Passive transfer of meningococcal group B polysaccharide antibodies to the offspring of pregnant rabbits and their protective role against infection with Escherichia coli K1.
Pregnant rabbits vaccinated with meningococcal group B polysaccharide complexed to outer membrane proteins (serotype 6) responded to produce IgG, IgM and IgA anti-B polysaccharide antibodies, which were passively transferred to the offspring (IgG preferentially) and could be detected in their sera immediately after birth. These antibody levels were sustained in the mothers but diminished in the offspring to background levels at day 22 after birth. In a subsequent experiment, rabbits immunized with the group B vaccine had offspring that proved considerably more resistant to infection with Escherichia coli K1 than the control litters from non-immune mothers. Although not complete, protection was statistically of high significance and correlated well with the anti-B polysaccharide titres obtained in the mothers.


Signal transduction during C. elegans vulval induction.
Nematode proteins related to the human epidermal growth factor receptor and Ras proteins act in a common pathway to control cell fates in response to an inductive signal. Analysis of these gene products during C. elegans vulval induction allows detailed study of their function in the context of a developing organism.


Risk of all-cause mortality in abdominal obesity phenotypes: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.
Long-term health risks in the so-called "healthy obesity" phenotypes remain controversial. Also it is unknown if "metabolically healthy abdominal obese" (MHAO) phenotype is at increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to their non-abdominally obese counterparts. In this study we assessed the risk of all-cause mortality in different abdominal obesity phenotypes. In this large population-based cohort, 8804 participants (aged ≥ 30 years), from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) were enrolled and followed for a median of 12.0 (8.7-12.5) years. Abdominal obesity was defined using national waist circumference (WC) cut-off points of ≥89 cm for men and ≥91 cm for women. Metabolic health was defined as ≤1 components of metabolic syndrome (excluding WC), using the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) definition. Baseline prevalence of MHAO phenotype was 12.8% in the whole population and 23.4% in those with abdominal obesity. A total of 540 all-cause death occurred during the follow-up. After multivariate adjustment, all-cause mortality risk in MHAO phenotype was not significantly increased compared to "metabolically healthy non abdominal obese" (MHNAO) as the reference group (HR: 1.35, CI: 0.89-2.03). Our results indicate that MHAO individuals were not at higher risk for all-cause mortality over a median of 12 years follow-up. However, considering inadequate power of our analysis for fully adjusted model, larger studies with more follow-ups are needed.


[Smoking, asthma and associated phenotypes. An epidemiological approach].
The relationship between the respiratory tract and the environment is complex and is based on the dynamic interaction between genetically determined host-defence mechanisms and the toxicity of inhaled pollutants. Although the World Health Organisation has decreed that smoking is an avoidable cause of premature death, the epidemiological evaluation of the effects of smoking remains problematical. Indeed, basing assessment on duration of habit and quantity smoked may be miscalculating the true burden of the effects of smoking. Smoking, as a risk factor, is all too often perceived to be confined to development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The consequences of passive smoking on children respiratory health have been established. In adults, active smoking has been related to asthma severity. Recent data demonstrate an effect of passive smoking on the incidence of asthma in adults. Objective markers of smoking are rarely used in epidemiological studies of asthma. However, the paucity of published studies linking smoking with asthma should not immediately lead to the conclusion that there is not a causal relationship.


Destabilization of CDC6 upon DNA damage is dependent on neddylation but independent of Cullin E3 ligases.
CDC6 is an important component of the pre-replication complex and plays an essential role in the regulation of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. Deregulation of CDC6 protein levels results in rereplication and genomic instability. CDC6 expression is tightly regulated during the cell cycle. One major mechanism of cell cycle dependent regulation of CDC6 is APC(Cdh1) mediated protein ubiquitination and degradation during G1 phase. In addition to APC(Cdh1) dependent degradation, alternative, Cullin RING E3 ubiquitin ligase dependent degradation pathways have been characterized in yeast. Here we studied whether Cullin RING E3 ligases also play a role in the turnover of CDC6 protein in mammalian cells. To this end, we used the Nedd8 E1 inhibitor MLN4924, which blocks the activity of all Cullin E3 ligases. We observed that treatment with MLN4924 increased CDC6 protein expression. However, this effect was due to a delay in cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase, resulting in accumulation of cells with high CDC6 protein levels. Therefore, our results indicate that Cullin E3 ligases are not involved in the basal turnover of CDC6 in mammalian cells. Interestingly, we also found that the DNA cross-linker mitomycin C induces marked CDC6 protein degradation. Mitomycin C induced CDC6 degradation is not mediated by APC(Cdh1), Cullin or HUWE1 E3 ubiquitin ligases. Notably, mitomycin C mediated CDC6 degradation requires the neddylation pathway. Our results provide evidence for a novel, cullin independent mechanism of CDC6 posttranslational regulation upon DNA damage that involves the neddylation pathway.


The effect of ionizing radiation on intraocular lenses.
The native crystalline lens is the principal shield against ultraviolet radiation (UV), damage to the human retina. Every year in the United States, more than one million patients undergo removal of the natural lens in the course of cataract surgery (phakectomy), at which time an intraocular lens (IOL) is placed in the lens capsule. The IOL thenceforth serves as the principal barrier to ultraviolet radiation over the life of the implant, potentially for decades. The synthetic organic molecules of which IOLs are composed offer little UV protection unless ultraviolet-absorbing chromophores are incorporated into the lens material during manufacture. However, chromophores are alkenes potentially subject to radiolytic degradation. It is unknown whether ionizing radiation at clinical doses (e.g., to the brain or in the head-and-neck region) affects the UV-absorbing capacity of chromophore-bearing IOLs and consequently exposes the retina to potentially chronic UV damage. In addition, the polymers of which IOLs are composed are themselves subject to radiation damage, which theoretically might result in optical distortion in the visible light range. To determine whether megavoltage photon ionizing radiation alters the absorption spectra of ultraviolet-shielding polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and organopolysiloxane (silicone) intraocular lenses (IOLs) in the UV (280 nm < or = lambda < 400 nm), visible (400 nm < or = lambda < or = 700 nm), and low-end near-infrared (700 nm < lambda < or = 830 nm) ranges. Prospective, nonrandomized trial of dose-paired IOL cohorts. Fourteen IOLs, seven of PMMA (Chiron 6842B) and seven of silicone (IOLAB L141U), were paired and examined for absorption spectra in 1-nm intervals over the range lambda = 280-830 nm on a Cary 400 deuterium and quartz halogen source-lamp UV/visible spectrophotometer before and after undergoing megavoltage ionizing irradiation to doses of 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100 Gray, respectively. Because of artifactual aberrations inherent in analyzing convex lenses on a conventional flat-plate spectrophotometer, post-irradiation absorption spectra were subsequently reanalyzed on a Cary 300 spectrophotometer outfitted with a Labsphere Diffused Reflectance Accessory (DRA-CA-30-I) incorporating a Spectralon-coated integrating sphere. Primary: Changes in UV absorbance after irradiation. Secondary: Changes in visible and low-end near-infrared absorbance after irradiation. Photon ionizing radiation in the 2-Gy to 100-Gy range produced no detectable alterations in the UV (280 nm < or = lambda < 400 nm), visible (400 nm < or = lambda < or = 700 nm), or low-end near-infrared (700 nm < lambda < or = 830 nm) absorption spectra of any of the lenses irradiated. However, silicone IOLs as a group revealed peak post-irradiation UV absorption at a shorter wavelength than did PMMA IOLs, with marginally greater UV transmission at the uppermost extreme of the UV spectrum (lambda = 384.5-400 nm). At clinically relevant doses used in radiation therapy, megavoltage photon ionizing radiation produces no significant alterations in the absorption spectra of PMMA and silicone IOLs over the range lambda = 280- 830 nm. These findings indicate that, even at supraclinical doses, the UV-absorbing capacity of chromophore-bearing PMMA and silicone IOLs remains unimpaired. It is not clear whether the lower UV peak of silicone lenses represents a radiation effect or a peculiarity of the chromophore used in the lenses tested.


The efficacy of a chitin synthesis inhibitor against field populations of organophosphate-resistant Aedes aegypti in Brazil.
The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main focus of dengue control campaigns. Because of widespread resistance against conventional chemical insecticides, chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) are considered control alternatives. We evaluated the resistance status of four Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations to both the organophosphate temephos and the pyrethroid deltamethrin, which are used in Brazil to control larvae and adults, respectively. All vector populations exhibited high levels of temephos resistance and varying rates of alterations in their susceptibility to pyrethroids. The effect of the CSI novaluron on these populations was also investigated. Novaluron was effective against all populations under laboratory conditions. Field-simulated assays with partial water replacement were conducted to evaluate novaluron persistence. Bioassays were continued until an adult emergence inhibition of at least 70% was attained. We found a residual effect of eight weeks under indoor conditions and novaluron persisted for five-six weeks in assays conducted in an external area. Our data show that novaluron is effective against the Ae. aegypti populations tested, regardless of their resistance to conventional chemical insecticides.


[Clinical observation on therapeutic effect and instant analgestic effect of inhibitory-needling at Ashi point as major point for treatment of piriformis syndrome].
To observe therapeutic effect and analgesic eJfect of needling at Ashi point for treatment of piriformis syndrome. Eighty cases were randomly divided into an inhibitory-needling method group (INM) and a routine-needling method group (RNM), forty cases in each group. The acupuncture at Ashi point as major point with inhibitory-needling munipulation was applied in the INM group, the acupuncture at Huantiao (GB 30) ,Zhibian (BL 54) ,Yanglingquan (GB 34) with routine-needling method in the RNM group. The therapeutic effect, the instant analgesic effect and score of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were observed. After treatment, the effective rate of 92.5% in the INM group was better than that of 82.5% in the RNM group (P < 0.05); the instant analgesic effect rate of 75.0% in the INM group was better than that of 52.5% in the RNM group (P < 0.01); the score of VAS in both groups had decreased with a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The treatment of inserting the needle at Ashi point as major point with inhibitory-needling method has excellent effectiveness and good instant analgesic effect, with fewer points selection and rapid effect.


[Urinary tract infections in children following renal transplantation: a single-center experience].
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common complication after kidney transplantation and represents a potential life-threatening risk for the immunocompromised child. The aim of this report is to determinate incidence, risk factors, microbiologic features and evaluate the impact of this complication on graft outcome and patient mortality. We performed a retrospective cohort study reviewing the medical records of 17 children from 38 who received a renal transplant in our center between January 1992 and june 2008 and who present an urinary tract infection. All patients received Lich-Gregoire implantation and insertion of double-J stunt. Antibioprophylaxis was not systematic. After a mean period of 6 years, 9 children (5+4) developed early UTI (during the first month after transplantation) and 5 (3+2) had late UTI. Three patients (2+1) with an indeterminate nephropathy developed early and late UTI. Causal agents are: E. Coli, Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Candida albicans. The further voiding cystourethrography showed a vesico-ureteral reflux on graft in 5 cases. Among the 17 patients, 4 lost their graft and are actually on haemodialysis. The urinary tract infection represents the major complication after renal transplantation. Diagnosis ant treatment must be made early to avoid the loss of the graft.


Giant Palmar Cutaneous Horns.
A 50-year-old man developed two giant cutaneous horns measuring 4 cm and 1 cm respectively on his right palm.


Chronic L-DOPA treatment increases striatal cannabinoid CB1 receptor mRNA expression in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats.
The effect of a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of the left medial forebrain bundle and 3 weeks treatment with L-DOPA of normal and 6-OHDA lesioned rats on CB1r mRNA expression was investigated by in situ hybridization. A 6-OHDA lesion of nigrostriatal pathway alone, confirmed by the loss of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA, did not alter CB1r mRNA levels in the dopamine depleted striatum. Similarly, chronic L-DOPA treatment of normal rats had no effect on striatal CB1r mRNA expression. In contrast, chronic L-DOPA treatment of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats significantly increased CB1r mRNA expression in the denervated striatum. These results suggest that the CB1r activity may be altered by L-DOPA's action and this may be related to the treatment of Parkinson's disease.


Prenatal onset of mitochondrial disease is associated with sideroflexin 4 deficiency.
Prenatal onset of mitochondrial disease has been described in two cases with recessive mutations in the sideroflexin 4 gene (SFXN4). We present a third case with complex I deficiency associated with novel mutations in SFXN4. Our patient presented with intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal lactic acidosis, and developed macrocytic anemia and optic nerve hypoplasia. Muscle mitochondrial investigations revealed ultrastructural abnormalities, severe deficiency of complex I enzyme activity, and loss of subunit proteins. Whole-exome sequencing revealed bi-allelic SFXN4 mutations: a 1-base deletion, c.969delG, leading to frameshift and a premature stop codon, p.(Gln323Hisfs*20), and a stop-loss mutation in the C-terminal region, c.1012 T > C; p.(*388Glnext2), resulting in elongation of the protein by two amino acids. Expression analysis of mRNA from muscle showed loss of SFXN4 transcripts.


Evaluation of Arkansas Rous sarcoma regressor and progressor lines and giant jungle fowl for genetic resistance to the northern fowl mite.
Arkansas B1B1R, B2B2R, and B3B3R regressor lines, Arkansas B1B1Pr, B2B2Pr, and B3B3Pr progressor lines, and Giant Jungle Fowl were infested simultaneously at 28 weeks of age with northern fowl mites. The chickens were maintained in similar environments and mite ratings were recorded weekly for 5 months. No strains were completely resistant to mites, but there were significant (P less than or equal to .05) differences among strains in degree of infestation. The regressor lines generally showed significantly (P less than or equal to .05) less infestation than the progressor lines for both female and male chickens. The regressor lines appear to have genetic factors from the Giant Jungle Fowl in the development of the regressor lines that imparted increased resistance to the northern fowl mite.


Effects of ouabain and hypoxia on the cardiac stimulation threshold in the dog (with special reference to changes in extra- and intracellular potassium concentrations).
The influence on the cardiac stimulation threshold of changes in the myocardial intra/extracellular potassium ratio induced with ouabain and hypoxia was investigated in 9 dogs with total atrioventricular block. In spite of significant elevations of extracellular potassium and reductions of intracellular potassium significant changes in stimulation threshold were not seen. It is suggested that different experimental conditions are responsible for the great variations in the results of previous studies of this subject.


Anatomical and congenital anomalies of extra hepatic biliary system encountered during cholecystectomy.
Anomalous biliary anatomy is frequently encountered by surgeons during cholecystectomy. Importance of its recognition lies in avoiding serious biliary injuries. This study was carried out to assess the frequency of anatomical and congenital anomalies of extrahepatic biliary system in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. This is an observational study performed in the Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Momenshahi, CMH Ghatail and Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for a period of five years from June 2007 to June 2012. Two hundred and fifty diagnosed patients of cholelithiasis undergoing routine cholecystectomy were assessed for anatomical and congenital anomalies of extra hepatic biliary system as well as vascular anomalies. Structures mainly assessed for anomalies were gall bladder, cystic duct, supraduodenal part of Common Bile Duct (CBD), cystic artery and hepatic artery which are routinely handled during cholecystectomy. However, assessment of variations and anomalies, of hepatic ducts, portal vein, retroduodenal and pancreatic parts of CBD were not done due to possibility of iatrogenic injuries. Two hundred and fifty cases of cholelithiasis comprising 216(86.4%) females and 34(13.6%) males with mean age of 39.15 years were included in the study. Clinical presentation includes mainly pain in right hypochondrium (74.8%), pain in right hypochondrium and epigastrium (18.8%) and pain in epigastrium alone (7.6%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done in 157 patients and 93 patients were treated by open procedure including conversion cases. Operative findings revealed variations in 38 cases (15.2%) mainly involving cystic artery (8%), cystic duct (4.4%) and gall bladder (1.6%). Postoperative complications includes bleeding 3.6%, biliary leak from drain 1.6% and CBD injury 0.8% giving rise to 0.8% morbidity, however, no mortality was seen in this series. Anatomical and congenital anomalies of biliary tree, are not common but may be significant during surgery as failure to recognize them leads to iatrogenic injuries and can increase morbidity and mortality.


Empirical modeling and simulation of phase noise in long-haul coherent optical transmission systems.
An empirical phase noise channel model suitable for performance evaluation of high spectrally efficient modulations in 100G long-haul coherent optical transmission systems using polarization-division multiplexed and wavelength-division multiplexing channels is presented. The derivation of the model is worked out by exploiting the similarity between the power spectral density of the carrier extracted from the analysis of propagation measurements and the Lorentzian spectrum that is usually adopted to describe instabilities of semiconductor lasers. The proposed channel model is characterized by only two parameters: the linewidth of the carrier and the signal-to-noise ratio. We show that in the case of quadrature phase-shift keying transmission a good agreement exists between quantitative measures of performance extracted by processing experimental data and those obtained from simulations based on the use of the empirical model.


Identification and egg hatching activity of monohydroxy fatty acid eicosanoids in the barnacle Balanus balanoides.
Monohydroxy fatty acids (MHFAs) were isolated from homogenates of the barnacle Balanus balanoides and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as 14- and 17-hydroxy docosahexaenoic acids, 8-, 11-, 12-, 15- and 18-hydroxy eicosapentaenoic acids, 13- and 16-hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acids and 9-, 13- and 15-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids. Each monohydroxy fatty acid was tested for egg hatching activity in a bioassay using Elminius modestus egg masses, but 8-hydroxy-5, 9, 11, 14, 17-eicosapentaenoic acid (8-HEPE) was the only MHFA with barnacle egg hatching activity. Studies on the egg hatching activity of MHFAs prepared from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids showed that activity was confined to the 8-hydroxy isomer of eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid, and that unsaturation at C5 and C14, but not C17, was essential for activity. In addition, the 8(R) conformation is necessary for activity, as 8(R)-HEPE caused egg hatching at 10(-7) M whereas the enantiomer 8(S)-HEPE was inactive.


Methane aqueous fluids in montmorillonite clay interlayer under near-surface geological conditions: a grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulation study.
The grand-canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to investigate the methane aqueous fluids in Na-montmorillonite clay interlayer under near-surface geological temperature and pressure conditions (T = 300 K and P = 20-50 bar). The chemical potentials of water and methane under these T/P conditions are calculated using the Widom's insertion method. These chemical potentials are used in the GCMC simulations to determine the contents of different species in the clay interlayer, especially in those that correspond to the equilibrium stable spacing distances. Simulation results show that initial clay swelling is dominated by water adsorption into the clay interlayer, followed by the intercalation of methane as the basal spacing increases. However, it is found that this methane intercalation process is strongly influenced by the relative humidity and the total gas pressure of the system. High relative humidity may facilitate water molecules entering the clay interlayer region and inhibit the intercalation of methane molecules. MD simulations show that sodium ions are fully hydrated by water molecules and clay surface oxygen atoms, while methane molecules are not fully coordinated. This situation is attributed to the less water content in clay interlayer and the subsequent formation of methane dimer or trimer clusters due to the hydrophobic nature of small hydrocarbon molecules.


Nocardia farcinica as the causative agent in a primary psoas abscess in a previously healthy cattle inspector.
A 42-year-old, previously healthy cattle inspector presented with a 7-day history of fever, a painful left knee, malaise and muscular pain. He did not suffer from an underlying disease, nor was he immunocompromised. After 12 days of hospitalization, a unilocular abscess in the left psoas muscle was diagnosed. Nocardia farcinica was isolated from the aspirate. No connection with his work could be demonstrated. The patient was successfully treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 11 months.


Pancreatic islet-like clusters from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of human first-trimester abortus can cure streptozocin-induced mouse diabetes.
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been reported to possess low immunogenicity and cause immunosuppression of recipients when allografted. They can differentiate into insulin-producing cells and may be a valuable source for islet formation. However, the extremely low differentiating rate of adult BMSCs toward insulin-producing cells and the insufficient insulin secretion of the differentiated BMSCs in vitro prevent their clinical use in diabetes treatment. Little is known about the potential of cell replacement therapy with human BMSCs. Previously, we isolated and identified human first-trimester fetal BMSCs (hfBMSCs). Under a novel four-step induction procedure established in this study, the hfBMSCs effectively differentiated into functional pancreatic islet-like cell clusters that contained 62 ± 14% insulin-producing cells, expressed a broad gene profile related to pancreatic islet β-cell development, and released high levels of insulin (2.245 ± 0.222 pmol/100 clusters per 30 min) and C-peptide (2.200 ± 0.468 pmol/100 clusters per 30 min) in response to 25 mmol/L glucose stimulus in vitro. The pancreatic islet-like cell clusters normalized the blood glucose level of diabetic model mice for at least 9 weeks when xenografted; blood glucose levels in these mice rose abnormally again when the grafts were removed. Examination of the grafts indicated that the transplanted cells survived in recipients and produced human insulin and C-peptide in situ. These results demonstrate that hfBMSCs derived from a human first-trimester abortus can differentiate into pancreatic islet-like cell clusters following an established four-step induction. The insulin-producing clusters present advantages in cell replacement therapy of type 1 diabetic model mice.


Hydrosalpinx affects the implantation of previously cryopreserved embryos.
The presence of hydrosalpinx has been reported to negatively affect the pregnancy and implantation rate after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with embryo transfer. Hydrosalpinges are able to enlarge during ovarian stimulation with a possible increased passage of tubal fluid into the endometrial cavity. We report the effect of hydrosalpinges during the transfer of previously cryopreserved/thawed embryos during a natural cycle. In all, 14 transfers in 0 patients with a sonographically-documented hydrosalpinx during the studied cycle (group I) were compared to 98 cycles in 74 patients with tubal disease but no such sonographic finding (group II). Both pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly lower in group I (7.14 versus 24.49% and 5.0 versus 10. 8% respectively). The presence of hydrosalpinx negatively affects pregnancy and implantation rates during natural cycles.


A semiclassical study of cis-trans isomerization in HONO using an interpolating moving least-squares potential.
The interpolating moving least-squares (IMLS) approach for constructing potential energy surfaces has been developed and employed in standard classical trajectory simulations in the past few years. We extend the approach to the tunneling regime by combining the IMLS fitting method and the semiclassical scheme that incorporates tunneling into classical trajectory calculations. Dynamics of cis-trans isomerization in nitrous acid (HONO) is studied as a test case to investigate various aspects of the approach such as the strategy for growing the surface, the basis set employed, the scaling of the IMLS fits, and the accuracy of the surface required for obtaining converged rate coefficients. The validity of the approach is demonstrated through comparison with other semiclassical and quantum mechanical studies on HONO.


[Occupational asthma induced by casein inhalation].
Reported cases of occupational asthma due to inhalation of milk proteins are rare. Our report is about the first evidence of occupational asthma in a health care worker, caused by an hidden exposure to casein, contained in a commercial dermatological powder widely used in geriatric patients treatment. The diagnosis is based on the case-history and on the positive skin prick test to a commercial and extemporary extract of the occupational allergen.


Large and massive tears of the rotator cuff: functional outcome and integrity of the repair after a mini-open procedure.
The aim of this study was to determine the functional outcome and rate of re-tears following mini-open repair of symptomatic large and massive tears of the rotator cuff using a two-row technique. The 24 patients included in the study were assessed prospectively before and at a mean of 27 months (18 to 53) after surgery using the Constant and the Oxford Shoulder scores. Ultrasound examination was carried out at follow-up to determine the integrity of the repair. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a simple questionnaire. The mean Constant score improved significantly from 36 before to 68 after operation (p < 0.0001) and the mean Oxford Shoulder score from 39 to 20 (p < 0.0001). Four of the 24 patients (17%) had a re-tear diagnosed by ultrasound. A total of 21 patients (87.5%) were satisfied with the outcome of their surgery. The repair remained intact in 20 patients (83%). However, the small number of re-tears (four patients) in the study did not allow sufficient analysis to show a difference in outcome in relation to the integrity of the repair.


Spontaneous ventilation with the Bain anaesthetic system.
Measurements of ventilation and of inspired gas composition were made while volunteers breathed a non-anaesthetic gas through a Bain anaesthetic system. It was found that rebreathing occurred when the fresh gas flow was between two-and-a-half and three times the minute volume. Fresh gas flows at least three times the minute volume appear to be necessary to prevent rebreathing when using this system.


R-phenibut binds to the α2-δ subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels and exerts gabapentin-like anti-nociceptive effects.
Phenibut is clinically used anxiolytic, mood elevator and nootropic drug. R-phenibut is responsible for the pharmacological activity of racemic phenibut, and this activity correlates with its binding affinity for GABAB receptors. In contrast, S-phenibut does not bind to GABAB receptors. In this study, we assessed the binding affinities of R-phenibut, S-phenibut, baclofen and gabapentin (GBP) for the α2-δ subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) using a subunit-selective ligand, radiolabelled GBP. Binding experiments using rat brain membrane preparations revealed that the equilibrium dissociation constants (Kis) for R-phenibut, S-phenibut, baclofen and GBP were 23, 39, 156 and 0.05μM, respectively. In the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure test, we found that at doses up to 100mg/kg, R-phenibut did not affect PTZ-induced seizures. The anti-nociceptive effects of R-phenibut were assessed using the formalin-induced paw-licking test and the chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve model. Pre-treatment with R-phenibut dose-dependently decreased the nociceptive response during both phases of the test. The anti-nociceptive effects of R-phenibut in the formalin-induced paw-licking test were not blocked by the GABAB receptor-selective antagonist CGP35348. In addition, treatment with R- and S-phenibut alleviated the mechanical and thermal allodynia induced by CCI of the sciatic nerve. Our data suggest that the binding affinity of R-phenibut for the α2-δ subunit of the VDCC is 4 times higher than its affinity for the GABAB receptor. The anti-nociceptive effects of R-phenibut observed in the tests of formalin-induced paw licking and CCI of the sciatic nerve were associated with its effect on the α2-δ subunit of the VDCC rather than with its effects on GABAB receptors. In conclusion, our results provide experimental evidence for GBP-like, anti-nociceptive properties of R-phenibut, which might be used clinically to treat neuropathic pain disorders.


Prevention of age-related dysregulation of calcium dynamics by estrogen in neurons.
To determine the impact of aging and 17beta-estradiol on neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis, intracellular Fura-2 Ca2+-imaging was conducted during 20-pulses of glutamate in hippocampal neurons cultured from embryonic (E18), middle-age (10 months) and old (24 months) rat brain. Marked age-related differences in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) homeostasis and striking regulation by 17beta-estradiol were seen. Embryonic neurons exhibited the greatest capacity to regulate Ca2+ homeostasis followed by middle-age neurons. In old neurons, the first peak [Ca2+]i was substantially greater than at other ages and the return to baseline Ca2+ rapidly dysregulated with an inability to restore [Ca2+]i following the first glutamate pulse which persisted throughout the 20 pulses. 17beta-Estradiol pretreatment of old neurons profoundly attenuated the peak [Ca2+]i rise and delayed the age-associated dysregulation of baseline [Ca2+]i, normalizing responses to those of middle-age neurons treated with estradiol. The efficacy of 17beta-estradiol extended below 10 pg/ml with full protection against toxicity from glutamate and Abeta (1-40). These results demonstrate age-associated dysregulation of [Ca2+]i homeostasis which was largely prevented by 17beta-estradiol with implications for estrogen/hormone therapy.


Preoperative imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism. Role of thallium-technetium subtraction scintigraphy.
Primary hyperparathyroidism, although often silent clinically, may lead to significant morbidity if it remains untreated. In more than 95% of all cases the cause is a parathyroid adenoma or glandular hyperplasia. Regression of disease follows successful surgical excision of the abnormal parathyroid gland. Recurrent or persistent hyperparathyroidism is most commonly caused by solitary adenomas, which may have an ectopic location. Preoperative localization of lesions may improve postoperative cure rates and decrease morbidity. Thallium T1 201 chloride-technetium Tc 99m pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy was performed on 15 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The sensitivity and specificity for detection of abnormal glands were 90% and 95%, respectively. False-positive or false-negative results were minimize by strict adherence to a protocol and by the use of well-defined diagnostic criteria. Because of the superior sensitivity and specificity, this modality should be the primary imaging method of choice for preoperative evaluation of primary hyperparathyroidism. The relative role of other imaging modalities is also discussed.


Unilateral colour vision defects and the dimensions of dichromat experience.
The standard view, that protanopes and deuteranopes see only varieties of yellow and blue, is often taken to be supported by the reports of people with one colour-blind eye and one normal (or near-normal) eye. Judd's survey of 89 years of unilateral cases might seem authoritative: 'The color perceptions of both protanopic and deuteranopic observers are confined to two hues, yellow and blue', corresponding to 575 and 470 nm (DB Judd, J Research National Bureau Standards, 41: 247-271, 1948). A critical re-examination reveals, however, that the cases do not support Judd's claim: the original publications indicate in most cases substantial (though limited) red-green discrimination with the dichromatic eye under favourable conditions (e.g. with large fields), and evidence of red/green sensation; in the main case where researchers find sensation only of yellow and blue, it is by using experimental methods that are almost guaranteed not to reveal the full range of the subject's sensation. More recent reports (from the 1950s and later) show that, if the colour experience space of a dichromat eye collapses to a 2D slice through the 3D space of a normal trichromat, the slice may be not flat but curved (and curved in more than one dimension): there are further reasons to think that dichromat colour experience, whether unilateral or bilateral, may not collapse to a plane at all. The unilateral cases are unclear in many ways, but they certainly give no support to a 'yellow-and-blue' view of dichromat experience.


Open Reduction Internal Fixation of the Lisfranc Complex.
Lisfranc injuries are uncommon; however, if left untreated, it can have a detrimental effect causing deformity, chronic pain, and mid-foot arthrosis. Injury can include disruption of the first through fifth tarsometatarsal joints as well as variant patterns that include the involvement of the metatarsals, the naviculocuneiform articulation, and the cuboid. There is controversy regarding the benefits of open reduction internal fixation versus arthrodesis. Regardless, anatomical reduction is paramount to obtaining a good functional outcome. This video details the surgical approach and the reduction and fixation strategy of a high-energy Lisfranc complex fracture dislocation.


Zellweger syndrome: diagnostic assays, syndrome delineation, and potential therapy.
Patients with the cerebrohepatorenal syndrome of Zellweger lack peroxisomes and certain peroxisomal enzymes such as dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase in their tissues. Deficiency of this enzyme, which is necessary for glycerol ether lipid synthesis, provides a biochemical method for recognizing patients with subtle manifestations of Zellweger syndrome and suggests the utility of exogenous ether lipid precursors as a therapeutic strategy for these children. We describe the results of glycerol ether lipid supplementation to two children, one with classic Zellweger syndrome and 9% of control fibroblast dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activity, and one with mild facial manifestations, wide sutures, hypotonia, developmental delay, hepatomegaly, peripheral retinal pigmentation, and 50% of control fibroblast dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activity. An increase in erythrocyte plasmalogen levels following therapy was clearly demonstrated in the milder patient, and neither patient showed evidence of toxicity. Evaluation of therapy by comparison to the usual clinical course of Zellweger syndrome was not helpful because of the variability and incomplete documentation of 90 previously reported cases. The literature survey did provide criteria for classic Zellweger syndrome, which include hypotonia with or without deformation of limbs, large fontanels and split sutures, prominent forehead, flattened facial profile with hypoplastic supraorbital ridges, anteverted nares, highly arched palate, cryptorchidism or labial hypoplasia, hepatomegaly or elevated liver enzymes, peripheral pigmentation of the retina, renal cortical cysts, and characteristic neuropathology involving decreased myelinization, abnormal neuronal migration, and sudanophilic macrophages. Less severe patients, as exemplified by our case 2 and others from the literature, will not have all the classic features and can be recognized only by a growing panel of biochemical indicators. Our patient studies illustrate the complexity of designing comprehensive therapy for Zellweger-like conditions, suggest other diseases that may involve peroxisomal alterations, and emphasize the need for multicenter, collaborative studies to evaluate biochemical heterogeneity and therapy of peroxisomal disorders.


Preparative purification of morroniside and loganin from Fructus corni by combination of macroporous absorption resin and HSCCC.
A method for preparative purification of loganin and morroniside from Fructus corni was established by combination of macroporous absorption resin column separation and high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The crude extracts obtained from Fructus corni by ultrasonic extraction with 50% methanol were subjected to separation on a macroporous resin column and then eluted with 15% and 40% ethanol, respectively. A fraction of 40% ethanol was used as the sample for separation of morroniside and loganin by HSCCC. The two-phase solvent system used for HSCCC separation was n-butanol-methanol-1% acetic acid water (4:1:6, v/v). The upper phase was used as the stationary phase of HSCCC. Morroniside (28.7 mg) of 97.8% purity and loganin (11.5 mg) of 98.6% purity were obtained in a one-step HSCCC separation from 50 mg of sample. The structures of morroniside and loganin were identified by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR.


Cerebellar granular cell cultures as an in vitro model for antidepressant drug-induced neurogenesis.
Both preclinical and clinical evidence suggested that antidepressant drugs upregulate hippocampal cell proliferation and neurogenesis. In addition, direct evidence was recently published that hippocampal de novo cell proliferation is necessary for antidepressant action. Within this frame, we used primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells (CGC) as an in vitro model of central nervous system (CNS) to investigate whether a neurogenic response could be elicited also in the cerebellum, upon chronic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Furthermore, we assayed the presence of neural precursor cells in CGC, possibly responsive to proliferation and differentiation stimuli. We found that 1 microM fluoxetine increased cell proliferation, as assayed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. CGC immunocytochemical analysis with neural cell-specific markers revealed the presence of granule neurons, glial cells, and a cell component that we named "round cells." Because only round cells displayed proliferation ability, as revealed by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, they were further characterized. For this purpose, round cells were isolated and expanded by culturing in a serum-free medium, containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), before immunocytochemical analysis. We found that round cells were not immunoreactive for glial, neuronal, and oligodendrocyte markers, whereas they were immunoreactive for several immature neuronal markers. Accordingly, round cells could be induced to differentiate into astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes, either by withdrawing the mitogen bFGF or by exposing them to fluoxetine. These findings suggest that round cells in CGC possess the features and potentials of neural precursors, able to differentiate in mature neural cells upon a pharmacological simulum.


The effect of burst-duty-cycle parameters of medium-frequency alternating current on maximum electrically induced torque of the quadriceps femoris, discomfort, and tolerated current amplitude in professional soccer players.
Repeated-measures, within-subject crossover trial. The primary objective was to assess the effect of the burst-duty-cycle parameters of medium-frequency alternating current on the maximum electrically induced torque of the quadriceps femoris. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the amount of discomfort tolerated and the maximum current amplitude delivered for each electrical-stimulation condition. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation used for muscle strengthening can improve functional performance. However, the electrical-stimulation parameters to achieve optimal outcomes are still unknown. Previous studies have demonstrated that the characteristics of the burst duty cycle of medium-frequency alternating current influence torque-generation levels and perception of sensory discomfort. The maximum electrically induced torque was assessed with a medium-frequency alternating current, with a carrier frequency of 2500 Hz and a modulated frequency of 50 Hz. The current amplitude was gradually increased to the point of the participant's maximum tolerance level. The testing sequence for the 3 burst duty cycles (20%, 35%, and 50%) was performed in a randomized order. Electrical stimulation using a 20% burst duty cycle produced an electrically induced torque greater than the 35% (P = .01) and 50% (P<.01) burst duty cycles, with no difference between the 35% and 50% burst duty cycles (P = .46). There was no difference in the amount of sensory discomfort produced by the 3 durations of burst duty cycles (P = .34). There was also no difference between the 3 conditions for the maximum current amplitude tolerated (P = .62). The burst duty cycle of 20% of medium-frequency alternating current, compared to burst duty cycles of 35% and 50%, produced higher peak torque of the quadriceps femoris in professional soccer players. There was no difference in discomfort produced and current amplitude tolerated between the different burst-duty-cycle conditions.


Stereoselective binding of disopyramide to human plasma protein.
The binding of racemic disopyramide and its two enantiomers to protein were compared in two samples of human plasma, two samples of freshly drawn serum and in a solution of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. The binding of S(+)-disopyramide was higher at all concentrations as compared to to R(-)-disopyramide, and the binding of the racemate was intermediate. Differences in binding were due to differences in the association constant.


NMR methods for beer characterization and quality control.
The use of high-resolution NMR spectroscopy in the brewing industry is described; most studies having aimed at assessing the composition of beer and its raw materials and correlating it to a variety of quality parameters. First, the application of NMR to the qualitative characterization of beer is reviewed, addressing both targeted and untargeted methods and focusing on both beer extracts and direct beer analysis. A subsequent chapter addresses the NMR studies, which envisage the development of new rapid methods for beer analysis and quality control, such as site-specific natural fractionation-NMR and multivariate data analysis methods for marker search or rapid compound quantification. Finally, possible future perspectives toward a deeper and more complete understanding of beer and its brewing process are discussed.


Cognitive deficits in normally intelligent patients with tuberous sclerosis.
Webb, Thomson, and Osborne [1991: Arch Dis Child 66:1375-1377] reported on the pattern of cerebral lesions found in an epidemiological sample of patients with tuberous sclerosis (TS) and clinically judged to be of normal intellect. Varying numbers of tubers and subependymal nodules were found, but clinically there appeared to be few associated neuropsychological impairments. Our objectives in this study were to conduct a detailed neuropsychological assessment to determine whether these patients were indeed free of cognitive deficits. We report the results of a detailed neuropsychological assessment in this sample and a matched comparison group. Although of average intelligence, most TS individuals had a significant cognitive deficit of one sort or another, and in a number of cases the pattern of cognitive impairments matched that seen in other neurological disorders. Additionally, the overall rate of cognitive deficits was significantly greater than in the controls. We conclude that normally intelligent individuals with TS are prone to specific cognitive difficulties. Further research will be required to clarify the nature of the links between the brain abnormalities and type of neuropsychological dysfunction. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 88:642-646, 1999.


Evidence for urea-induced hypometabolism in isolated organs of dormant ectotherms.
Many organisms endure extended periods of dormancy by depressing their metabolism, which effectively prolongs the use of their endogenous energy stores. Though the mechanisms of hypometabolism are varied and incompletely understood, recent work suggests that urea accumulation in autumn and early winter contributes to reduced metabolism of hibernating wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). Urea accumulation during dormancy is a widespread phenomenon, and it has long been presumed that numerous species from diverse taxa benefit from its hypometabolic effect. To investigate the phylogenetic prevalence of urea-induced hypometabolism, we studied four species of urea accumulators from the clades Amphibia (Spea bombifrons and Ambystoma tigrinum), Reptilia (Malaclemys terrapin), and Gastropoda (Anguispira alternata), and one amphibian species (R. pipiens) that does not accumulate urea during dormancy. We measured rates of oxygen consumption (VO(2)) of excised organ samples from dormant animals in the presence or absence of physiological concentrations of urea. Three of the four urea-accumulating species had at least one organ whose VO(2) was significantly decreased by urea treatment. However, VO(2) of organs from R. pipiens, the one species tested that does not accumulate urea during dormancy, was not affected by urea treatment. Our results support the hypothesis that urea accumulation can reduce metabolic rate of dormant animals and provide a base for further investigation into the evolution of urea-induced hypometabolism.


[Management for the removal of dopamin-secreting pheochromocytoma].
Incidence of dopamin-secreting pheochromocytoma is very rare. We reported managment of anesthesia for the removal of dopamin-secreting pheochromocytoma. A 46-year-old woman was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, but lacking clinical symptoms. Plasma and urinary dopamine levels were remarkably elevated, but other catecholamine levels were within normal limits. She underwent left adrenalectomy. Plasma dopamine was measured before during and after the adrenalectomy. Blood pressure was not related to plasma dopamine levels.


Identification of new genotypic cut-off levels to predict the efficacy of lopinavir/ritonavir and darunavir/ritonavir in the TITAN trial.
Genotypic algorithms used to predict the clinical efficacy of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) have included a range of mutation lists and efficacy endpoints. Normally, HIV clinical trials are powered to detect a difference between treatment arms of 10-12% for the endpoint of viral load suppression <50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL. The TITAN trial evaluated LPV/r vs. darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) in treatment-experienced patients with viral load >1000 copies/mL. This analysis aimed to re-evaluate resistance algorithms for LPV/r in the TITAN trial. Baseline genotype data were classified using seven genotypic resistance algorithms: International AIDS Society USA (IAS-USA) LPV mutations (current cut-off=6), Abbott 2007 mutation list (cut-off=3), ANRS mutations (cut-off=4), FDA mutations (cut-off=3), Stanford, REGA and IAS-USA major protease inhibitor (PI) mutations. Efficacy in the TITAN trial (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL at week 48) was correlated with the number of mutations from each list, to show the 'efficacy advantage cut-off level': the number of mutations from each list associated with a difference in efficacy between treatment arms of at least 12%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified lower genotypic cut-off levels than previously reported where there was at least 12% lower efficacy for LPV/r vs. DRV/r. These efficacy advantage cut-off levels were: IAS-USA LPV mutations, cut-off=3; Abbott 2007, cut-off=2; ANRS LPV, cut-off=3; FDA LPV mutations, cut-off=2; major IAS-USA PI mutations, cut-off=1; Stanford algorithm, cut-off=low-level LPV resistance; REGA algorithm, cut-off=intermediate-level LPV resistance. There were linear falls in HIV-1 RNA suppression rates with rising mutation counts in the TITAN, French LPV ATU, BMS-045 and RESIST trials. The analysis identified more sensitive cut-off levels for LPV genotypic algorithms, below those currently used.


Restricted transport of anti-transferrin receptor antibody (OX26) through the blood-brain barrier in the rat.
Anti-transferrin receptor IgG2a (OX26) transport into the brain was studied in rats. Uptake of OX26 in brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) was > 10-fold higher than isotypic, non-immune IgG2a (Ni-IgG2a) when expressed as % ID/g. Accumulation of OX26 in the brain was higher in 15 postnatal (P)-day-old rats than in P0 and adult (P70) rats. Iron-deficiency did not increase OX26 uptake in P15 rats. Three attempts were made to investigate transport from BCECs further into the brain. (i) Using a brain capillary depletion technique, 6-9% of OX26 was identified in the post-capillary compartment consisting of brain parenchyma minus BCECs. (ii) In cisternal CSF, the volume of distribution of OX26 was higher than for Ni-IgG2a when corrected for plasma concentration. (iii) Immunohistochemical mapping revealed the presence of OX26 almost exclusively in BCECs; extravascular staining was observed only in neurons situated periventricularly. The data support the hypothesis of facilitated uptake of OX26 due to the presence of transferrin receptors at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, OX26 accumulation in the post-capillary compartment was too small to justify a conclusion of receptor-mediated transcytosis of OX26 occurring in BCECs. Accumulation of OX26 in the post-capillary component may result from a diphasic transport that involves high-affinity accumulation of OX26 by the BCECs, clearly exceeding that of Ni-IgG2a, followed by a second transport mechanism that releases OX26 non-specifically further into the brain. The periventricular localization suggests that OX26 probably also derives from transport across the blood-CSF barrier.


Congenital long-QT syndrome in a Nigerian child: a case report.
We describe the clinical manifestation and the challenges of diagnosing Long QT syndrome, type 1 (LQTS1), in an 8-year old girl who presented at the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic with syncopal attacks following dancing and excitement. Her initial ECG showed normal QT interval of 380msec (QTc=440 msec), but later, increased to 410 msec (QTc=520 msec) following epinephrine challenge test. The challenges with the diagnosis of LQTS1 in children in resource-constrained setting and the need for vigilance in children with syncopal attacks and other cardiac events with normal QT intervals on an electrocardiogram are thus highlighted.


Respiratory motor output of the sectioned medulla of the neonatal rat.
The respiratory motor output of the isolated medulla-spinal cord of the neonatal rat was recorded after three types of sections: (1) Complete midsagittal section of the medulla abolished all rhythmic neural activity recorded from the hypoglossal C4 ventral rootlets. (2) Complete transection at the level of the root of cranial nerve X decreased the burst frequency of the respiratory related motor output; transection of the medulla caudal to the obex had no effect on burst frequency recorded from the hypoglossal roots. Combining these rostral and caudal transections resulted in a transverse slice preparation 1.6-2.0 mm thick, which displayed spontaneous burst activity in the hypoglossal roots. (3) After rostral unilateral transection, a mid-coronal section produced a ventral medullary slice connected to the intact spinal cord. This 1.5 mm thick ventral medulla preparation displayed a spontaneous bursting rhythm. Both the transverse and coronal slices exhibited changes in burst frequency with changes in superfusate PCO2. These results demonstrate that respiratory rhythmogenesis and chemoreception are preserved in transverse and coronal medullary slices of the neonatal rat having substantially reduced diffusion distances.


The role of fungal spores in thunderstorm asthma.
To document the existence and investigate the etiology of "thunderstorm asthma," which has been reported sporadically over the past 20 years. We assessed the relationship between thunderstorms, air pollutants, aeroallergens, and asthma admissions to a children's hospital emergency department over a 6-year period. During thunderstorm days (n = 151 days) compared to days without thunderstorms (n = 919 days), daily asthma visits increased from 8.6 to 10 (p < 0.05), and air concentrations of fungal spores doubled (from 1,512 to 2,749/m(3)), with relatively smaller changes in pollens and air pollutants. Daily time-series analyses across the 6 years of observation, irrespective of the presence or absence of thunderstorms, demonstrated that an increase in total spores, equivalent to its seasonal mean, was associated with a 2.2% (0.9% SE) increase in asthma visits. Our results support a relationship between thunderstorms and asthma, and suggest that the mechanism may be through increases in spores that exacerbate asthma. Replication in other climates is suggested to determine whether these findings can be generalized to other aeroallergen mixes.


Correction: High throughput first-principles calculations of bixbyite oxides for TCO applications.
Correction for 'High throughput first-principles calculations of bixbyite oxides for TCO applications' by Nasrin Sarmadian et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 17724-17733.


New cytotoxic guttiferone analogues from Garcinia virgata from New Caledonia.
There are thirteen endemic species belonging to the genus Garcinia in New Caledonia. Among them, G. virgata is an evergreen tree mainly growing in the rain forests of this island. Fractionation of the cyclohexane extract of the stem bark of this plant produced the known benzophenones guttiferone E and xanthochymol, together with two new guttiferone analogues, namely guttiferones I and J. The structures of these benzophenones were mainly elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Compounds and were weakly cytotoxic on the KB cell line with IC50 values of 4.70 and 5.0 microg/mL respectively.


Statins: are any questions unanswered?
To summarize recent and ongoing randomized trials of statin therapy for the prevention of major vascular events. Four large-scale randomized trials have compared high-dose vs. standard doses of statin therapy among patients with coronary heart disease, and their results suggest that higher doses are more effective for preventing major vascular events, albeit with evidence of increased toxicity. There is now clear evidence that statin therapy is effective among most patients with type 2 diabetes, although uncertainty remains about the benefits in those with advanced nephropathy. Ongoing trials will assess whether statin therapy is beneficial among patients with noncoronary vascular disease (such as congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, or aortic stenosis), and among people with comorbid conditions or risk factors that increase the risk of vascular disease (including chronic kidney disease and raised C-reactive protein with below average low-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Statin therapy safely reduces the risk of vascular events in a wide range of patients. Uncertainties persist about the effects of higher statin doses and the role of statins among patients with specific conditions or risk factors.


Role of stapes surgery in improving hearing loss caused by otosclerosis.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the functional results of stapes surgery and to compare the effectiveness of small fenestra stapedotomy with that of total stapedectomy in improving hearing in patients affected by otosclerosis. Three hundred and fifty-seven consecutive ears, in 265 patients affected by otosclerosis, underwent surgery. All cases underwent either primary small fenestra stapedotomy (group A, 196/357, 54.91 per cent) or stapedectomy (group B, 161/357, 45.09 per cent). After surgery, 256/357 (71.71 per cent) cases showed a 0-20 dB gap. There were no significant differences in hearing results between the two groups at either early or late post-operative assessment. The mean post-operative pure tone average and air-bone gap results were slightly greater for group B than for group A, at both early and late post-operative assessments, but these differences were not statistically significant. Therefore, in group A, the mean pure tone average at 4 kHz significantly improved, from 56.60 to 47.66 dB at early post-operative assessment and to 52.98 dB at late post-operative assessment. Our study suggests that the technique of microtomy of the oval window is able to improve hearing results especially at high frequencies.


The development of the Toddler Behavior Screening Inventory.
The purpose of the present study was to develop the Toddler Behavior Screening Inventory (TBSI) for rapidly assessing maternal reports of toddler behavior problems. The TBSI is a 40-item measure intended for use by pediatricians, psychologists, and other child-care professionals. A group of mothers (n = 312) rated the initial 93-item TBSI in terms of behavior frequency and parental perception of the behavior as problematic. Following item elimination, 40 items were retained due to being both frequent and problematic at all toddler age levels. Data were obtained with a new sample of mothers (n = 581) and showed the TBSI to possess good reliability and validity.


Impaired down-regulation of pituitary dopamine receptors by estradiol in aged rats.
Administration of 17 beta-estradiol to mature (6-12 months) rats results in a more than 50% reduction in pituitary dopamine receptor concentrations, without affecting binding affinity. In contrast, when the same manipulation is performed on senescent (24-25 months) rats, negligible change in receptor concentration occurs. These results suggest that age-related increases in estrogen-stimulated prolactin release are not due to decreased dopaminergic inhibition at the receptor level.


Improved survival in HIV-related Hodgkin's lymphoma since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
To evaluate the evolving characteristics of HIV-related Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and survival of affected patients since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A retrospective single-institution study was performed over a 15-year follow-up period. For statistical analysis, patients were categorized into a pre-HAART period (1987-1996, n = 61) and a post-HAART period (1997-2001, n = 47). HL characteristics were similar in both groups. The chemotherapy regimens used did not differ significantly, although the MOPP/ABV regimen (mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine substituted by cyclophosphamide since 2000, and prednisone /adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastin) has progressively replaced the ABVD regimen (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastin, dacarbazine). A slight increase in the complete response rate was noted in the post-HAART population (74.5%) versus the pre-HAART population (64.5%), and the probability to relapse was not different between the two groups. Patients diagnosed since 1997 had a higher probability for prolonged survival with a median survival time not reached versus 19 months in the pre-HAART period. The estimate 2-year survival probability was 45% [95% confidence interval (CI), 32.3-57.8% in the pre-HAART period, and 62% (95% CI, 46.7-77.1%) in the post-HAART period ( P= 0.03). This decreased mortality was associated with a decrease in AIDS-associated deaths. In the post-HAART period, 12 patients were naive to any antiretroviral therapy and 31 were already on HAART at the time of HL diagnosis. Twenty of them had a plasma HIV-RNA below 500 copies/ml. The response rate and the overall survival were not statistically different in these patients. HL still occurs in patients with HAART-induced HIV suppression. However, overall survival has significantly improved since the introduction of HAART.


Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in preterm infants: association with neurodevelopmental outcomes.
To compare magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) metabolite ratios in preterm infants at term-equivalent age with those in term infants and to evaluate the association between MRS metabolites and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months corrected age in preterm infants. We studied infants born at a gestational age <37 weeks and weighing <1500 g during 2009-2013 using MRS at term-equivalent age. Infants with major brain abnormalities were excluded. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cre), NAA to choline-containing compounds (Cho) and Cho to Cre in the frontal white matter and thalamus were measured using multivoxel point-resolved proton spectroscopy sequence. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18 months corrected age. Thirty-three preterm infants and 16 term infants were enrolled in this study. Preterm infants with normal development at 18 months showed significantly lower NAA/Cho ratios in the frontal white matter than term infants. There were no differences in the Cre/Cho ratios between preterm and term infants. At 18 months corrected age, 9 preterm infants with a mild developmental delay showed significantly lower NAA/Cho ratios in the thalamus than 24 preterm infants with normal development. Preterm infants at term-equivalent age showed reduced MRS metabolites (NAA/Cho) compared with term infants. Decreased NAA/Cho ratios in the thalamus were associated with neurodevelopmental delay at 18 months corrected age in preterm infants.


Accuracy and consistency of quadratic odds estimates.
In medical practices that do not have rosters, only the number of patients who come to the practice can be enumerated: the number who might have visited if they had had a reason to do so remains unknown. The Quadratic Odds Estimator is a technique for estimating the total number of patients cared for by a primary care medical practice, including the non-visitors. A revised version of the model is shown to have an error of less than 1% in predicting the number of patients at risk of visiting a primary care medical practice. Aggregate and sex-specific estimates of total practice size are shown to be comparable to within 2%. The model estimates the prevalence of hypertension among the patients of two family practice resdencies as 18 and 11%. The rationale for employing unconventional regression weights and dual regressions is explained.


[Nerve regeneration in the anterior gastric wall after gastrotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy in the rat].
A study was made to compare nerve regeneration of the anterior gastric wall following either seromyotomy or gastrotomy with eversion suturing; both approaches extending from the antrum to the fundus. Twenty-eight preadult Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Group I (control: sham operated animals; n = 8); Group II (seromyotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy; n = 10); and Group III (gastrotomy with posterior truncal vagotomy; n = 10). Nerve regeneration was evaluated immunohistochemically two months after the operation. Groups II and III presented gastric dilatation postmortem. Both groups showed complete denervation of the anterior gastric wall, with no vagal fibers crossing the section line. Amputation neuromas and Schwann cells were commonly observed. In conclusion, both seromyotomy and gastrotomy are efficient methods for denervating the anterior gastric wall.


Study of proteases and other enzymes of Vibrio cholerae 01 E2 Tor and 0139 serotypes isolated in Yavatmal (Maharashtra).
V. cholerae 01 E1 Tor isolated during Cholera epidemic of 1994 and V cholerae 0139 serotype isolated during 1993 epidemic were subjected to the study of proteases and other enzymes. Out of 26 strains of V. cholerae 01 studied, gelatinase and caseinase activity was seen in 100 and 69.23 percent strains respectively. All strains showed catalase and oxidase activity. Of the other enzymes studied 19.23, 65.38 and 57.69 percent strains were positive for DNAse, lipase and phosphatase respectively. None of the strains showed lecithinase activity. Similar findings were observed in 22 strains of V. cholerae 0139 except all strains were positive for phosphatase activity. Role of enzymes in virulence is suggested.


Procedure-related complications of rapid amniodrainage in the treatment of polyhydramnios.
To investigate the procedure-related complications of rapid amniodrainage in the treatment of polyhydramnios. We followed prospectively all patients with polyhydramnios treated with rapid amniodrainage under continuous ultrasound guidance using a vacuum wound-drainage system from 1995 to 2002 in the fetal medicine unit of a university teaching hospital. We recorded: maternal age, type of pregnancy (singleton/twin), cause of polyhydramnios, gestational age at amniocentesis, volume of amniotic fluid drained, duration of the procedure, other intrauterine procedures in addition to the amniodrainage, and procedure-related complications including placental abruption, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), chorioamnionitis, fetal bradycardia and preterm delivery within 48 h of amniodrainage. Seventy-four consecutive women had 134 rapid amniodrainage procedures during the study period. Four procedures were excluded because the women were already in labor at the time of amniodrainage and they delivered within 48 h of the procedure. The final database therefore consisted of 70 patients with 130 procedures. Sixty-two percent (80/130) of the procedures were performed for the treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). There were altogether four procedure-related complications (3.1%; 95% CI, 1.0-8.0%). Three of them occurred in the TTTS group (3/80 procedures, 3.8%; 95% CI, 1.0-11.0%): one case each of placental abruption, PROM and fetal bradycardia. One PROM occurred in the non-TTTS group (1/50 procedures, 2.0%; 95% CI, 0-11.0%). In both cases of PROM the women presented in labor. Rapid amniodrainage using a vacuum wound-drainage system is safe and efficient to treat severe polyhydramnios, with a 3.1% complication rate.


Survival of albumin, IgG, IgM, and complement (C3) in human blood after ingestion by Aedes albopictus and Phlebotomus papatasi.
The levels of albumin, IgG, IgM, and complement (C3) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in Aedes albopictus and Phlebotomus papatasi at regular intervals after feeding on human blood. Albumin disappeared most rapidly; by 48 hr, detectable levels of albumin had decreased 100-fold. In contrast, IgG and IgM survived longer and were still detectable at low levels several days after ingestion. C3 was intermediate in its rate of degradation. In general, serum protein disappearance occurred more rapidly in Ae. albopictus than in Ph. papatasi, despite a larger volume of blood ingested by the former.


Development and evaluation of the Lake Macroinvertebrate Integrity Index (LMII) for New Jersey lakes and reservoirs.
In response to the recent focus by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on bioassessment of lakes, a multimetric index was developed for New Jersey lakes and reservoirs using benthic macroinvertebrates. Benthic samples were collected from reference and impaired lakes with muck and intermediate sediments in central and northern New Jersey during summer 1997. We used a stepwise process to evaluate properties of candidate metrics and selected five for the Lake Macroinvertebrate Integrity Index (LMII): Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI), percent chironomid individuals, percent collector-gatherer taxa, percent oligochaetes/leeches, and number of Diptera taxa. We scored metrics as the fraction of the best expected value (based on all sites) achieved at a site and summed them into the LMII. Evaluation of the LMII showed that it discriminated well between reference and impaired lakes and was strongly related to several potential stressors. Chemical and physical gradients distinguished between reference and impaired lakes, and the LMII summarized these gradients well. The LMII corresponded strongly with land use, but some lakes with more urban land use still achieved high scores. Based on a power analysis, the ability of the LMII to detect differences in condition was sensitive to the number of samples from each lake.


Lactobacillus caviae sp. nov., an obligately heterofermentative bacterium isolated from the oral cavity of a guinea pig (Cavia aperea f. porcellus).
A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, and catalase- and oxidase-negative bacterial strain designated MOZM2T, having 98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016T, was isolated from a swab of the oral cavity of a home-bred guinea pig. Comparative analyses based on the hsp60, pheS and tuf genes confirmed L. reuteri as its closest relative species, with calculated sequence similarities of 92.8, 88.8 and 96.9 %, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridisation revealed a 42 % degree of genetic similarity between the novel strain and L. reuteri DSM 20016T. Strain MOZM2T degrades carbohydrates via the 6-phosphogluconate/phosphoketolase pathway, evidenced by its production of gas from glucose and the end products of hexose catabolism. Comparative analysis of the cellular fatty acid profiles determined significant differences between MOZM2T and L. reuteri DSM 20016T in their proportions of C8 : 0, C14 : 1, C17 : 0, C18 : 2ω6t and C20 : 0 fatty acids. Results of genotypic analyses also demonstrated differences between these two strains. They also differed in DNA G+C content, and some biochemical and physiological characteristics. We therefore believe that the examined bacterial isolate should be considered as a new taxon within the group of obligately heterofermentative lactobacilli. The species name Lactobacillus caviae sp. nov. is proposed, of which the type strain is MOZM2T (=CCM 8609T=DSM 100239T=LMG 28780T).


Mononuclear cells ingest E. coli opsonized by investigational intravenous immunoglobulin preparations in the absence of complement more efficiently than polymorphonuclear phagocytes.
The increasing use of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) to treat systemic inflammatory, mostly autoimmune, diseases raises the concern that their competition for FcgammaReceptor (FcgammaR) binding with immune complexes might interfere with the removal of opsonized microbial agents more than it favoured their opsonophagocytosis. Using a sensitive FACS-based phagocytosis assay allowing for the identification of the phagocytosing cell-type, we have tested the relative capacity of Pentaglobin and two investigational IVIg preparations, IVIgG and IVIgM, to promote E. coli phagocytosis. The plasma IL-8 levels 4 h after phagocytosis were measured by ELISA. Heat inactivated, complement (C) depleted serum allowed about 25% polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) and 15% monocytes (MNs) of 16 donors to phagocyte E. coli. The addition of IVIg favoured mean phagocytosis by MNs to 55%, but by PMNLs only to 25%. The addition of fresh autologous plasma as a C source resulted in a boost of phagocytosing capacity to reach >90% of the PMNLs and >72% of the MNs. Blockade of FcgammaRII and FcgammaRI using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reduced phagocytosis and IL-8 release. We conclude that excess IVIgG/M preparations added to a phagocytic system of PMNLs and MNs, without preopsonization of E. coli, promotes phagocytosis as expected, but MNs rather than PMNLs do this more thoroughly on their own.


Enhanced Hydrogen Production from Sawdust Decomposition Using Hybrid-Functional Ni-CaO-Ca2SiO4 Materials.
A hybrid-functional material consisting of Ni as catalyst, CaO as CO2 sorbent, and Ca2SiO4 as polymorphic "active" spacer was synthesized by freeze-drying a mixed solution containing Ni, Ca and Si precursors, respectively, to be deployed during sawdust decomposition that generated gases mainly containing H2, CO, CO2 and CH4. The catalytic activity showed a positive correlation to the Ni loading, but at the expense of lower porosity and surface area with Ni loading beyond 20 wt %, indicating an optimal Ni loading of 20 wt % for Ni-CaO-Ca2SiO4 hybrid-functional materials, which enables ∼626 mL H2 (room temperature, 1 atm) produced from each gram of sawdust, with H2 purity in the product gas up to 68 vol %. This performance was superior over a conventional supported catalyst Ni-Ca2SiO4 that produced 443 mL H2 g-sawdust-1 under the same operating condition with a purity of ∼61 vol %. Although the Ni-CaO bifunctional material in its fresh form generated a bit more H2 (∼689 mL H2 g-sawdust-1), its cyclic performance decayed dramatically, resulting in H2 yield reduced by 62% and purity dropped from 73 to 49 vol % after 15 cycles. The "active" Ca2SiO4 spacer offers porosity and mechanical strength to the Ni-CaO-Ca2SiO4 hybrid-functional material, corresponding to its minor loss in reactivity over cycles (H2 yield reduced by only 7% and H2 purity dropped from 68 to 64 vol % after 15 cycles).


Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for optic nerve sheath meningiomas.
To investigate the value of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SSRS) in the diagnosis of optic nerve sheath meningiomas (ONSMs). Prospective, comparative case series. SSRS was used to investigate 68 orbits in 61 patients diagnosed with an orbital tumor. Patients were injected intravenously with 200 MBq of indium-111 ((111)In)-octreotide. SSRS with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed 24 hours after injection. The (111)In-octreotide uptake in orbital lesions was determined by semiquantitative uptake-ratio analysis (lesion/brain) on attenuation-corrected transverse SPECT slices. All orbital meningiomas, including 14 ONSMs and 12 spheno-orbital meningiomas, showed high median (111)In-octreotide uptake ratios of 7.2 (range, 4.6-15.4) and 16.3 (range, 4.6-15.4), respectively. In 7 patients with a diagnosis of ONSM, the SSRS uptake ratio was significantly decreased 2.7 (1-6.8) after treatment with 54 Gy of radiotherapy. Median uptake ratios of other tumors were vascular anomalies/vascular tumors, 1.2 (range, 0.5-3.3); non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 2.9 (range, 0.9-4.2); optic nerve gliomas, 1.5 (range, 0.2-3.3); and idiopathic orbital inflammation, 1.6 (range, 1.4-1.9). By using a threshold uptake ratio of 5.9, the sensitivity of SSRS with (111)In-octreotide for ONSM was 100%, with a specificity of 97.2%. SSRS is a useful additional tool in diagnosing ONSM and has 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity at a threshold uptake ratio of 5.9.


The effect of the herbal medicines dai-kenchu-to and keishi-bukuryo-gan on bowel movement after colorectal surgery.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the herbal medicines Dai-ken-chu-to and Keish-bukuryo-gan in the patients undergoing colorectal resection. Sixty-six patients undergoing colorectal resection were studied. Patients in the Study group began on 7.5g of Dai-ken-chu-to and 6.0g of Keish-bukuryo-gan on the first postoperative day. Control group did not take herbal medicine at all. All of the patients were monitored for vomiting, abdominal distention, length of ileus, tolerance of regular diet, duration of intravenous fluid administration, length of hospitalization, and complications. The time to flatus was 63.1 +/- 22.8 hours and 95.4 +/- 33.0 hours in the Study and Control group, respectively (p<0.05). And the time to tolerance of regular diet was 2.53 +/- 1.93 days and 6.25 +/- 1.50 days in the Study and Control group, respectively (p<0.05). In addition, length of postoperative hospitalization in the patients within the Study group was significantly shorter than those within the Control group (15.7 +/- 4.8 days vs. 20.8 +/- 4.8 days, p<0.05). The incidence of complications including nausea, vomiting, anastomotic leak and wound infection occurred equally in both groups. Administration of Dai-ken-chu-to and Keish-bukuryo-gan is safe, with no evidence of increased morbidity, and is also highly effective in improving postoperative bowel motility and in reducing hospital stay.


On the Spectroscopically Determined Potential Energy Surfaces for the Electronic Ground States of NO2 and H2O
Previous spectroscopically determined potentials for both H216O and NO2 are discussed. It is shown that a recent H216O potential energy surface due to D. Xie and G. Yan (1996. Chem. Phys. Lett. 248, 409), which was determined by fits to vibrational term values alone and was claimed to be more accurate than other published spectroscopically determined potentials for this system, actually gives unacceptably poor results for rotationally excited water. Reasons for this failure are discussed and the dangers of relying on vibrational term values alone are emphasized. Previous spectroscopic potentials for ground state NO2 are all found to have problems with unphysical minima ("holes"). Starting from the potential energy surface for the ground (&Xtilde;2A1) electronic state of NO2 constructed by S. A. Tashkun and P. Jensen (1994. J. Mol. Spectrosc. 165, 173) using the approximate MORBID approach a suitable starting point for fits using an exact kinetic energy operator approach was constructed. Least-squares fits to 17 potential parameters gives a potential which reproduces 173 vibrational term values with a standard deviation of only 2.8 cm-1 in the low-energy region (<10 000 cm-1). For many even levels below, and all levels above, approximately 10 000 cm-1 the first excited electronic state (Ã2B2) perturbs the vibrational energy levels of the ground state. We were unable to fit these levels. Tests show that the resulting effective potential surface has no problems with unphysical holes and gives a reasonable representation of the rotational structure of the low-lying vibrational states of NO2. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press


Catalysis by Imidazole of Deuterium-Hydrogen Exchange in Amide N-H Groups.
Imidazole, at concentrations of 0.05M to 0.2M, has been found to increase the rate of deuterium-hydrogen exchange in a model amide by 40-fold or more. Since imidazole side-chains occur in proteins, deuterium exchange in these macromolecules may be strongly affected by the presence of these or similar activating groups.


Metacognition and self-awareness in Multiple Sclerosis.
Although a large range of literature on awareness and metacognition focuses on different neurological populations, little attention has been paid to Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This paper gathers literatures related to studies of anosognosia and the theoretical construct of metacognition which both offer a means to operationalize and measure awareness in MS. We focused on both a clinical concern, regarding the relationship between subjective and objective evolution of cognitive performance, and the theoretical issue of metacognitive processes implicated in disease awareness. We identified 26 papers with findings related to awareness of cognitive impairment in MS using questionnaire-based or performance-based methods. We found support for the idea that the relationship between subjective evaluation and neuropsychological evaluation depends on disease duration and is strongly modulated by other variables, such as mood state. We propose that the metacognitive deficit for memory tasks in this population arises from memory impairment. Finally, we discuss methodological issues, variability in MS patients, and the domain specificity of metacognitive impairment.


Therapeutic efficacy of apomorphine combined with an extracerebral inhibitor of dopamine receptors in Parkinson's disease.
Apomorphine in combination with a peripheral dopamine receptor blocker (domeperidone) was administered to four parkinsonian patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The therapeutic efficacy of apomorphine was not reduced by domperidone, while nausea, drowsiness, sedation, and arterial hypotension were prevented. Combination of domperidone with dopamine agonists may result in more effective treatment of Parkinson's disease.


Association between recency of last pregnancy and biologic subtype of breast cancer.
Breast cancers (BCs) diagnosed after a recent pregnancy display features associated with poor prognosis, including hormone receptor negativity, but other tumor markers have not been examined. We sought to define the tumor marker profile of these cancers, including HER-2 and p53 expression, and examine the time interval over which this adverse profile is observed, relative to last pregnancy. A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify women with a BC diagnosis between 1998 to 2011. Parous women were categorized on the basis of the interval between pregnancy and BC diagnosis; 0-2 years, >2-5 years, >5-10 years, and >10-15 years. Tumor characteristics of parous cases were compared to those of nulliparous BC patients, who were frequency matched by age. A total of 175 parous and 114 nulliparous women were identified. Women who were 0-2 years from last parity at the time of BC diagnosis were the only group who were more likely than control women to have grade 3 tumors (P<0.01), positive lymph nodes (P=0.02), and triple negative tumors (P=0.01, odds ratio 3.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2-8.5). There was no difference noted in HER-2 or p53 status relative to interval from pregnancy. BC diagnosed within 2 years of pregnancy is more likely to have poor prognostic features and to be triple negative. More work is needed to delineate the time frame of pregnancy-associated BC and to define them on a molecular level, so as to devise better prevention and therapy for this devastating problem.


Expression profile and clonality of T-cell receptor beta variable genes in normal human endometrium.
In spite of their key immunological role, alphabeta+ T cells residing in endometrium have not been extensively explored. We analyzed here expression profile of TCRBV genes in normal human endometrium compared with peripheral blood. Samples were taken from normal reproductive women. RT-PCR using BV-gene specific primers was performed on blood and endometrial samples. After blotting, hybridization with radiolabelled probe and autoradiography, relative expression of each TCRBV family was determined. Clonal expansions of the over-expressed genes were assessed by CDR3 length polymorphism. Only one gene (TCRBV7) was expressed significantly and two other genes marginally more in the endometrium compared with blood. All three TCRBV genes examined showed a rather restricted pattern in the endometrium in contrast to polyclonal patterns in the blood. Our results stress the similarities between T cells residing in different mucosal tissues and provide a basis for future investigations about endometrial T cells and their antigen specificities in gynecological problems.


Recent advances in cytogenetic characterization of multiple myeloma.
The detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) has received more importance over last years for risk stratification and the new risk-adapted treatment strategies. Conventional G-banding analysis should be included in a routine procedure for the initial diagnostic workup for patients suspected of MM. However, the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in MM by conventional cytogenetics is limited owing to the low proliferative activity of malignant plasma cells as well as the low number of plasma cells in bone marrow specimens. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or microarray-based technologies can overcome some of those drawbacks and detect specific target arrangements as well as chromosomal copy number changes. In this review, we will discuss different cytogenetic approaches and compare their strength and weakness to provide genetic information for risk stratification and prediction of outcome in MM patients.


[Study on Bartonella species in rodents in western Yunnan, China].
To study the infection status of Bartonella spp. in rodents in western part of Yunnan province. Blood samples were collected from four species of rodents captured in four counties in western Yunnan in 2004. Bartomella was isolated through being cultured in brain and heart infusion agar media containing 5% rabbit blood. Suspective Bartomella strains isolates were confirmed by amplification of 379 bp of citrate synthase (gltA) gene with specific primer by polymerase chin reaction (PCR). Fifty-four strains of Bartomella isolates were obtained from 397 samples including four rodent species captured in the fields with an overall isolation-rate of 13.6% (54/397). The rates of isolation among different species were: 22.0% (22/100) in Rattus nitidus, 14.8% (31/210) in Rattus flavipectus and 1.2%(1/87) in Rattus norvegicus while in R. t. yunnanensis it was negative. These findings demonstrated that the local rodents in western Yunnan were widely infected by Bartomella spp. It is indispensable to study the vector and the route of transmission to discover the relations between Bartomella and human diseases.


Jumping translocation of 17q11 approximately qter and 3q25 approximately q28 duplication in a variant Philadelphia t(9;14;22)(q34;q32;q11) in a childhood chronic myelogenous leukemia.
The virtually obligatory presence of the Philadelphia chromosome may suggest a causal homogeneity, but chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a clinically heterogeneous disease. This may be a consequence of the variable BCR breakpoints on chromosome 22 and of nonrandom secondary chromosomal abnormalities. We present the case of a boy, age 12, investigated in blastic phase of CML. Karyotyping with conventional and multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH and M-FISH) karyotyping, complemented with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, identified a variant Philadelphia translocation t(9;14;22)(q34;q32;q11) involving a cryptic BCR/ABL fusion with formation of the p190(Bcr-Abl) oncoprotein. M-FISH revealed also an unbalanced jumping translocation of 17q11 approximately qter alternatively present on chromosomes 14 or 20, apparently hithertofore unreported in hematological malignancies. Another secondary aberration, dup(3)(q25q28), was revealed by multipoint interphase FISH (mpI-FISH). Gain of this region is known in adult hematological malignancies and solid tumors, suggesting its general involvement in tumor initiation or progression (or both), regardless of tissue origin.


An on-line method for evaluation of the in vitro pulsatile pressure drop and regurgitative characteristics of prosthetic heart valves.
An on-line digital method is described for analyzing the pressure drop and regurgitative characteristics of prosthetic heart valves in a pulse duplicator system. The method is based on the Apple II microcomputer system but could be modified to be used with most microcomputers currently available. The digital data collection system is synchronized with the pulse duplicator system, and is programmed to collect the relevant pressure (upstream and downstream) and volumetric flow data for 10 cardiac cycles at a given time. The system is relatively easy to use and gives the scientist a fair amount of flexibility in terms of data collection, storage, and analysis. The on-line method has been used with the pulse duplicator of the Georgia Institute of Technology for the past 3 years.


[High risk congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Factors predicting mortality].
A retrospective study of patients with high-risk congenital diaphragmatic hernia operated on in our hospital the last 15 years is made in order to establish some predictors involved in the final evolution of the patients. The best prognostic correlation has been demonstrated by preoperatory roentgenogram, Apgar-test and gasometric values 24 hours after surgical repair. A delayed surgical operation is also correlated with a better prognosis in accordance with the suitability of respiratory stabilization of the patient before the stress of surgery or because of a lesser respiratory insufficiency in patients operated on later.


Amlodipine besylate and amlodipine camsylate prevent cortical neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress.
We examined the neuroprotective effects of the long-acting third-generation dihydropyridine Ca(2+) antagonists, amlodipine besylate (AB) and amlodipine camsylate (AC), on neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress. Cell viability and levels of free radicals and intracellular signaling proteins were measured after treating primary cultures of cortical neurons with AB, AC, and/or hydrogen peroxide (H(2) O(2) ) under various conditions. Cell viability was not affected by concentrations of AB or AC up to 5 μM but decreased at higher concentrations. Following H(2) O(2) exposure, the viability of cortical neurons decreased in a concentration-dependent manner; however, treatment with AB or AC up to 5 μM restored the viability of H(2) O(2) -injured cortical neurons. Treatment with H(2) O(2) increased the level of free radicals in cortical neurons, and pre-treatment with AB or AC counteracted this in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, treatment with AB or AC reduced the declines in p85aPI3K, phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated GSK-3β, heat-shock transcription factor-1, and Bcl-2 induced by H(2) O(2) , as well as the increases in cyclooxygenase-2, cytosolic cytochrome c, cleaved caspase 9, and cleaved caspase 3. Our results indicate that AB and AC exert similar neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, enhancing survival signals, and inhibiting death signals.


T cells with commitment issues.
T cells are a central element of cell-mediated immunity. Host detection of infectious agents leads to antigen presentation and release of cytokines that cause naïve T cells to develop into effector T cells or regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells). Effector T cells act to control the invading agents and mediate tissue inflammation. T(reg) cells maintain immune homeostasis by suppressing effector T cell responses to prevent collateral damage. Until recently, T cell differentiation into distinct subsets with different functions had been considered irreversible. However, new evidence suggests that some differentiated T cell subsets are more phenotypically flexible than others. Studying the plasticity of T cells and the underlying signaling mechanisms may lead to important clues for understanding immunity and autoimmunity.


Postpartum anestrus in French beef cattle: an epidemiological study.
Postpartum anestrus of lactating beef cows was studied by means of an epidemiological study carried out on 878 lactating beef cows in 60 French herds. The cows calved between October 1992 and March 1993 and were housed 2 mo after calving, when the anestrus status was determined by progesterone radioimmunoassays. Data analysis was performed using a multiple logistic model in order to adjust for confounding and interaction. Fifty-one percent of the primiparous and 23% of the multiparous cows were found to be in anestrus. Factors significantly related to anestrus were parity (primiparous); breed (Charolais); housing type (tie housing); suckling (compared to weaning at birth); and, among those that were under the control of the farmer, calving conditions (manual exploration of the birth canal); body condition score at calving (3 or less, on a 5-point scale); and loss in body condition score after calving (1 point or more within 2 mo). Previous reproductive performance for multiparous cows such as a long calving interval and induced estrus in the previous year also appeared to be related to anestrus.


Collagen Type III Glomerulopathies.
The 2 rare disorders characterized by the pathological accumulation of collagen type III in glomeruli are discussed. These are collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy, also known as collagen type III glomerulopathy, and the nail-patella syndrome. Although there are similarities in abnormal morphology, with type III collagen in mesangium and/or capillary walls, there is no genetic or pathogenic link to them. Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy presents either in childhood, often with a family history suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance, or in adults as a sporadic occurrence. Proteinuria is the typical manifestation, with progression to ESRD in approximately 10 years. Although there is markedly elevated serum precursor collagen type III protein in the circulation, the usual manner of diagnosis is with kidney biopsy, which discloses type III collagen in subendothelial aspects of capillary walls and often in the mesangial matrix. Glomerular involvement in the nail-patella syndrome invariably presents in a patient with an established diagnosis of this multisystem disorder with orthopedic and cutaneous manifestations. It is owing to mutations in the gene LMX1B. Although the lesion may be asymptomatic, it is usually manifested by proteinuria. Structural lesions are of collagen type III within glomerular basement membranes, different in distribution to collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy. The clinical course is variable.


Effect of latamoxef (moxalactam) and its related compounds on platelet aggregation in vitro--structure activity relationships.
Latamoxef, 1-S replaced and/or decarboxylated derivatives of latamoxef, compounds possessing a partial structure of latamoxef, and a beta-lactam ring-opened derivative of latamoxef were examined for their effects on human platelet aggregation in vitro. Latamoxef produced a dose-dependent inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation at high concentrations over about 2000 micrograms/ml (or 4 mM), and the potency was similar to that produced by cefotaxime, carbenicillin or ceftizoxime. Replacement of the oxygen atom in the oxacephem ring with a sulfur atom caused no significant change in the potency. The decarboxylated derivatives of latamoxef and the 1-S replaced analogue of latamoxef showed stronger inhibition for both ADP- and collagen-induced aggregation than the parent compounds. The effects of the compounds possessing a partial structure of latamoxef were weaker than that of latamoxef, but the effect of the beta-lactam ring-opened compound was about 3-fold stronger than that of latamoxef. These data suggest that neither the oxygen atom in the oxacephem ring nor the carboxyl group in the amide side chain is responsible for the inhibitory effect of latamoxef on platelet aggregation.