-p-(iodine-123)-iodoamphetamine distribution in predicting neurological and language outcome.We prospectively studied 29 patients with unilateral hemispheric ischemic cerebral infarction using the neuroimaging method of single-photon emission computed tomography and the above tracer. Four different imaging measures reflecting late tracer distribution or redistribution and three measures indicative of the patients' overall neurological or language outcome at 3 months were used in the data analysis. All patients had neuroimaging within 30 days of infarction, and 14 patients were imaged within 10 days of infarction. Data analysis was performed for all patients combined and then separately on the groups imaged within 10 days of and more than 10 days after infarction.The volume of the late image defect significantly correlated with one measure of neurological outcome in the whole group and in those imaged more than 10 days after cerebral inf...
Refractive Surgery Survey 2003

Abstract To determine the refractive surgery preferences of ophthalmologists worldwide, questionnaires were sent to 8920 members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. A total of 1174 questionnaires was returned by the deadline. The practice distribution included 30.0% cataract surgeons, 47.3% comprehensive ophthalmologists, 14.4% refractive surgery (RS) specialists, 4.5% corneal/external disease specialists, 1.9% glaucoma specialists, and
Morphology of Rat Gastric Mucosal Damage, Defense, and Restitution in the Presence of Luminal Ethanol

The morphology of ligated rat stomachs filled with absolute ethanol for 1, 7, 15, 30, and 60 min was studied. With interrupted blood circulation, the entire mucosa was destroyed within minutes. With intact circulation, the mucosae remained macroscopically normal or developed visible lesions. Areas with lesions had extensive surface and gland cell disruption and were hemorrhagic and hyperemic. Histologically, nonlesion sites had about 92% of the mucous cells on the surface and upper gastric pits destroyed within 1 min. Detached necrotic cells and an accumulation of an exudate with fibrin fibers formed a thick layer over the damaged mucosal surface. Intact cells from the gastric pits started migrating over the denuded basal lamina and after 7 min about 4% of the surface was reepithelialized. Within the next 8 min there was a sharp increase in mucosal restitution to about 54%. After 30 min 84% of the mucosa was restituted and there was only a slight increase to about 87% after 1 h of continuous exposure to ethanol. After 30 min the ethanol was diluted to about 40% vol/vol. Focal geyserlike eruptions of plasma containing polymerized fibrin were visible at sites of epithelial discontinuity. Restitution of the mucosal surface in the presence of luminal ethanol may be facilitated by the favorable microehvironment created by the thick unstirred layer formed by the mucoid coat of necrotic cells, fibrin, and continued plasma shedding.
Role of silanol groups in dispersing Mo(VI) on silica

Infrared spectroscopy was used to follow the intensity of the isolated silanol stretching mode during the reversible transformation of supported molybdenum between the hydrated, polymolybdate structure and the dehydrated, isolated Mo6+ structure. The isolated silanol absorbance intensity was attenuated upon dehydration and spreading of Mo6+. The Si-OH (or Si-OD) silanol band was regenerated by rehydration with H2O (or D2O). A model for spreading is proposed in which the surface silanol groups are the sites for attachment of the isolated Mo6+ cation.
The impact of interoperability of electronic health records on ambulatory physician practices: a discrete-event simulation study

Background The effect of health information technology (HIT) on efficiency and workload among clinical and nonclinical staff has been debated, with conflicting evidence about whether electronic health records (EHRs) increase or decrease effort. None of this paper to date, however, examines the effect of interoperability quantitatively using discrete event simulation techniques. Objective To estimate the impact of EHR systems with various levels of interoperability on day-to-day tasks and operations of ambulatory physician offices. Methods Interviews and observations were used to collect workflow data from 12 adult primary and specialty practices. A discrete event simulation model was constructed to represent patient flows and clinical and administrative tasks of physicians and staff members. Results High levels of EHR interoperability were associated with reduced time spent by providers on four tasks: preparing lab reports, requesting lab orders, prescribing medications, and writing referrals. The implementation of an EHR was associated with less time spent by administrators but more time spent by physicians, compared with time spent at paper-based practices. In addition, the presence of EHRs and of interoperability did not significantly affect the time usage of registered nurses or the total visit time and waiting time of patients. Conclusion This paper suggests that the impact of using HIT on clinical and nonclinical staff work efficiency varies, however, overall it appears to improve time efficiency more for administrators than for physicians and nurses.
Indoleamine stores in maturing mouse brain reexposed to citalopram following extended uptake inhibition.

Abstract o 1. Mice of various ages between birth and adulthood were injected daily for 5 days with theserotonin specific uptake inhibitor citalopram (LU 10-171). 2 days later they were reinjected with citalopram 2. 2 hr, 1 day and 3 days following the last injection animals were killed and their brains assayed for5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA). 3. Brains were found to still respond to citalopram's acute action despite the fact younger brains had undergone long term alteration of 5-HIAA stores. 4. The possibility that indoleamines are subject to different regulatory mechanisms in young brain isdiscussed.
Pseudomonas osteomyelitis in children following puncture wounds

Abstract Pseudomonas osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in the foot is a rare but important complication of puncture wounds. Only 2 cases have been previously reported from the UK. Nine cases are presented which suggest that this condition is no less common than in the USA. The diagnosis is often delayed, and when made there is often extensive bone and joint destruction requiring prolonged treatment, the mean inpatient stay was 20.3 days. In 6 cases antibiotic therapy included ciprofloxacin, an orally active anti- Pseudomonas antibiotic which reduced the period of parenteral therapy.
Time‐resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer: A versatile tool for the analysis of nucleic acids

The biological functions of nucleic acids in processes of DNA replication, transcription, homologous recombination, mRNA translation, and ribozyme catalysis are intimately linked to their three-dimensional structures and to conformational changes induced by proteins, metal ions and other ligands. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful technique for probing the structure and conformational dynamics of biological macromolecules under a wide range of solution conditions. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) provides long-range distance information from 10 to 100 A, a range that is useful for probing the global structure of nucleic acids. While steady-state measurements of FRET provide the average distance between donor and acceptor, much more information is available from the analysis of the nanosecond emission decay of the donor in time-resolved FRET (trFRET) experiments. Analysis of the decay in terms of donor-acceptor distance distributions can resolve different conformers in a heterogeneous mixture, providing information on the global structure and flexibility of each species as well as their equilibrium populations. In this review, we outline the principles of trFRET and the methods used to incorporate fluorescent probes into DNA and RNA. Examples of specific applications are presented to illustrate the versatility of trFRET as a tool to define global structures, to identify conformational heterogeneity and flexibility, to investigate the energetics of tertiary structure formation and to probe structural rearrangements of nucleic acids.
Education and training of aged-care providers

Population ageing has become a global concern. As persons age they are likely to experience multiple changes, declines, and losses, resulting in multifaceted needs. Psychosocial needs are varied and diverse, reflecting the extreme heterogeneity of the older population and the frequent co-morbidity of physical and mental problems. Training of care providers to work with older people requires an interdisciplinary focus, with biological, psychological, and social aspects of ageing as integral parts of the curriculum. Models for training of aged care professionals include the integration, separate course, area of concentration, and interdisciplinary approaches. In addition, supervised experiences and training in interpersonal skills are required for all service providers. The applications of training models in gerontological and counselling training are described. Implications for education and training of aged-care providers are discussed.
A new method for long-term intravenous alimentation in unrestrained rats.

Existing equipment for long-term iv alimentation in small laboratory animals is somewhat cumbersome and quite costly. Although a one-time expense, the cost of this equipment may not be economically viable for many researchers. Herein we present a novel method for long-term iv alimentation in unrestrained rats that is practical, inexpensive, and easily assembled from readily available materials. This new "proxy" set was tested and compared with the standard swivel assembly set. Statistical analysis showed no difference in measured parameters in rats infused by either method. However, the cost of the new set (excluding pump) was almost 90 times less than its commercially available counterpart. This self-constructed approach should bring small animal research within the economic means of most investigators. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 8:581-584)
MDA and DOM: Substituted amphetamines that do not produce amphetamine-like discriminative stimuli in the rat

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) are amphetamine congeners that produce both amphetamine-like and LSD-like effects. To evaluate whether MDA and DOM should be classed with amphetamine, their capacity to produce amphetamine-like discriminative stimuli was assessed. Rats were trained to discriminate between saline and 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine in a two choice, discrete trial shock avoidance paradigm. Neither MDA nor DOM produced any amphetamine-appropriate responding when tested over a 30-fold dose range. The specificity of the procedure to detect amphetamine-like effects was demonstrated by the failure of LSD to produce any amphetamine-appropriate responding. These results suggest that neither MDA nor DOM should be classed as amphetamine-like agents.
Singular perturbation methods for discrete time systems

Some problems associated with applications of the singular perturbation method to the two-time scale discretized time systems are addressed. In practice, the small parameter of the fast time system is often implicit or unknown. A redefinition of the two-time scale property is proposed to resolve this and other related problems. Application to optimal regulators, design tradeoffs, and performance evaluation are also discussed. A practical example of a large space structure system is used to demonstrate the design procedure for implementing the singular perturbation techniques.
"Alliance Contracts: Bargaining Power, Network Effects and Value Appropriation in Alliances"

We suggest and provide empirical evidence that the bargaining power of the R&D (biotech) firm and client (pharmaceutical) firm stemming from their prominence in alliance networks influences i) the ...
Matrix Metalloproteinases in Blood Vessel Development in Human Fetal Skin and in Cutaneous Tumors

In vitro angiogenesis models suggest that new blood vessel formation requires the induction and secretion by endothelial cells of matrix metalloproteinases. These enzymes assist in the controlled proteolytic degradation of the surrounding extracellular matrix during blood vessel formation. The results of in vitro studies cannot be extrapolated directly to the process of in vivo angiogenesis because the type of matrix employed and the repertoire of enzymes secreted by cells in vivo differ dramatically from in viva conditions. To investigate the in viva role of matrix metalloproteinases in blood vessel development, we looked for the presence of these proteinases in endothelial cells involved in fetal angiogenesis and in neovascularization of certain invasive skin tumors using finmunofluorescent staining. In fetal tissue, interstitial collagenase was present in both early microvessels developing from undifferentiated mesoderm and in microvessels involved in elongation and sprout formation from preexisting blood vessels. In aggressive skin tumors, i.e., morpheaform and recurrent basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, there was a marked increase in the number of collagenase- containing blood vessels, often extending into the tumor nests. Immunofluorescent staining failed to detect stromelysin, matrilysin, or gelatinase A and B (72- and 92-kDa type IV collagenases, respectively) in fetal or tumor blood vessels. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix is required for the formation of new blood vessels. Interstitial collagenase appears to play an important role in this process.
Why are today's medical students choosing high-technology specialties over internal medicine?

The annual meeting of the Association of Professors of Medicine, an organization of the chairpersons of the departments of medicine of our nation's 125 medical schools, was held last May. Much of t...
A Neglected Factor in the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: A Comment

(1950). A Neglected Factor in the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: A Comment. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 271-279.
Hyperbolic Motion in Curved Space Time

The differential equations of motion for a test particle moving with uniform acceleration in a curved space time are proposed. They are obtained by generalizing the differential-geometric characteristics of a rectangular hyperbola in Minkowski space time. The problem is proposed, though not solved, of deriving these equations of motion from the field equations of general relativity. However, it is suggested that they also hold independently of general relativity in cosmological space times based on the Robertson-Walker metric. The equations are solved in detail for the particular case of de Sitter space time, which is relevant to the steady-state theory. It is found, inter alia, that in this space time a particle moving radially with uniform acceleration ultimately moves with constant relative velocity through the substratum; that there is a critical first fundamental particle (galaxy) on its line of motion which it will never overtake; that, in turn, a light signal emitted at or after a certain critical time will not catch up with the accelerating particle; and that, if a particle with a given available acceleration $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ passes beyond a certain proper distance (the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ horizon) it can no longer return to its place of origin. Possible applications to intergalactic rocketry are examined.
Lessons From Experts: Improving College Science Instruction Through Case Teaching

The overall aim of this article is to introduce case teaching to college professors who may wish to increase their students' level of engagement with science, mathematics, and engineering. Case teaching is an incredibly adaptable instructional method able to involve students in higher levels of cognitive processing. The explicit purposes of this article are (a) to answer some of the basic questions about case teaching and (b) to show how other science and engineering professors have employed cases in their college courses. The basic questions addressed in the article include the following: What is case teaching? What can case teaching do for college science classrooms? and Where can I go to get more information on case teaching? Information from the National Center for Case Teaching in Science website is referenced. The second half of this article illustrates how cases are used in college science and engineering courses based upon interviews with expert case teachers. Several descriptive vignettes and “lessons” from these experts are available to show how case teaching can be applied in diverse contexts.
Surface tension of strange-quark matter in the early Universe.

The surface tension of strange-quark matter at finite temperature and pressure is calculated using the MIT bag model and is applied to strange-quark matter created in the QCD phase transition in the early Universe. The surface tension is sufficiently small that any strange-quark matter would have boiled away in the early Universe.
Personality Assessment Inventory scores as predictors of misconduct, recidivism, and violence: A meta-analytic review.

More than 30 studies have examined the ability of scores on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) to predict violence or misconduct. The Antisocial Features (ANT), Aggression (AGG), and Violence Potential Index (VPI) Scales of the PAI, in particular, have received substantial attention as predictors of institutional infractions and criminal recidivism. The current study used meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive review of the ability of scores on these and other PAI scales to predict misbehavior. Scores on the ANT (d =.26 to.39) and AGG (d =.23 to.40) scales consistently emerged as small to moderate predictors of misbehavior. Effects tended to be larger in correctional than treatment settings (e.g., ANT d =.44 vs. .20), for institutional misconduct than recidivism (e.g., AGG d =.37 vs. .23), and for institutional misconduct studies with follow up periods of at least 1.5 years (e.g., ANT d =.46). Overall, findings provide support for the predictive validity of multiple PAI scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Risk analysis of coronary bypass surgery after acute myocardial infarction

Background. Current strategies for management of acute myocardial infarction (MI) include thrombolysis, angioplasty, and coronary bypass surgery singly or in combination. This study was designed to identify contemporary risk factors for coronary bypass surgery among patients in this high-risk group. Methods. Between June 1992 and December 1995, 1181 consecutive patients underwent isolated coronary bypass surgery. Of these, 316 underwent coronary bypass surgery within 21 days of MI. Mean age was 65 years (range, 33 to 87 years), and 73% were male. There were 166 patients with stable angina (group 1), 107 patients with unstable angina requiring intravenous nitroglycerin for a control of ischemia (group 2), 20 patients with angina requiring intraaortic balloon counterpulsation for stabilization (group 3), and 23 patients with severe postinfarction ischemia complicated by cardiogenic shock (group 4). Results. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 5.1% (16 of 316), which was higher (p < 0.05) than the 2.5% (22 of 865) among patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery without recent myocardial infarction. Mortality increased with severity of clinical preoperative status and was 1.2% in group 1, 3.7% in group 2, 20.0% in group 3, and 26% in group 4. Serious postoperative morbidity occurred in 7.3% of patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified preoperative intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, left ventricular dysfunction, and renal insufficiency as the only independent correlates of mortality. Conclusions. Coronary bypass surgery can be safely performed in stable patients at any time after acute MI, with an operative mortality similar to elective surgery. Thus, in this era of medical cost containment, there is no apparent indication for prolonged stabilization attempts that delay surgery.
The Inhibitors of Protein Acylation, Cerulenin and Tunicamycin, Increase Voltage-Dependent Ca2+ Currents in the Insulin-secreting INS 832/13 Cell

As it has been suggested that protein acylation plays a role in nutrient stimulus-secretion coupling in the pancreatic beta-cell, we examined the insulin-secreting INS 832/13 beta-cell line for evidence that protein acylation was involved. The perforated whole-cell configuration was employed to voltage-clamp INS 832/13 cells. Voltage pulses were applied and Ca(2+) currents measured in the presence and absence of the protein acylation inhibitors cerulenin and tunicamycin. Both inhibitors enhanced the peak amplitude of I(Ca,L). Both increased the peak inward current in the range between -40 and +30mV and shifted the apparent maximum current by 10mV in the hyperpolarizing direction without affecting the activation threshold of -40mV. The two drugs had qualitatively and quantitatively similar effects. Steady-state activation curves revealed that cerulenin and tunicamycin shifted the activation curves in the hyperpolarization direction. Activation time constants were significantly reduced in the presence of both drugs. The Ca(2+) charge influx was increased by the drugs at all potentials tested. In contrast to these effects on the L-type Ca(2+) channel, the two inhibitors of protein acylation had no effect on the ATP-sensitive K(+) channel. The results suggest that protein acylation exerts a tonic inhibitory effect on L-type Ca(2+) channel function in the insulin-secreting beta-cell.
Volume changes during fracture and frictional sliding: A review

Volume changes in geologic materials have been measured with strain gauges, cantilever displacement gauges, or through observation of either pore or total volume. When porosity is less than 0.05, compaction is small or absent; apart from elastic strains in the minerals, dilatancy predominates, beginning at 50 to 75 percent of the fracture stress difference. When initial porosity exceeds about 0.05, compaction and dilatancy may overlap. The onset of dilatancy has not been identified, but most of the dilatancy occurs within about 10 percent of the fracture stress difference. In low porosity rocks, dilatancy increases initial porosity by a factor of 2 or more; in porous rocks or granular aggregates the increase is only 20 to 50 percent. However, the actual pore volume increase is larger in rocks of high initial porosity. Hence, earthquake precursors which depend on the magnitude of dilatancy should be more pronounced in porous rocks or in fault gouge. In contrast, precursors which are based on fractional changes in some porosity-related property may be more pronounced in rocks of low initial porosity. Future work is particularly needed on constitutive relations suitable for major classes of rocks, on the effects of stress cycling in porous rocks, on the effects of high temperature and pore fluids on dilatancy and compaction, and on the degree of localization of strain prior to fracture.
Chylous Ascites in a Patient with HIV/AIDS: A Late Complication of Mycobacterium avium Complex-Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome

Chylous ascites is very rare in HIV/AIDS and its association with Mycobacterium avium complex-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (MAC-IRIS) has been rarely reported. Here, we report a case of a young African-American male who developed chylous ascites as a late sequela to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome while on treatment for MAC. Antiretroviral drug-naive patients who start HAART in close proximity to the diagnosis of an opportunistic infection and have a rapid decline in HIV RNA level should be monitored for development of IRIS. Although the long term prognosis is poor, early diagnosis and treatment help to improve quality of life.
Pearson chi-squared test of fit with random intervals

SUMMARY A modified form of the Pearson x2 test statistic is considered where estimators based on the ungrouped sample are employed in the test statistic as well as in determining the class interval end points. In the case of continuous distributions with location and scale parameters, it is shown here that the null distribution of such a modified test statistic does not depend on the parameters if these are estimated by sample mean and variance. By utilizing known results concerning the distribution of a weighted sum of independent chi-squared variates, a table of certain percentage points of the asymptotic distribution of this modified test statistic is developed in order to facilitate its use for testing normality. case of continuous distributions. In the first place, how should the class intervals be formed and how many should there be? Secondly, if there are unknown parameters, how should they be estimated and what is their effect on the test? Aside from the complexities arising in deriving estimators ofthe parameters, the resulting distribution ofX2, the Pearson x2 statistic, can be quite different from that of x2, depending upon the method of estimation, as was observed by Chernoff & Lehmann (1954). Thirdly, the estimation of class probabilities when parameters are unknown is also usually complicated in the case of continuous dis- tributions. In considering the problem of how the class intervals should be formed in using the X2 statistic, A.R. Roy in an unpublished report, and Watson (1957, 1958, 1959) relaxed the requirement of fixed class boundaries and utilized estimators of the parameters to determine the end points of the intervals. The estimators employed for this purpose as well as for substitution in the X2 statistic were based on the ungrouped sample. In the present paper we extend a result of Roy to show, in the case of unknown location and scale parameters, that the asymptotic null distribution of the test statistic does not involve the unknown parameters when they are estimated by the sample mean and sample variance respectively. As an application of the technique developed here, we provide a table of some percentage points of the asymptotic distribution of the Pearson statistic modified in the above manner, based on equal probability classes, and used to test for normality. The number of class intervals to be employed in the test should depend on the alternative distributions. This requires knowledge of the corresponding asymptotic nonnull distribution of the test statistic and will be given for various alternatives in a subsequent
Sustained reduction of proteinuria in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes following diet-induced reduction of hyperglycaemia

To determine whether sustained control of hyperglycaemia in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients would diminish proteinuria, the effect of hypocaloric diet therapy (500 kcal/day) on proteinuria was assessed in obese, Type 2 diabetic patients (n=24) and compared with results obtained for obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance (n=7) and impaired glucose tolerance (n=6). Diet therapy of similar mean duration resulted in similar percentage weight loss (mean percentage of original weight ±SEM) in diabetic (13.6±1.6%), glucose intolerant (16.4±3.3%) and obese nondiabetic (11.0±1.0%) subjects. Following therapy, plasma glucose concentrations 2h after an oral glucose load declined in the diabetic (18.34±0.81 to 10.67±0.50 mmol/1, mean ±SEM; p 30, < 500 mg/24h), whereas following diet therapy, only three out of the 11 had subclinical albuminuria. For all subjects, the decrease in albumin excretion following diet therapy was significantly correlated with the initial albumin excretion (r=0.63, p<0.0001). In one diabetic subject, whose glucose tolerance and albumin excretion were sequentially monitored for 14 months, the decreases in glycaemia and proteinuria observed in the first month of therapy persisted after discontinuation of diet therapy. Thus, metabolic control of Type2 diabetes by a hypocaloric diet produced significant sustained reductions in proteinuria. The question remains whether or not this retards the development of clinical nephropathy or end stage renal disease.
Restricted diastolic opening of the mitral leaflets in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: evidence for increased valve tethering.

Abstract Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that patients with incomplete systolic mitral leaflet closure (IMLC: apically displaced coaptation) also have restricted diastolic leaflet opening that is independent of mitral inflow volume and provides evidence supporting increased leaflet tethering. Background. Competing hypotheses for functional mitral regurgitation (MR) with IMLC include global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction per se (reduced leaflet closing force) versus geometric distortion of the mitral apparatus by LV dilation (augmented leaflet tethering). These are inseparable in systole, but restricted leaflet motion has also been observed in diastole, and attributed to reduced mitral inflow. Methods. Diastolic mitral leaflet excursion and orifice area were measured by two-dimensional echocardiography in 58 patients with global LV dysfunction, 36 with and 22 without IMLC, compared with 21 normal subjects. The biplane Simpson’s method was used to calculate LV ejection volume, which equals mitral inflow volume in the absence of aortic regurgitation. Results. The diastolic mitral leaflet excursion angle was markedly reduced in patients with IMLC compared with those without IMLC, whose ventricles were smaller, and normal subjects (17 ± 10° vs. 58 ± 13° vs. 67 ± 8°, p Conclusions. Patients with LV dysfunction and systolic IMLC also have restricted diastolic leaflet excursion that is independent of inflow volume, coincides with the tethering line connecting the annulus and papillary muscle and reflects limitation of anterior motion relative to the posteriorly placed papillary muscles without a decrease in total orifice area. These observations are consistent with increased tethering by displaced mitral leaflet attachments in the dilated ventricles of patients with IMLC that can restrict both diastolic opening and systolic closure.
Food-induced Anaphylaxis: Mast Cells as Modulators of Anaphylactic Severity

A food-induced anaphylactic reaction can occur within seconds to a few hours following exposure to the causal food allergen and often affects multiple organ systems including gastrointestinal, cutaneous, respiratory, and cardiovascular. A conundrum in the allergy field is that consumption of the same allergen can cause reactions of vastly different severity in separate individuals; one patient may experience a mild non-life-threatening reaction characterized by pruritis of lips or urticaria whereas another may experience a life-threatening reaction that involves respiratory and cardiovascular compromise leading to loss of consciousness and sometimes death. While there are tests available to determine the predictive risk value of a positive food challenge test or clinical reactivity, there is currently no reliable method to distinguish between individuals who are at risk of mild non-life-threatening versus life-threatening reaction. Recent research has significantly advanced our understanding of the involvement of immune pathways in the effector phase of food-induced anaphylaxis; a void remains regarding our understanding of the contribution of these pathways to severity of disease. In this review, we discuss mild non-life-threatening versus life-threatening food-induced anaphylaxis and factors (co-morbidities and immune activation) that predispose individuals to more severe disease. Furthermore, we summarize recent advancements in our understanding of the involvement of underlying immune pathways in systemic and food-induced anaphylaxis in mouse systems and discuss how these pathways may contribute to more severe disease phenotype.
Effect of homoharringtonine on the viability of murine leukemia P388 cells resistant to either adriamycin, vincristine, or 1-β- D -arabinofuranosylcytosine

Cultured murine leukemia P388 cell populations were derived from P388 cells resistant to vincristine (P388/VCR), adriamycin (P388/ADR), and 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (P388/ARA-C) that were developed in vivo and to the parental drug-sensitive cells (P388/O) that were passaged in vivo. The doubling times of the cultured cell populations (mean±SD) between cell densities of 5×104 and 1×106 cells/ml were 14.2±2 h (P388/O), 16.5±1.9 h (P388/VCR), 16.9±1.2 h (P388/ADR), and 15.0±1.4 h (P388/ARA-C). Exponentially proliferating cultured cell populations were exposed to selected homoharringtonine (HHT) concentrations for 24 h and the surviving cell fractions were determined by colony formation in semisolid medium. The results, based on differential sensitivity of the cell populations to HHT, indicated that cultured P388/VCR cells were cross-resistant to 0.018–1.8 μg/ml HHT, P388/ADR cells were cross-resistant to 0.058–1.8 μg/ml HHT, and P388/ARA-C cells were collaterally sensitive to 0.09–0.36 μg/ml HHT. The results with the cultured P388/VCR, P388/ADR, P388/ARA-C, and P388/O cell populations were confirmed in animal experiments. CD2F1 mice bearing intraperitoneal (i.p.) implants of 1×106 P388/VCR, P388/ADR, P388/ARA-C, or P388/O leukemia cells were given HHT i.p. qd on days 1–9 postimplantation. Optimal treatment (≤LD10) produced in vivo cell kills of 2 to 3 log10 units in P388/O and about 7 log10 units in P388/ARA-C, whereas P388/VCR and P388/ADR cells actually increased by 1–2 log10 units during treatment. The results of this study indicate that cross-resistance (P388/VCR and P388/ADR) or collateral sensitivity to HHT (P388/ARA-C) is a function of the cellular properties of the target tumor cell populations that is independent of host factors.
Acoustic emission of retrofitted fiber-wrapped columns

In recent years, fiber-wrapping technique has become increasingly popular for retrofitting of existing bridge pier columns in seismic zones. By the way of confinement, the external jacket enhances strength, ductility and shear performance of the column. However, since state of the concrete core is not visible from outside of the jacket, it is of great necessity to develop proper non-destructive methods to evaluate structural integrity of the column. Extensive research on FRP-confined concrete at the University of Central Florida has shown that failure of such hybrid columns is often accompanied by considerable audible and sub-audible noise, making acoustic emission (AE) a viable NDE technique for retrofitted columns. Acoustic emission from fiber-wrapped concrete specimens were monitored. A total of 24 concrete specimens with two types of construction (bonded and unbonded) and four different number of layers (1, 3, 5 and 7) were tested under uniaxial compression. All specimens were made of S-glass fabric and polyester resin with a core diameter of 6' and a length of 12'. Some of the specimens were subjected to cycles of loading and unloading to examine the presence of the Kaiser and the Felicity effects. A 4-channel AEDSP-32/16 (Mistras-2001) machine from Physical Acoustics Corp. was used for the experiments. Results indicate that AE energy and the number of AE counts can both be good representatives for the response of confined concrete. Further, plots of AE energy versus load follows the same bilinear trend that has been observed in the stress-strain response of such specimens. Finally, Felicity effect was observed in all composite specimens.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Yin Yang 1 Negatively Regulates the Differentiation-Specific E1 Promoter of Human Papillomavirus Type 6

Human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) is a low-risk HPV whose replication cycle, like that of all HPVs, is differentiation dependent. We have previously shown that CCAAT displacement protein (CDP) binds the differentiation-induced HPV-6 E1 promoter and negatively regulates its activity in undifferentiated cells (W. Ai, E. Toussaint, and A. Roman, J. Virol. 73:4220–4229, 1999). Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), we now report that Yin Yang 1 (YY1), a multifunctional protein that can act as a transcriptional activator or repressor and that can also inhibit HPV replication in vitro, binds the HPV-6 E1 promoter. EMSAs, using subfragments of the promoter as competitors, showed that the YY1 binding site is located at the 5′ end of the E1 promoter. When a putative YY1 site was mutated, the ability of YY1 to bind was greatly decreased. The activity of the mutated E1 promoter, monitored with the reporter gene luciferase , was threefold greater than that of the wild-type promoter, suggesting that YY1 negatively regulates HPV-6 E1 promoter activity. Nuclear extracts from differentiated keratinocytes showed decreased binding of YY1 to the wild-type promoter. Consistent with this, in differentiated keratinocytes, the activity of the transfected luciferase gene transcribed from the mutated promoter was comparable to that of the wild-type promoter; both promoters were up-regulated in differentiated keratinocytes compared to undifferentiated cells. These data suggest that YY1 functions in undifferentiated keratinocytes but not in differentiated keratinocytes. Both the wild-type and mutated promoters could be negatively regulated by overexpression of a plasmid encoding CDP. Thus, both YY1 and CDP appear to be negative regulators of the differentiation-induced HPV-6 E1 promoter and thereby the HPV life cycle. In contrast, only binding of CDP was detected using the E1 promoter of the high-risk HPV-31.
Efficient development of plasmodium liver stage-specific memory CD8+ T cells during the course of blood-stage malarial infection.

Immunity to Plasmodium liver stages in individuals in malaria-endemic areas is inextricably linked to concomitant blood-stage parasitemia. Although Plasmodium sporozoite infection induces measurable CD8 T cell responses,thedevelopmentofmemoryTcellsduringactiveerythrocyticinfectionremainsuncharacterized.Using transgenic T cells, we assessed antigen-specific effector CD8 T cell responses induced by normal (NorSpz) and radiation-attenuated (IrrSpz) Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites. The magnitude, phenotypic activation, and differentiation pathway of CD8 T cells were similarly induced by NorSpz and IrrSpz. Moreover, in normal mice, memoryTcellselicitedafterprimingwithNorSpzandIrrSpzgeneratedidenticalrecallresponsesafteraheterologousbooststrategy.Furthermore,theserecallresponsesexhibitedcomparableinvivoantiparasiteactivity.Our resultsindicatethatsporozoitesthatretaintheirinfectivecapacityinducememoryCD8Tcellsthatarerobustly recalledbysecondaryimmunization.Thus,erythrocyticinfectiondoesnotprecludetheestablishmentofmemory CD8T cell responses to malarial liver stages. Protective immunity against malarial parasite infection induced after immunization with attenuated, -irradiated sporozoites (IrrSpz) is considered the gold standard in the development of experimental antiinfectionmalariavaccines.Earlystudieshaveshownthat rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans immunized with IrrSpz develop an immune response that confers sterile immunity to challenge with untreated normal
QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube testing for tuberculosis in healthcare professionals.

Objective: To assess the performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube (QFT-GIT) assay for tuberculosis (TB) screening using a convenience sample from among a population of healthcare provider (HCP) employees of a hospital. Methods: For the individuals in our cohort, we reviewed occupational health records, including TB risk factors, and the results of QFT-GIT testing. We considered a QFT-GIT result of greater than 0.35 IU/mL to be positive; when we obtained a positive result from a specimen from a particular individual, we repeated testing on a fresh specimen from that individual. Results: Of the 758 HCP employees whose specimens we screened, 439 had negative QFT-GIT results with negative TB risk factors and 268 had a negative QFT-GIT result but had positive TB risk factors. QFT-GIT results were positive in 47 subjects. Of the positive participants, 12 had a mean TB antigen value (antigen minus nil stimulated concentrations [Ag-Nil]) of 0.61 on initial testing and had a negative result on repeat testing, 22 had a TB Ag-Nil of 1.19 on initial testing and had a positive result on repeat testing ( P = .01). Conclusions: The QFT-GIT assay is useful for screening HCPs. However, false-positive results occur, particularly in a borderline zone of less than 1 IU/ml. Re-evaluation by repeat testing of fresh specimens from the same individual should be considered in subjects whose specimens test within the low-level positive cutoff. * TB : tuberculosis WHO : World Health Organization HCPs : health care professionals TST : tuberculin skin test BCG : Bacillus Calmette-Guerin IGRAs : interferon-γ release assays CDC : Center for Disease Control and Prevention QFT-GIT : QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube EIA : enzyme-linked immunoassay Ag-Nil : antigen minus nil stimulated concentrations LTBI : latent tuberculosis infection
Geometrical representation of the fundamental mode of a Gaussian beam in oblate spheroidal coordinates

A new geometrical model for the fundamental mode of a Gaussian beam is presented in the oblate spheroidal coordinate system. The model is an interpretation of a Gaussian amplitude wave function, which is an exact solution of the scalar Helmholtz equation. The model uses the skew-line generator of a hyperboloid of one sheet as a raylike element on a contour of constant amplitude. The geometrical characteristics of the skew line and the consequences of treating it as a ray are explored in depth. Finally, the skew line is used to build a nonorthogonal coordinate system that permits straight-line propagation of a Gaussian beam in three-dimensional space.
Serologic survey of the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus in Guangdong Province, China: a cross sectional study.

Background Relying on surveillance of clinical cases limits the ability to understand the full impact and severity of an epidemic, which urges a deep insight into the serological evidence of infection and transmission feature of pandemic H1N1 2009 (pH1N1) virus in Guangdong province.
High resolution reduced-FOV Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the human pons with multi-shot variable density spiral at 3T

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of localized anatomical regions (i.e brainstem, cervical spinal cord, and optic nerve) is challenging because of the existence of significant susceptibility differences in the surrounding tissues, their high motion sensitivity and the need for high spatial resolution to resolve the underlying complex histoarchitecture. The aim of the present methodology is to achieve high resolution DTI with motion compensating capability in localized regions of the central nervous system. We accomplish this by implementing self-navigated multi-shot variable density spiral encoding with outer volume suppression. In vivo application of the technique on the human brainstem demonstrates a clear delineation of the multiple local neural tracts. We also investigate the partial volume effect on the extracted diffusion anisotropy metrics by varying the in-plane resolution while maintaining a constant signal-to-noise ratio.