Expression of the Tumor-associated Mucin 1 Epitope Analyzed with the Humanized PankoMab-GEX™ Antibody in Malignant and Normal Tissues of the Head and Neck.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
During neoplasia, glycosylation changes. In this setting, mucins, especially mucin 1 (MUC1), become carriers for oncofetal carbohydrates and relieve invasive growth. The recently described tumor-associated MUC1 epitope TA-MUC1 is primarily restricted to malignancies and is overexpressed in these tissues. The humanized monoclonal antibody PankoMab-GEX specifically recognizes TA-MUC1.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Laryngeal cancer specimens (n=125) and normal tissue of head and neck (n=7) were used in this study. Paraffin-embedded sections were incubated with PankoMab-GEX. Staining reaction was carried out using peroxidase (POD) labeling and diaminobenzidine (DAB). Breast cancer tissue was used as positive control and negative control used non-specific mouse IgM. Semi-quantitative evaluation by two independent double-blinded investigators, including a pathologist, used the immunoreactive score (IRS) of Remmele and Stegner.

RESULTS
A total of 31 out of 125 laryngeal cancer specimens were classified as G1. Of these, 22 (71%) were completely negative for TA-MUC1, the remaining 9 showed very weak staining, with an IRS of 2. A total of 94 cases of cancer specimens were classified as G2 and G3; 34 of them were also negative, but 60 had an IRS of up to 9. All investigated normal tissue of the upper aerodigestive tract was completely negative for TA-MUC1.

CONCLUSION
G1 tumors are completely negative or do not reach an IRS relevant range. The finding that G1 tumors are completely negative for TA-MUC1 or have IRS≤2 can be helpful for histopathological examination, especially concerning tumor grading. Therefore, this antibody holds great potential for use as a therapeutic antibody in laryngeal cancer.

Wiest|Irmi|I| Alexiou|Christoph|C| Friese|Klaus|K| Betz|Peter|P| Tübel|Jutta|J| Goletz|Steffen|S| Dian|Darius|D| Jeschke|Udo|U|

Mucin 1
PankoMab-GEX
laryngeal cancer
tumor grading


A translational approach for NMDA receptor profiling as a vulnerability biomarker for depression and schizophrenia.

Abstract: What is the central question of this study? Can the change in plasma arginine vasopressin concentration (P[AVP] ) in response to osmotic stimulation (POsm ) serve as a biomarker for NMDA receptor signalling in schizophrenia and depression and thereby distinguish between these mental illnesses? What is the main finding and its importance? In response to hyperosmotic challenge, depressed subjects showed increased P[AVP] response compared with healthy control and schizophrenic subjects. However, schizophrenic subjects were not different from healthy control subjects in this small sample. The 'P[AVP] response to POsm ' is a suitable biomarker to distinguish depressed versus schizophrenic patients when used with psychiatric screening. This is the first objective physiological measure for schizophrenia or depression. Altered NMDA receptor activity and glutamate signalling might underlie the pathogenesis of both schizophrenia and depression in subgroups of patients. In schizophrenia, pharmacological modelling, post-mortem and imaging data suggest reduced NMDA signalling. In contrast, recent clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of the NMDA antagonist ketamine in severely depressed patients suggest increased NMDA receptor signalling. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to assess whether there is any in vivo evidence for an inverse association in depression and schizophrenia with respect to the NMDA receptor function. For this purpose, we used a translational approach, based on findings from animal studies that NMDA receptor is a key mediator of arginine vasopressin (AVP) release into the bloodstream. Using hypertonic saline to increase plasma osmolality (POsm ) and thereby induce AVP release, as done in animal studies, we found that in depressed patients the NMDA receptor-mediated AVP release induced by hypertonic saline infusion was significantly increased [0.24 (0.15) pg ml-1  mosmol-1 , P < 0.05] compared with schizophrenia patients [0.07 (0.07) pg ml-1  mosmol-1 ]. Slopes for healthy control subjects were 0.11 (0.09) pg ml-1  mosmol-1 which was less than the depressed group. These findings are consistent with implicated NMDA receptor-related abnormalities in depression and schizophrenia in subgroups of patients and provide the first in vivo evidence of this dichotomy.

Gunduz-Bruce|Handan|H| Kenney|Joshua|J| Changlani|Suravi|S| Peixoto|Aldo|A| Gueorguieva|Ralitza|R| Leone|Cheryl|C| Stachenfeld|Nina|N|0000-0002-6597-5031

NMDA receptor
arginine vasopressin
osmolality


Influence of the EndoActivator Irrigation System on Dentinal Tubule Penetration of a Novel Tricalcium Silicate-Based Sealer.

Abstract: This study compared the effects of a conventional endodontic needle with an agitation system on a novel tricalcium silicate-based sealer (NTS) in terms of dentinal tubule penetration and interfacial adaptation to a root canal. Fifty single-rooted, recently-extracted human maxillary central incisors were randomly distributed into two homogeneous groups characterized by two different final cleansing systems: Conventional endodontic needle, or EndoActivator®. After instrumentation, all the teeth were filled with the gutta-percha single cone technique in conjunction with the novel tricalcium silicate-based sealer. Teeth were horizontally sectioned at 1 and 5 mm from the apex and were observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) at five magnifications. The maximum, mean, and the circumferential percentage of the sealer penetration inside the tubules were measured. Moreover, the gap width was evaluated using Image J software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). EndoActivator® did not result in a significantly higher circumferential percentage of sealer penetration than conventional irrigation (p > 0.05). However, the gap width was significantly lower with EndoActivator®, compared to conventional needles at both 1 mm (p = 0.035) and 5 mm (p = 0.038). The EndoActivator® irrigation system did not significantly improve the NTS penetration, as compared to the conventional endodontic needle irrigation. Activation of the irrigation reduced the gap width significantly.

El Hachem|Roula|R|
Le Brun|Guy|G|
Le Jeune|Bernard|B|
Pellen|Fabrice|F|
Khalil|Issam|I|
Abboud|Marie|M|

dentinal tubules penetration
interfacial adaptation
EndoActivator®
confocal laser scanning microscope
gap
Tricalcium silicate sealer


Sources for Leads: Natural Products and Libraries.

Abstract: Natural products have traditionally been a major source of leads in the drug discovery process. However, the development of high-throughput screening led to an increased interest in synthetic methods that enabled the rapid construction of large libraries of molecules. This resulted in the termination or downscaling of many natural product research programs, but the chemical libraries did not necessarily produce a larger amount of drug leads. On one hand, this chapter explores the current state of natural product research within the drug discovery process. On the other hand it evaluates the efforts made to increase the amount of leads generated from chemical libraries and considers what role natural products could play here.

van Herwerden|Eric F|EF|
Süssmuth|Roderich D|RD|

Natural products
Drug discovery
Diversity-oriented synthesis
Fragment-based drug discovery
Privileged structures
Unexplored natural product sources


Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction nanofibers: Enhanced photocatalytic activity, charge separation mechanism and magnetic separability.

Abstract: Uniform Bi2MoO6 nanosheets were grown in a high dispersed fashion on electrospun BiFeO3 nanofibers via a solvothermal technique. The loading amount of Bi2MoO6 in the Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction nanofibers could be controlled by adjusting the precursor concentrations in the solvothermal process. The XPS analysis, energy band position calculation and trapping experiments all proved that the Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction is a Z-scheme heterojunction. The Z-scheme Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction had a much higher photocatalytic activity in the visible-light photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) than pure BiFeO3 nanofibers or pure Bi2MoO6 nanosheets. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the formation of Z-scheme Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunctions, which could be beneficial to the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction nanofibers could be easily separated under an external magnetic field via the ferromagnetic BiFeO3. After several cycles, the photocatalytic activity of the Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction no longer significantly decreased suggesting that the Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction is stable. These Z-scheme Bi2MoO6/BiFeO3 heterojunction nanofibers with highly visible-light photocatalytic activity, excellent chemical stability and magnetic separability could be useful in many practical applications.

Tao|Ran|R| Shao|Changlu|C| Li|Xinghua|X| Li|Xiaowei|X| Liu|Shuai|S| Yang|Shu|S| Zhao|Chengcheng|C| Liu|Yichun|Y|


Effects of dietary coated cysteamine hydrochloride on pork color in finishing pigs.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CC) was applied as a feed additive in animal production. The influence and the mechanisms of CC used as a feed additive in promoting meat quality in finishing pigs were investigated.

RESULTS
Dietary CC supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the a* and H* values and reduced (P < 0.05) the L* value in the longissimus dorsi muscles at 48 h postmortem (P < 0.05). The deoxymyoglobin content was enhanced (P < 0.05) and the metmyoglobin and malondialdehyde contents were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the dietary CC. Pigs fed a dietary CC of 0.035 g kg-1 had a lower cooking loss (P < 0.05) and a higher a* (24 h) value in the longissimus dorsi muscles than pigs on control treatment. The messenger RNA expression of superoxide dismutase 1 was upregulated (P < 0.05) in the longissimus dorsi.

CONCLUSION
Dietary supplementation with CC could improve antioxidant status and delay meat discoloration by improving glutathione levels and antioxidase activity after longer chill storage (for 48 h after slaughter). Dietary supplementation with CC at 0.035 g kg-1 may promote the stability of pork color by reducing oxidation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

coated cysteamine
pork color
finishing pigs
antioxidant status


Interprofessional bedside rounds: Nurse-physician collaboration and perceived barriers in an Asian hospital.

Abstract: Interprofessional bedside rounds by nurses and physicians provide valuable space and time for the discussion of patient care, which is essential for providing quality care. However, nurse-physician collaboration and barriers to attending these rounds are not well-examined. This study aimed to examine the collaboration of nurses and physicians and their perceived barriers to interprofessional bedside rounds. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 371 medical ward-based nurses and physicians from an acute care tertiary hospital in Singapore, using a 27-item Nurse-Physician Collaboration Scale and a 21-item Perceived Barriers to Interprofessional Bedside Rounds questionnaire. The overall Nurse-Physician Collaboration scores indicated positive attitudes toward nurse-physician collaboration in bedside rounds, with no significant difference found between nurses and physicians. While the sharing of information was reported to be the most frequent collaborative activity, the cooperative relationship was rated to be the least frequent behavior. The highest ranked barriers were related to time-related issues. The nurses reported a significantly greater perceived barrier in attending bedside round than the physicians. To optimize nurse-physician collaboration, the study advocates healthcare leaders to foster cooperative relationships between nurses and physicians and to reorganize ward routines to provide designated time periods for nurses to attend rounds.

Chew|Bi Hui|BH|
Tang|Charmaine Jinxiu|CJ|
Lim|Wee Shiong|WS|
Yap|Joyce Kwee Yong|JKY|
Zhou|Wentao|W|
Liaw|Sok Ying|SY|

Interprofessional bedside rounds
nurse-physician collaboration
perceived barriers


Solitary brain metastasis from prostate cancer: a case report.

Abstract: Brain metastases arising from prostate cancer are exceedingly rare and typically occur late in the course of the disease. Most patients have widespread metastatic disease before developing brain metastases from prostate cancer. We report the case of a 67-year-old male with prostate cancer presenting with an isolated symptomatic brain metastasis. Aggressive treatment of the metastatic site included tumor resection and adjuvant stereotactic radiation treatment (RT) to the surgical bed, resulting in a favorable outcome.

Barakat|Tasneem|T| Agarwal|Arnav|A| McDonald|Rachel|R| Ganesh|Vithusha|V| Vuong|Sherlyn|S| Borean|Michael|M| Chow|Edward|E| Soliman|Hany|H|

Brain
prostate cancer
brain metastases
metastatic cancer
radiotherapy
stereotactic radiosurgery


A role for GLUT3 in glioblastoma cell invasion that is not recapitulated by GLUT1.

Abstract: The multifaceted roles of metabolism in invasion have been investigated across many cancers. The brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly invasive and metabolically plastic tumor with an inevitable recurrence. The neuronal glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) was previously reported to correlate with poor glioma patient survival and be upregulated in GBM cells to promote therapeutic resistance and survival under restricted glucose conditions. It has been suggested that the increased glucose uptake mediated by GLUT3 elevation promotes survival of circulating tumor cells to facilitate metastasis. Here we suggest a more direct role for GLUT3 in promoting invasion that is not dependent upon changes in cell survival or metabolism. Analysis of glioma datasets demonstrated that GLUT3, but not GLUT1, expression was elevated in invasive disease. In human xenograft derived GBM cells, GLUT3, but not GLUT1, elevation significantly increased invasion in transwell assays, but not growth or migration. Further, there were no changes in glycolytic metabolism that correlated with invasive phenotypes. We identified the GLUT3 C-terminus as mediating invasion: substituting the C-terminus of GLUT1 for that of GLUT3 reduced invasion. RNA-seq analysis indicated changes in extracellular matrix organization in GLUT3 overexpressing cells, including upregulation of osteopontin. Together, our data suggest a role for GLUT3 in increasing tumor cell invasion that is not recapitulated by GLUT1, is separate from its role in metabolism and survival as a glucose transporter, and is likely broadly applicable since GLUT3 expression correlates with metastasis in many solid tumors.

glioblastoma
invasion
metabolism
Glucose transporter


Perturbation of RNA Polymerase I transcription machinery by ablation of HEATR1 triggers the RPL5/RPL11-MDM2-p53 ribosome biogenesis stress checkpoint pathway in human cells.

Abstract: Ribosome biogenesis is an energy consuming process which takes place mainly in the nucleolus. By producing ribosomes to fuel protein synthesis, it is tightly connected with cell growth and cell cycle control. Perturbation of ribosome biogenesis leads to the activation of p53 tumor suppressor protein promoting processes like cell cycle arrest, apoptosis or senescence. This ribosome biogenesis stress pathway activates p53 through sequestration of MDM2 by a subset of ribosomal proteins (RPs), thereby stabilizing p53. Here, we identify human HEATR1, as a nucleolar protein which positively regulates ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis. Downregulation of HEATR1 resulted in cell cycle arrest in a manner dependent on p53. Moreover, depletion of HEATR1 also caused disruption of nucleolar structure and activated the ribosomal biogenesis stress pathway - RPL5 / RPL11 dependent stabilization and activation of p53. These findings reveal an important role for HEATR1 in ribosome biogenesis and further support the concept that perturbation of ribosome biosynthesis results in p53-dependent cell cycle checkpoint activation, with implications for human pathologies including cancer.

Turi|Zsofia|Z| Senkyrikova|Marketa|M| Mistrik|Martin|M| Bartek|Jiri|J| Moudry|Pavel|P|0000-0002-1479-007X


Minimal impact at current environmental concentrations of microplastics on energy balance and physiological rates of the giant mussel Choromytilus chorus.

Abstract: Microplastic particles (MP) uptake by marine organisms is a phenomenon of global concern. Nevertheless, there is scarce evidence about the impacts of MP on the energy balance of marine invertebrates. We evaluated the mid-term effect of the microplastic ingestion at the current higher environmental concentrations in the ocean on the energy balance of the giant mussel Choromytilus chorus. We exposed juvenile mussels to three concentrations of microplastics (0, 100, and 1000 particles L-1) and evaluated the effect on physiology after 40 days. The impacts of MP on the ecophysiological traits of the mussels were minimum at all the studied concentrations. At intermediate concentrations of MP, Scope for Growth (SFG) had little impact. Other relevant key life-history and physiological processes, such as size and metabolism, were not affected by microplastics. However, individuals treated with MP presented histopathological differences compared to control group, which could result in adverse health effects for mussels.

Opitz|Tania|T|
Benítez|Samanta|S|
Fernández|Carolina|C|
Osores|Sebastián|S|
Navarro|Jorge M|JM|
Rodríguez-Romero|Araceli|A|
Lohrmann|Karin B|KB|
Lardies|Marco A|MA|

Scope for Growth
Aquaculture
Bivalves
Filter-feeders
Marine pollution
Metabolic rate


Redox/pH dual-stimuli responsive camptothecin prodrug nanogels for "on-demand" drug delivery.

Abstract: At present, chemotherapy remains to be one of the most important therapeutic approaches for malignant tumors. The tumor microenvironment(TME)-responsive intelligent drug delivery systems are still the hot research topics in delivering chemotherapeutic drugs. Camptothecin (CPT) possesses very strong antitumor activities, but its clinical application is hindered by its poor water-solubility and serious toxic side effects. Herein, a new intelligent and TME-responsive P(CPT-MAA) prodrug nanogel was developed for delivering CPT and reducing its side effects. P(CPT-MAA) prodrug nanogels were prepared with methacrylic acid (MAA), CPT monomer (CPTM) and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (Bis) via distillation-precipitation polymerization, in which CPT was covalently conjugated into the nanogels via redox-responsive disulfide linker. The as-prepared nanogels were spherical shapes with uniform size and narrow size distribution. With the help of redox-responsive property of disulfide linker and pH-responsive property of PMAA, the release of CPT from prodrug nanogels was redox/pH-dual dependent and could be accelerated by the increased concentration of GSH and the decreased pH value, which were favorable to realize the "on-demand" drug release in tumor cell and tumor tissue microenvironment. Furthermore, P(CPT-MAA) prodrug nanogels exhibited superior antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo without observed side effects. Hence, the prepared P(CPT-MAA) prodrug nanogels may be a promise delivery system for chemotherapeutic agents.

Qu|Ying|Y| Chu|Bingyang|B| Wei|Xiawei|X| Lei|Minyi|M| Hu|Danrong|D| Zha|Ruoyu|R| Zhong|Lin|L| Wang|Mengyao|M| Wang|Fangfang|F| Qian|Zhiyong|Z|

Camptothecin
Prodrug nanogels
Redox-responsive
pH-responsive
Cancer therapy


Circulating microRNA 216 as a Marker for the Early Identification of Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
To study the value of circulating microRNA 216 (miR-216) as a marker for the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in both murine models and patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mice with AP were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50μg/kg/hour cerulean either 7 times, sacrificed at 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 hours after the first injection, or 12 times, sacrificed at 24 hours after the first injection. Plasma samples and data from patients with AP were obtained from a prospective cohort. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the miR-216a and miR-216b level.

RESULTS
The upregulation of miR-216a and miR-216b in the serum of mice was induced by cerulean injection in both the 7- and 12-injection groups (P < 0.05). The downregulation of miR-216a in pancreatic tissues of mice with AP was detected (P < 0.05), but no difference was observed in pancreatic miR-216b levels among any of the groups (all P > 0.05). The serum miR-216a level was positively correlated with pancreatic histopathology severity scores, and was negatively correlated with pancreatic miR-216a (r = -0.483, P = 0.009). The plasma miR-216a level was significantly upregulated in patients with severe AP (SAP) compared with patients with mild AP (MAP) or moderate severe AP (MSAP) (SAP versus MAP, P = 0.04; SAP versus MSAP, P = 0.00), but no difference was seen between patients with MAP and those with MSAP (P = 0.73).

CONCLUSIONS
Circulating miR-216a might be a potential biomarker for the early identification of SAP.

Zhang|Xiao-Xin|XX| Deng|Li-Hui|LH| Chen|Wei-Wei|WW| Shi|Na|N| Jin|Tao|T| Lin|Zi-Qi|ZQ| Ma|Yun|Y| Jiang|Kun|K| Yang|Xiao-Nan|XN| Xia|Qing|Q|

microRNA 216
Severe acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis
miR-216a
Biomarker


Prognostic Significance of CD24 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Abstract: The role of cancer stem cells in the initiation and progression of cancer has become a well-studied area of emerging research, and stem cells with different surface markers have been identified in various types of cancer. CD24 is a membrane protein that acts as the ligand for P-selectin and has been defined as a stem cell marker of colonic cancer. The immunohistochemical expression of CD24 is associated with worse patient outcomes in small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and colon cancer. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to determine CD24 expression in clear cell, papillary and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and investigated its relationship with other clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. A total of 108 cases of clear cell, 12 papillary and 13 choromophobe renal cell carcinoma were examined. Clinicopathological features including age, gender, vascular invasion, tumor necrosis, and T stage were recorded. Clinical stage and overall survival and disease-free survival times were recorded. The immunohistochemical expression of CD24 was classified as low or high based on the percentage and intensity of positive staining. CD24 expression was associated with both tumor grade and recurrence rates. The survival analysis revealed that patients with high CD24 expression exhibited significantly lower overall and disease-free survival. Increased expression of CD24 is related to the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This is the first study identifying a strong association between CD24 expression levels and survival. Thus, CD24 expression may aid in predicting prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Arik|Deniz|D| Can|Cavit|C| Dündar|Emine|E| Kabukçuoğlu|Sare|S| Paşaoğlu|Özgül|Ö|

CD24
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Prognosis
Cancer stem cell marker


MULTIPLE TESTING OF LOCAL MAXIMA FOR DETECTION OF PEAKS IN RANDOM FIELDS.

Abstract: A topological multiple testing scheme is presented for detecting peaks in images under stationary ergodic Gaussian noise, where tests are performed at local maxima of the smoothed observed signals. The procedure generalizes the one-dimensional scheme of [31] to Euclidean domains of arbitrary dimension. Two methods are developed according to two different ways of computing p-values: (i) using the exact distribution of the height of local maxima, available explicitly when the noise field is isotropic [9, 10]; (ii) using an approximation to the overshoot distribution of local maxima above a pre-threshold, applicable when the exact distribution is unknown, such as when the stationary noise field is non-isotropic [9]. The algorithms, combined with the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure for thresholding p-values, provide asymptotic strong control of the False Discovery Rate (FDR) and power consistency, with specific rates, as the search space and signal strength get large. The optimal smoothing bandwidth and optimal pre-threshold are obtained to achieve maximum power. Simulations show that FDR levels are maintained in non-asymptotic conditions. The methods are illustrated in the analysis of functional magnetic resonance images of the brain.

overshoot distribution
false discovery rate
Gaussian random field
Primary 62H35
image analysis
kernel smoothing
secondary 62H15
selective inference
topological inference


A plasma membrane-tethered transcription factor, NAC062/ANAC062/NTL6, mediates the unfolded protein response in Arabidopsis.

Abstract: The accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers a well conserved pathway called the unfolded protein response (UPR) in eukaryotic cells to mitigate ER stress. Two signaling pathways, S2P-bZIP28 and IRE1-bZIP60, play important roles in transmitting ER stress signals from the ER to the nucleus in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). It is not known whether other components in the secretory pathway also contribute to the alleviation of ER stress. Here we report the identification of a plasma membrane-associated transcription factor, NAC062 (also known as ANAC062/NTL6), as another important UPR mediator in Arabidopsis plants. NAC062 relocates from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and regulates the expression of ER stress responsive genes in Arabidopsis. Knock-down of NAC062 in the wild-type background confers ER stress sensitivity, while inducible expression of a nucleus-localized form of NAC062, NAC062D, in the bZIP28 and bZIP60 double mutant (zip28zip60) background increases ER stress tolerance. Knock-down of NAC062 impairs ER-stress-induced expression of UPR downstream genes while over-expression of NAC062D-MYC induces the expression of UPR downstream genes under normal growth condition. CHIP-qPCR reveals that NAC062D-MYC is enriched at the promoter regions of several UPR downstream genes such as BiP2. Furthermore, NAC062 itself is also up-regulated by ER stress, which is dependent on bZIP60 but not on bZIP28. Thus, our results have uncovered an alternative UPR pathway in plants in which the membrane-associated transcription factor NAC062 relays ER stress signaling from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and plays important roles in regulating UPR downstream gene expression.

Yang|Zheng-Ting|ZT| Lu|Sun-Jie|SJ| Wang|Mei-Jing|MJ| Bi|Dong-Ling|DL| Sun|Ling|L| Zhou|Shun-Fan|SF| Song|Ze-Ting|ZT| Liu|Jian-Xiang|JX|

D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant


Association with subjective measured physical activity (GPAQ) and quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF) of ageing adults in Hungary, a cross-sectional study.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
It is well known that physical activity (PA) has health benefits. This study aimed to examine physical activity carried out by the senior (over 50) participants and its relation to their quality of life (QoL).

METHODS
Surveillance of PA and QoL was measured by using questionnaires (GPAQ, WHOQoL-BREF) in this study. Descriptive data were presented as means and standard deviations (SD) for continuous variables and as percentages for categorical variables. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS
Overall, 250 participants were recruited, the mean age of the study population (n = 243) was 70.2 (SD 7.1) years. The results clearly showed that the Hungarian participants aged over 50 years were more likely to do PA if they had university degree and lower age (p ≤ 0.001) and used more active transportation (p = 0.035) if they had low education. The results of WHOQoL-BREF showed that the Hungarian individuals have better QoL if they have university degree (p ≤ 0.001) and lower age (p ≤ 0.001). Using multivariate linear regression analysis to examine the effect of PA patterns on QoL adjusted for demographic variables (age, education, BMI, place of living), the result showed significant correlation between WHOQoL-BREF dimensions and GPAQ (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSION
Higher amount of PA among aging population can result in better QoL in all dimensions.

Physical activity
GPAQ
WHOQoL-BREF
Aging
QoL
Elderly


Loss of COMT activity reduces lateral root formation and alters the response to water limitation in sorghum brown midrib (bmr) 12 mutant.

Abstract: Lignin is a key target for modifying lignocellulosic biomass for efficient biofuel production. Brown midrib 12 (bmr12) encodes the sorghum caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) and is one of the key enzymes in monolignol biosynthesis. Loss of function mutations in COMT reduces syringyl (S) lignin subunits and improves biofuel conversion rate. Although lignin plays an important role in maintaining cell wall integrity of xylem vessels, physiological and molecular consequences due to loss of COMT on root growth and adaptation to water deficit remain unexplored. We addressed this gap by evaluating the root morphology, anatomy and transcriptome of bmr12 mutant. The mutant had reduced lateral root density (LRD) and altered root anatomy and response to water limitation. The wild-type exhibits similar phenotypes under water stress, suggesting that bmr12 may be in a water deficit responsive state even in well-watered conditions. bmr12 had increased transcript abundance of genes involved in (a)biotic stress response, gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis and signaling. We show that bmr12 is more sensitive to exogenous GA application and present evidence for the role of GA in regulating reduced LRD in bmr12. These findings elucidate the phenotypic and molecular consequences of COMT deficiency under optimal and water stress environments in grasses.

lateral root
brown midrib
caffeic acid O-methyltransferase
co-expression analysis
drought response
phenylpropanoid metabolism


Mental health and wellbeing: focus on men's health.

Abstract: All nurses have a responsibility to ensure that they actively promote both mental and physical health and wellbeing. This article aims to bring together current thinking and evidence about nursing and men's mental health promotion. Key areas of concern outlined are the high rate of suicide in men, the expression of depression in men and the problems of masculinity when related to seeking help for mental health. The article highlights the importance of language and the normalising of distressing feelings when working with men and suggests that nurses need to recognise how men can experience depression differently, actively identify and address suicidal thinking, and provide gender-sensitive interventions. Additionally, nurses working with men need to demonstrate 'male-positive' values and offer future-focused and action-oriented interventions (such as solution-focused, coaching or cognitive behavioural therapy approaches) that contribute to a sense of agency, promote hope and are more engaging for many men.

D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care

Men's mental health promotion
Depression
Gender-sensitive
Action-oriented interventions
Future-focused interventions
Male suicide


A modified QWASI model for fate and transport modeling of mercury between the water-ice-sediment in Lake Ulansuhai.

Abstract: Mercury contamination from industrial and agricultural drainage into lakes and rivers is a growing concern in Northern China. Lake Ulansuhai, located in Hetao irrigation district in Inner Mongolia, is the only sink for the all industrial and agricultural drainage and sole outlet for this district to the Yellow River, which is one of the main source of drinking water for the numerous cities and towns downstream. Because Ulansuahi is ice-covered during winter, the QWASI model was modified by adding an ice equation to get a more accurate understanding of the fate and transport of mercury within the lake. Both laboratory and field tests were carried out during the ice growth period. The aquivalence and mass balance approaches were used to develop the modified QWASI + ice model. The margins of error between the modelled and the measured average concentrations of Hg in ice, water, and sediment were 30%, 26.2%, and 19.8% respectively. These results suggest that the new QWASI + ice model could be used to more accurately represent the fate and transport of mercury in the seasonally ice-covered lakes, during the ice growth period.

Liu|Yu|Y| Li|Changyou|C| Anderson|Bruce|B| Zhang|Sheng|S| Shi|Xiaohong|X| Zhao|Shengnan|S|

QWASI model
Fate
Mercury
Ice growth period
Seasonally ice-covered lakes
Migration


Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Depression, and Neurodegeneration: A Bidirectional Communication from Gut to Brain.

Abstract: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are increasingly presenting with a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as deterioration in gastroenteric physiology, including visceral hypersensitivity, altered intestinal membrane permeability, and gastrointestinal motor dysfunction. Functional imaging of IBS patients has revealed several abnormalities in various brain regions, such as significant activation of amygdala, thinning of insular and anterior cingulate cortex, and increase in hypothalamic gray matter, which results in poor psychiatric and cognitive outcomes. Interrelations between the enteric and central events in IBS-related gastrointestinal, neurological, and psychiatric pathologies have compelled researchers to study the gut-brain axis-a bidirectional communication that maintains the homeostasis of the gastrointestinal and central nervous system with gut microbiota as the protagonist. Thus, it can be disrupted by any alteration owing to the gut dysbiosis or loss of diversity in microbial composition. Available evidence indicates that the use of probiotics as a part of a balanced diet is effective in the management of IBS and IBS-associated neurodegenerative and psychiatric comorbidities. In this review, we delineate the pathogenesis and complications of IBS from gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric standpoints while also discussing the neurodegenerative events in enteric and central nervous systems of IBS patients and the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota-based therapy established on clinical and preclinical data.

irritable bowel syndrome
depression
neurodegeneration
gut dysbiosis
microbiota-gut-immune-glia axis


Genomic regulation of type 2 diabetes endophenotypes: Contribution from genetic studies in the Goto-Kakizaki rat.

Abstract: The inbred Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat strain is a unique model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus caused by naturally occurring genetic variants that have been selectively isolated from an outbred colony of Wistar rats. Genetic and genomic studies in experimental crosses and congenic strains of the GK have shed light on the complex etiopathogenesis of diabetes phenotypes in this model. Diabetes-related phenotypes in the GK are under polygenic control and distinct genetic loci regulate glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, β-cell mass and plasma lipids. Metabolome and transcriptome profiling data in GK crosses and congenics, combined with GK genome resequencing, have resulted in a comprehensive landscape of genomic regulations of metabolism that can disentangle causal relationships between GK variants and diabetes phenotypes. Application of systems biology and systems genetics in the GK has contributed to improve our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms regulating metabolism. The wealth of physiological, genetic and genomic information in this strain makes it one of the most powerful model systems to improve our understanding of genetic regulations of metabolism and for testing therapeutic solutions for diabetes.

Bihoreau|Marie-Thérèse|MT| Dumas|Marc-Emmanuel|ME| Lathrop|Mark|M| Gauguier|Dominique|D|

D000818:Animals
D002874:Chromosome Mapping
D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
D005786:Gene Expression Regulation
D010641:Phenotype
D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci
D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D017208:Rats, Wistar

Genetics
Congenics
Metabolome
Transcriptome
Systems biology
Beta-cells
Endocrine pancreas
HDL cholesterol
Molecular phenotyping
QTL
Quantitative trait locus
SNP
Single nucleotide polymorphisms


Changes in Serum Osteocalcin are Not Associated with Changes in Glucose or Insulin for Osteoporotic Patients Treated with Bisphosphonate.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Bisphosphonate is used in osteoporosis treatment to repress osteoclast activity, which then decreases levels of osteocalcin (OC). OC, a protein secreted by osteoblasts and released from the bone matrix during osteoclastic bone resorption, has been found to control blood glucose levels by increasing insulin production and sensitivity. The question addressed in this study is whether decreasing OC through bisphosphonate treatment will provoke a change in glucose homeostasis.

METHODS
Eighty-four patients with osteoporosis were treated with once-weekly risedronate 35 mg and cholecalciferol 5,600 IU. We measured fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, and undercarboxylated (Glu) and carboxylated (Gla) OC levels at baseline and after 16 weeks. To estimate insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell function (B)%, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR and HOMA-B% were also calculated, respectively.

RESULTS
The mean FPG level in total subjects increased significantly from 5.3 to 5.5 mmol/L, but no changes in blood glucose were noted in the 24 subjects with impaired fasting glucose. Glu and Gla OC levels declined significantly after treatment. No correlations were observed between changes in OC and changes in glucose, however.

CONCLUSIONS
Bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis reduced OC, but this change was not associated with changes in glucose metabolism.

Hong|Seong-Hun|SH|
Koo|Ja-Won|JW|
Hwang|Jin Kyung|JK|
Hwang|You-Cheol|YC|
Jeong|In-Kyung|IK|
Ahn|Kyu Jeung|KJ|
Chung|Ho-Yeon|HY|
Kim|Deog-Yoon|DY|


Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in healthy individuals returning to Shenzhen.

Abstract: To verify reliability of antibody detection and investigate population immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the local Chinese population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shenzhen to detect anti-coronavirus antibodies including, immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA). In the COVID-19 group, nine patients were enrolled after diagnosis. In the control group, 1589 individuals without clinical symptoms (cough, fever, and fatigue) and returning from outside Shenzhen were enrolled. The first study enrollment occurred at the end of February 2020; the final study visit was 18 March 2020. In the COVID-19 group, the seven of nine patients were positive for IgM, IgG, and IgA. Meanwhile, six of the 1589 healthy individuals were found to be weakly positive for IgG. According to SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests, the six individuals were all negative. Strong supplemental support for clinical information can be provided by antibody detection, especially for IgA. According to comparison with overseas reports, the infection rate of the Chinese population outside Shenzhen, China, is significantly low, so most of the population in China is still susceptible. Hence, social distancing measures are still inevitable until a vaccine is developed successfully.

Zhang|Cantong|C|0000-0001-6315-3811 Lin|Liancheng|L| Tang|Donge|D| Liu|Fuju|F| Li|Meng|M| Li|Qiongying|Q| Deng|Zhaoxiang|Z| Chu|Guohai|G| Gu|Dayong|D| Dai|Yong|Y|


Portrayal of alcohol in Bollywood movies: A mixed methods study.

Abstract:
Introduction
Exposure to alcohol in popular movies during adolescence is associated with higher rates of alcohol use. We aimed to assess the extent and pattern of depiction of alcohol in Bollywood movies, and to analyze the trends in portrayal of alcohol over three decades selected for the study.

Materials and Methods
We selected the top five grossing movies for each year of the three decades selected (1961-1970; 1981-1990; and 2001-2010). Content analysis was conducted for each scene depicting alcohol in the movie. We compared quantitative variables across the three decades to assess for any changes in the portrayal of alcohol and performed qualitative content analysis for the text description of the context, in which alcohol was depicted in each movie.

Results
Of the total 150 movies analyzed, 135 (90%) movies contained at least one scene depicting alcohol. Alcohol scenes comprised 7% of the total movie time. Majority of the scenes (92.2%, n = 976) showed the substance (alcohol) itself. Spirits were the most common alcohol beverages depicted (75.1%, n = 733). Only 7.9% of scenes (n = 84) depicted alcohol brands. About 67% (n = 709) of scenes showed characters consuming alcohol or appeared intoxicated. Most scenes portrayed hero (n = 253, 35.7%) consuming alcohol. Female characters were depicted in 7.5% (n = 53) alcohol scenes. The third decade (2001-2010) had the least proportion of scenes depicting Spirits and the highest proportion of scenes depicting beer and wine. Decade three also had the most proportion of scenes set in clubs, bars, discotheques or restaurants, scenes with characters of "positive" shade depicting alcohol use, and the scenes portraying heroine with alcohol use.

Conclusion
There is an increasing trend toward alcohol depiction by positive characters for fun and relaxation, and toward depiction of low-concentration alcohol such as beer in recent decades. The impact of changing trend of alcohol depiction on the Indian viewers, especially young audience, needs further study.

Rao|Ravindra|R|
Panda|Udit|U|
Gupta|Swati Kedia|SK|
Ambekar|Atul|A|
Gupta|Snehil|S|
Agrawal|Alok|A|

Bollywood movies
content analysis
Alcohol depiction
trend analysis


Ruthenium-Immobilized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica: Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Application for Selective Oxidation of Alkanes.

Abstract: Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) is a unique material that has a crystal-like wall structure with coordination sites for metal complexes. A Ru complex, [RuCl2 (CO)3 ]2 , is successfully immobilized onto 2,2'-bipyridine (BPy) units of PMO to form a single-site catalyst, which has been confirmed by various physicochemical analyses. Using NaClO as an oxidant, the Ru-immobilized PMO oxidizes the tertiary C-H bonds of adamantane to the corresponding alcohols at 57 times faster than the secondary C-H bonds, thereby exhibiting remarkably high regioselectivity. Moreover, the catalyst converts cis-decalin to cis-9-decalol in a 63 % yield with complete retention of the substrate stereochemistry. The Ru catalyst can be separated by simple filtration and reused without loss of the original activity and selectivity for the oxidation reactions.

Ishito|Nobuhiro|N| Kobayashi|Hirokazu|H| Nakajima|Kiyotaka|K| Maegawa|Yoshifumi|Y| Inagaki|Shinji|S| Hara|Kenji|K| Fukuoka|Atsushi|A|

periodic mesoporous organosilica
oxidation
alkane
adamantine
ruthenium


Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: current perspectives.

Abstract: Since the first successful intervention for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) was undertaken by Norwood in 1983, there have been many advancements in the pre-, intra-, and postoperative care of these children for a diagnosis that just 25 years ago was almost certainly a fatal one. This paper aims to describe the most recent trends and perspectives on the treatment of HLHS. In particular, we will discuss the five current options for HLHS, including Norwood stage I as the beginning to 3-stage palliation, transplant, true hybrid, hybrid-bridge-to-Norwood, and compassionate care.

Greenleaf|Christopher E|CE|
Urencio|J Miguel|JM|
Salazar|Jorge D|JD|
Dodge-Khatami|Ali|A|

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
congenital cardiac anomalies
single ventricle


Impact of hepatic artery size mismatch between donor and recipient on outcomes after living-donor liver transplantation using the right lobe.

Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hepatic artery (HA) size mismatch anastomosis on outcomes after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
After excluding 128 patients with the exclusion criteria among 233 LDLTs using the right lobe, 104 LDLT patients were divided into two groups: donor HA diameter that was greater than or equal to the recipient HA diameter (D ≥ R group; n = 79), and donor HA diameter that was smaller than the recipient HA diameter (D < R group; n = 25).

RESULTS
Hepatic artery-related complications occurred in only one patient (HA thrombosis; 1.0%) who was in the D < R group. The reconstructed HA flow in the D ≥ R group was significantly greater than that in the D < R group (P = 0.015). There was a higher incidence of anastomotic biliary stricture in the D < R group (32.0%) compared with the D ≥ R group (13.9%, P = 0.022) after LDLT. A multivariate analysis with Cox regression revealed that the HA anastomosis of the D < R group and hepaticojejunostomy were significant independent risk factors for postoperative anastomotic biliary stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic artery anastomosis with a donor HA diameter smaller than that of the recipient HA might be an independent risk factor for postoperative biliary stenosis after LDLT using the right lobe.

D000328:Adult
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical
D005260:Female
D005500:Follow-Up Studies
D006085:Graft Survival
D006499:Hepatic Artery
D006801:Humans
D008107:Liver Diseases
D016031:Liver Transplantation
D019520:Living Donors
D008297:Male
D008875:Middle Aged
D011379:Prognosis
D012189:Retrospective Studies
D012307:Risk Factors
D015996:Survival Rate

size mismatch
biliary complication
blood flow
right hepatic artery


Diagnosis of oral lichen planus from analysis of saliva samples using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Abstract: The ability to diagnose oral lichen planus (OLP) based on saliva analysis using THz time-domain spectroscopy and chemometrics is discussed. The study involved 30 patients (2 male and 28 female) with OLP. This group consisted of two subgroups with the erosive form of OLP (n  =  15) and with the reticular and papular forms of OLP (n  =  15). The control group consisted of six healthy volunteers (one male and five females) without inflammation in the mucous membrane in the oral cavity and without periodontitis. Principal component analysis was used to reveal informative features in the experimental data. The one-versus-one multiclass classifier using support vector machine binary classifiers was used. The two-stage classification approach using several absorption spectra scans for an individual saliva sample provided 100% accuracy of differential classification between OLP subgroups and control group.

Kistenev|Yury|Y| Borisov|Alexey|A| Titarenko|Maria|M| Baydik|Olga|O| Shapovalov|Alexander|A|

oral lichen planus
saliva
terahertz time-domain spectroscopy
chemometrics
exfoliative cytology


Therapeutic Stalemate in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Abstract: The findings of randomized trials of neurohormonal modulation have been neutral in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and consistently positive in heart failure with reduced ejection. Left ventricular remodeling promotes the development and progression of heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction. However, different stimuli mediate left ventricular remodeling that is commonly concentric in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and eccentric in heart failure with reduced ejection. The stimuli that promote concentric left ventricular remodeling may account for the neutral findings of neuhormonal modulation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Low-grade systemic inflammation-induced microvascular endothelial dysfunction is currently the leading hypothesis behind the development and progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The hypothesis provided the rationale for several randomized controlled trials that have led to neutral findings. The trials and their limitations are reviewed.

D000818:Animals
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents
D015897:Comorbidity
D000082742:Heart Disease Risk Factors
D006333:Heart Failure
D006352:Heart Ventricles
D006801:Humans
D007249:Inflammation
D018836:Inflammation Mediators
D020127:Recovery of Function
D018570:Risk Assessment
D015398:Signal Transduction
D013318:Stroke Volume
D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D020257:Ventricular Remodeling

left ventricular remodeling
HFpEF
coronary microvascular dysfunction
systemic inflammation


Using Serum Amino Acids to Predict Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Approach to Utilize Multiple Biomarkers.

Abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause biochemical and metabolomic alterations in the brain tissue and serum. These alterations can be used for diagnosis and prognosis of TBI. Here, the serum concentrations of seventeen amino acids (AA) were studied for their potential utility as biomarkers of TBI. Twenty-five female, 4-week-old piglets received diffuse (n = 13) or focal (n = 12) TBI. Blood samples were obtained both pre-injury and at either 24-h or 4-days post-TBI. To find a robust panel of biomarkers, the results of focal and diffuse TBIs were combined and multivariate logistic regression analysis, coupled with the best subset selection technique and repeated k-fold cross-validation method, was used to perform a thorough search of all possible subsets of AAs. The combination of serum glycine, taurine, and ornithine was optimal for TBI diagnosis, with 80% sensitivity and 86% overall prediction rate, and showed excellent TBI diagnostic performance, with 100% sensitivity and 78% overall prediction rate, on a separate validation dataset including four uninjured and five injured animals. We found that combinations of biomarkers outperformed any single biomarker. We propose this 3-AA serum biomarker panel to diagnose mild-to-moderate focal/diffuse TBI. The systematic approaches implemented herein can be used for combining parameters from various TBI assessments to develop/evaluate optimal multi-factorial diagnostic/prognostic TBI metrics.

biomarker
diagnostics
data science
head injury
multivariate metrics
trauma


Anti-cancer and Sensibilisation Effect of Triptolide on Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Abstract: Introduction: Advanced ovarian cancer is the main cause of ovarian cancer deaths, and it is important to seek safe and effective phytochemicals to suppress cancer or lower the chemotherapy resistance of ovarian cancer. Methods: This study evaluated the effect of Triptolide (TPL) on the proliferation, cycle distribution, apoptosis, and ultra-structure of COC1/DDP cells in vitro, as well as the anti-cancer effect and sensibilisation effect of TPL in vivo. Results: The results indicated that TPL could significantly inhibit the growth of COC1/DDP cells (P<0.05), and 3 ng/ml TPL and 50 ng/ml TPL made COC1/DDP cells present obvious apoptosis characteristics and arrest 35% and 55% of COC/DDP cells in the G0/G1 phase, respectively (P<0.05). The animal experiments also indicated that 0.1mg/kg.d TPL significantly reduced the tumour weight and the spleen cell transformation rate (SI), and it lowered the inflammatory factors IL-2 and TNF-a in rat serum (P<0.05). Moreover, the significant reduction of p-Akt and p-GSK3β made the TPL+DDP possess the highest apoptosis rate [(51.13±3.325)%] in COC1/DDP cells. Conclusions: TPL used in combination with DDP may produce a synergistic anti-cancer effect that warrants further investigation for its potential clinical applications in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Hu|Hui|H| Luo|Liping|L| Liu|Fei|F| Zou|Danghua|D| Zhu|Sihong|S| Tan|Buzhen|B| Chen|Tingtao|T|


Plant diversity improves the effluent quality and stability of floating constructed wetlands under increased ammonium/nitrate ratio in influent.

Abstract: The major targets of constructed wetlands (CWs) during wastewater treatment include achieving high-quality effluent and maintaining stable effluent quality. Plant species diversity can increase nitrogen (N) removal efficiency and improve effluent quality by decreasing the effluent N concentrations, including nitrate (NO3--N), ammonium (NH4+-N) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) concentrations in CWs. However, the effect of plant diversity on the stability of effluent quality in response to perturbation in the form of an increased NH4+/NO3- ratio in influent has not been studied. This study conducted a microcosm experiment and assembled four plant species richness levels (1, 2, 3 and 4) and 15 species compositions by using 90 simulated CW microcosms to investigate the effect of plant diversity on the effluent N concentrations and their stability with an increase in the influent NH4+/NO3- ratio from 0:100 to 33:67 in the later stage of the experiment. The results showed that (1) plant species richness maintained a positive effect on effluent quality under an increased influent NH4+/NO3- ratio; (2) high species richness enhanced the stability of effluent water quality; (3) the presence of Phragmites australis in the community decreased the effluent TIN concentration and improved its stability under perturbation; and (4) the presence of Typha latifolia had a positive effect on N removal efficiency under perturbation. The establishment of communities with high plant species richness and proper species (such as P. australis) could simultaneously improve the effluent quality and stability in CWs for treating wastewater with increased NH4+/NO3- ratio.

Wang|Xiao|X|
Luo|Bin|B|
Wang|Lichunxiao|L|
Zhao|Yu|Y|
Wang|Qian|Q|
Li|Dan|D|
Gu|Baojing|B|
Min|Yong|Y|
Chang|Scott X|SX|
Ge|Ying|Y|
Chang|Jie|J|

Effluent N concentrations
Species richness
Ecosystem functioning
Nitrogen removal
Species identity


Bone Marrow Collection.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVES
Bone marrow collections are often difficult, and creating quality smears and touch preparations at the bedside can prove challenging. The objective of this study is to compare the quality of bone marrow specimens between unassisted and assisted bone marrow collections by a bone marrow technologist.

METHODS
Data for this study were collected from 422 hematopathology reports over 14 months. We recorded the bone marrow quality of the different parts (aspirate smears, touch imprints, core biopsy, and clot/particle sections) as adequate, suboptimal, or inadequate. Student t test statistical analysis was performed between the corresponding parts in the two groups.

RESULTS
Our results demonstrate that the quality of assisted bone marrow specimens is significantly better compared with unassisted specimens, particularly for the aspirate smears (P < .0001) and touch imprints (P < .0001). Notably, the quality of aspirate smears was improved, which is important for cytologic evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that assistance by a bone marrow technologist resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of bone marrow collection.

Ali|Saba F|SF|
Cloe|Adam|A|
Siaghani|Parwiz J|PJ|
Himchak|Evan|E|
Cantu|David|D|
Gaal|Karl|K|
Kim|Young S|YS|
Afkhami|Michelle|M|0000-0001-5830-6158
Pillai|Raju|R|
Chan|Wanda|W|
Quirk|Elizabeth|E|
Weisenburger|Dennis D|DD|
Aoun|Patricia|P|
Song|Joo Y|JY|0000-0003-3497-2513

Bone marrow
Quality
Assisted
Technologist
Aspirate
Touch imprints


A Propensity-Matched Analysis Between Standard Versus Tapered Oral Vancomycin Courses for the Management of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection.

Abstract:
Background
This study was conducted to compare clinical outcomes of oral vancomycin courses without taper versus oral vancomycin courses with taper for treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).

Methods
This investigation was a multicenter, retrospective, propensity score-matched analysis study using a Veterans Health Administration national clinical administrative database. Adult patients who were treated for recurrent CDI from any Veterans Affairs Medical Center between June 1, 2011 and October 31, 2016 were included if they were treated with oral vancomycin with or without a tapering regimen. The 2 groups were matched by next-nearest approach from a propensity score formula derived from independent variables associated with the selection of a taper regimen.

Results
Propensity score matching resulted in 2 well-matched groups consisting of 226 episodes of patients treated with a vancomycin taper regimen and 678 episodes treated by vancomycin regimen without taper. No difference was found for the primary outcome of 180-day recurrence (59 of 226 [26.1%] for taper regimens versus 161 of 678 [23.8%], P = .48). A secondary outcome of 90-day all-cause mortality met statistical significance, favoring a taper regimen (5.31% vs 9.29%, P = .049); however, secondary outcomes of 90-day recurrence and 180-day all-cause mortality were not different.

Conclusions
Vancomycin taper regimens did not provide benefit over vancomycin regimens without taper in preventing additional CDI recurrence in patients with first or second recurrent episodes in this propensity score-matched analysis.

Gentry|Chris A|CA|
Giancola|Stephanie E|SE|
Thind|Sharanjeet|S|
Kurdgelashvili|George|G|
Skrepnek|Grant H|GH|
Williams|Riley J|RJ|

recurrence
Clostridium difficile
vancomycin taper


Determination of diamondoids in crude oils using gas purge microsyringe extraction with comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Based on a homemade device, gas purge microsyringe extraction (GP-MSE) of crude oil samples was developed for the first time. As a simple, fast, low-cost, sensitive and solvent-saving technique, GP-MSE provides some outstanding advantages over the widely used sample preparation methods for crude oils such as column chromatography (ASTM D2549). Several parameters affecting extraction efficiency were optimized, including extraction temperature, extraction time, extraction solvent, condensing temperature and purge gas flow rate. With the optimized GP-MSE conditions, several real crude oil samples were extracted, and trace diamondoids were determined using comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). In total, more than 100 diamondoids were detected and 27 marker compounds were identified and quantified accurately. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N=3) were less than 0.08μg/L for all diamondoids. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was below 8%, ranging from 1.1 to 7.6%. The linearity of the developed method was in the range of 0.5-100.0μg/L with correlation coefficients (R2) more than 0.996. The recoveries obtained at spiking 50μg/L were between 81 and 108% for diamondoids in crude oil samples. The developed method can also be extended to the analysis of other components in crude oils and other complex matrices.

Zhang|Wanfeng|W| Zhu|Shukui|S| Pang|Liling|L| Gao|Xuanbo|X| Zhu|Gang-Tian|GT| Li|Donghao|D|

Comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography


P53/MDM2 Co-Expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Digital Image Analysis.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
P53 is a key regulator of genomic stability and function, acting as a tumor suppressor protein. Our aim was to correlate P53 expression with murine double minute 2 (MDM2), a proto-oncogene that interacts with P53 and forms an auto-regulatory pathway, in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 50 LSCC cases were included in the study. Immunohistochemistry was applied by using antibodies to P53 and MDM2 in the corresponding tissue sections. Protein expression levels for both molecules were measured by implementing a digital image analysis assay (immunostaining intensity levels, densitometric evaluation).

RESULTS
Overexpression of P53 protein was observed in 16/50 (32%) LSCC cases, while 22/50 (44%) cases strongly expressed MDM2 protein. Interestingly, in 13/50 (26%) cases, combined overexpression of P53/MDM2 was detected. Overall P53 was strongly positively correlated with MDM2 expression (p=0.001). Both P53 and MDM2 overexpression were significantly correlated with advanced stage of LSCC (p=0.032 and p=0.001, respectively). Additionally, MDM2 was found to be associated with poorer survival of patients (p=0.046).

CONCLUSION
Aberrant co-expression of P53 and MDM2 is associated with advanced stage in LSCC. Furthermore, MDM2 overexpression is a frequent and critical genetic event in LSCC and seems to negatively affect survival.

Chrysovergis|Aristeidis|A| Papanikolaou|Vasileios|V| Tsiambas|Evangelos|E| Stavraka|Chara|C| Ragos|Vasileios|V| Peschos|Dimitrios|D| Psyrri|Amanda|A| Mastronikolis|Nicholas|N| Kyrodimos|Efthymios|E|

D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

P53
MDM2
carcinoma
digital image analysis
immunohistochemistry
Larynx


Microstructure, mechanical property, biodegradation behavior, and biocompatibility of biodegradable Fe-Fe2O3 composites.

Abstract: In this study, the effects of Fe2O3 (addition, 2, 5, 10, and 50 wt %) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion behaviors, and in vitro biocompatibility of Fe-Fe2O3 composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering were systematically investigated as a novel-structure biodegradable metallic material. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis and optical microscopy indicated that Fe-Fe2O3 composite is composed of α-Fe and FeO instead of Fe2O3. Both eletrochemical measurements and immersion test showed a faster degradation rate of Fe-2Fe2O3 and Fe-5Fe2O3 composites than pure iron and Fe-5Fe2O3 exhibited the fastest corrosion rate among these composites. Besides, the effect of Fe2O3 on the corrosion behavior of Fe-Fe2O3 composites was discussed. The extracts of Fe-Fe2O3 composite exhibited no cytotoxicity to both ECV304 and L929 cells, whereas greatly reduced cell viabilities of vascular smooth muscle cells. In addition, good hemocompatibility of all Fe-Fe2O3 composites and pure iron was obtained. To sum up, Fe-5Fe2O3 composite is a promising alternative for biodegradable stent material with elevated corrosion rate, enhanced mechanical properties, as well as excellent biocompatibility.

D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Fe-Fe2O3 composites
corrosion
biodegradable metals
cytotoxicity


Biosynthesis of volatile terpenes that accumulate in the secretory cavities of young leaves of Japanese pepper (Zanthoxylum piperitum): Isolation and functional characterization of monoterpene and sesquiterpene synthase genes.

Abstract: Volatile terpenes are ones of the characteristic aromas of Japanese pepper (Zanthoxylum piperitum). It has been hypothesized that the specialized epithelial cells surrounding the secretory cavities of Japanese pepper fruits and leaves are responsible for the synthesis of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which are generally produced by terpene synthases (TPSs); however, direct evidence for the formation of terpenes in Japanese pepper remains elusive. Here we report that monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes accumulate inside the secretory cavities of Japanese pepper leaves, but not in other parts of leaf tissues that do not include secretory cavities. We have obtained cDNAs for ZpTPS1 and ZpTPS2, which are responsible for biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene and germacrene D, respectively, in Japanese pepper. In addition, we also identified a cDNA for the monoterpene synthase ZpTPS3. Expression of ZpTPS3 in Escherichia coli in addition to Agrobacterium-mediated transient ZpTPS3 expression in Nicotiana benthamiana demonstrated the catalytic activity of ZpTPS3 to form β-phellandrene as the major product. In situ hybridization in Japanese pepper leaf tissue revealed that ZpTPS3 transcript specifically accumulated in the epithelial cells surrounding secretory cavities. Expression of ZpTPS3 in epithelial cells was only detectable during early stages of cavity development, whereas the formation of volatile terpenes occurred at a constant rate throughout the expansion of secretory cavities. Our studies have improved the understanding of the currently uncharacterized processes controlling volatile terpene biosynthesis in Japanese pepper leaves.

Fujita|Yoshiyuki|Y| Koeduka|Takao|T| Aida|Mitsuhiro|M| Suzuki|Hideyuki|H| Iijima|Yoko|Y| Matsui|Kenji|K|


Parents' perspectives on supporting children during needle-related medical procedures.

Abstract: When children endure needle-related medical procedures (NRMPs), different emotions arise for the child and his/her parents. Despite the parents' own feelings, they have a key role in supporting their child through these procedures. The aim of this study is to describe the meanings of supporting children during NRMPs from the perspective of the parents. Twenty-one parents participated in this study. A reflective lifeworld research (RLR) approach was used and phenomenological analysis was applied. The essential meaning of the phenomenon-supporting children during an NRMP-is characterized as "keeping the child under the protection of one's wings," sometimes very close and sometimes a little further out under the wingtips. The essential meaning is additionally described through its constituents: paying attention to the child's way of expressing itself, striving to maintain control, facilitating the child's understanding, focusing the child's attention, seeking additional support, and rewarding the child. The conclusion is that parents' ability to be supportive can be affected when seeing their child undergo an NRMP. To regain the role as the child's protector and to be able to keep the child "under the protection of one's wings," parents need support from the staff.

Karlsson|Katarina|K|
Englund|Ann-Charlotte Dalheim|AC|
Enskär|Karin|K|
Rydström|Ingela|I|

Needle-related medical procedures
reflective lifeworld research
phenomenology
caring science
lived experience
younger children


A Bayesian response-adaptive dose-finding and comparative effectiveness trial.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Combinations of treatments that have already received regulatory approval can offer additional benefit over Each of the treatments individually. However, trials of these combinations are lower priority than those that develop novel therapies, which can restrict funding, timelines and patient availability. This article develops a novel trial design to facilitate the evaluation of New combination therapies. This trial design combines elements of phase II and phase III trials to reduce the burden of evaluating combination therapies, while also maintaining a feasible sample size. This design was developed for a randomised trial that compares the properties of three combination doses of ketamine and dexmedetomidine, given intranasally, to ketamine delivered intravenously for children undergoing a closed reduction for a fracture or dislocation.

METHODS
This trial design uses response-adaptive randomisation to evaluate different dose combinations and increase the information collected for successful novel drug combinations. The design then uses Bayesian dose-response modelling to undertake a comparative effectiveness analysis for the most successful dose combination against a relevant comparator. We used simulation methods determine the thresholds for adapting the trial and making conclusions. We also used simulations to evaluate the probability of selecting the dose combination with the highest true effectiveness the operating characteristics of the design and its Bayesian predictive power.

RESULTS
With 410 participants, five interim updates of the randomisation ratio and a probability of effectiveness of 0.93, 0.88 and 0.83 for the three dose combinations, we have an 83% chance of randomising the largest number of patients to the drug with the highest probability of effectiveness. Based on this adaptive randomisation procedure, the comparative effectiveness analysis has a type I error of less than 5% and a 93% chance of correcting concluding non-inferiority, when the probability of effectiveness for the optimal combination therapy is 0.9. In this case, the trial has a greater than 77% chance of meeting its dual aims of dose-finding and comparative effectiveness. Finally, the Bayesian predictive power of the trial is over 90%.

CONCLUSIONS
By simultaneously determining the optimal dose and collecting data on the relative effectiveness of an intervention, we can minimise administrative burden and recruitment time for a trial. This will minimise the time required to get effective, safe combination therapies to patients quickly. The proposed trial has high potential to meet the dual study objectives within a feasible overall sample size.

Heath|Anna|A|0000-0002-7263-4251
Yaskina|Maryna|M|
Pechlivanoglou|Petros|P|
Rios|David|D|
Offringa|Martin|M|
Klassen|Terry P|TP|
Poonai|Naveen|N|
Pullenayegum|Eleanor|E|

D000075522:Adaptive Clinical Trials as Topic

D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Bayesian analysis
Response-adaptive trial
clinical trial design
non-inferiority trial


New Role for a Commercially Available Bioinsecticide: Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner Biodegrades the Pyrethroid Cypermethrin.

Abstract: The microbial diversity of several environments has been explored by researchers for the biodegradation of pyrethroids. In this study, a new approach was employed aiming at the use of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, a strain commercially available as bioinsecticide, for Cypermethrin (Cyp) biodegradation. This bacterial strain grew in the presence of Cyp and biodegraded this xenobiotic in a liquid medium. A central composite design for surface response methodology was employed for biodegradation. Under optimized conditions (50 mg·L-1 of Cyp, pH 8.5, 37 °C), 83.5% biodegradation was determined with the production of 12.0 ± 0.6 mg·L-1 3-phenoxybenzoic acid after 5 days. Moreover, a biodegradation pathway with the 18 compounds identified by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS was proposed. Experiments in soil for 28 days at 30 °C were performed, and 16.7% Cyp degradation was determined under abiotic conditions, whereas 36.6 ± 1.9% biodegradation was observed for B. thuringiensis Berliner with the native microbiome, indicating that bioaugmentation with this strain promoted a significant increase in the Cyp decontamination. Therefore, B. thuringiensis Berliner can act as biodegrader agent and insecticide at the same time, promoting decontamination of chemicals as Cyp while maintaining the protection of crops against insects. Moreover, B. thuringiensis species can produce bacteriocins with antifungal activity, which may increase agricultural productivity.

D000818:Animals
D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental
D002853:Chromatography, Liquid
D011722:Pyrethrins
D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry

biodegradation pathway
bioaugmentation
decontamination
bacteria
bioremediation
biotransformation
green agriculture
pesticide


Comparison of Clinical and Epidemiologic Characteristics of Young Febrile Infants with and without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Infection.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
To determine features that distinguish febrile young infants with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective single-center study included febrile infants <57 days of age evaluated in the emergency department of Cohen Children's Medical Center of Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, New York, from March 1 to April 30 of 2018, 2019, and 2020. Sociodemographic and clinical features were compared between those seen during the 2020 coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic and previous years, as well as between infants with SARS-CoV-2 infection and infants without SARS-CoV-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2 negative or evaluated during 2018 and 2019).

RESULTS
In all, 124 febrile infants <57 days of age were identified; 38 during the 2-month study period in 2018, 33 in 2019, and 53 in 2020. During 2020, fewer febrile infants had a serious bacterial infection or a positive respiratory viral panel than in prior years (6% vs 21% [P = .02]; 15% vs 53% [P < .001], respectively). SARS-CoV-2 was the most frequent pathogen detected in 2020; of 30 infants tested, 20 tested positive. Infants with SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to identify as Hispanic (P = .004), have public insurance or be uninsured (P = .01), exhibited lethargy (P = .02), had feeding difficulties (P = .002), and had lower white blood cell (P = .001), neutrophil (P < .001), and lymphocyte counts (P = .005) than the 81 infants without SARS-CoV-2 infection. None of the infants with SARS-CoV-2 had concurrent serious bacterial infection or detection of another virus. Overall, disease in infants with SARS-CoV-2 was mild.

CONCLUSIONS
During the peak of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 was the predominant pathogen among febrile infants. Socioeconomic, historical, and laboratory features differed significantly between infants infected or not infected with SARS-CoV-2. None of the 20 infants with SARS-CoV-2 infection had an identified coviral or serious bacterial infection.

Leibowitz|Jill|J|
Krief|William|W|
Barone|Stephen|S|
Williamson|Kristy A|KA|
Goenka|Pratichi K|PK|
Rai|Shipra|S|
Moriarty|Shannon|S|
Baodhankar|Prachi|P|
Rubin|Lorry G|LG|

SARS-CoV-2
pandemic
serious bacterial infection


Metatranscriptomic analysis of modified atmosphere packaged poultry meat enables prediction of Brochothrix thermosphacta and Carnobacterium divergens in situ metabolism.

Abstract: In this study, in situ-expressed metabolic routes of Brochothrix (B.) thermosphacta and Carnobacterium (C.) divergens were evaluated based on a metatranscriptomic dataset from bacteria growing on MAP chicken meat (O2/CO2; N2/CO2). Both species exhibited no (C. divergens) or minor transcription regulation (B. thermosphacta) within their main metabolic routes in response to different atmospheres. Both employ pathways related to glucose and ribose. Gluconeogenesis from lipid-borne glycerol is active in the progressing lack of carbohydrates. Pyruvate fates in both species comprise lactate, ethanol, acetate, CO2, formate, C4-compounds and H2O2 (only B. thermosphacta). Both species express genes for a minimal aerobic respiratory chain, but do not possess the genetic setting for a functional citric acid cycle. While products of carbohydrate and glycerol metabolism display mild to medium sensorial off-characteristics, predicted end products of their amino acid metabolism comprise, e.g., isobutyrate and isovalerate (B. thermosphacta) or cadaverine and tyramine (C. divergens) as potent spoilage compounds.

Metatranscriptomics
Modified atmosphere packaging
Brochothrix thermosphacta
Carnobacterium divergens
Meat spoilage


The decision, implementation and assessment of a credit-bearing activity class by faculty in residence: A case study.

Abstract: This case study reports on a programmatic decision to require a credit-bearing course that was made by Faculty in Residence (FIR), including its implementation and results over a two-year period from 2010-2012. The focus is on FIR and on the impact of their decision upon the students enrolled in their Living Learning Communities (LLCs). The credit-bearing course was a Kinesiology Activities class taken by all seven LLCs at Boise State University. Anonymous feedback from students was obtained via end of semester surveys; results were used to improve the course. Survey feedback was analyzed to assess the value students perceived to have gained from the course. The majority of students reported gaining value from the class. Students noted that it positively affected their time management/personal accountability, that it decreased their stress level and that it increased their awareness of the Recreational Center offerings. Some students were critical of the course, reporting little to no value or even resentment about the course requirement. The decision, implementation and improvements of the course required faculty leadership and full participation of all LLCs; perceptions of the FIR in terms of the effects of adding the required course on their LLC are reported.

Callahan|Janet|J| Harrison|Geoff|G| Humphrey|Michael|M| Sielaff|Cala|C| Wintrow|Melissa|M|

faculty in residence
case study
Living learning communities
kinesiology
housing
residential life


Incidental extra-cardiac findings on 13N-ammonia myocardial perfusion PET/CT.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of incidental extra-cardiac findings (IECFs) on myocardial perfusion PET/CTs and the prevalence of potentially clinically relevant and clinically irrelevant IECFs, as well as detection rate of previously unknown malignancies.

METHODS AND RESULTS
From September 2013 until February 2016, a total of 1397 consecutive patients referred for the evaluation of possible ischemia by 13NH3 PET/CT were prospectively included in a database. IECFs were categorized into three groups: potentially clinically relevant IECFs, IECFs that could potentially cause chest pain, and clinically irrelevant IECFs. Additionally, the prevalence of previously unknown malignancies was determined. In 717 (51%) of these patients, 775 IECFs were reported and 115 IECFs were categorized as potentially clinically relevant in 109 (8%) patients. A total of 145 IECFs that could potentially cause chest pain were detected in 139 (10%) patients and 515 clinically irrelevant IECFs were detected in 469 (34%) of the patients. An unknown primary malignancy was histologically proven in 19 patients (1.4%).

CONCLUSIONS
IECFs are detected on myocardial perfusion PET/CT in approximately half of the patients. In the present study, IECFs were potentially clinically relevant in 8% of the patients and in 1.4% an unknown malignancy was found, most of which were lung cancers.

Kan|H|H|
van der Zant|F M|FM|
Wondergem|M|M|
Knol|R J J|RJJ|

D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography

Extra-cardiac findings
13N-ammonia
malignancies
cancer
myocardial PET/CT


Environmental assessment of depleted uranium used in military armor-piercing rounds in terrestrial systems.

Abstract: Depleted uranium (DU) from the military testing and use of armor-piercing kinetic energy penetrators has been shown to accumulate in soils; however, little is known about the toxicity of DU geochemical species created through corrosion or weathering. The purpose of the present study was to assess the toxic effects and bioaccumulation potential of field-collected DU oxides to the model terrestrial invertebrates Eisenia fetida (earthworm) and Porcellio scaber (isopod). Earthworm studies were acute (72 h) dermal exposures or 28-d spiked soil exposures that used noncontaminated field-collected soils from the US Army's Yuma and Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Endpoints assessed in earthworm testing included bioaccumulation, growth, reproduction, behavior (soil avoidance), and cellular stress (neutral red uptake in coelomocytes). Isopod testing used spiked food, and endpoints assessed included bioaccumulation, survival, and feeding behavior. Concentration-dependent bioaccumulation of DU in earthworms was observed with a maximum bioaccumulation factor of 0.35; however, no significant reductions in survival or impacts to cellular stress were observed. Reproduction lowest-observed-effect concentrations (LOEC) of 158 mg/kg and 96 mg/kg were observed in Yuma Proving Ground and a Mississippi reference soil (Karnac Ferry), respectively. Earthworm avoidance of contaminated soils was not observed in 48-h soil avoidance studies; however, isopods were shown to avoid food spiked with 12.7% by weight DU oxides through digital tracking studies.

Stanley|Jacob K|JK|
Coleman|Jessica G|JG|
Brasfield|Sandra M|SM|
Bednar|Anthony J|AJ|
Ang|Choo Y|CY|

Depleted uranium
Earthworm
Isopod
Behavioral toxicology
Terrestrial invertebrate toxicology


Methanol immersion reduces spherical aberration of water dipping lenses at long wavelengths used in multi-photon laser scanning microscopy.

Abstract: Dipping objectives were tested for multi-photon laser scanning microscopy, since their large working distances are advantageous for thick specimens and the absence of a coverslip facilitates examination of living material. Images of fluorescent bead specimens, particularly at wavelengths greater than 850 nm showed defects consistent with spherical aberration. Substituting methanol for water as the immersion medium surrounding the beads corrected these defects and produced an increase in fluorescence signal intensity. The same immersion method was applied to two representative biological samples of fixed tissue: mouse brain labeled with FITC for tubulin and mouse gut in which the Peyer's patches were labeled with Texas Red bilosomes. Tissue morphology was well preserved by methanol immersion of both tissues; the two-photon-excited fluorescence signal was six times higher than in water and the depth of penetration of useful imaging was doubled. No modification of the microscope was needed except the provision of a ring to retain a sufficient depth of methanol for imaging.

Norris|Greg|G|
Gebril|Ayman|A|
Ferro|Valerie A|VA|
McConnell|Gail|G|

(160.4670) Optical materials
(180.0180) Microscopy
(180.4315) Nonlinear microscopy
(220.1000) Aberration compensation


Holomorphology of Kamimuria peppapiggia sp. n. (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from the foothills of Taihang Mountains, Henan Province of China.

Abstract: A new species of the species rich Asian perlid genus Kamimuria Klapálek, K. peppapiggia sp. n. from Henan Province of northwestern China, is described based on the male, female, larva, and egg. Relationship with congeners are discussed based on morphological characters. The new species is a possible remnant of the once diverse lowland aquatic fauna of the North China Plain.

Mo|Raorao|R| Yan|Yanhua|Y| Wang|Guoquan|G| Li|Weihai|W| Murányi|Dávid|D|

Plecoptera, adult, egg, Kamimuria, larva, new species, stonefly, Taihang Mountains


Dynamin 2 regulation of integrin endocytosis, but not VEGF signaling, is crucial for developmental angiogenesis.

Abstract: Here we show that dynamin 2 (Dnm2) is essential for angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In cultured endothelial cells lacking Dnm2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling and receptor levels are augmented whereas cell migration and morphogenesis are impaired. Mechanistically, the loss of Dnm2 increases focal adhesion size and the surface levels of multiple integrins and reduces the activation state of β1 integrin. In vivo, the constitutive or inducible loss of Dnm2 in endothelium impairs branching morphogenesis and promotes the accumulation of β1 integrin at sites of failed angiogenic sprouting. Collectively, our data show that Dnm2 uncouples VEGF signaling from function and coordinates the endocytic turnover of integrins in a manner that is crucially important for angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Lee|Monica Y|MY|
Skoura|Athanasia|A|
Park|Eon Joo|EJ|
Landskroner-Eiger|Shira|S|
Jozsef|Levente|L|
Luciano|Amelia K|AK|
Murata|Takahisa|T|
Pasula|Satish|S|
Dong|Yunzhou|Y|
Bouaouina|Mohamed|M|
Calderwood|David A|DA|
Ferguson|Shawn M|SM|
De Camilli|Pietro|P|
Sessa|William C|WC|

D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Endocytosis Angiogenesis Endothelium Mouse


Ultrastiff and Strong Graphene Fibers via Full-Scale Synergetic Defect Engineering.

Abstract: Kilometer-scale continuous graphene fibers (GFs) with outstanding mechanical properties and excellent electrical conductivity are produced by high-throughput wet-spinning of graphene oxide liquid crystals followed by graphitization through a full-scale synergetic defect-engineering strategy. GFs with superior performances promise wide applications in functional textiles, lightweight motors, microelectronic devices, and so on.

Xu|Zhen|Z| Liu|Yingjun|Y| Zhao|Xiaoli|X| Peng|Li|L| Sun|Haiyan|H| Xu|Yang|Y| Ren|Xibiao|X| Jin|Chuanhong|C| Xu|Peng|P| Wang|Miao|M| Gao|Chao|C|

ultrastiff
graphene fibers
defect engineering
high electrical conductivity


Health Promoting Life-Style Behaviors and Systemic Inflamma-tion in African American and Caucasian Women Prior to Chemo-therapy for Breast Cancer.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist, with differential adverse outcomes in African American women. Although research has ex-amined possible genetic differences, there has been little research on potentially modifiable characteristics such as health promoting behaviors. The purpose of this article is to describe the characteristics and to compare the differences by race in lifestyle factors and inflammatory biomarkers in African American and Caucasian women with breast cancer.

METHODS
This is a baseline descriptive analysis from an ongoing randomized controlled trial that includes 124 women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer prior to chemotherapy. Data sources included medical records, self-re-port questionnaires and a blood sample for measures of inflammation. The sta-tistical analysis included descriptive statistics and ANOVA models to determine differences between the two groups.

RESULTS
Overall, both groups had low levels of health promoting behaviors. African Americans had a significantly higher body mass index. Caucasian women consumed more alcohol. Levels of C-reactive protein and MIP-1β were significantly higher in African Americans.

CONCLUSION
Potentially modifiable factors such as nutrition, physical activity and levels of inflammation warrant further attention.

E Lyon|Debra|D|
Mohanraj|Lathika|L|
Kelly|Debra Lynch|DL|
Elswick|Rk|R|

Breast cancer
Disparities
lifestyle
Biomarkers
Creactive protein


COCONUT online: Collection of Open Natural Products database.

Abstract: Natural products (NPs) are small molecules produced by living organisms with potential applications in pharmacology and other industries as many of them are bioactive. This potential raised great interest in NP research around the world and in different application fields, therefore, over the years a multiplication of generalistic and thematic NP databases has been observed. However, there is, at this moment, no online resource regrouping all known NPs in just one place, which would greatly simplify NPs research and allow computational screening and other in silico applications. In this manuscript we present the online version of the COlleCtion of Open Natural prodUcTs (COCONUT): an aggregated dataset of elucidated and predicted NPs collected from open sources and a web interface to browse, search and easily and quickly download NPs. COCONUT web is freely available at https://coconut.naturalproducts.net .

Natural products
Database
Molecular similarity search
Molecular substructure search
MongoDB
NoSQL


Successful balloon valvuloplasty of a subpulmonic membrane associated with cor triatriatum dexter: a case report.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Subpulmonic membrane as a cause of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients with concordant ventriculoarterial connection and intact ventricular septum is considered to be rare. Association with cor triatriatum dexter and success of subpulmonic balloon valvuloplasty have never been reported, at least to the best of our knowledge.

CASE PRESENTATION
A 3-year-old Moroccan boy was referred to our tertiary care hospital with complaints of dyspnea on moderate exertion. A physical examination revealed parasternal lift, systolic thrill, and a 4/6 ejection systolic murmur, best heard over the left second intercostal space. His oxygen saturation was 99% on room air. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed a discrete circumferential membrane just below the pulmonic valve and a right atrial membrane. Continuous wave Doppler interrogation showed peak systolic pressure gradient of 85 mmHg across the subpulmonic membrane and no significant gradient across the right atrial membrane. Balloon dilation of the subpulmonic membrane was performed and the pressure gradient came down to 50 mmHg. During follow-up, he reported marked improvement in terms of exercise tolerance. Transthoracic echocardiography showed residual pressure gradient of approximately 40 mmHg across the membrane. Surgery resection of the two membranes was programmed, but he died after an extracardiac disease (appendicular peritonitis).

CONCLUSIONS
Subpulmonic membrane as an isolated cause of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction is rare. Its association with cor triatriatum dexter is even less common. The result of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of subpulmonic membrane is an interesting alternative while waiting for surgery. Surgery is currently the preferred modality of treatment with the resection of both right atrial and subpulmonic membranes.

Balloon valvuloplasty
Subpulmonic membrane
Cor triatriatum dexter


Roots of the taxonomic impediment: Is the "integrativeness" a remedy?

Abstract: The use of the "integrative approach" for classification of organisms since its formal establishment in 2005 has become a recurrent theme of zoosystematics. A bibliometric survey of the publications on integrative taxonomy of animals, which is aimed at exploring the most popular areas of research and characterizing the practical systematists' attitudes to this new approach, is presented. An analysis of 582 papers, which appeared between 2005 and 2017 in journals indexed by Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection, has illustrated the gradual growth of the popularity of integrative taxonomy as well as some biases in the representation of higher taxa in "integrated" studies. It has been shown that the "integrative" papers have more chance of appearing in a top-ranking journal and gain relatively more citations as compared with non-integrative papers. The obtained results are discussed in the context of the "taxonomic impediment" problem thought to be a consequence of the institutional crisis of traditional taxonomy, which has been vividly debated over the past decades.

taxonomic impediment
integrative taxonomy
animal systematics
bibliometric analysis
biodiversity crisis


Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 Vaccine in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Infliximab Combination Therapy: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Vaccination is a promising strategy to protect vulnerable groups like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients against COVID-19 and associated severe outcomes. COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials excluded IBD patients taking infliximab with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine (infliximab combination). Therefore, we sought to evaluate serologic responses to COVID-19 vaccination with the mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2, in patients with IBD receiving infliximab combination therapy compared with healthy participants.

METHOD
This was a multicenter prospective study. Patients with IBD were recruited at the time of attendance at infusion center between 1 August 2021, and 15 September 2021. Our primary outcome were the concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 4-10 weeks after vaccination with two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with IBD taking infliximab combination therapy (study group) compared with a healthy participants group (control group). Both study and control groups were matched for age, sex, and time-since-last-vaccine-dose using optimal pair-matching method.

RESULTS
In total, 116 participants were recruited in the study, 58 patients in the study group and 58 in the control group. Median (IQR) IgG concentrations were lower in the study group (99 BAU/mL (40, 177)) than the control group (139 BAU/mL (120, 188)) following vaccination (p = 0.0032). Neutralizing antibodies were also lower in the study group compared with the control group (64% (23, 94) vs. 91% (85, 94), p < 0.001). The median IgA levels in the study group were also significantly lower when compared with the control group (6 U/mL (3, 34) vs. 13 U/mL (7, 30), p = 0.0097). In the study group, the percentages of patients who achieved positive IgG, neutralizing antibody and IgA levels were 81%, 75%, and 40%, respectively. In the control group, all participants (100%) had positive IgG and neutralizing antibody levels while 62% had positive IgA levels.

CONCLUSION
In patients with IBD receiving infliximab combination therapy, SARS-CoV2 IgG, IgA, and neutralizing antibody levels after BNT162b2 vaccination were lower compared with healthy participants. However, most patients treated with infliximab combination therapy seroconverted after two doses of the vaccine.

immunogenicity BNT162b2 vaccine infliximab IBD COVID-19 azathioprine


Coordinated increase of reliable cortical and striatal ensemble activations during recovery after stroke.

Abstract: Skilled movements rely on a coordinated cortical and subcortical network, but how this network supports motor recovery after stroke is unknown. Previous studies focused on the perilesional cortex (PLC), but precisely how connected subcortical areas reorganize and coordinate with PLC is unclear. The dorsolateral striatum (DLS) is of interest because it receives monosynaptic inputs from motor cortex and is important for learning and generation of fast reliable actions. Using a rat focal stroke model, we perform chronic electrophysiological recordings in motor PLC and DLS during long-term recovery of a dexterous skill. We find that recovery is associated with the simultaneous emergence of reliable movement-related single-trial ensemble spiking in both structures along with increased cross-area alignment of spiking. Our study highlights the importance of consistent neural activity patterns across brain structures during recovery and suggests that modulation of cross-area coordination can be a therapeutic target for enhancing motor function post-stroke.

Guo|Ling|L|
Kondapavulur|Sravani|S|
Lemke|Stefan M|SM|
Won|Seok Joon|SJ|
Ganguly|Karunesh|K|

ensembles
recovery
stroke
dorsolateral striatum
electrophysiology
dexterity
communication
grasp
reach
subspace


Serum proatrial natriuretic peptide does not increase with higher systolic blood pressure in obese men.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
Obese persons have low circulating natriuretic peptide (NP) concentrations. It has been proposed that this 'natriuretic handicap' could play a role in obesity-related hypertension. The normal physiological response of the NP system to an increase in blood pressure (BP) is an increase in NP secretion with concomitant higher circulating NP concentrations. In this study, we investigated whether higher BP would also be related to higher circulating NP concentrations in obese men; furthermore, we verified that BP had affected the hearts of our study participants, by determining left ventricular mass (LVM).

METHODS
We examined 103 obese healthy medication-free men. We measured 24-hour ambulatory BP (ABP). LVM was calculated using the Cornell voltage-duration product method. Fasting serum concentrations of midregional proatrial NP (MR-proANP), a surrogate for active ANP, were measured. Linear regression analysis was used to calculate age-adjusted standardised regression coefficients (β).

RESULTS
LVM and BP increased across systolic ABP quartiles (mean LVM±SD: 1599.1±387.2 mm ms in first vs 2188.5±551.3 mm ms in fourth quartile, p<0.001; mean systolic ABP±SD: 114.5±4.2 mm Hg in first vs 149.0±7.7 mm Hg in fourth quartile, p<0.001). Systolic ABP was robustly associated with LVM (ß=0.48, p<0.001). Despite evidence of BP-related increases in LVM, serum MR-proANP was negatively associated with systolic ABP (ß=-0.32, p=0.004) and with diastolic ABP (ß=-0.45, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to known physiological BP responses, MR-proANP was negatively associated with ABP in our study. This suggests that a low amount of circulating NPs could play a role in the early stage of obesity-related hypertension.

Asferg|Camilla L|CL|
Andersen|Ulrik B|UB|
Linneberg|Allan|A|
Hedley|Paula L|PL|
Christiansen|Michael|M|
Goetze|Jens P|JP|
Jeppesen|Jørgen L|JL|

D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory


Towards a contextual theory of Mobile Health Data Protection (MHDP): A realist perspective.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
With the introduction of privacy regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), effective data protection in mobile health (mHealth) is rapidly becoming a concern. However, we have a limited understanding of the contexts and mechanisms that affect the likelihood of failures and successes in mHealth data protection, and their subsequent impacts. In this review and theory development paper, we aim to address this critical knowledge gap.

METHOD
We conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. To synthesize the evidence, we adopted a realist review approach and compiled the extracted information based on context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations. Out of an initial set of 611 records, 19 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included.

RESULTS
Our findings indicate that the failures and successes in data protection and their impacts (effective mHealth interventions, data protection awareness, and adoption/use of mHealth systems) depend contingently upon a number of contextual factors (systems, users, tasks, services, geographic elements) and causal mechanisms (unauthorized access, device theft, loss, and sharing, lack of cyber-hygiene, and data protection concerns for failures, and trust building activity, secure and law compliant platforms, and perceived data protection, for successes). We conceptualized the CMO configurations to provide explanations for the reported failures and successes in data protection.

CONCLUSION
For effective mHealth interventions, the dark side of system use (data breaches) must be mitigated and remediated. Our study offers a theoretical model that contextually explains how the mechanisms of success and failures work in mHealth.

Mobile health
Data protection
Cybersecurity
Data privacy
Information systems