Ultrasonically assisted removal of Congo Red, Phloxine B and Fast green FCF in ternary mixture using novel nanocomposite following their simultaneous analysis by derivative spectrophotometry.

Abstract: In this study dependency of simultaneous adsorption of Congo Red (CR), Phloxine B (BP) and Fast green FCF (FG) onto CuS/ZnS nanocomposites loaded on activated carbon (CuS/ZnS-NCs-AC) to pH, adsorbent mass, sonication time and initial dyes concentration were modeled and optimized, while CuS/ZnS-NCs-AC was identified by XRD, FESEM and EDS analysis. CR, PB and FG concentration determination were undertaken by first and second order derivative spectrophotometry in ternary mixture. According to central composite design (CCD) based on desirability function (DF), the best experimental conditions was set as pH 6.0, 0.02g CuS/ZnS-NCs-AC, 5min sonication time, 15mgL-1 for PB and 10mgL-1 for other dyes. Conduction of experiments to above conditions lead to highest dyes removal efficiency of 99.72, 98.8 and 98.17 for CR, PB and FG, respectively. The adsorption data efficiently fitted by Langmuir isotherm model, while the order of maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) for PB (128.21mgg-1)>CR (88.57mgg-1)>FG (73.40mgg-1) is related to their different structure and charges. Kinetics of process was efficiently explained according to pseudo-second-order kinetic in cooperation of Weber and Morris based on intraparticle diffusion.

Pooralhossini|Jaleh|J|
Ghaedi|Mehrorang|M|
Zanjanchi|Mohammad Ali|MA|
Asfaram|Arash|A|

Ternary mixtures
Nanocomposite
Derivative spectrophotometry
Adsorption
Optimization
Ultrasound


Molecular modeling and structure-activity relationships for a series of benzimidazole derivatives as cruzain inhibitors.

Abstract:
AIM
Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America and no effective treatment is available. Efforts in drug research have focused on several enzymes from Trypanosoma cruzi, among which cruzain is a validated pharmacological target.

METHODOLOGY
Chemometric analyses were performed on the data set using the hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship, comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity index analysis methods. Docking simulations were executed using the crystallographic structure of cruzain in complex with a benzimidazole inhibitor. The top-scoring enzyme-inhibitor complexes were selected for the development of the 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models and to assess the inhibitor binding modes and intermolecular interactions.

RESULTS
Benzimidazole derivatives as cruzain inhibitors were used in molecular docking and QSAR studies. Significant statistical indicators were obtained, and the best models demonstrated high predictive ability for an external test set (r 2pred = 0.65, 0.94 and 0.82 for hologram QSAR, comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity index analysis, respectively). Additionally, the graphical information of the chemometric analyses demonstrated substantial complementarity with the enzyme-binding site.

CONCLUSION
These results demonstrate the relevance of the QSAR models to guide the design of structurally related benzimidazole derivatives with improved potency.

Pauli|Ivani|I|
Ferreira|Leonardo G|LG|
de Souza|Mariana L|ML|
Oliva|Glaucius|G|
Ferreira|Rafaela S|RS|
Dessoy|Marco A|MA|
Slafer|Brian W|BW|
Dias|Luiz C|LC|
Andricopulo|Adriano D|AD|

molecular modeling
Trypanosoma cruzi
QSAR
CoMFA
CoMSIA
HQSAR
LBDD
SBDD


College students' experiences with substance use at electronic music events: A qualitative study.

Abstract: Objective: To understand college students' experiences with substance use at electronic music events (EME), including harm-reduction strategies and receptivity to educational intervention.Participants: A purposeful sample of undergraduate students at a private Southeastern university was recruited from April 2019 to May 2019 using online advertising and in-person tabling.Methods: A qualitative, descriptive research design utilizing semistructured focus groups.Results: Five focus groups were conducted (n = 18). A thematic analysis revealed three main themes: substance use is commonplace; substance use and protective behaviors; and universities' role in substance education. Additional categories and subcategories were identified within each theme.Conclusion: Substance use at EME is a common experience for college students. Several challenges and opportunities exist for universities working to promote harm reduction practices. Prevention efforts should be event-specific, incorporate student input to engage learning more effectively, and work to reduce barriers that deter students from taking safety precautions when using substances.

College
substance use
electronic music events
harm reduction


Total synthesis of aurachins C, D, and L, and a structurally simplified analog of aurachin C.

Abstract: The quinoline antibiotics aurachins C, D, and L, and a structurally simplified analog of aurachin C were synthesized from 1-(2-nitrophenyl)butane-1,3-dione via reductive cyclizations of δ-nitro ketone intermediates, with zinc or iron as key steps. The results of antimicrobial tests indicate that the N-hydroxyquinolone nucleus mimics the electron carrier in the respiratory chain more strongly than the quinoline N-oxide nucleus.

Enomoto|Masaru|M| Kitagawa|Wataru|W| Yasutake|Yoshiaki|Y| Shimizu|Hiroki|H|

aurachins
quinoline antibiotics
reductive cyclization


Can Photobiomodulation Therapy Be an Alternative to Methylprednisolone in Reducing Pain, Swelling, and Trismus After Removal of Impacted Third Molars?

Abstract: Studies investigating an alternative to corticosteroids in terms of potential side effects after surgical removal of impacted third molars are still ongoing. Accordingly, the present randomized single-blind study aimed to compare the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and methylprednisolone on pain, edema, and trismus after surgical removal of impacted third molars.  The study included 30 healthy patients with bilaterally impacted lower third molars. The side (right or left molar) that would be extracted at first and the treatment (PBMT or corticosteroid) that would be applied to this side were decided by tossing a coin. The time interval between two surgical operations was at least 3 weeks. In the laser group, immediately after the surgical procedure, PBMT was applied extraorally to the insertion point of the masseter muscle for 60 sec with an output power of 0.3 W and an energy density of 6 J/cm2 and then repeated on postoperative days 1 and 2. In the corticosteroid group, 40 mg/2 mL methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected postoperatively into the masseter muscle with the intrabuccal approach. On postoperative day 1, methylprednisolone injection (20 mg/1 mL) was repeated. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7. Edema (in mm) and trismus (in mm) were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7.  There were no significant differences between the PBMT and methylprednisolone administration in terms of postoperative pain, edema, and trismus.  Within the limits of the present study, PBMT was considered an alternative and a useful method for controlling inflammatory complications following impacted wisdom tooth surgery as it exhibited similar clinical efficacy to that of methylprednisolone.

photobiomodulation therapy
methylprednisolone
pain
swelling
trismus
corticosteroid


Inventorying Toronto's single detached housing stocks to examine the availability of clay brick for urban mining.

Abstract: This study examines the stocks of clay brick in Toronto's single detached housing, to provide parameters for city scale material reuse and recycling. Based on consensus from the literature and statistics on Toronto's single detached housing stocks, city scale reusable and recyclable stocks were estimated to provide an understanding of what volume could be saved from landfill and reintroduced into the urban fabric. On average 2523-4542 m(3) of brick was determined to be available annually for reuse, which would account for 20-36% of the volume of virgin brick consumed in new house construction in 2012. A higher volume, 6187 m(3) of brick, was determined to be available annually for recycling because more of the prevalence of cement-based mortar, which creates challenges for brick reuse in Toronto. The results demonstrated that older housing containing reusable brick were being mostly landfilled and replaced with housing that contained only recyclable brick.

Urban mining
Reuse
Recycle
Urban metabolism


40 years of cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention in post-cardiac ischaemic patients. Are we still in the wilderness?

Abstract: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the sum of interventions required to ensure the best physical, psychological and social conditions so that patients with cardiac disease may assume their place in society and slow the progression of the disease. Exercise testing (ET) early after MI has been shown to result in earlier return to work than the non-performance of ET. Research quality CR has resulted in lower cardiovascular mortality and lower recurrent hospitalisation and has been shown to be cost-effective. However, the content of cardiac rehabilitation programmes varies considerably. The only randomised trial of CR as usually performed in the 'real world' showed that CR had no impact on cardiac death rates or any other outcome. Only 20-50% of eligible patients attend CR programmes and attendance at CR has not improved in the last 20 years despite major attempts to increase participation in CR. Alternative methods for provision of CR have been sought. These include home-based CR, case management approaches, and nurse coordinated prevention programmes. Telephone based programmes, such as The COACH Program, have been introduced to coach patients and improve behavioural and biomedical risk factors. These have been shown to improve risk factors better than usual patient care and to reduce recurrences of cardiac events after discharge from hospital due to MI. Expansion of novel approaches such as The COACH Program may help to counteract the non-attendance at CR.

Jelinek|Michael V|MV|
Thompson|David R|DR|
Ski|Chantal|C|
Bunker|Stephen|S|
Vale|Margarite J|MJ|

D005080:Exercise Test
D006801:Humans
D017202:Myocardial Ischemia
D012307:Risk Factors
D055502:Secondary Prevention
D013689:Telephone

Rehabilitation
Secondary prevention
Telephone
Risk factors
Coronary disease


A comparison of phantom scatter from flattened and flattening filter free high-energy photon beams.

Abstract: Flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams have different dosimetric properties from those of flattened beams. The aim of this work was to characterize the collimator scatter (Sc) and total scatter (Scp) from 3 FFF beams of differing quality indices and use the resulting mathematical fits to generate phantom scatter (Sp) data. The similarities and differences between Sp of flattened and FFF beams are described. Sc and Scp data were measured for 3 flattened and 3 FFF high-energy photon beams (Varian 6 and 10MV and Elekta 6MV). These data were fitted to logarithmic power law functions with 4 numerical coefficients. The agreement between our experimentally determined flattened beam Sp and published data was within ± 1.2% for all 3 beams investigated and all field sizes from 4 × 4 to 40 × 40cm(2). For the FFF beams, Sp was only within 1% of the same flattened beam published data for field sizes between 6 × 6 and 14 × 14cm(2). Outside this range, the differences were much greater, reaching - 3.2%, - 4.5%, and - 4.3% for the fields of 40 × 40cm(2) for the Varian 6-MV, Varian 10-MV, and Elekta 6-MV FFF beams, respectively. The FFF beam Sp increased more slowly with increasing field size than that of the published and measured flattened beam of a similar reference field size quality index, i.e., there is less Phantom Scatter than that found with flattened beams for a given field size. This difference can be explained when the fluence profiles of the flattened and FFF beams are considered. The FFF beam has greatly reduced fluence off axis, especially as field size increases, compared with the flattened beam profile; hence, less scatter is generated in the phantom reaching the central axis.

Richmond|Neil|N| Allen|Vince|V| Daniel|Jim|J| Dacey|Rob|R| Walker|Chris|C|

D004867:Equipment Design
D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis
D005374:Filtration
D017785:Photons
D011874:Radiometry
D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy
D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D012542:Scattering, Radiation
D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity

Phantom scatter
Flattening filter free
Dosimetry
Radiotherapy


Different impact of anti-retroviral regimen containing protease inhibitors on development of HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an AIDS-related malignancy, has dramatically decreased in the Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART) era. However, KS remains the second most frequent tumor in HIV-infected patients worldwide and has become the most common cancer in the sub-Saharan Africa. Experimental studies have demonstrated a direct anti-neoplastic effect of HAART, and overall of protease inhibitors (PIs), on KS.

CASE REPORT
We describe five cases of KS in HIV-infected patients on HAART regimen, containing PIs as atazanavir/r (ATV/r), darunavir/r (DRV/r), lopinavir/r (LPV/r) and fosamprenavir (fAMP/r).

CONCLUSION
Clinical and experimental observations support the hypothesis that PIs may play an important role in prevention and treatment of KS. In our study, the treatment with PIs of recent generation was not protective against the development of KS. Therefore, it could be necessary to re-evaluate the therapeutic effects of PIs and their role in the development and treatment of KS in HIV-infected patients.

Carleo|Maria Aurora|MA|
Di Martino|Filomena|F|
Del Giudice|Annalisa|A|
Gargiulo|Miriam|M|
Parrella|Giovanni|G|
Rosario|Pietro|P|
Sangiovanni|Vincenzo|V|
Viglietti|Rosaria|R|
Esposito|Vincenzo|V|
Chirianni|Antonio|A|

D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active

protease inhibitors
Kaposi's sarcoma
HAART
AIDS
HIV


Loss of phototaxis and degeneration of an eyespot in long-term algal cultures: evidence from ultrastructure and behaviour in the dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum.

Abstract: Phototaxis provides phytoplankton with the means to orient themselves in a light gradient. This is accomplished using an eyespot and associated organelles. For the dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum, which has been described as having one of the most elaborate eyespot complexes known, positive phototaxis has hitherto not been reported. In this study, we show that a newly isolated strain of K. foliaceum is indeed capable of positive phototaxis with a mean vector (± 95% confidence interval) of 352°± 2.2, where 0/360° indicates the position of the light source. A study of three strains (UTEX 1688, CCMP 1326, and MBL07) of K. foliaceum showed that the eyespot in two of these strains has degenerated following decades in culture. Thus, previous studies have failed to report positive phototaxis due to loss of directionality caused by the degenerated eyespot. The results are discussed in a broader context and we conclude that studies on algal morphology and physiology may result in erroneous conclusions if based on algal cultures maintained under laboratory conditions for extended periods.

Moldrup|Morten|M|
Moestrup|Øjvind|Ø|
Hansen|Per Juel|PJ|

light gradient
morphology
Protist
algae
lamellar body
photoreceptor
photosynthetic
unicellular


Effect of deproteinization before and after acid etching on the surface roughness of immature permanent enamel.

Abstract:
Objective
The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to assess the effect of deproteinization before and after acid etching on the surface roughness of immature human enamel of permanent teeth compared to acid etching alone using noncontact three-dimensional (3D) optical profilometer.

Materials and Methods
Forty-eight enamel blocks were randomly distributed into 4 groups (12 each) according to the surface treatment in the form of deproteinized with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) before and after acid etching with 32% phosphoric acid (H3PO4) compared to application of H3PO4 alone. The surface roughness (Sa) was measured using a 3D optical noncontact surface profiler. Two specimens from each group were selected and prepared for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. Shapiro-Wilk test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey's honest significance difference test were used. All statistical analyses were established with a significance level of P < 0.05.

Results
The highest surface roughness (Sa) was recorded for Group 3/NaOCl ± H3PO4 and the lowest Sa was recorded for Group 1 (control). All surface treatments applied showed significantly greater values of surface roughness (Sa) than the enamel surfaces with no surface treatment (control). There was significant difference between control group and Group 2/H3PO4 (P = 0.002), Group 3/NaOCl ± H3PO4 (P = 0.0001), and Group 4/H3PO4 ± NaOCl (P = 0.017). There was no significant difference between Group 2/H3PO4 and Group 4/H3PO4 ± NaOCl. SEM evaluation showed different topographical features of deproteinized enamel surface.

Conclusions
Deproteinizing the enamel of immature permanent teeth with 2.5% NaOCl before and after acid etching with 32% H3PO4 increased surface roughness compared to the application of H3PO4 alone.

sodium hypochlorite
phosphoric acid
Enamel deproteinization
enamel etching


CNKSR1 gene defect can cause syndromic autosomal recessive intellectual disability.

Abstract: The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies has led to an exponential increase in the identification of novel disease-causing genes in highly heterogeneous diseases. A novel frameshift mutation in CNKSR1 gene was detected by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in an Iranian family with syndromic autosomal recessive intellectual disability (ARID). CNKSR1 encodes a connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 1, which acts as a scaffold component for receptor tyrosine kinase in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. CNKSR1 interacts with proteins which have already been shown to be associated with intellectual disability (ID) in the MAPK signaling pathway and promotes cell migration through RhoA-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Lack of CNKSR1 transcripts and protein was observed in lymphoblastoid cells derived from affected patients using qRT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated knockdown of cnk, the CNKSR1 orthologue in Drosophila melanogaster brain, led to defects in eye and mushroom body (MB) structures. In conclusion, our findings support the possible role of CNKSR1 in brain development which can lead to cognitive impairment.

Kazeminasab|Somayeh|S|
Taskiran|Ibrahim Ihsan|II|
Fattahi|Zohreh|Z|
Bazazzadegan|Niloofar|N|
Hosseini|Masoumeh|M|
Rahimi|Maryam|M|
Oladnabi|Morteza|M|
Haddadi|Mohammad|M|
Celik|Arzu|A|
Ropers|Hans-Hilger|HH|
Najmabadi|Hossein|H|
Kahrizi|Kimia|K|

D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing

D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins


Glutamate transporter homolog-based model predicts that anion-π interaction is the mechanism for the voltage-dependent response of prestin.

Abstract: Prestin is the motor protein of cochlear outer hair cells. Its unique capability to perform direct, rapid, and reciprocal electromechanical conversion depends on membrane potential and interaction with intracellular anions. How prestin senses the voltage change and interacts with anions are still unknown. Our three-dimensional model of prestin using molecular dynamics simulations predicts that prestin contains eight transmembrane-spanning segments and two helical re-entry loops and that tyrosyl residues are the structural specialization of the molecule for the unique function of prestin. Using site-directed mutagenesis and electrophysiological techniques, we confirmed that residues Tyr(367), Tyr(486), Tyr(501), and Tyr(508) contribute to anion binding, interacting with intracellular anions through novel anion-π interactions. Such weak interactions, sensitive to voltage and mechanical stimulation, confer prestin with a unique capability to perform electromechanical and mechanoelectric conversions with exquisite sensitivity. This novel mechanism is completely different from all known mechanisms seen in ion channels, transporters, and motor proteins.

Lovas|Sándor|S|
He|David Z Z|DZ|
Liu|Huizhan|H|
Tang|Jie|J|
Pecka|Jason L|JL|
Hatfield|Marcus P D|MP|
Beisel|Kirk W|KW|

D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG

anion-π interactions
prestin
hair cell
molecular dynamics
electrophysiology
homology modeling
protein structure
transmembrane domain


Comparison of balance of tritium activity in waste water from nuclear power plants and at selected monitoring sites in the Vltava River, Elbe River and Jihlava (Dyje) River catchments in the Czech Republic.

Abstract: During the routine operation, nuclear power plants discharge waste water containing a certain amount of radioactivity, whose main component is the artificial radionuclide tritium. The amounts of tritium released into the environment are kept within the legal requirements, which minimize the noxious effects of radioactivity, but the activity concentration is well measurable in surface water of the recipient. This study compares amount of tritium activity in waste water from nuclear power plants and the tritium activity detected at selected relevant sites of surface water quality monitoring. The situation is assessed in the catchment of the Vltava and Elbe Rivers, affected by the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant as well as in the Jihlava River catchment (the Danube River catchment respectively), where the waste water of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant is discharged. The results show a good agreement of the amount of released tritium stated by the power plant operator and the tritium amount detected in the surface water and highlighted the importance of a robust independent monitoring of tritium discharged from a nuclear power plant which could be carried out by water management authorities. The outputs of independent monitoring allow validating the values reported by a polluter and expand opportunities of using tritium as e.g. tracer.

Hanslík|Eduard|E| Marešová|Diana|D| Juranová|Eva|E| Sedlářová|Barbora|B|

Tritium
Waste water
Nuclear power plants
Surface water
Radionuclides removal


Systematic review of outcomes and endpoints in acute migraine clinical trials.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE
To review the acute migraine clinical trial literature and provide a summary of the endpoints and outcomes used in such trials.

METHOD
A systematic literature review, following a prespecified (but unregistered) protocol developed to adhere to recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, was conducted to understand endpoints and outcomes used in acute migraine clinical trials. Predefined terms were searched in PubMed to locate clinical trials assessing acute migraine treatments. Final database search was conducted on October 28, 2019. Identified publications were reviewed against established inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine eligibility. Data related to general trial design characteristics, sample characteristics, and outcomes and endpoints reported in each publication were extracted from eligible publications. Descriptive summaries of design features, sample characteristics, and the endpoints and outcomes employed across publications were constructed. Outcomes are presented within four broad categories: (a) pain-related outcomes (pain relief, pain freedom, etc.), (b) associated symptoms (nausea, photophobia, etc.), (c) disability/impairment/impact, (d) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs, general health and migraine/headache-specific). Endpoint types were categorized within three broad categories: (a) change from baseline, (b) fixed timepoint, and (c) responder definitions (e.g., 50% reduction). This review focuses on a subset of recent (1998 or later) randomized and blinded publications evaluating drugs or medical devices.

RESULTS
Of 1567 publications found through the initial search and reference section reviews, 705 met criteria and were included for data extraction. Inter-rater agreement kappas for the descriptive variables extracted had an average kappa estimate of 0.86. The more recent, randomized and blinded pharmaceutical and medical device article subset includes 451 publications (451/705, 63.9%). The outcomes and endpoints varied substantially across trials, ranging from pain relief or freedom, freedom from or relief of migraine-associated symptoms, use of acute or rescue medication, and various other PROMs, including measures of satisfaction and quality of life. Within the recent randomized and blinded article subset, most articles examined ≥1 pain-related outcome (430/451, 95.3%). Of the publications that examined pain, outcomes most often used were pain relief (310/430, 72.1%), pain freedom (279/430, 64.9%), and headache recurrence (202/43,051, 47.0%) or rescue medication use (278/430, 64.9%). Associated symptoms such as nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia were more frequently measured (299/451, 66.3%) compared to most bothersome associated symptom (16/451, 3.5%), as it is a new addition to regulatory guidance. Over one-third of eligible publications examined disability/impairment (186/451, 41.2%) or ≥1 PROM (159/451, 35.3%). The definition of the endpoints used (e.g., change from baseline, fixed timepoint comparisons, categorization of "responders" to treatment based on wide variety of "responder definitions") also differed substantially across publications.

CONCLUSION
Acute migraine clinical trials exhibit a large amount of variability in outcomes and endpoints used, in addition to the variability in how outcomes and endpoints were used from trial-to-trial. There were some common elements across trials that align with guidance from the International Headache Society, the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies (e.g., assessing pain and associated symptoms, 2-hour post-treatment). Other aspects of acute migraine clinical trial design did not follow guidance. For example, multi-item PROMs intended to measure constructs (e.g., scales) are rarely used, the use of pain-related outcomes is inconsistent, some associated symptom assessments are idiosyncratic, and the timing of the assessment of primary endpoints is variable. The development of a core set of outcomes and endpoints for acute migraine clinical trials that are patient-centered and statistically robust could improve the conduct of individual trials, facilitate cross-trial comparisons, and better support informed treatment decisions by healthcare professionals and patients.

Houts|Carrie R|CR|
McGinley|James S|JS|
Nishida|Tracy K|TK|
Buse|Dawn C|DC|
Wirth|R J|RJ|
Dodick|David W|DW|
Goadsby|Peter J|PJ|
Lipton|Richard B|RB|

outcomes
endpoints
acute migraine
patient-reported outcome measures
clinical trial design
clinical outcome assessment


Lacrimal Nerve Blocks for Three New Cases of Lacrimal Neuralgia.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to report three new cases of lacrimal neuralgia and their response to superficial nerve blocks.

BACKGROUND
Lacrimal neuralgia has been recently described as a pain in the territory supplied by the lacrimal nerve, at the lateral upper eyelid and/or the adjacent area of the temple. The pain is typically accompanied by tenderness on palpation of the lacrimal nerve at the superoexternal angle of the orbit.

METHODS
Between January 2015 and June 2016, we prospective identified three cases of lacrimal neuralgia among the patients attending the Headache Unit in a tertiary hospital. Anesthetic blocks were performed in all cases by inserting a 30-G needle on the emergence of the nerve and injecting 0.5 cc of bupivacaine 0.5% subcutaneously.

RESULTS
Three women aged 44, 49, and 51 presented with pain in the territory supplied by the lacrimal nerve. Two of them localized their pain in a small area of the right temple, while the remaining patient had pain in the right upper lateral eyelid and a small area of the lower lateral eyelid. The pain was continuous in two patients and episodic with attacks lasting 48 hours in one patient. All patients had tenderness on palpation of the lacrimal nerve. Anesthetic blocks confirmed the diagnosis of lacrimal neuralgia and provided the patients with long-lasting pain relief.

CONCLUSIONS
Lacrimal neuralgia should be considered among the neuralgic causes of orbital and periorbital pain. Superficial nerve blocks may assist clinicians in the diagnosis and may also be a therapeutic option.

Cuadrado|María-Luz|ML| Gutiérrez-Viedma|Álvaro|Á| Silva-Hernández|Lorenzo|L| Orviz|Aida|A| García-Moreno|Héctor|H|

lacrimal nerve
nerve block
lacrimal neuralgia
cranial neuralgia
terminal branch neuralgia
trigeminal nerve


Validation of the Index for Inclusion Questionnaire for Parents of Non-University Education Students.

Abstract: The perspective from the parents of non-university students is essential in determining inclusive education in a school. The Index of Inclusion is one of the most widely used self-assessment tools and strategies to help teaching teams self-assess their political cultures and practices from the perspective of the values and principles of educational inclusion worldwide. For this reason, the present study intends to show evidence of validity of the Index for Inclusion questionnaire for parents of non-university education students, in a quantitative way, through a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In this study, 108 fathers and 500 mothers took part, aged between 21 and 62 years (M = 43.59; SD = 6.64), whose children belonged to educational institutions throughout Spain. The results revealed adequate adjustment rates, showing invariant structure with respect to sex. The Index for Inclusion for families of non-university education students was shown to be a robust and adequate psychometric instrument to assess the degree of development of inclusive education in educational institutions from the perspective of the parents of said student body. The family is a basic pillar in the education of children and a reference for them. In addition, parents of non-university education students are configured as fundamental participatory elements of the child's educational institution thus; making the family a fundamental element that favors inclusive education. Precisely because of all this, the future administration of this questionnaire (to the parents of these students) is recommended.

Luque de la Rosa|Antonio|A|0000-0001-7981-029X

validation
inclusive education
families
attention to diversity
factorial analysis


Acute Cor Pulmonale in COVID-19-Related ARDS: Improvement With Almitrine Infusion.

Abstract: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)-related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome can lead to acute cor pulmonale. We report a case of acute cor pulmonale secondary to severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosed with transesophageal echocardiography. Almitrine infusion allowed rapid enhancement of right ventricular function as well as improvement in oxygenation. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Huette|Pierre|P| Beyls|Christophe|C| Guilbart|Mathieu|M| Haye|Guillaume|G| Najid|Fatim-Zahra|FZ| Mestan|Benjamin|B| Roger|Pierre-Alexandre|PA| Dupont|Hervé|H| Abou-Arab|Osama|O| Mahjoub|Yazine|Y|

ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome

RVSWI, right ventricular stroke work index

SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2


Issues in Continuous 24-h Core Body Temperature Monitoring in Humans Using an Ingestible Capsule Telemetric Sensor.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
There is increasing interest in the use of pill-sized ingestible capsule telemetric sensors for assessing core body temperature (Tc) as a potential indicator of variability in metabolic efficiency and thrifty metabolic traits. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of measuring Tc using the CorTemp® system.

METHODS
Tc was measured over an average of 20 h in 27 human subjects, with measurements of energy expenditure made in the overnight fasted state at rest, during standardized low-intensity physical activity and after a 600 kcal mixed meal. Validation of accuracy of the capsule sensors was made ex vivo against mercury and electronic thermometers across the physiological range (35-40°C) in morning and afternoon of 2 or 3 consecutive days. Comparisons between capsule sensors and thermometers were made using Bland-Altman analysis. Systematic bias, error, and temperature drift over time were assessed.

RESULTS
The circadian Tc profile classically reported in free-living humans was confirmed. Significant increases in Tc (+0.2°C) were found in response to low-power cycling at 40-50 W (~3-4 METs), but no changes in Tc were detectable during low-level isometric leg press exercise (<2 METs) or during the peak postprandial thermogenesis induced by the 600 kcal meal. Issues of particular interest include fast "turbo" gut transit with expulsion time of <15 h after capsule ingestion in one out of every five subjects and sudden erratic readings in teletransmission of Tc. Furthermore, ex vivo validation revealed a substantial mean bias (exceeding ±0.5°C) between the Tc capsule readings and mercury or electronic thermometers in half of the capsules. When examined over 2 or 3 days, the initial bias (small or large) drifted in excess of ±0.5°C in one out of every four capsules.

CONCLUSION
Since Tc is regulated within a very narrow range in the healthy homeotherm's body (within 1°C), physiological investigations of Tc require great accuracy and precision (better than 0.1°C). Although ingestible capsule methodology appears of great interest for non-invasively monitoring the transit gut temperature, new technology requires a reduction in the inherent error of measurement and elimination of temperature drift and warrants more interlaboratory investigation on the above factors.

Monnard|Cathriona R|CR|
Fares|Elie-Jacques|EJ|
Calonne|Julie|J|
Miles-Chan|Jennifer L|JL|
Montani|Jean-Pierre|JP|
Durrer|Dominique|D|
Schutz|Yves|Y|
Dulloo|Abdul G|AG|

core body temperature
thrifty metabolism
energy expenditure
thermogenesis
obesity
telemetry


Improved Strength and Toughness of Carbon Woven Fabric Composites with Functionalized MWCNTs.

Abstract: This investigation examines the role of carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs) in the on- and off-axis flexure and the shear responses of thin carbon woven fabric composite plates. The chemically functionalized COOH-MWCNTs were used to fabricate epoxy nanocomposites and, subsequently, carbon woven fabric plates to be tested on flexure and shear. In addition to the neat epoxy, three loadings of COOH-MWCNTs were examined: 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt% and 1.5 wt% of epoxy. While no significant statistical difference in the flexure response of the on-axis specimens was observed, significant increases in the flexure strength, modulus and toughness of the off-axis specimens were observed. The average increase in flexure strength and flexure modulus with the addition of 1.5 wt% COOH-MWCNTs improved by 28% and 19%, respectively. Finite element modeling is used to demonstrate fiber domination in on-axis flexure behavior and matrix domination in off-axis flexure behavior. Furthermore, the 1.5 wt% COOH-MWCNTs increased the toughness of carbon woven composites tested on shear by 33%. Microstructural investigation using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) proves the existence of chemical bonds between the COOH-MWCNTs and the epoxy matrix.

Soliman|Eslam|E|
Kandil|Usama|U|
Taha|Mahmoud Reda|MR|

toughness
woven fabric
functionalization
carbon nanotubes
epoxy
FTIR


Mussel-inspired cellulose-based adhesive with biocompatibility and strong mechanical strength via metal coordination.

Abstract: Inspired by marine mussel, catechol-containing materials, such as adhesives, self-healing hydrogels, and antifouling coatings, have been developed with wide applications in chemical, biomedical, and electronics industries. Conventionally, petrochemicals or organic solvents are widely used for preparation and dissolution of adhesives, which makes the adhesives are not eco-friendly and biocompatible. To develop environmentally friendly and biocompatible adhesives with desired properties, here we report catechol-containing cellulose-based tissue adhesives, synthesized by incorporating catechol groups onto cellulose. The structures of the adhesives with different catechol contents were analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The adhesion strengths were examined using porcine skin by lap shear tensile tests. The adhesion strength of the as-prepared adhesive with catechol content of 16.5 mol% was 20.0 kPa. Fe3+ was used as crosslinker to enhance the adhesion strength and accelerate the solidification of adhesives. Through the Fe3+-catechol coordination, the adhesion strength of adhesive was increased to 88.0 kPa, showing strong mechanical strength compared to the fibrin adhesive. NIH 3T3 cells test demonstrates that the adhesive is favorable for cell attachment and proliferation, possessing excellent biocompatibility. The catechol-containing cellulose-based adhesive has promising application in bioengineering field.

Tang|Zuwu|Z| Zhao|Mengchan|M| Wang|Yu|Y| Zhang|Wenling|W| Zhang|Min|M| Xiao|He|H| Huang|Liulian|L| Chen|Lihui|L| Ouyang|Xinhua|X| Zeng|Hongbo|H| Wu|Hui|H|

Adhesive Biocompatibility Catechol Cellulose


Diseases from North America: focus on tick-borne infections.

Abstract: Tick-borne infections are seen throughout the United States, with varying geographical locations. Many of these infections are also increasingly seen in Europe. Certain ticks (eg Ixodes) can transmit more than one infection. Diagnosis, particularly in early infection, can be challenging and therefore knowledge of the distinguishing clinical features and epidemiology of these diseases is important. Testing for Lyme disease often causes confusion for patients and medical providers, as serological tests may be negative in early infection and conversely may be positive for years after infection. Newer tests, such as the C6 ELISA, may play a role in Lyme diagnosis. Additionally, the value of a simple blood film should not be underestimated for diagnosing babesiosis and anaplasmosis. In certain situations, empiric therapy may be required for tick-borne infections as severe illness with multiorgan failure can occur, particularly in older and immunocompromised hosts. This review describes the more commonly seen tick-borne infections: Lyme, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. More recently identified tick-borne infections, such as southern tick-associated rash illness and Borrelia miyamotoi, are also covered.

Nathavitharana|Ruvandhi R|RR|
Mitty|Jennifer A|JA|

D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
D006801:Humans
D009656:North America
D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases

tick-borne
Lyme
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Anaplasma
Babesia


Leukoaraiosis and lacunes are associated with poor clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The effect of preexisting small vessel disease on outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke treated with i.v. thrombolysis is not fully understood.

AIM
We aim to investigate the effect of combined leukoaraiosis and lacunes as detected on unenhanced brain computer tomography at baseline on clinical outcomes after i.v. thrombolysis.

METHODS
We analyzed data from the Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study. Small vessel disease was assessed on baseline computer tomography rating for leukoaraiosis and lacunes. We dichotomized the burden of small vessel disease to "absent or moderate" and "severe." Clinical outcomes at 90 days included excellent outcome (mRS = 0-1), good outcome (mRS = 0-2), and the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Sensitivity analysis was performed on two age groups (≤80 versus >80). We ran logistic regression adjusting for confounders to evaluate independent effect of small vessel disease on outcomes.

RESULTS
There were 820 patients with available brain computer tomography with mean age (±SD) of 71.3 (±13.2), 455 (55.5%) were male. Of these, 123 (15%) patients had severe small vessel disease at baseline. Age group analysis revealed significant associations of small vessel disease only in patients aged ≤80. After adjustment for confounders, presence of severe small vessel disease reduced the chances of both excellent (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.24-0.74) and good outcome (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.21-0.58) and with an increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (OR = 5.91; 95% CI = 2.40-14.57).

CONCLUSION
When considered together as radiological expressions of small vessel disease, presence and severity of severe leukoaraiosis and lacunes on baseline computer tomography scan are associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients treated with i.v. thrombolysis.

Arba|Francesco|F|
Palumbo|Vanessa|V|
Boulanger|Jean-Martin|JM|
Pracucci|Giovanni|G|
Inzitari|Domenico|D|
Buchan|Alastair M|AM|
Hill|Michael D|MD|
|||

leukoaraiosis
lacunes
Stroke
thrombolysis
small vessel disease


In situ assessment of PI3K and PTEN alterations in mycosis fungoides: correlation with clinicopathological features.

Abstract: Deregulated signalling through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in tumour initiation and progression. We have already shown that AKT is activated in skin lesions in Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and we herein further investigate the frequency and clinical significance of PTEN and PI3K at the protein and at the DNA level as well as the presence of AKT1 mutations in skin lesions from 50 patients with MF clinical stages I-IV in relation to clinicopathological features. Increased p-AKT expression correlated with poor prognosis in plaques (P = 0.0198), whereas p-AKT was an independent predictor of poor survival in the entire cohort (P = 0.017, HR = 1.012). PTEN cytoplasmic expression was found low or absent in all 77.3% of cases and inversely correlated with advanced clinical stages (P = 0.0744). Molecular analysis showed no AKT1 mutation, no PI3KCA copy number gain, only 1 case with PI3KCA mutation in exon 9 and 3 cases with PTEN mutations (7%) in exons 7, 8 and 5. The latter correlated with disease (P = 0.0253) and progression (P < 0.0001) free survival in tumour stage. Although activation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway due to PTEN alterations is rarely attributed to abnormalities in PTEN, PI3K, and AKT1 genes, PTEN mutations exert a negative effect on patients' prognosis with tumours.

Papadavid|Evangelia|E|
Korkolopoulou|Penelope|P|
Levidou|Georgia|G|
Saetta|Angelica A|AA|
Papadaki|Theodora|T|
Siakantaris|Marina|M|
Nikolaou|Vassiliki|V|
Oikonomidi|Afroditi|A|
Chatziandreou|Ilenia|I|
Marinos|Leonidas|L|
Kolialexi|Aggeliki|A|
Stratigos|Alexandros|A|
Rigopoulos|Dimitrios|D|
Psyrri|Amanta|A|
Patsouris|Eftratios|E|
Antoniou|Christina|C|

D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis
D006801:Humans
D007150:Immunohistochemistry
D009154:Mutation
D009182:Mycosis Fungoides
D009687:Nuclear Proteins
D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase
D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
D015398:Signal Transduction
D012878:Skin Neoplasms
D014157:Transcription Factors

PI3K
PTEN
mycosis fungoides
molecular analysis
immunohistochemistry


Poor postnatal head growth in very preterm infants is associated with impaired neurodevelopment outcome.

Abstract:
AIM
To examine the association between neurodevelopmental outcome and head circumference (HC) in a cohort of very preterm infants and in this context to investigate the relevance of suboptimal head size.

METHODS
Somatometric data were obtained at birth, discharge and 3, 12 and 24 months for all infants born in Tyrol <32 weeks gestational age. Growth data are presented as z scores. HC was defined as microcephaly (>2 SD below mean), suboptimal (>1 SD below mean) or normal head size (<1 SD below mean). Neurodevelopmental outcome was quantified at 12 and 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II.

RESULTS
The percentage of infants with suboptimal head size increased until the age of 24 months and was related to adverse outcome. The association was strongest between HC at 3 months and psychomotor and mental outcome as quantified using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

CONCLUSION
Poor postnatal head growth was common in our study cohort. Both microcephaly and suboptimal head size were associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcome. Suboptimal head size at 3 months was found to be particularly associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.

Neubauer|Vera|V| Griesmaier|Elke|E| Pehböck-Walser|Nicola|N| Pupp-Peglow|Ulrike|U| Kiechl-Kohlendorfer|Ursula|U|

D000367:Age Factors
D002508:Cephalometry
D002657:Child Development
D015331:Cohort Studies
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies
D002658:Developmental Disabilities
D005260:Female
D005500:Follow-Up Studies
D005865:Gestational Age
D006257:Head
D006801:Humans
D007231:Infant, Newborn
D007234:Infant, Premature
D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
D008607:Intellectual Disability
D008297:Male
D058627:Megalencephaly
D008831:Microcephaly
D011181:Postnatal Care
D018570:Risk Assessment
D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric

Head growth
Preterm
Neurodevelopment
Postnatal growth


Protective effects of β-glucan isolated from highland barley on ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats and its benefits to mice gut conditions.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal tract disease is a global health problem which affects a major part of the world population. In this study, the gastroprotective effects of β-glucan isolated from highland barley on ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats and its benefits to mice gut health were investigated. Biochemical and pathological analysis methods were adopted to evaluating the gastrointestinal tract protective of β-glucan isolated from highland barley. In the ulceration model, it was found that β-glucan treatment could mitigate the gastric lesions and gastric mucosal damage caused by ethanol, decrease the gastric ulcer index. Furthermore, β-glucan treatment alleviated the gastric oxidative stress injury in vehicle rats through increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase, decreasing the level of malondialdehyde. In addition, β-glucan treatment also could decrease the level of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha and increased level of prostaglandin E2, nitric oxide. In the mouse gut health promoting model, β-glucan treatment increased the colon length, faces water contents and the concentration of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) both in mice colon and cecum. Taken together, these results may indicate that β-glucan isolated from highland barley exert protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract of laboratory rodents.

Chen|Haihong|H| Nie|Qixing|Q| Xie|Min|M| Yao|Haoyingye|H| Zhang|Ke|K| Yin|Junyi|J| Nie|Shaoping|S|

β-glucan
Highland barley
Gastric ulcer
Colon
SCFAs
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant


Oxytocin reduces top-down control of attention by increasing bottom-up attention allocation to social but not non-social stimuli - A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract: The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) may facilitate attention to social stimuli by influencing early stage bottom-up processing although findings in relation to different emotional expressions are inconsistent and its influence on top-down cognitive processing mechanisms unclear. In the current double-blind placebo (PLC) controlled between-subject design study we therefore recruited 71 male subjects (OXT = 34, PLC = 37) to investigate the effects of intranasal OXT (24IU) on both bottom-up attention allocation and top-down attention inhibition using a prosaccade and antisaccade paradigm incorporating social (neutral, happy, fearful, sad, angry faces) and non-social (oval shape) visual stimuli with concurrent eye movement acquisition. Results revealed a marginal significant interaction effect between treatment, condition and task (p = 0.054), with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc tests indicating that OXT specifically increased antisaccade errors for social stimuli (ps < 0.04, effect sizes 0.46-0.88), but not non-social stimuli. Antisaccades are under volitional control and therefore this may indicate that OXT treatment reduced top-down inhibition. However, the overall findings are consistent with OXT acting to reduce top-down control of attention as a result of increasing bottom-up early attentional processing of social, but not non-social, stimuli in situations where the two systems are in potential conflict. Marked deficits in bottom-up attention allocation to social stimuli have been reported in autism spectrum disorder, within this context OXT may have the potential to increase early attention allocation towards social cues.

Xu|Xiaolei|X|
Li|Jialin|J|
Chen|Zhuo|Z|
Kendrick|Keith M|KM|
Becker|Benjamin|B|

Oxytocin
Attention
Emotion
Cognitive control
Eye gaze
Social salience


Enzyme-guided plasmonic biosensor based on dual-functional nanohybrid for sensitive detection of thrombin.

Abstract: Rapid and sensitive methodologies for the detection of protein are in urgent requirement for clinic diagnostics. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of metal nanostructures has the potential to circumvent this problem due to its sensitive optical properties and strong electromagnetic near-field enhancements. In this work, an enzyme mediated plasmonic biosensor on the basis of a dual-functional nanohybrid was developed for the detection of thrombin. By utilizing LSPR-responsive nanohybrid and anaptamer-enzyme conjugated reporting probe, the sensing platform brings enhanced signal, stability as well as simplicity. Enzymatic reaction catalyzed the reduction of Au(3+) to Au° in situ, further leading to the rapid crystal growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The LSPR absorbance band and color changed company with the nanoparticle generation, which can be real-time monitoring by UV-visible spectrophotometer and naked eye. Nanohybrid constructed by gold and magnetic nanoparticles acts as a dual functional plasmonic unit, which not only plays the role of signal production, but also endows the sensor with the function of magnetic separation. Simultaneously, the introduction of enzyme effectively regulates the programming crystal growth of AuNPs. In addition, enzyme also serves as signal amplifier owing to its high catalysis efficiency. The response of the plasmonic sensor varies linearly with the logarithmic thrombin concentration up to 10nM with a limit of detection of 200 pM. The as-proposed strategy shows good analytical performance for thrombin determination. This simple, disposable method is promising in developing universal platforms for protein monitoring, drug discovery and point-of-care diagnostics.

Yan|Jing|J| Wang|Lida|L| Tang|Longhua|L| Lin|Lei|L| Liu|Yang|Y| Li|Jinghong|J|

D015374:Biosensing Techniques
D003124:Colorimetry
D004867:Equipment Design
D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis
D005949:Glucose Oxidase
D006046:Gold
D006801:Humans
D053768:Metal Nanoparticles
D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
D013917:Thrombin


Breast deformation during the course of radiotherapy: The need for an additional outer margin.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate and quantify the extent of breast deformation during the course of breast cancer (BC) radiotherapy (RT). The magnitude of breast deformation determines the additional outer margin needed for treatment planning to deliver a full dose to the target volume. This is especially important when using inverse planning techniques.

METHODS
A total of 93 BC patients treated with RT and with daily CBCT image guidance were selected for this study. Patients underwent either only breast-conserving surgery (BCS) (n = 5), BCS with sentinel node biopsy (n = 57) or BCS with radical axillary node dissection (n = 31). The treatment area included the whole breast and chest wall (54%) or also the axillary lymph nodes (46%). 3D-registration was conducted between 1731 CBCT images and the respective planning CT images to assess the difference in breast surface.

RESULTS
The largest maximum breast surface expansion (MBSE) was 15 mm; the average was 2.4 ± 2.1 mm. In 294 fractions (17%), the MBSE was ≥5 mm. An outer margin of 8 mm would have been required to cover the whole breast in 95% of the treated fractions. There was a statistically significant correlation between the MBSE and body mass index (r = 0.38, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Significant changes in the breast surface occur during the course of BC RT which should be considered in treatment planning. An additional margin outside the breast surface of at least 8 mm is required to take into account the anatomical changes occurring during BC RT.

Seppälä|J|J|
Vuolukka|K|K|
Virén|T|T|
Heikkilä|J|J|
Honkanen|J T J|JTJ|
Pandey|A|A|
Al-Gburi|A|A|
Shah|M|M|
Sefa|S|S|
Koivumäki|T|T|

Breast deformation
Outer margin
Breast radiotherapy
VMAT


Transcriptomic, proteomic and phosphoproteomic underpinnings of daily exercise performance and zeitgeber activity of training in mouse muscle.

Abstract:
KEY POINTS
Maximal endurance performance is greater in the early daytime. Timed exercise differentially alters the muscle transcriptome and (phospho)-proteome. Early daytime exercise triggers energy provisioning and tissue regeneration. Early night-time exercise activates stress-related and catabolic pathways. Scheduled training has limited effects on the muscle and liver circadian clocks.

ABSTRACT
Timed physical activity might potentiate the health benefits of training. The underlying signalling events triggered by exercise at different times of day are, however, poorly understood. Here, we found that time-dependent variations in maximal treadmill exercise capacity of naïve mice were associated with energy stores, mostly hepatic glycogen levels. Importantly, running at different times of day resulted in a vastly different activation of signalling pathways, e.g. related to stress response, vesicular trafficking, repair and regeneration. Second, voluntary wheel running at the opposite phase of the dark, feeding period surprisingly revealed a minimal zeitgeber (i.e. phase-shifting) effect of training on the muscle clock. This integrated study provides important insights into the circadian regulation of endurance performance and the control of the circadian clock by exercise. In future studies, these results could contribute to better understanding circadian aspects of training design in athletes and the application of chrono-exercise-based interventions in patients.

transcriptomics
proteomics
exercise
zeitgeber
circadian clock
energy homeostasis
metabolism
skeletal muscle


Efficient Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids into Proteins with a Robust Cell-Free System.

Abstract: Unnatural proteins are crucial biomacromolecules and have been widely applied in fundamental science, novel biopolymer materials, enzymes, and therapeutics. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system can serve as a robust platform to synthesize unnatural proteins by highly effective site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids (UNAAs), without the limitations of cell membrane permeability and the toxicity of unnatural components. Here, we describe a quick and simple method to synthesize unnatural proteins in CFPS system based on Escherichia coli crude extract, with unnatural orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and suppressor tRNA evolved from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. The superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) and p-propargyloxyphenylalanine (pPaF) were used as the model protein and UNAA. The synthesis of unnatural sfGFPs was characterized by microplate spectrophotometer, affinity chromatography, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This protocol provides a detailed procedure guiding how to use the powerful CFPS system to synthesize unnatural proteins on demand.

unnatural amino acid
unnatural protein
cell-free protein synthesis


Anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties of mutton nuggets incorporated with blends of essential oils.

Abstract: The present study was carried out to evaluate effect of natural anti-oxidants on the quality of mutton nuggets. Different blends of essential oil were evaluated for incorporation in mutton nuggets and it was found that Blend-1 had significantly higher sensory scores. Then, Blend-1 was tried at 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% levels and product containing 0.25% level received significantly higher sensory scores. Thereafter, two combinations of flaxseed flour and 0.25% Blend-1 were tried viz., 4% flaxseed flour + 0.25% Blend-1 and 8% flaxseed flour + 0.25% Blend-1. Evaluation of sensory and physico-chemical properties were done in mutton nuggets incorporated with 0.25% Blend-1 (T-1) and selected combination (4% flaxseed flour + 0.25% Blend-1) (T-2). T-2 had significantly higher dietary fiber and crude fiber than T-1 products. These products were then assessed for quality changes during storage at refrigerated temperature for 30 days at 5 days interval. Significantly lower TBARS values were recorded for treatment products than control at each interval of storage period. T-2 product showed significantly higher DPPH value than other products. Microbial count remained within the permissible limit of log104 cfu/g for TPC, PC, yeast and mould count up to 15th day, 25th day and 30th day for control, T-1 and T-2 products, respectively. Essential oil and their combination incorporated mutton nuggets had about 10 days longer shelf life than control.

Kumar|Sudheer|S|
Mendiratta|S K|SK|
Agrawal|Ravi Kant|RK|
Sharma|Heena|H|
Singh|Bhanu Pratap|BP|

Sensory attributes and microbiological quality


Bond Strength and Flexural Capacity of Normal Concrete Beams Strengthened with No-Slump High-Strength, High-Ductility Concrete.

Abstract: This study investigates the flexural behavior of normal-strength concrete (NSC) beams that were strengthened with no-slump, high-strength, high-ductility concrete (NSHSDC). A set of slant shear tests was performed to investigate the initial performance of the NSC substrate strengthened with NSHSDC. Slant shear tests considered two types of roughness of interface and five angles of the interface between NSC and NSHSDC. The test results showed that except for specimens with a 75° interface angle, the specimens with high roughness were conformed to the properties (14-21 MPa for 28 days) of the ACI Committee 546 recommendation. For flexural strength tests, NSC beams strengthened with an NSHSDC jacket on the top and bottom sides, three sides, and four sides resulted in strength increments of about 8%, 29%, and 40%, respectively, compared to the beams without NSHSDC jacket. Therefore, the use of NSHSDC is an effective method to improve the performance of NSC beams and is recommended for strengthening reinforced concrete members.

Yuan|Tian-Feng|TF|0000-0001-5741-7278 Hong|Se-Hee|SH| Shin|Hyun-Oh|HO| Yoon|Young-Soo|YS|


Long term impact of surfactants & polymers on the colloidal stability, aggregation and dissolution of silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), Tween 20, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are among the commonly used surfactants and polymers to stabilize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). However, their interactions with AgNPs are different. The impact of these surfactants and polymers on the colloidal stability of freshly synthesized uncoated AgNPs was evaluated through a series of long-term experiments and analyzed in terms of their physical and chemical behavior. The cationic surfactant, CTAB was able to produce a mono modal particle size distribution in a prolonged period without affecting the dissolution. In the presence of Tween 20, a non-ionic surfactant, dissolution was promoted in the long run and the particles were preserved with minimal aggregation. In the presence of the polymers, PVP and PEG, the particle structure was not affected even though dissolution was observed. This study presents important insights on the interactions of AgNPs with surfactants and polymers, which could significantly affect the transformations and fate of AgNPs in the aquatic environment.

Surfactants
Polymers
Stability
Aggregation
AgNPs
Surface properties


Transient Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: First Report of an Unrecognized Complication of Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
As cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are being increasingly adopted as the standard treatment for peritoneal surface malignancies, familiarity with this procedure's adverse events is also growing. Herein, we describe an unreported adverse event of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) following CRS and HIPEC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC between 9/2016 and 9/2017 were prospectively recruited. Fecal elastase-1 (FE1) and Clostridium difficile toxins were tested in all patients in the immediate postoperative period. Patients with diarrhea who had low FE1 were started on oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) and their symptomatic progression was followed.

RESULTS
A total of 26 patients were included. Eleven patients (42.31%) developed postoperative refractory diarrhea, nine of whom had a low FE1 level. These patients were treated with PERT either directly or after completion of antibiotics course if C. difficile toxin was positive. Eight patients demonstrated symptomatic resolution of their diarrhea, and thus the diagnosis of EPI was established (30.77%). Patients with diarrhea had lower FE1 levels, and were more likely to have had a terminal ileum resection and had a longer hospital stay. Regression analysis identified the rapid rise of a patient's core temperature by >1°C within 15 minutes as the sole predictor of EPI occurrence.

CONCLUSION
EPI is a potential adverse event following CRS and HIPEC and might be largely responsible for refractory diarrhea. In our patients with refractory diarrhea and low FE1, PERT provided immediate symptomatic relief. The biological basis of this phenomenon remains unclear and warrants further investigation.

D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion

exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
CRS and HIPEC
diarrhea
fecal elastase


Long-term post-recurrence survival outcomes in young women receiving fertility-sparing surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate long-term post-recurrence survival outcomes in young women receiving fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) to verify the feasibility of the limited surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer (OvCa).

STUDY DESIGN
We performed a regional multicenter retrospective study from January 1986 and March 2020, using clinical data corrected under the central pathological review system. Patients with recurrent tumor after surgery for stage I epithelial OvCa, aged equal or younger than 45 years were included for this study. We evaluated effect of FSS regarding long-term post-recurrence survival with statistical adjustment of propensity score-based method.

RESULTS
With the Kaplan-Meier method, original and adjusted survival curves were estimated for recurrence-after survival of patients with (n = 14) and without FSS (n = 26). Median time to disease-specific death was 18.6 months. In both original and adjusted cohorts, there were no significant difference between the two groups (log rank test; P > 0.05). Hazard ratio of disease-specific death was 1.264 (95% confidence interval, 0.563-2.836; P = 0.570) in original and 1.354 (95% confidence interval, 0.702-2.611; P = 0.366) in adjusted population. This result indicated that patients with FSS was not associated with poorer prognosis for recurrence-after survival than those without. When comparing patients not receiving FSS, patients receiving FSS with recurrence at spared ovary followed not significantly different survival outcome as well as those with extra-ovarian recurrence.

CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference of long-term post-recurrence survival outcomes between patients of epithelial OvCa with and without FSS in young women of reproductive age.

Shigeyama|Munehisa|M| Yoshihara|Masato|M| Kitami|Kazuhisa|K| Mogi|Kazumasa|K| Uno|Kaname|K| Iyoshi|Shohei|S| Tano|Sho|S| Yoshikawa|Nobuhisa|N| Kajiyama|Hiroaki|H|

Epithelial ovarian cancer
Recurrence
Fertility preservation
Longterm effects


Inhibition kinetics of acetosyringone on xylanase in hydrolysis of hemicellulose.

Abstract: Many phenolic compounds, derived from lignin during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass, could obviously inhibit the activity of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes. Acetosyringone (AS) is one of the phenolic compounds produced from lignin degradation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of AS on xylanase activity through kinetic experiments. The results showed that AS could obviously inhibit the activity of xylanase in a reversible and noncompetitive binding manner (up to 50% activity loss). Inhibitory kinetics and constants of xylanase on AS were conducted by the HCH-1 model (β = 0.0090 ± 0.0009 mM-1). Furthermore, intrinsic and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic (ANS)-binding fluorescence results showed that the tertiary structure of AS-mediated xylanase was altered. These findings provide new insights into the role of AS in xylanase activity. Our results also suggest that AS was an inhibitor of xylanase and targeting AS was a potential strategy to increase xylose production.

Liu|Feng|F| Xu|Wen-Fei|WF| Mu|Hang|H| Lv|Zhi-Rong|ZR| Peng|Jie|J| Guo|Chao|C| Zhou|Hai-Meng|HM| Ye|Zhuo-Ming|ZM| Li|Xu-Hui|XH|

inhibition kinetics
acetosyringone
Xylanase


Etiologies of epilepsy and health-seeking itinerary of patients with epilepsy in a resource poor setting: analysis of 342 Nigerian Africans.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
The understanding of causation of epilepsy, especially in resource poor African countries where prevalence rates are very high, would aid strategies for primary prevention. This study sought to determine the causes of epilepsy in Nigerian Africans and health-itinerary of patients with epilepsy.

METHOD
This was an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study of consecutive newly diagnosed adult patients with epilepsy using a mixed-methods approach of face-to-face in-depth interview of patients' parents and relations, health care personnel who had given medical attention at any time and telephone interview. A structured interview schedule was used to obtain demographic information, details of seizure variables, health seeking itinerary and history of previous hospitalizations. Data was analyzed descriptively with SPSS version 17.

RESULTS
Three hundred and forty-two patients with epilepsy with a mean age of 31.4±11.98 years participated in the study. Most of the patients (68.1%; 233/342) were unemployed and students. There were 270 (78.9%) patients with generalized epilepsy. No identifiable etiology was found in 37.7%, but of the remaining 62.3%, the commonest causes included post traumatic (19.6%), recurrent childhood febrile convulsions (13.2%), post-stroke (6.7%), brain tumors (5.9%), neonatal jaundice (5.3%), birth-related asphyxia (5%) and history of previous CNS infections (4.7%). Family history of epilepsy was obtained in 9.9%, all of whom had primarily generalized seizures. 61.4% of them sought initial attention from the traditional healers or in prayer houses.

CONCLUSION
This study showed the pattern of causes of epilepsy in Nigerian Africans. The health seeking behavior and itinerary of the PWE revealed a preference for traditional healers. There is need for health policies and epilepsy awareness campaigns to prevent causes of seizures and improve the knowledge of the public respectively.

Ogunrin|Olubunmi A|OA|
Adeyekun|Ademola|A|
Adudu|Philomena|P|

D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care


Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy with oXiris® Membrane in Severe Ebstein-Barr Virus-Mediated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Case Report.

Abstract: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening disease with uncontrolled immune activation and inflammatory reaction, often leads to a deadly cytokine storm. In severe Ebstein-Barr virus-triggered HLH receiving standard immunosuppression, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with oXiris® blood purification membrane resulted in a timely reduction of inflammatory markers and discontinuation of vasopressors. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful use of the oXiris® membrane in HLH.

Samman|Karla N|KN|
Baalbaki|Hussein|H|
Bouchard|Josée|J|
Albert|Martin|M|

Continuous renal replacement therapy
oXiris®
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Critical care
Inflammation


Experimental therapies in the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses.

Abstract: The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses represent a group of severe childhood lysosomal storage diseases. With at least 13 identified variants they are the most common cause of inherited neurodegeneration in children. These diseases share common pathological characteristics including motor problems, vision loss, seizures, and cognitive decline, culminating in premature death. Currently, no form of the disease can be treated or cured, with only palliative care to minimise discomfort. This review focuses on current and potentially ground-breaking clinical trials, including small molecule, enzyme replacement, stem cell, and gene therapies, in the development of effective treatments for the various disease subtypes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease)".

Neverman|Nicole J|NJ|
Best|Hannah L|HL|
Hofmann|Sandra L|SL|
Hughes|Stephanie M|SM|

Gene therapy
Batten disease
Cell therapy
Enzyme replacement therapy
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis
Small molecule therapy


Effect of recombinant human nerve growth factor eye drops in patients with dry eye: a phase IIa, open label, multiple-dose study.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Dry eye disease (DED) affects more than 14% of the elderly population causing decrease of quality of life, high costs and vision impairment. Current treatments for DED aim at lubricating and controlling inflammation of the ocular surface. Development of novel therapies targeting different pathogenic mechanisms is sought-after. The aim of this study is to evaluate safety and efficacy of recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) eye drops in patients with DED.

METHODS
Forty consecutive patients with moderate to severe DED were included in a phase IIa, prospective, open label, multiple-dose, clinical trial to receive rhNGF eye drops at 20 µg/mL (Group 1: G1) or at 4 µg/mL (Group 2: G2) concentrations, two times a day in both eyes for 28 days (NCT02101281). The primary outcomes measures were treatment-emerged adverse events (AE), Symptoms Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) scale, ocular surface staining and Schirmer test.

RESULTS
Of 40 included patients, 39 completed the trial. Both tested rhNGF eye drop concentrations were safe and well tolerated. Twenty-nine patients experienced at least one AE (14 in G1 and 15 in G2), of which 11 had at least 1 related AE (8 in G1 and 3 in G2). Both frequency and severity of DED symptoms and ocular surface damage showed significant improvement in both groups, while tear function improved only in G1.

CONCLUSIONS
The data of this study indicate that rhNGF eye drops in both doses is safe and effective in improving symptoms and signs of DED. Randomised clinical trials are ongoing to confirm the therapeutic benefit of rhNGF in DED.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT02101281.

ocular surface
clinical trial
tears
pharmacology


Further Description of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Male Genitalia and New Genetic Evidence of Synonymy With Respect to the Anomalous Form, "Heliothis stombleri".

Abstract: The Helicoverpa/Heliothis complex can cause serious damage to agricultural crops. Phenotypic similarity makes it difficult to discriminate between closely related Helicoverpa species. Currently, morphology of the male genitalia complemented with molecular techniques constitutes the best approach for species identification. In this work, a broad microscopic examination of adult Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) males (n = 200) captured in central Argentina was carried out in order to provide a detailed description of the valvae and the phallus. A considerable degree of variability was recorded. Both rounded and sharp valve apices were observed and valvae were not always parallel-sided. Most evident differences were detected concerning the number of cornuti on the phallus. A range of 15-21 cornuti per phallus was recorded, the mode being 18. A significant minority of the samples (3.5%) displayed an abnormal genital condition showing a constricted phallus lacking cornuti, and pointed valvae. This form was initially attributed to a distinct species, Heliothis stombleri, and later proposed as a synonym of H. zea based on additional morphological observations and molecular studies. Here, a phylogenetic analysis combining mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I) and nuclear (elongation factor -1 alpha) genes was performed on these and other Helicoverpa specimens collected in the same geographical region, in order to further verify the taxonomic status of H. stombleri. The tree topology clearly grouped H. stombleri with H. zea, supporting the assumption that the former represents, in fact, an anomalous form of the latter. Further experiments are needed to clarify the etiology of this anomaly and its persistence over time.

Balbi|Emilia I|EI|
Flores|Fernando M|FM|
Tosto|Daniela S|DS|
Arneodo|Joel D|JD|

morphology
identification
corn earworm
molecular marker


Improved JPEG anti-forensics with better image visual quality and forensic undetectability.

Abstract: There is an immediate need to validate the authenticity of digital images due to the availability of powerful image processing tools that can easily manipulate the digital image information without leaving any traces. The digital image forensics most often employs the tampering detectors based on JPEG compression. Therefore, to evaluate the competency of the JPEG forensic detectors, an anti-forensic technique is required. In this paper, two improved JPEG anti-forensic techniques are proposed to remove the blocking artifacts left by the JPEG compression in both spatial and DCT domain. In the proposed framework, the grainy noise left by the perceptual histogram smoothing in DCT domain can be reduced significantly by applying the proposed de-noising operation. Two types of denoising algorithms are proposed, one is based on the constrained minimization problem of total variation of energy and other on the normalized weighted function. Subsequently, an improved TV based deblocking operation is proposed to eliminate the blocking artifacts in the spatial domain. Then, a decalibration operation is applied to bring the processed image statistics back to its standard position. The experimental results show that the proposed anti-forensic approaches outperform the existing state-of-the-art techniques in achieving enhanced tradeoff between image visual quality and forensic undetectability, but with high computational cost.

JPEG anti-forensics
Digital image forensics
Blocking artifacts
Double JPEG compression


How well do we understand pulsatility in the context of modern ventricular assist devices?

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Modern ventricular assist devices (VADs) use a continuous flow design. It has been suggested that a lack of pulsatility contributes to a range of adverse outcomes including pump thrombus, gastrointestinal bleeding and stroke. To better assess the role of pulsatility in these adverse events, we first require a clear definition of 'pulsatility' in the setting of a severely impaired ventricle and a modern continuous flow VAD.

METHODS
A literature review was conducted to elucidate the understanding of pulsatility in modern VAD literature. Search engines used included PUBMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane library. Articles were appraised on three aspects: Whether they mentioned pulsatility; whether they mentioned which pulsatility measure was used and finally which methodology was used to obtain the value.

RESULTS
Of 354 articles reviewed, only 13 met our broad inclusion criteria. Of these articles, the most cited measure was pulsatility index (PI) - used by 11 of the publications. The methodology used to obtain the value was not uniform and five articles did not clearly state it. Other measures included pulse pressure and surplus haemodynamic energy. The majority of articles did not directly discuss pulsatility in the setting of patient-pump interaction.

CONCLUSION
Most publications did not provide a definition for pulsatility. In those that did, the most common measure was PI. Measuring PI was not standardised. Few papers addressed the impact of intrinsic ventricular function and arterial compliance on pulsatility. We suggest that future publications adopt a uniform definition which encompasses both patient and pump characteristics.

D001794:Blood Pressure
D006333:Heart Failure
D006352:Heart Ventricles
D006353:Heart-Assist Devices
D006439:Hemodynamics
D006801:Humans
D011673:Pulsatile Flow

pulsatility index
pulse pressure
surplus haemodynamic energy
Ventricular assist devices pulsatility


Benefits of Polyphenols and Methylxanthines from Cocoa Beans on Dietary Metabolic Disorders.

Abstract: Theobroma cacao L. is an ancestral cultivated plant which has been consumed by various populations throughout history. Cocoa beans are the basic material occurring in the most consumed product in the world, namely chocolate. Their composition includes polyphenols, methylxanthines, lipids and other compounds that may vary qualitatively and quantitatively according to criteria such as variety or culture area. Polyphenols and methylxanthines are known as being responsible for many health benefits, particularly by preventing cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies emphasized their positive role in dietary metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and weight gain. After a brief presentation of cocoa bean, this review provides an overview of recent research activities highlighting promising strategies which modulated and prevented gastro-intestinal metabolism dysfunctions.

polyphenol
methylxanthines
cocoa
diabetes
intestinal immunity
microbiota


Complete remission of advanced and recurrent cervical cancer with pembrolizumab treatment- 3 case reports.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
Recurrent cervical cancer is hard to treat when occurring in a previous radiated area and unresectable or distant metastasis. We present three such cases who achieved complete remission (CR) after chemoradiotherapy and pembrolizumab.

CASE REPORT
Case 1 was diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma, stage IVB. She obtained CR after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and post-CCRT adjuvant chemotherapy and bevacizumab. Recurrence at previous irradiated sacral bone was controlled with pembrolizumab and CCRT using proton therapy (PT). Case 2 was diagnosed with stage IVB squamous cell carcinoma. First recurrence occurred at inguinal lymph node (LN). Secondary recurrence occurred at paraaortic LN ten years later. PT with chemotherapy and pembrolizumab achieved CR. Case 3 had a small cell carcinoma (stage IVB) with bone metastasis. She had CR to CCRT with etoposide-cisplatin. Liver metastasis was salvaged with CCRT and pembrolizumab.

CONCLUSION
CCRT with pembrolizumab is potentially curative for recurrent cervical cancer conventionally amenable for palliation.

Tung|Hsiu-Jung|HJ| Wang|Chun-Chieh|CC| Liu|Feng-Yuan|FY| Lai|Chyong-Huey|CH|

Pembrolizumab
Chemoradiation therapy
Immune check point inhibitor
Recurrent/advanced cervical cancer


Contact kinematics of patient-specific instrumentation versus conventional instrumentation for total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The goal was to evaluate the joint contact kinematics of total knee arthroplasties implanted using patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) compared to conventional instrumentation (CI). We hypothesized that use of PSI would not significantly alter contact kinematics.

METHODS
The study was a prospective randomized controlled trial, with equal allocation of fifty patients to PSI and CI groups. At two years post-operation, patients underwent weight-bearing stereo X-ray examinations at 0°, 20°, 40°, 60°, 80°, and 100° of flexion. The shortest tibiofemoral distance on each condyle determined the contact location. Magnitude of the shortest distance was measured and condylar separation was analyzed using thresholds of 0.5 and 0.75 mm. Kinematic measurements derived from the shortest distance included anteroposterior (AP) translation, excursion, axial rotation, and paradoxical anterior motion. Pivot position and cam/post contact were also investigated.

RESULTS
There were no differences (p > 0.05) in medial and lateral AP contact locations, excursions, and magnitude of anterior motion, or in axial rotation, pivot patterns, frequency of cam/post engagement, frequency of medial anterior motion, and condylar separation at a 0.75 mm threshold. Significant differences were found in frequency of lateral anterior motion (p = 0.048) and condylar separation at a 0.5 mm threshold (p = 0.010). Both groups displayed typical kinematics for a fixed-bearing posterior-stabilized implant.

CONCLUSIONS
We found no major differences in knee kinematics between PSI and CI groups, which suggest that PSI does not provide a significant kinematic advantage over conventional instruments.

Broberg|Jordan S|JS|
Naudie|Douglas D R|DDR|
Howard|James L|JL|
Vasarhelyi|Edward M|EM|
McCalden|Richard W|RW|
Teeter|Matthew G|MG|

Contact kinematics
Patient-specific instrumentation
Total knee arthroplasty
Radiostereometric analysis


Sexualised drug taking among men who have sex with men: a systematic review.

Abstract:
AIMS:
Sexualised drug taking is increasingly reported on national and international levels. We aim to review existing evidence of the relationship between recreational drug use (RDU) and sexual intercourse among men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS:
We reviewed published abstracts and full articles identified from Cochrane, MEDLINE and Embase databases from November 2010 to 2017. We included any existing studies investigating RDU in MSM and at least one of the following: high-risk sexual practices, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or barriers to accessing specialist support.

RESULTS:
In total, 112 studies were included. Of them, 38 studies specifically reported the prevalence of chemsex-related drug use. Links with sexualised drug taking and high-risk sexual practices including condomless sex and group sex were reported by several studies. Recreational drug use in the sexual setting appears linked to the acquisition of STIs, including hepatitis C, syphilis and gonorrhoea. Reports of adverse mental health outcomes are increasingly described, with several studies documenting chemsex-related inpatient admission. A paucity of research addressing barriers to those accessing specialist drug support services was identified.

CONCLUSION:
This review demonstrates the complex interplay between recreational drug use, high-risk sexual practices and STIs. It identifies the description of adverse mental health outcomes in the chemsex setting, thus highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach across specialties in the management of those adversely affected. Finally, it illuminates the need for future research into perceived barriers of those who require access to support services to ensure timely and comprehensive support provision.

D015658:HIV Infections
D006526:Hepatitis C
D018451:Homosexuality, Male
D006801:Humans
D008297:Male
D012725:Sexual Behavior
D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases
D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
D047568:Unsafe Sex

genito-urinary
health protection
inequalities
public health
sexual health
sexually transmitted diseases


Soil burial reduces decomposition and offsets erosion-induced soil carbon losses in the Indian Himalaya.

Abstract: The extent to which soil erosion is a net source or sink of carbon globally remains unresolved but has the potential to play a key role in determining the magnitude of CO2 emissions from land-use change in rapidly eroding landscapes. The effects of soil erosion on carbon storage in low-input agricultural systems, in acknowledged global soil erosion hotspots in developing countries, are especially poorly understood. Working in one such hotspot, the Indian Himalaya, we measured and modelled field-scale soil budgets, to quantify erosion-induced changes in soil carbon storage. In addition, we used long-term (1-year) incubations of separate and mixed soil horizons to better understand the mechanisms controlling erosion-induced changes in soil carbon cycling. We demonstrate that high rates of soil erosion did not promote a net carbon loss to the atmosphere at the field scale. Furthermore, our experiments showed that rates of decomposition in the organic matter-rich subsoil layers in depositional areas were lower per unit of soil carbon than from other landscape positions; however, these rates could be increased by mixing with topsoils. The results indicate that, the burial of soil carbon, and separation from fresh carbon inputs, led to reduced rates of decomposition offsetting potential carbon losses during soil erosion and transport within the cultivated fields. We conclude that the high rates of erosion experienced in these Himalayan soils do not, in isolation, drive substantial emissions of organic carbon, and there is the potential to promote carbon storage through sustainable agricultural practice.

Himalaya
erosion
carbon budget
priming
soil redistribution
tillage


Biosorption using chitosan thiourea polymer as an extraction and preconcentration technique for copper prior to its determination in environmental and food samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry: Synthesis, characterization and analytical applications.

Abstract: The present work describes the synthesis and use of the chitosan thiourea polymer (CT polymer) as a novel biosorbent for copper preconcentration prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). CT polymer submitted in the present study was synthesized by the direct reaction between chitosan isolated from penaeus monodon chitin and ammonium thiocyanate, then the chemical structure and morphology of polymer were investigated by spectroscopic measurements, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of SEM and XRD show that the prepared CT polymer has rough and hard surface with pores and nanofibers structure in the α-form. The height equivalent to the theoretical plates (HETP), the plates number (N), LOD and LOQ of CT polymer packed column were calculated to be 0.10±0.04mm, 100±2.02, 0.3μgL-1and 0.99μgL-1, respectively. The developed column was employed in combination with FAAS for the analysis of copper in a certified reference material (NRCC-SLRS-4 Riverine water), potato, tea, and rice. Furthermore, the structure of the copper complex with CT polymer was proven with the aid of different spectroscopic and magnetic measurements.

Biosorption
Chitosan thiourea polymer
Characterization


Legal process, litigation, and judicial decisions.

Abstract: Ethically salient issues in neurologic care may have important legal overtones. This chapter considers some of these, emphasizing how law may influence the outcome of controversies over how best to promote autonomy, beneficence, and justice in the care of individuals with neurologic disorders. Constitutional, statutory, and judicial dimensions are addressed. With respect to autonomy, discussion emphasizes legal dimensions of the doctrine of informed consent and the obligations of medical professionals to protect the privacy and confidentiality of their patients. The discussion of beneficence focuses on issues relating to actual or potential conflicts of interest in the care of patients and on the conduct of research involving human subjects. The section on justice considers how law aims to define protectable rights and interests of individuals and to provide a fair and efficient process for resolving disputes. Applications of legal principles and doctrines are illustrated primarily through the examples afforded by judicial decisions. These cases demonstrate how law both promotes ethical decision-making and protects the rights and interests of those affected. The cases also highlight some of the ethical quandaries that evoke resort to litigation and the limits of law in advancing ethically appropriate outcomes.

autonomy
informed consent
confidentiality
conflicts of interest
best interests
liberty
physician-assisted dying
proximate cause
substituted judgment


Understanding the changes in practice patterns in ophthalmology following COVID-19 lockdown.

Abstract:
Purpose
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus 2 pandemic has brought the world to a halt. We performed a questionnaire-based survey to know more about these issues which affected them due to this pandemic and resultant lockdown.

Methods
A questionnaire-based survey (53 questions) was conducted online among Indian ophthalmologists with a 2-week response time. The invitation to participate was also circulated widely among various ophthalmologists as members on different social media platforms and emails. It was mandatory to answer all the questions in the questionnaire to make it a valid response.

Results
A total of 903 responses were received across the country. A majority of these responses, 403 (44.6%), were from private practitioners. Almost 876 (97%) of the responders had either kept the daily working hours as same as pre-COVID-19 era or had reduced the actual working hours. Overall, 547 (60.6%) responders did not downsize their staff and 569 (63%) did not reduce the staff salary. Consultation charges were not revised by a majority (659, 73%) of responders. Total of 663 (73.4%) were following the appointment system and 702 (77.7%) responders had reduced the number of patients to less than 6 an hour. Only 106 (11.7%) were doing a mandatory RT-PCR test before surgery, whereas 567 (62.8%) did on the basis of suspicious symptoms.

Conclusion
Our survey gives valuable inputs regarding the changes made by different ophthalmologist groups during the times of COVID-19 and lockdown.

Porwal|Amit C|AC|
Jethani|Jitendra N|JN|
Honavar|Santosh G|SG|

practice patterns
pandemic
Ophthalmology practice
SARS COVID-19
post lockdown


Brain tumour classification and abnormality detection using neuro-fuzzy technique and Otsu thresholding.

Abstract: Brain tumour is one of the main causes for an increase in transience among children and adults. This paper proposes an improved method based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain image classification and image segmentation approach. Automated classification is encouraged by the need of high accuracy when dealing with a human life. The detection of the brain tumour is a challenging problem, due to high diversity in tumour appearance and ambiguous tumour boundaries. MRI images are chosen for detection of brain tumours, as they are used in soft tissue determinations. First of all, image pre-processing is used to enhance the image quality. Second, dual-tree complex wavelet transform multi-scale decomposition is used to analyse texture of an image. Feature extraction extracts features from an image using gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Then, the Neuro-Fuzzy technique is used to classify the stages of brain tumour as benign, malignant or normal based on texture features. Finally, tumour location is detected using Otsu thresholding. The classifier performance is evaluated based on classification accuracies. The simulated results show that the proposed classifier provides better accuracy than previous method.

Renjith|Arokia|A|
Manjula|P|P|
Mohan Kumar|P|P|

Neuro-fuzzy
Otsu thresholding
MRI
Image classification
Image segmentation
Gray-level co-occurrence matrix
Dual tree complex wavelet transform


Serum levels and mutual correlations of amyloid β in patients with depression.

Abstract:
AIM
Epidemiological studies have shown that depression is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the biological mechanism underlying the link between depression and AD is unclear, altered amyloid β (Aβ) metabolism in patients with depression has been suggested as a potential mechanism. Results from previous studies of Aβ metabolism in patients with depression have been inconsistent, and Aβ polymerization, which is a crucial process in AD pathology, has not previously been assessed.

METHODS
Serum levels of Aβ40, Aβ42 and Aβ oligomers were evaluated in 104 inpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 132 healthy control individuals.

RESULTS
Lower serum Aβ42 levels were observed in patients with MDD, but there was no difference in serum Aβ oligomer levels between the MDD group and the healthy control group, even in older adults. Interestingly, serum Aβ oligomer levels in patients with MDD were dependent on serum Aβ42 levels, regardless of age, and this relationship was not observed in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Aβ42 is more prone to aggregation and polymerization in patients with depression than in healthy individuals, suggesting a possible mechanism underlying the transition from depression to AD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 125-129.

serum
amyloid β
depression
oligomer
major depressive disorder


Generalized periodic discharges: Pathophysiology and clinical considerations.

Abstract: Generalized periodic discharges (GPDs) are commonly encountered in metabolic encephalopathy and cerebral hypoxia/ischemia. The clinical significance of this EEG pattern is indistinct, and it is unclear whether treatment with antiepileptic drugs is beneficial. In this study, we discuss potential pathophysiological mechanisms. Based on the literature, supplemented with simulations in a minimal computational model, we conclude that selective synaptic failure or neuronal damage of inhibitory interneurons, leading to disinhibition of excitatory pyramidal cells, presumably plays a critical role. Reversibility probably depends on the potential for functional recovery of these interneurons. Whether antiepileptic drugs are helpful for regaining function is unclear. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".

van Putten|Michel J A M|MJ|
Hofmeijer|Jeannette|J|

Generalized periodic discharges
Synaptic failure
Status epilepticus
Feedforward inhibition
Meanfield model


Cytological artifacts masquerading interpretation.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Cytological artifacts are important to learn because an error in routine laboratory practice can bring out an erroneous result.

AIMS
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of delayed fixation and morphological discrepancies created by deliberate addition of extraneous factors on the interpretation and/or diagnosis of an oral cytosmear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A prospective study was carried out using papanicolaou and hematoxylin and eosin-stained oral smears, 6 each from 66 volunteer dental students with deliberate variation in fixation delay timings, with and without changes in temperature, undue pressure while smear making and intentional addition of contaminants. The fixation delay at room temperature was carried out at an interval of every 30 minutes, 1 day and 1 week and was continued till the end of 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively. The temperature variations included 60 to 70°C and 3 to 4°C.

RESULTS
Light microscopically, the effect of delayed fixation at room temperature appeared first on cytoplasm followed by nucleus within the first 2 hours and on the 4(th) day, respectively, till complete cytoplasmic degeneration on the 23(rd) day. However, delayed fixation at variable temperature brought faster degenerative changes at higher temperature than lower temperature. Effect of extraneous factors revealed some interesting facts.

CONCLUSIONS
In order to justify a cytosmear interpretation, a cytologist must be well acquainted with delayed fixation-induced cellular changes and microscopic appearances of common contaminants so as to implicate better prognosis and therapy.

Sahay|Khushboo|K| Mehendiratta|Monica|M| Rehani|Shweta|S| Kumra|Madhumani|M| Sharma|Rashi|R| Kardam|Priyanka|P|

Artifacts
delayed fixation
cytosmear
contaminants
degeneration


Simvastatin-romidepsin combination kills bladder cancer cells synergistically.

Abstract: The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and thereby induces histone acetylation. We postulated that combining simvastatin with the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor romidepsin would kill bladder cancer cells by inducing histone acetylation cooperatively. The combination of romidepsin and simvastatin induced robust apoptosis and killed bladder cancer cells synergistically. In murine subcutaneous tumor models using MBT-2 cells, a 15-day treatment with 0.5 mg/kg romidepsin and 15 mg/kg simvastatin was well tolerated and inhibited tumor growth significantly. Mechanistically, the combination induced histone acetylation by activating AMPK. The combination also decreased the expression of HDACs, thus further promoting histone acetylation. This AMPK activation was essential for the combination's action because compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, suppressed the combination-induced histone acetylation and the combination's ability to induce apoptosis. We also found that the combination increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, leading to reactive oxygen species production. Furthermore, the combination induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and this ER stress was shown to be associated with increased AMPK expression and histone acetylation, thus playing an important role in the combination's action. Our study also suggests there is a positive feedback cycle between ER stress induction and PPARγ expression.

Okubo|Kazuki|K| Miyai|Kosuke|K| Kato|Kimi|K| Asano|Takako|T| Sato|Akinori|A|

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ