Presence of Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1) in juvenile spiny lobsters Panulirus argus from the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
Macroscopic evidence, histological sections, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) evaluation, and PCR analyses of 25 apparently diseased juvenile spiny lobsters Panulirus argus from the reef lagoon of Puerto Morelos, Mexico, showed the presence of Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1). Cowdry Type A intranuclear viral inclusions were observed in histological analyses, icosahedral viral particles were observed by TEM, and PCR using specific primers for PaV1 amplified a fragment of 499 bp. This is the first report of PaV1 infecting P. argus outside the Florida Keys, USA.


IL-7 enhances the responsiveness of human T cells that develop in the bone marrow of athymic mice.
The beige/nude/xid/human (bnx/hu) model of human hematopoiesis provides a unique opportunity to study extrathymic human T lymphocyte development in an in vivo system. Purified human hematopoietic stem cells develop into mature T lymphocytes and immature progenitors in the bone marrow of athymic bnx mice. The human T cells are all TCR alpha beta(+) and display a restricted TCRV beta repertoire. In the current studies, we examined the effects of systemic human IL-7 (huIL-7) administration on the phenotype and the activation status of the bnx/hu T cells. In the majority of the mice that did not have huIL-7 administration, a higher frequency of human CD3(+)/CD8(+) than CD3(+)/CD4(+) T cells developed in the bone marrow. This phenomenon is also frequently observed in human bone marrow transplant recipients. Extremely low levels of IL-2 were expressed by human CD3(+) cells isolated from these mice, in response to PMA plus ionomycin and to CD3 and CD28 cross-linking. IL-4 was not expressed by cells exposed to either stimulus, demonstrating a profound inability of the bnx/hu T cells to produce this cytokine. Systemic production of huIL-7 from engineered stromal cells transplanted into the mice increased the human CD4 to CD8 ratios, and increased the ratio of memory to naive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. The human CD3(+) cells recovered from mice that had systemic huIL-7 and equivalent numbers of CD3(+)/CD4(+) and CD3(+)/CD8(+) cells in the marrow were still unable to produce IL-4 in response to any condition tested, but were capable of normal levels of IL-2 production following stimulation.


Echocardiographic localization of interatrial baffle after Mustard operation for dextrotransposition of the great arteries.
The position of the interatrial baffle was determined by echocardiography in 11 patients with complete transposition of the great arteries who had undergone the Mustard operation. The location of the interatrial baffle and the newly created systemic venous atrium and the pulmonary venous atrium behind the pulmonary arterial root was established by echocardiographic contrast studies during cardiac catherization. Angiographic analysis indicated that the segments of the systemic and pulmonary venous atria seen behind the pulmonary arterial root in the echocardiogram were, respectively, the superior limb of the systemic venous atrium and the posterior segment of the pulmonary venous atrium. The area of mitral-pulmonary valve continuity in the echocardiogram was used as a reference point for dimensional measurements of the systemic and pulmonary venous atria. It is suggested that longitudinal measurements of these structures by echocardiogram may help evaluate their growth in size. Fine to coarse fibrillatory movements of the atrioventricular valves and, more frequently, of the mitral valve were seen in the majority of patients.


HIF-1α and PPARγ during physiological cardiac hypertrophy induced by pregnancy: Transcriptional activities and effects on target genes.
Hypoxia inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) are transcription factors that activate genes involved in cellular metabolism. Physiological cardiac hypertrophy induced by pregnancy initiates compensatory changes in metabolism. However, the contributions of HIF-1α and PPARγ to this physiological status and to its reversible, metabolic process (postpartum) in the heart are not well-defined. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the transcriptional activities of HIF-1α and PPARγ in the left ventricle of rats before, during, and after pregnancy. Furthermore, the effects of pregnancy on target genes of glycolysis and glycerol-lipid biosynthesis, key regulatory enzymes, and metabolic intermediates were evaluated. The activities of HIF-1α and PPARγ increased 1.2- and 1.6-fold, respectively, during pregnancy, and decreased to basal levels during postpartum. Expressions of mRNA for glucose transport 1 (GLUT1), enzymes of glycolysis (HK2, PFKM, and GAPDH) and glycerol-lipid biosynthesis (GPAT and GPD1) increased 1.6- to 14-fold during pregnancy and returned to basal levels postpartum. The increase in GPD1 expression translated to an increase in its activity, but such was not the case for GAPDH suggesting that post-translational regulation of these proteins is differential during pregnancy. Glycolytic (glucose, lactate, and DHAP) and glycerol-lipid biosynthesis (G3P and FFA) intermediates increased with pregnancy and were maintained postpartum. The results demonstrate that pregnancy-induced, physiological cardiac hypertrophy activates the expression of genes involved in glycolytic and glycerol-lipid biosynthesis suggesting that the shift in cardiac metabolism is mediated by the activation of HIF-1α and PPARγ.


Understanding diffusion and density anomaly in a coarse-grained model for water confined between hydrophobic walls.
We study, by Monte Carlo simulations, a coarse-grained model of a water monolayer between hydrophobic walls at partial hydration, with a wall-to-wall distance of about 0.5 nm. We analyze how the diffusion constant parallel to the walls, D(∥), changes and correlates to the phase diagram of the system. We find a locus of D(∥) maxima and a locus of D(∥) minima along isotherms, with lines of constant D(∥) resembling the melting line of bulk water. The two loci of D(∥) extrema envelope the line of temperatures of density maxima at constant P. We show how these loci are related to the anomalous volume behavior due to the hydrogen bonds. At much lower T, confined water becomes subdiffusive, and we discuss how this behavior is a consequence of the increased correlations among water molecules when the hydrogen bond network develops. Within the subdiffusive region, although translations are largely hampered, we observe that the hydrogen bond network can equilibrate, and its rearrangement is responsible for the appearance of density minima along isobars. We clarify that the minima are not necessarily related to the saturation of the hydrogen bond network.


The chimeric monoclonal antibody abciximab: a systematic review of its safety in contemporary practice.
Abciximab is a monoclonal antibody that prevents platelet aggregation by blocking platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor. To study the safety profile of this agent in contemporary clinical practice. We evaluated efficacy and safety end points (major and minor bleeding, thrombocytopenia) in patients treated with abciximab and compared them to those treated with placebo in main randomized clinical trials of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Use of abciximab is associated with an improved outcome in high-risk patients undergoing PCI but with a worse outcome in ACS patients treated conservatively. Use of abciximab is associated with an acceptable safety profile even when used on a background of aspirin and high doses of thienopyridine but has a potential to increase thrombocytopenia and minor bleeding. Small molecule GP IIb/IIIa antagonists are increasingly preferred over abciximab in clinical practice, and recent observational data have demonstrated these agents to have a similar efficacy and safety profile. As an increasing number of agents are being evaluated for peri-PCI anti-thrombotic therapy, the role of abciximab is likely to be further restricted to the highest risk patients.


Solid state NMR at high magic angle spinning frequencies: dipolar chemical shift correlation with adiabatic inversion pulse based RF pulse schemes.
The efficacy of hetero- and homonuclear dipolar recoupling employing tanh/tan adiabatic inversion pulse based RF pulse schemes has been examined at high magic angle spinning (MAS) frequencies via numerical simulations and experimental measurements. An approach for minimising the recoupling RF power level is presented, taking into consideration the spinning speed, the range of resonance offsets and H(1) inhomogeneities and the available RF field strength. This involves the tailoring of the frequency and amplitude modulation profiles of the inversion pulses. The applicability of tanh/tan pulse based dipolar recoupling schemes to spinning speed regimes where the performance with conventional rectangular pulses may not be satisfactory is demonstrated.


Working to establish 'normality' post-transplant: a qualitative study of kidney transplant patients.
To explore patients' perceptions and experiences of 'normality' and the influences on this at three time points post-transplant. In-depth interviews with 25 patients at three months, one year and more than three years following kidney transplant. Patients' accounts were compared with Sanderson et al.'s typology of types of normality. Post-transplant, patients worked hard to re-establish normality, albeit in a 'reset' form. This normality was a very personal construct, shaped by a wide range of factors including age, gender and personal circumstances. Some patients encountered significant challenges in regaining normality, both at three months for those experiencing acute and distressing side effects, and later relating to the long-term side effects of transplant medication and co-morbidities. However, the most dramatic threat to normality (disrupted normality) came from episodes of rejection and transplant failure. The main types of normality achieved vary for different conditions. Moreover, despite improvements in health post-transplant and opportunities to build a new, reset normality, the participants recognised the need to pay careful attention to the spectre of future ill health and transplant failure. Transplant failure was therefore a source of disruption that was central to their illness narratives and perceived as an ever present risk.


From the molecular biology of prolactin and its receptor to the lessons learned from knockout mice models.
Prolactin (PRL), a polypeptide hormone secreted mainly by the pituitary and, to a lesser extent, by peripheral tissues, affects more physiological processes than all other pituitary hormones combined since it is involved in > 300 separate functions in vertebrates. Its main actions are related to lactation and reproduction. The initial step of PRL action is the binding to a specific membrane receptor, the PRLR, which belongs to the class 1 cytokine receptor superfamily. PRL-binding sites have been identified in a number of tissues and cell types in adult animals. Signal transduction by this receptor is mediated, at least in part, by two families of signaling molecules: Janus tyrosine kinases and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). Disruption of the PRLR gene has provided a new mouse model with which to identify actions directly associated with PRL or any other PRLR ligands, such as placental lactogens. To date, several different phenotypes have been analyzed and are briefly described in this review. Coupled with the SAGE technique, this PRLR knockout model is being used to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the expression pattern of hepatic genes in two physiological situations: transcriptomes corresponding to livers from both wild type and PRLR KO mice are being compared, and following statistical analyses, candidate genes presenting a differential profile will be further characterized. Such a new approach will undoubtedly open future avenues of research for PRL targets. To date, no pathology linked to any mutation in the genes encoding PRL or its receptor have been identified. The development of genetic models provides new opportunities to understand how PRL can participate to the development of pathologies throughout life, as for example the initiation and progression of breast cancer.


Changes in the EPR signal of dinitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii during the lag period before hydrogen evolution begins.
During the lag period before H2 is evolved by the nitrogenase system, the EPR signal of dinitrogenase decreases steadily, indicating transfer of electrons into dinitrogenase. The rate constant for the decrease in amplitude of the EPR signal, the steady state rate of H2 evolution from nitrogenase, and the length of the lag period have been measured. The data suggest that H2 is evolved only after dinitrogenase has been reduced by 2 electrons/molybdenum. The electrons that have been transfered into dinitrogenase during the lag period are not evolved as H2 upon denaturation of dinitrogenase. The existence of a lag indicates that the two nitrogenase proteins dissociate after every electron transfer. The lag occurs and the nitrogenase proteins dissociate under a variety of conditions of pH and temperature.


Pericardial tamponade and its effect on cardiac performance in absence of the pulmonic valve.
A controlled study was undertaken to quantitate and compare the amount of accumulated pericardial fluid causing acute pericardial tamponade in animals with or without an intact pulmonary valve. In 13 mongrel dogs, acute pericardial tamponade was induced by gradual loading of the pericardial cavity with fluid (mean 21.3 cc/m2). In 10 dogs (Group A) the pulmonic valve was completely excised under caval occlusion and the pericardium resealed. In Group B, the control group (n = 3), caval occlusion was performed for the same period of time but the pulmonary valve was left intact. Reloading of the pericardium with fluid in both groups revealed that whereas in the Control Group B a similar volume of fluid was required (mean 213 cc/m2) to cause critical tamponade, in Group A a much smaller volume (mean 132 cc/m2) (40% decrease) now produced tamponade (p less than 0.001). The results of the study may have important practical implications in patients having cardiac operations in which the pulmonary valve is left incompetent, such as after complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot.


Perioperative Risk Factors for Radial Forearm-Free Flap Complications.
To determine perioperative risk factors predicted complications in elderly Chinese patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial reconstruction with radial forearm free flaps (RFFF). The authors implemented a retrospective study and enrolled a sample of patients at least 65-year old who underwent resection of oral and maxillofacial tumors and RFFF reconstruction from January 2011 to June 2018. Predictor variables were divided into: demographic variables (gender, age, weight, comorbidities, history of smoking, radiotherapy history, primary lesions); hemodynamic (preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and albumin level, blood loss, blood transfusion, urine output (mL), and rate (mL/kg/h), and infusion rates for crystalloids and colloids (mL/kg/h, and volumes given intraoperatively and postoperatively for 24 hours); anesthetic and surgical (American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, visual analogue score, duration of tourniquet, and operation). The primary outcome was the presence of postoperative complications (yes/no), and secondary outcome was types of complications (medical and surgical). All the variables were analyzed by univariate and multivariable analysis and statistical significance was set at a P < 0.05 RESULTS:: The study sample was composed of 118 patients with a mean age of 72 years. There were 15 complications, of which 9 were surgical and 6 medical. Risk factors were: postoperative hypoproteinemia, crystal in 24 hours, and hypertension combined with diabetes. Although reconstruction with a RFFF is a common and safe treatment for elderly patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors, postoperative hypoproteinemia, crystal in 24 hours, and hypertension combined with diabetes are potential predictors of postoperative complications.


Synthesis and characterization of N,N'-carbonyl difatty amides from palm oil.
N,N'-Carbonyl difatty amides (CDFAs) have been synthesized from palm oil using sodium ethoxide as catalyst. Ethyl fatty esters (EFEs) were produced as a by-product as well as glycerol. The synthesis was carried out by reflux palm oil and urea in presence of ethanol. In this process, palm oil gave 79% pure CDFAs after 8 hours and molar ratio of urea to palm oil was 6.2: 1 at 78 degrees C. Both CDFAs and EFEs have been characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique.


Intraoperative Doppler color flow mapping for assessment of valve repair for mitral regurgitation.
The ability of color Doppler flow mapping to provide intraoperative information about mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and to evaluate adequacy of mitral valve repair was assessed by performing color Doppler echocardiography immediately before and after cardiopulmonary bypass, with the transducer placed directly on the epicardium. In 56 patients, the degree of MR by intraoperative color Doppler correlated well with left ventricular angiography (kappa = 0.80) and with closed-chest preoperative color Doppler (kappa = 0.84) and had good interobserver reproducibility (kappa = 0.88). Good correlation was also seen between closed-chest color Doppler and angiography (kappa = 0.75). After mitral valve repair in 18 patients (15 ischemic MR, 3 cleft valves), color Doppler was used to assess severity of residual MR intraoperatively and postoperatively. Intraoperative color Doppler identified satisfactory repair (MR less than or equal to 2+) in 15 patients and failure (MR greater than or equal to 3+) in 3, whereas conventional surgical assessment of MR by fluid filling of the arrested ventricle failed to provide reliable differentiation. MR severity on subsequent closed-chest color Doppler follow-up did not change significantly compared with intraoperative evaluation after repair. Intraoperative color Doppler provides accurate grading of MR severity, offers instantaneous evaluation of the adequacy of mitral valve repair before chest closure, and appears to predict the degree of postoperative MR seen on subsequent closed-chest follow-up studies.


Identification, and susceptibility to seven antimicrobial agents, of 61 gram-negative anaerobic rods from periodontal pockets.
Sixty-one cultures of Gram-negative anaerobic rods were isolated from deep periodontal pockets of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis. Isolates were speciated as Bacteroides gingivalis (18 isolates), Bacteroides intermedius (8), Bacteroides oris (1), Bacteroides gracilis (17) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (17). Their susceptibilities, to seven antimicrobial agents, were determined in vitro using a plate dilution technique. Amoxycillin and amoxycillin with clavulanic acid were active against all isolates (MIC less than 1 mg/l) and proved the most effective agents tested. F. nucleatum and B. gracilis showed resistance to erythromycin; F. nucleatum had MIC values ranging from 0.03 mg/l up to 128 mg/l when tested with this, least effective agent. Metronidazole was effective against all isolates except for a few strains of B. gracilis (MIC less than 4 mg/l). Tetracycline hydrochloride and minocycline were active against all isolates except for a few strains of B. gracilis (MIC less than 2 mg/l with both minocycline and tetracycline hydrochloride). Penicillin proved less effective than amoxycillin with regard to inhibition of B. gracilis.


Cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose as a carrier for dissolution rate improvement of drugs.
The dissolution rate is often the limiting step in gastrointestinal absorption of water insoluble drugs from solid oral dosage forms. The aim of this work was to use a swellable polymer chosen among superdisintegrants, for improving the dissolution rate of a sparingly soluble drug, loaded on its surface. Nifedipine, which has a very low water solubility, was chosen as a model drug, while cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Ac-Di-Sol) was chosen as the swellable polymer. The Nifedipine/Ac-Di-Sol systems were prepared using two different techniques: evaporation and spraying; in some preparations polyethylene glycol (PEG 1500), or sucrose palmitate (Sucrodet), or dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT) were added. The results of the dissolution tests showed that the dissolution rate of Nifedipine from the systems prepared increases, particularly in the case of the preparation composed of Ac-Di-Sol plus surfactant agents.


P. falciparum malaria recrudescence in a cancer patient.
Persons living for long periods of time in malaria hyper-endemic areas may suffer from hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly (HMS), a frequent cause of splenomegaly in such areas. Splenomegaly and sub-microscopic P. falciparum parasitaemia are hallmarks of HMS. Spleen has been suggested to play a protective antimalarial role and splenectomy may trigger symptomatic malaria attacks. Other causes of immune suppression may possibly reactivate latent malaria parasites. We report the case of an Italian 60-year-old male, who had spent 33 years in sub-Saharan Africa, who experienced a P. falciparum malaria attack 12 months after his return to Italy, concomitantly with a diagnosis of lung carcinoma possibly impairing his immune system.


Sonic spray ionization technology: performance study and application to a LC/MS analysis on a monolithic silica column for heroin impurity profiling.
Sonic spray (SS) ionization is a relatively novel atmospheric pressure ionization technique for LC/MS, based on the principle of "spray ionization", which only recently became commercially available. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of this ion source as an interface for LC/MS in comparison with the more traditional and better studied pneumatically assisted electrospray or ion spray (IS). The effect of organic modifiers, volatile acids, and buffer systems in the LC eluent on the ionization efficiency of both interfaces is described and some possible explanations for the observed phenomena are highlighted. We could conclude that the presence of organic solvents gradually increased the ionization efficiency for IS and SS, while volatile acids or buffers gave a significant signal suppression. Furthermore, we present the application of the sonic spray interface to a fast LC/MS analysis, for the simultaneous determination of the seven prime opium alkaloids in heroin impurity profiling. Chromatographic separation is performed in 5 min on a monolithic silica column (Chromolith Performance) with a gradient elution system and an optimized flow of 5 mL/min. By means of a postcolumn split of approximately 1/20, a coupling between the fast LC system and the mass spectrometer is made. The method is validated and successfully applied to the analysis of real-time seized heroin street samples.


Characterization of human brain cDNA encoding the general isoform of beta-spectrin.
The complete primary structure of the general form of human beta-spectrin (beta G) has been deduced from cDNAs isolated from human brain. beta G-Spectrin is encoded by a gene located on human chromosome 2. beta G-Spectrin and erythrocyte beta-spectrin (beta R) share identical domain organization, with sequence identity of 60% and sequence similarity of 77%. beta-Spectrins have closely related N-terminal domains implicated in binding to actin, and 17 copies of a 106-residue repeat motif with consensus residues that are highly conserved between beta-spectrins as well as alpha-spectrins. C-terminal domains of beta G and the 270-kDa beta R-spectrins are candidate regions to associate with alpha-spectrin, and exhibit 75% similarity. beta G- and beta R-spectrins exhibit different patterns of expression in tissues and follow different developmental programs in those tissues where they are co-expressed. beta G-Spectrin is present in all tissues examined except for erythrocytes, while beta R-spectrin could be detected only in erythrocytes, brain, and heart. beta G- and beta R-Spectrins are both expressed in brain, but beta R appeared later in post-natal development and was highly enriched in cerebellum in contrast to the broad regional distribution of beta G-spectrin. beta-Spectrins are likely to perform related but distinct functions, with beta G in a general, constitutive role and beta R-spectrin involved in more specialized activities of differentiated cells.


Catastrophic long-term care expenditure: associated socio-demographic and economic factors.
An increasing number of persons across the world require long-term care (LTC). In Spain, access to LTC involves individuals incurring out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure. There is a large body of literature on the incidence of catastrophic OOP payments in access and participation in health systems, but not in the field of LTC nor the determinants of these expenses. Our aim was to analyse the socio-demographic and economic factors associated with different levels of catastrophic LTC expenditure in the form of private out-of-pocket payments among dependent persons in Spain. The study used the Spanish Disability and Dependency Survey (SDDS) conducted by the Spanish National Statistics Institute to obtain the socioeconomic, demographic and health profiles. The households were classified into those below the poverty threshold and those above the threshold of catastrophe, using measures of impoverishment and catastrophe. We estimated two logistic regression models, one binary (impoverishment) and one ordinal (catastrophe). The results show that OOP expenditure on LTC increases the probability of impoverishment by 18.90%. The factors associated with higher probability of experiencing catastrophe were age, being single, widowed or separated, lower levels of household income and education, higher level of dependence and living in an autonomous community with lower per capita income. These findings highlight the need to include exemptions or insurance in the design of LTC policies to protect dependent persons from the risk of financial burden.


How do therapists ally with adolescents in family therapy? An examination of relational control communication in early sessions.
Sequential analyses examined associations between the working alliance and therapist-adolescent communication patterns in 10 Spanish cases of brief conjoint family therapy. Early sessions with strong versus problematic alliances, rated by observers, were selected for coding of relational control communication patterns. No differences were found in the frequency of exchanges, but competitive responding by the therapists (reflecting an interpersonal struggle for control) was significantly more likely in problematic alliance sessions than in strong alliance sessions. Cases in which the adolescent's alliance with the therapist remained positive from Session 1 as compared with Session 3 showed a decrease in the likelihood of competitive symmetry. Notably, when the quality of the alliance deteriorated over time, the therapists were increasingly more likely to respond to the adolescents' domineering messages in a competitive manner. Results underscore the need to avoid competitive responding in order to ally with adolescents in conjoint family treatment.


Forming positive-negative images using conditioned partial measurements from reference arm in ghost imaging.
A recent thermal ghost imaging experiment implemented in Wu's group [Chin. Phys. Lett. 279, 074216 (2012)] showed that both positive and negative images can be constructed by applying a novel algorithm. This algorithm allows us to form the images with the use of partial measurements from the reference arm (even which never passes through the object), conditioned on the object arm. In this paper, we present a simple theory that explains the experimental observation and provides an in-depth understanding of conventional ghost imaging. In particular, we theoretically show that the visibility of formed images through such an algorithm is not bounded by the standard value 1/3. In fact, it can ideally grow up to unity (with reduced imaging quality). Thus, the algorithm described here not only offers an alternative way to decode spatial correlation of thermal light, but also mimics a "bandpass filter" to remove the constant background such that the visibility or imaging contrast is improved. We further show that conditioned on one still object present in the test arm, it is possible to construct the object's image by sampling the available reference data.


Differential MRI patterns of brain atrophy in double or single transgenic mice for APP and/or SOD.
Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a noninvasive diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative diseases. MRI was performed on mice to investigate a relationship between brain atrophy and overexpression of two genes involved in such diseases, SOD1 (superoxide dismutase) and APP (amyloid precursor protein), which have been associated with pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease or Down syndrome. Additionaly, we investigated how life span and growth rate were affected by genetic background. T2-weighted MRI made possible the measurement of the volume of brain regions of interest in living transgenic mice that overexpress normal APP, SOD1, or both. The most pronounced alterations in gray matter volume were observed in 1-year-old double APP/SOD1 transgenic mice. Hippocampus, entorhinal, and cingulate cortex volumes were decreased by 8% to 25%. In contrast, mice homozygous for SOD1 exhibited atrophy specifically in cortex regions (cingulate, retrosplenial, and temporoparietal cortex), but no significant modification was found in the hippocampus region. None of these alterations was seen in single APP transgenics. However, the life span of these mice was significantly shortened. SOD1 overexpression prevented APP toxicity with regard to premature death, especially in double APP/SOD1 transgenic animals homozygous for SOD1, and increase in life span was significantly correlated to SOD1 activity. In conclusion, overexpression of both APP and SOD1, in contrast to single APP transgenics, produced a robust effect on brain anatomy but did not impair growth or life span. Consequences of genotype alterations on brain atrophy may be dissociated from their effect on life span.


Acute interstitial nephritis during treatment with penicillin and cephalothin.
A case of non-oliguric acute interstitial nephritis during treatment with ampicillin, benzylpenicillin and cephalothin is reported. There were symptoms of drug hypersensitivity, including fever, exanthema, eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE. Renal biopsy showed marked interstitial edema and infiltration with numerous eosinophils, some mononuclear cells and giant cells, and scattered tubular damage, but normal glomeruli and vessels. There was no pathological deposition of immunoglobulins or complement in the renal tissue. Renal function recovered after withdrawal of antibiotics and treatment with steroids. The findings suggest a drug-induced, hypersensitivity-mediated pathogenesis of the renal lesions, with participation of both humoral and cell-mediated immunological reactions.


Infants perceive human point-light displays as solid forms.
While five-month-old infants show orientation-specific sensitivity to changes in the motion and occlusion patterns of human point-light displays, it is not known whether infants are capable of binding a human representation to these displays. Furthermore, it has been suggested that infants do not encode the same physical properties for humans and material objects. To explore these issues we tested whether infants would selectively apply the principle of solidity to upright human displays. In the first experiment infants aged six and nine months were repeatedly shown a human point-light display walking across a computer screen up to 10 times or until habituated. Next, they were repeatedly shown the walking display passing behind an in-depth representation of a table, and finally they were shown the human display appearing to pass through the table top in violation of the solidity of the hidden human form. Both six- and nine-month-old infants showed significantly greater recovery of attention to this final phase. This suggests that infants are able to bind a solid vertical form to human motion. In two further control experiments we presented displays that contained similar patterns of motion but were not perceived by adults as human. Six- and nine-month-old infants did not show recovery of attention when a scrambled display or an inverted human display passed through the table. Thus, the binding of a solid human form to a display in only seems to occur for upright human motion. The paper considers the implications of these findings in relation to theories of infants' developing conceptions of objects, humans and animals.


Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism in epithelial ovarian cancer.
The development of malignant tumors is constituted by different immunological components. Interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (RA) is known to be critically involved in the carcinogenesis of different malignant solid tumors. Polymorphism of a specific gene can have an important effect on gene transcription, the stability of the mRNA, or the quantity and activity of the resulting protein. In a case-control study, we investigated the polymorphism of the IL-1RA gene in 162 women with histologically proven ovarian cancer and 121 patients with benign gynecological diseases. Overall, 25.9% of the patients were diagnosed in International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) stage I or II, and 74.1% of the patients were diagnosed in FIGO stage III or IV (study group). The distribution of genotype frequencies was significantly different between study and control group with respect to allele 1/2 heterozygotes (32.1% versus 14.9%; P < 0.001). Furthermore, patients who were heterozygous at allele 2 for IL-1 RA (IL-RA 1/2) had a significantly higher risk for ovarian cancer with an odds ratio of 2.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.9). There were no differences between IL-1 RA 1/2 polymorphism and other alleles in clinical parameters (e.g., tumor stage, histological type, and recurrence status). Allele 2 polymorphism of the IL1-RA gene seems to be one of the critical points in the molecular pathway of different malignant diseases. This allele seems to play an additional role in the occurrence of ovarian cancer and should be further investigated for screening and risk evaluation.


Topical betamethasone 17-valerate is an anticorticosteroid in the rat. 2. Anti-inflammatory and anti-lymphocyte activities.
In the oxazolone-induced delayed hypersensitivity inflammation in the rat ear, betamethasone 17-valerate, in contrast to other topical corticosteroids, is incapable of suppressing oedema. When given in combination with triamcinolone acetonide, betamethasone 17-valerate competitively antagonizes the anti-inflammatory action of the active steroid. When tested in the mouse, betamethasone 17-valerate behaved as an anti-inflammatory agent 15 and 80 times as potent as betamethasone and hydrocortisone respectively. In an in vivo lymphocyte culture system in which preincubation with corticosteroids prevents subsequent phytohaemagglutinin induced DNA synthesis, betamethasone 17-valerate was less active than even hydrocortisone when rat lymph node cells were used, but with human cell preparations it was more potent than either hydrocortisone or betamethasone. Betamethasone 17-valerate behaves uniquely in the rat as an anticorticosteroid; in mouse and in man the compound behaves as a normal corticosteroid.


Gestational stress leads to depressive-like behavioural and immunological changes in the rat.
Stress during pregnancy, gestational stress, can increase the chance of developing postpartum depression, which is estimated to occur in 10% of women. Since major depression is accompanied by an activation of the inflammatory response system, the aim of this study was to investigate if stress during pregnancy induces postpartum depressive-like behaviour, and if so, is it accompanied by activation of the inflammatory response system in female Fisher rats. We investigated the effect of gestational stress on the production of depressive-like behaviour in the rats. The pregnant dams underwent daily restraint stress (for 1 week, 3 times/day) or were left undisturbed (control). On postpartum day 22, the rats were introduced to the forced swim test (pre-test). On postpartum days 23 and 24 (test days), the immobility time was measured. Gestational stress significantly elevated immobility scores by 35-40% above the control values on both test days, which suggests that the stressed group displayed postpartum depressive-like behaviour. The concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 in stimulated whole-blood culture were also analysed. The stressed group showed higher levels of all three cytokines. No significant differences in the cytokine concentrations were detected in the hypothalamus, hippocampus or pre-frontal cortex.


Visual field progression in open-angle glaucoma patients presenting with monocular field loss.
Twenty-one patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were followed an average of 4.4 years after developing monocular field loss. Nine of the undamaged fellow eyes developed field loss, while 16 of the 21 eyes presenting with field loss showed progression of field changes. In 13 patients, the presenting eye had a greater progression of field loss than the fellow eye, and asymmetry of pressure control explained this in only five patients. Eleven patients with symmetric pressure control had progressive field changes in one or both eyes, and in seven, the presenting eye showed greater progression than its fellow. This suggests that an eye with field loss may be more susceptible to progression of field changes at similar pressure levels than an eye without previous damage. Furthermore, patients with unilateral field loss have a greater incidence of field loss in the undamaged fellow eye than do patients with bilateral ocular hypertension.


Curability of Ewing's sarcoma and considerations for future therapeutic trials.
Twenty previously untreated children with primary Ewing's sarcoma and 8 children with primary tumor and metastatic disease were treated with surgery or radiation therapy (6,000-7,000 rads) for their primary tumor and T-2 chemotherapy. Of the 20 children with primary Ewing's sarcoma treated with T-2 "adjuvant" chemotherapy, 15 had no evidence of recurrent disease for from 31+-82+ months (median 46+ months) from the start of treatment. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate for this group of patients was 75%. Eight patients presenting with metastatic disease had complete responses to T-2 chemotherapy, but 7/8 with metastatic disease eventually had tumor recurrence. Examination of the treatment failures, both those patients relapsing after adjuvant chemotherapy for primary Ewing's sarcoma (5), and those relapsing after having a complete response of metastatic disease (7) to T-2 chemotherapy, revealed that all relapses occurred at the end of the second year of T-2 chemotherapy or after chemotherapy was stopped. In addition, of 23 patients receiving "curative" radiation therapy to their primary tumor, 5 had local recurrence (22%) and 6 (26%) had severe functional debility secondary to combined radiation therapy and T-2 chemotherapy. The conclusions drawn from this experience have led us to consider a new approach to the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma, namely: 1) more aggressive initial or "induction" chemotherapy with subsequent T-2 "maintenance" chemotherapy to eradicate more completely all metastatic microfoci of disease presumed to be present in patients with primary tumor at the time of diagnosis, and ostensively present in patients with metastatic disease; 2) the use of surgery alone or in combination with moderate doses of radiation therapy in those patients in whom we can predict a high frequency of local recurrence (pelvic lesions) or a high percentage of "functional failures" (young children with lower extremity lesions). Preliminary results with this latter approach are encouraging with 11/13 patients with primary Ewing's sarcoma free of disease at 12+-26+ months. A longer follow-up of this more aggressive treatment is needed to determine the superiority of this approach for both increased survival and improved late physical rehabilitation.


Goussia carpelli (Apicomplexa, Eimeriorina) from cyprinid fish: field observations and infection experiments.
Intestinal tissue samples of 9 cyprinid and gobiid fish species from several hatcheries and ponds in South Bohemia were found to harbour Goussia carpelli-like coccidian oocysts. Furthermore, laboratory transmission of Goussia carpelli, obtained from common carp, was attempted to 9 cyprinid fish species, both laboratory reared and obtained from pond environments. Infection experiments, carried out by fecal contamination (direct transmission) and by using tubificid oligochaetes as paratenic hosts resulted in weak infections in 4 out of 15 Carassius auratus used, but it was not possible to infect any of the other fishes used.


Functional analysis of the chitin-binding domain of a family 19 chitinase from Streptomyces griseus HUT6037: substrate-binding affinity and cis-dominant increase of antifungal function.
Chitinase C (ChiC) is the first bacterial family 19 chitinase discovered in Streptomyces griseus HUT6037. While it shares significant similarity with the plant family 19 chitinases in the catalytic domain, its N-terminal chitin-binding domain (ChBD(ChiC)) differs from those of the plant enzymes. ChBD(ChiC) and the catalytic domain (CatD(ChiC)), as well as intact ChiC, were separately produced in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. Binding experiments and isothermal titration calorimetry assays demonstrated that ChBD(ChiC) binds to insoluble chitin, soluble chitin, cellulose, and N-acetylchitohexaose (roughly in that order). A deletion of ChBD(ChiC) resulted in moderate (about 50%) reduction of the hydrolyzing activity toward insoluble chitin substrates, but most (about 90%) of the antifungal activity against Trichoderma reesei was abolished by this deletion. Thus, this domain appears to contribute more importantly to antifungal properties than to catalytic activities. ChBD(ChiC) itself did not have antifungal activity or a synergistic effect on the antifungal activity of CatD(ChiC) in trans.


Er,Cr:YSGG laser labial frenectomy: a clinical retrospective evaluation of 156 consecutive cases.
The labial frenum may impede oral hygiene and result in diastema between anterior teeth and traction of the attached gingiva. Surgical removal of the frenum during puberty has been recommended for these patients. This article clinically evaluates the efficacy of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser in removing the labial frenum in an adolescent and pre-pubescent population. Using an Er,Cr:YSGG laser at a power setting of 1.5 W or less and 20 to 30 pulses per second, a total of 156 frenectomies were performed on 143 children. Patients returned for recall visits at 3, 7, 21, and 30 days and at one, two, and three years. Surgical areas were checked for adverse events, recurrency of frenum, and functional complications. Patient acceptance was also evaluated by using the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale. Thirteen recurrences were reported in the adolescent population at 21 or 30 days, all of which required re-intervention; however, only two cases displayed recurrence of the frenum. None of the three pre-pubescent cases required additional intervention, maintaining acceptable clinical results after three years. Patient acceptance was very high, and no postoperative adverse events were reported.


Effects of the new class III antiarrhythmic drug E-4031 on myocardial contractility and electrophysiological parameters.
The effects of the new class III antiarrhythmic agent E-4031 were investigated in different guinea pig cardiac preparations. In left atria, E-4031 (10(-8)-10(-5) M) prolonged the functional refractory period up to 45% and reduced the frequency of spontaneously beating right atria by 32%. In papillary muscles, E-4031 (3 x 10(-8)-3 x 10(-7) M) reversibly prolonged the action potential duration (APD70) of fast and slow APs by 68 and 51%, respectively. Vmax, resting potential, and AP amplitude (APA) were not altered. In isolated ventricular myocytes, E-4031 reversibly prolonged the APD90 from 275 ms (control) to 1,496 ms (10(-6) M), pD2 value 6.5. The current changes that underlie the AP-prolonging effect were also studied in ventricular myocytes: in concentrations up to 10(-5) M), E-4031 did not affect the Na+ or Ca2+ inward current but reduced the delayed rectifier (IK) tail current by 76% (10(-7) M). Contractility was enhanced by E-4031 in isolated atria by 20% (3 x 10(-7) M) and increased cell shortening in ventricular myocytes. Thus, the class III antiarrhythmic action of E-4031 is due to a selective reduction of outward currents.


Crystalline transformers: more within than meets the eye.
Studies of phase transitions in molecular crystals are becoming more commonplace as improvements in instrumentation and technique enable more efficient exploration of the behavior of samples with varying external conditions, usually temperature. This scientific commentary provides contextual background on this type of study, with reference to an article on transformations in a ferrocenyl-acetylide-gold(I) complex [Makal (2018). Acta Cryst. B74, 427-435].


Definition of intervention points in prediabetes.
With respect to clinical phenotype and pathophysiology, prediabetes is akin to diabetes. Prediabetes is prevalent in the global population, and those affected are at high risk of progression to overt diabetes, and also at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Progression to diabetes can occur because of worsening insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, or both, but the timecourse can be non-linear and, therefore, unpredictable. Intervention-by lifestyle modification, glucose-lowering drugs, or a combination-can postpone deterioration of glucose control, but effects of intervention are variable and can be transient. Furthermore, to what extent interventions can reduce cardiovascular risk is uncertain. Lifestyle intervention mainly hinges on weight loss; as such, risk of failure in the long-term is high, and implementation at the community level is difficult. The ideal candidate for intervention is an individual with prediabetes-identified by targeted screening-with many well documented cardiovascular risk factors, and who is highly motivated to initiate and maintain multifactorial risk-control using a personalised mix of lifestyle-adaptation and pharmacological treatment.


Single LDL apheresis improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in hypercholesterolemic humans.
Although long-term lipid-lowering therapy improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in humans, it remains unknown whether the short-term removal of LDL per se ameliorates endothelial dysfunction. To examine the effects of a single session of LDL apheresis on endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia, we measured forearm blood flow (FBF) by strain-gauge plethysmography before and after single LDL apheresis while infusing acetylcholine (ACh; 4 to 24 micrograms/min) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 0.2 to 1.2 micrograms/min). The single session of LDL apheresis reduced total LDL (from 142.2 +/- 15.0 to 32.6 +/- 5.0 mg/mL, P < .0005) and oxidized LDL (from 111.6 +/- 22.8 to 30.0 +/- 5.4 ng/mL, P < .005). Although ACh and SNP increased FBF dose-dependently before and after LDL apheresis, the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation responses to ACh were significantly augmented (P < .01) after the single session of LDL apheresis without changes in the endothelium-independent vasodilatation responses to SNP. The plasma levels of total and oxidized LDL correlated with the degree of ACh-induced vasodilatation. Furthermore, the local production of nitrate/nitrite, metabolites of NO, during ACh infusion was significantly (P < .05) augmented by LDL apheresis, and there was a significant correlation between the degree of ACh-induced vasodilatation and the production in nitrate/nitrite (r = .99, P < .0005). We demonstrated that even a single session of LDL apheresis with the reduction of total LDL and oxidized LDL improved endothelial function. Our results suggest that total LDL and/or oxidized LDL may directly impair endothelial function in the human forearm vessel.


Second-site suppressor mutations for the Arg70 substitution mutants of the Tn10-encoded metal-tetracycline/H+ antiporter of Escherichia coli.
The positive charge of the Arg70 residue in the cytoplasmic loop of the Tn10-encoded metal-tetracycline/H+ antiporter (Tet(B)) of Escherichia coli is essential for the tetracycline transport function (Y. Someya and A. Yamaguchi, Biochemistry 35, 9385-9391 (1996)). In this study, we found that the R70A mutation was suppressed by the second-site mutation of Thr171 to Ser. The T171S mutation suppressed any mutations at position 70 regardless of the amino acid residue introduced. The R70A and R70C mutations were also suppressed by the T171A or T171C mutations, but not by the T171Y mutation, indicating that the decrease in the side chain volume at position 171 is essential for the suppression. Tetracycline transport activity of the R70C mutant was stimulated by Hg2+ because mercaptide formed between the SH group of Cys70 and Hg2+ worked as a functional positively-charged side chain. The activity of the R70A/R71C/T171S mutant was also stimulated by Hg2+, whereas those of the R70A/R71C, R71C, and R71C/T171S mutants were not, indicating that the T171S mutation causes the switching of the functional positive charge at position 70 to 71. Since Thr171 is in the middle of the transmembrane helix VI, the switching may be based on a remote conformational effect.


How to measure the QT interval--what is normal?
The QT interval extends from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave. Since the report of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen in 1957, it has been difficult to determine whether to measure a QT or a QU interval. U waves are more prominent in the left chest leads and less prominent in lead II, with the end of the T wave in lead II corresponding to the end of significant repolarization in any other lead. Therefore, by convention, lead II has been chosen to measure the QT interval. Numerous attempts at correction have been made, but Bazett's correction (QT/square root of RR) remains the current standard. In stable sinus rhythm, a QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) of > 0.44 sec is considered abnormal. In this study, in the presence of sinus arrhythmia, the QT interval following the shortest RR interval was > 0.46 sec in 98.4% of patients with the congenital long QT syndrome, but in only 3.8% of control subjects (p < 0.0001). Likewise, in the presence of sinus arrhythmia, the uncorrected QT interval varied by > 0.03 seconds in a 10-sec rhythm strip of lead II in 33% of long QT syndrome patients but in 0% of controls (p < 0.01). The QT interval varied depending on autonomic tone and state of wakefulness, being approximately 19 msec longer in sleeping patients with a heart rate of 60 beats/min than in awake patients with the same heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Immunostimulatory properties of a novel adjuvant administered with inactivated influenza virus vaccine.
The immunopotentiating activity of a new delivery system was investigated comparatively to Alhydrogel adjuvant, as an antiviral inactivated vaccine after one injection. The efficiency of the new formulation (BioMed) was evaluated with an inactivated porcine strain of influenza (A/Sw/IN/1726/88 H1N1) in the pig model. The first assessment criteria was the follow-up of selected immunological parameters such as, antibody levels, lymphoproliferation, double positive CD4+CD8+ T lymphocytes and cytokine production (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma). The second criteria was the estimate of the protection level of animals exposed to a homologous challenge of 50 PID50 one month after a single immunizing or control injection. In the BioMed group of animals, 4 pigs (out of 6) were free of macroscopic lesion, while lesions could be seen in all individuals of other groups and virus was isolated in only one animal, whereas all other animals of other groups had virus in their lungs. This better protection of BioMed animals seems to be correlated mainly with higher levels of antibodies and to a lesser extent with a slightly better CMI response and probably with the production of memory CD4+CD8+ T cells.


Interaction of gas phase oxalic acid with ammonia and its atmospheric implications.
Oxalic acid is believed to play an important role in the formation and growth of atmospheric organic aerosols. However, as a common organic acid, the understanding of the larger clusters formed by gas phase oxalic acid with multiple ammonia molecules is incomplete. In this work, the structural characteristics and thermodynamics of oxalic acid clusters with up to six ammonia molecules have been investigated at the PW91PW91/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory. We found that oxalic acid forms relatively stable clusters with ammonia molecules, and that ionization events play a key role. The analyses of the thermodynamics and atmospheric relevance indicate that the heterodimer (H2C2O4)(NH3) shows an obvious relative concentration in the atmosphere, and thus likely participates in new particle formation. However, with increasing number of ammonia molecules, the concentration of clusters decreases gradually. Additionally, clusters of oxalic acid with ammonia molecules are predicted to form favorably in low temperature conditions and show high Rayleigh scattering intensities.


Application of ultrasonic as a novel technology for removal of inorganic scales (KCl) in hydrocarbon reservoirs: An experimental approach.
Inorganic scales are one of the most important causes of formation damage, which causes pressure drops near wellbores; these in turn impair permeability and severely reduce production in oil and gas reservoirs. This paper examines the effectiveness of ultrasonic waves in removing potassium chloride (KCl) scales. Twenty core samples with different permeabilities were exposed to KCl precipitation. After measuring the permeabilities of the saturated core samples, the samples were first subjected to water injection, and then to water injection with ultrasonic wave radiation. At each stage, sample permeabilities were measured and recorded. The results showed that water injection with two pore volumes did not significantly improve permeability, especially in low-permeability core samples. Ultrasonic wave radiation with water could efficiently improve permeability; this result is more obvious for samples with lower permeabilities. SEM images taken from thin sections of the core samples under water injection and water with ultrasonic waves showed that ultrasonic waves distorted the crystal lattice of the KCl scales, causing cracking and delamination. Creation of wormholes in KCl deposits within fractures also resulted from the application of ultrasonic waves. Analysis of chlorine in the output water from core samples in the core-flooding process showed that ultrasonic waves increased the solubility of scales in water, improving the recovery of permeability in the samples. Results of this study show that using ultrasonic waves can be considered a novel and practical method in the removal of inorganic scales in the near-wellbore region of oil and gas reservoirs.


[Changes in proportion of decidua and peripheral blood CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients].
To study the changes in the percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T (Tr) cells in peripheral blood and deciduas in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) patients, normal non-pregnant and pregnant women respectively. The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells in deciduas and peripheral blood from 25 URSA patients, 22 normal non-pregnant (NNP) women, and 34 normal early pregnant (NP) women were measured by double-staining followed by flow cytometric analysis. (1) The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright) T cells in peripheral blood in both URSA and NP [(1.55 +/- 0.77)%, (2.65 +/- 1.10)%, respectively] women were increased significantly than that in NNP women [(0.39 +/- 0.14)%, P < 0.05]. The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright) T cells in peripheral blood in URSA women was significantly lower than that in NP women (P < 0.05). (2) The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright) T cells in decidua in URSA women was significantly lower than that in NP women [(0.59 +/- 0.23)%, (1.24 +/- 0.55)%, respectively, P < 0.01]. There was no significant difference in the percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(dim) T cells in decidua between URSA women and NP women [(4.23 +/- 1.52)%, (3.75 +/- 1.88)%, respectively, P > 0.05]. (3) The proportion of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright)/CD(4)(+) cells in deciduas was significantly higher than that in peripheral blood in NP women [(13.10 +/- 10.25)%, (5.59 +/- 2.62)%, respectively, P < 0.05]. However, a significant difference in the proportion of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright)/CD(4)(+) between decidua and peripheral blood was not found in URSA patients [(5.16 +/- 2.83)%, (4.64 +/- 2.07)%, respectively, P > 0.05)]. The number of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells is increased in normal pregnancy and decreased in URSA. Therefore, CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells may play an important role in maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance and may be involved in the pathogenesis of URSA.


Use of energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy for routine ultrastructural analysis of high-pressure-frozen or chemically fixed plant cells.
In the present study energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy by use of an in-column spectrometer is employed as a powerful tool for ultrastructural analysis of plant cells. Images of unstained very thin (50 nm) and thick (140 nm) sections of the unicellular green alga Micrasterias denticulata, as a model system for a growing plant cell, taken by conventional transmission electron microscopy are compared to those obtained from filtering at zero energy loss (elastic bright field) and to those generated by energy filtering below the carbon-specific absorption edge at about 250 eV. The results show that the high-contrast images produced by the latter technique are distinctly superior in contrast and information content to micrographs taken at conventional transmission electron microscopy mode or at elastic bright field. Post- or en bloc staining with heavy metals, which is indispensable for conventional bright-field transmission electron microscopy, can be completely omitted. Delicate structural details such as membranous or filamentous connections between organelles, organelle interactions, or vesicle and vacuole contents are clearly outlined against the cytoplasmic background. Also, immunoelectron microscopic localization of macromolecules benefits from energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy by a better and more accurate assignment of antigens and structures and by facilitating the detection of immunomarkers without renunciation of contrast.


Purification and characterization of the immunostimulatory properties of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta.
In this study we have used a new method for human recombinant IL-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) purification and investigated its immunostimulatory biological activity. The IL-1 beta gene was cloned using a novel mRNA preparation from activated human blood monocytes. The purification protocol consists of extraction and two chromatographic steps using the new Soloza cation exchange resin. The purified protein was characterized electrophoretically, by amino acid analysis and reverse phase chromatography. The protein migrated on SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 18.200 but demonstrated the minor presence of aggregates (dimers and trimers). Specific activity of purified rIL-1 beta in comitogenic assay on mouse thymocytes was 10(8) U/mg protein. rIL-1 beta increased in a dose dependent manner proliferation of Con A-stimulated murine thymocytes, splenocytes, PHA-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and transformed B-cell lines. Comitogenic activity depended on the degree of lymphocyte preactivation and was similar to that of natural human IL-1 beta. rIL-1 beta enhanced IL-2 production by murine spleen cells and EL-4 cell line and IL-2 receptor expression by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It induced PGE2 release from human blood monocytes but had no effect on human neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and respiratory burst.


Ocular findings in X-linked ichthyosis: a survey on 38 cases.
The authors report on the occurrence of ocular abnormalities in X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) patients, in their carrier mothers and in healthy volunteers who served as controls. The diagnosis of XLI was based on: (1) demonstration of steroid sulfatase deficiency in cultured skin fibroblasts; (2) lack of hybridization of patient's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with specific steroid sulfatase complementary DNA probe; (3) electrophoretic mobility of plasma lipoproteins. Cholesterol sulfate plasma levels were also determined. The incidence of corneal opacities was the same in XLI patients and in their carrier mothers (23.7 and 24.3%, respectively). Neither other corneal nor ophthalmological alterations were found. Moreover, in XLI patients the plasma levels of cholesterol sulfate were about twenty times higher than in controls. Our findings demonstrate that ocular changes do not seem to be an absolute criterion for a definite diagnosis of XLI and the fact that the pathogenesis of corneal opacities is not due to an accumulation of cholesterol sulfate, but rather that this compound probably induces physicochemical changes of the corneal tissue properties.


Limited transfer of subliminal response priming to novel stimulus orientations and identities.
Recently, priming effects of unconscious stimuli that were never presented as targets have been taken as evidence for the processing of the stimuli's semantic categories. The present study explored the necessary conditions for a transfer of priming to novel primes. Stimuli were digits and letters which were presented in various viewer-related orientations (upright, horizontal, inverted). The transfer of priming to novel stimulus orientations and identities was remarkably limited: in Experiment 1, in which all conscious targets stood upright, no transfer to unconscious primes in a non-target orientation was found. Experiment 2, in which primes were presented without masks, ruled out the possibility that primes were presented too short to allow congruency effects. In Experiments 3 and 4, in which all targets were presented upside down, priming transferred to upright stimuli with target identities but neither to horizontal stimuli nor to stimuli with novel identities. We suggest that whether a transfer of priming to unpracticed stimuli occurs or not depends on observers' expectations of specific stimulus exemplars.


[Surgical treatment for small cell lung cancer].
Results of surgical treatment for small cell lung cancer were reviewed to confirm the role of surgery. Most of the surgical therapy was performed with post or pre-operative chemotherapy. Clinical staging of small cell lung cancer treated by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy has not been classified according to the TNM staging system, which made it difficult to compare the results of surgical treatment with non-surgical treatment in detail. Results of surgical treatment for small cell lung cancer according to the TNM staging system reported in 1990's were as follows. For stage I diseases, nearly all the patients underwent complete resection followed by standard chemotherapy. Five-year survival rates were over 50% in most of the reports. Surgical resection followed by chemotherapy is the standard therapy for stage I diseases. For stage II diseases, the greater part of patients were treated by complete resection followed by chemotherapy, which resulted in five-year survival rates of 28-35%. Nationwide statistics on surgical resection for small cell lung cancer in Japan revealed that the stage I and II diseases are actually resected, and the five-year survival rate reached 37%. Thus, surgery followed by chemotherapy for stage II diseases is becoming the standard therapy. For stage IIIA diseases, surgical resection after chemotherapy followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy has been tried investigationally. The five-year survival rates of 16-48% in these patients suggests the increasing role of surgery for these patients.


Redistribution of cerebral blood flow following STA-MCA by-pass in patients with hemispheric ischemia.
Regional cerebral blood flow and vasomotor reactivity were measured in 33 patients with surgically remediable hemispheric ischemia by the 133Xe inhalation method prior to superficial temporal to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) by-pass. Thirteen patients also underwent LCBF and L lambda measurements by the stable xenon CT method for comparison. Twenty-four had proximal occlusion of one or both internal carotid arteries, 9 had intracranial occlusive disease (4 internal carotid, 5 middle cerebral). Measurements were repeated at intervals up to 30 months following surgery and compared to measurements in a similar group (N = 13) treated medically. In the surgically treated group 22 patients had recurrent TIAs, of whom 12 also had minor residual neurological deficits from recent small cerebral infarctions with potential for recovery (RINDs) while the remaining 11 had RINDs without TIAs. After surgery 28 improved with cessation of TIAs and/or neurological recovery, 3 remained unchanged, 2 cases worsened. Compared to age-matched normal hemispheric F1 (gray matter) values, pre-operative F1 values in the STA-MCA group were reduced in both ischemic and opposite hemispheres. Ischemic regions showed imparied vasomotor reactivity to 5% CO2 or 100% O2 inhalation. After surgery, mean hemispheric F1 values increased + 12.8% on the by-pass side and + 10.5% on the contralateral side. Mean F1 increases reached a maximum 3 months after by-pass, most evident in ipsilateral frontal regions (+ 24.2%). Vasomotor reactivity did not significantly improve. Medically treated cases did not show similar F1 increases. Thirteen with carotid occlusive disease (8 with TIAs, 5 with small recent infarcts) underwent CT LCBF and L lambda measurements before and after STA-MCA by-pass. Cases with recent infarcts showed reduced LCBF and L lambda values which increased significantly after STA-MCA by-pass, however the total group operated upon showed only trends for CBF increases, probably due to large standard deviations encountered in serial measurements.


Spinal cord metastasis in a patient treated with bevacizumab for glioblastoma.
Spinal metastases from glioblastoma are extremely rare and may be misdiagnosed leading to a delay in investigation and treatment. Patient outcomes are poor with a high morbidity and mortality. Metastases are seen in the context of increasing survival due to improvements in glioblastoma therapies. We report a case of a patient developing a thoracic spinal cord metastasis while receiving anti-angiogenesis therapy with bevacizumab.


Impact of rofecoxib withdrawal on cyclooxygenase-2 utilization among patients with and without cardiovascular risk.
To compare how cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) users with and without cardiovascular (CV) risks responded to the withdrawal of rofecoxib on September 30, 2004. The data, from a pharmacy claims database, consisted of patients who filled at least one prescription for a COX-2 agent in the 6 months before September 30, 2004 (n = 32,898) or September 30, 2003 for the control cohort (n = 37,930). Baseline drug utilization was used to determine comorbidities, and CV risk status was assessed with surrogate pharmacy markers. The first difference estimator was used to compare changes in utilization after September 30, 2004 with changes in utilization in a control cohort of patients who were treated with COX-2 over a similar time frame in 2003/2004. The reduction in COX-2 utilization depended on baseline CV risk status. Among celecoxib and valdecoxib users, patients without CV risks reduced their utilization of COX-2, as measured by days of supply, by between 16.2% and 22.7%. The reduction was 32% for patients with one CV risk marker and 55.8% for patients with three or more markers, a proxy for the severity of CV risk. The corresponding figures for rofecoxib users were 47.5% (no CV risk), 55.4% (one marker) and 64.8% (three or more markers). Our results suggest that patients and physicians used newly available information about COX-2 inhibitor agents and their side effects to reduce treatment. They also provide support for the notion that patients and providers were discriminating in their response to new information as a significant proportion of patients remained on treatment after extensive publicity concerning potential risks.


Cytogenetic demonstration of a corrective factor in Bloom's syndrome.
Patients with Bloom's syndrome, an autosomal recessively inherited disorder, have a highly increased risk of developing early malignancies of various types. The chromosomes of such patients exhibit an enhanced rate of spontaneous sister chromatid exchange. Cocultivation of patients' fibroblasts (as responder cells) with fibroblasts from healthy donors or from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum or Fanconi's anaemia (as effector cells) produces a dose-dependent reduction in Bloom-specific sister chromatid exchange; however, Bloom heterozygotes exhibit a reduced corrective capacity. The reduction in Bloom-specific sister chromatid exchange is related to the presence of a soluble factor (m.w. 10 000-20 000) which is produced in culture by normal proliferating fibroblasts. This corrective factor might represent a cancer-protective principle that is defective in patients with Bloom's syndrome.


High-throughput method to study the effect of precursors and temperature, applied to the synthesis of LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) for lithium batteries.
This paper presents a new technique for the high-throughput investigation of preparation conditions of new materials. The method allows for the investigation of different starting materials as a function of the synthesis temperature. This is a novel area for high-throughput work, derived from the Post Synthesis Array Transfer (PoSAT) method. This new application of the PoSAT method was then used to investigate a number of different preparation conditions of LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) within a temperature gradient. As a result of this work, new, facile synthesis conditions (from an aqueous solution of mixed metal nitrates, dried and then calcined at 700 °C) for LiNi(1/3)Co(1/3)Mn(1/3)O(2) material were identified to provide a competitive electrochemical performance (140 mA h g(-1) stable capacity when cycled in the potential window 2 to 4.2 V at). This work has also highlighted how sensitive this material is to the powder morphology.


Clinical features of shiitake dermatitis: a systematic review.
Shiitake dermatitis is a rare cutaneous reaction to lentinan, a polysaccharide component in the cell walls of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). Herein, we systematically review the case report and case series English-language literature on shiitake dermatitis, which refers to a total of 50 patients (38 males, 12 females; mean age: 44.58 years). The majority of cases occurred after the consumption of raw mushrooms, whereas 22% of cases were caused by the eating of lightly or undercooked mushrooms. The most common clinical presentations, localized symptoms, and systemic findings include linear flagellated dermatitis (98%), pruritus (78%), and fever, diarrhea, and mucosal ulcers, respectively. The diagnosis of this entity continues to be based on clinical findings as laboratory abnormalities, and the findings of skin biopsies and patch/prick tests are nonspecific and inconsistent. The condition is self-limiting, resolving in approximately 12.5 d without treatment. Based on the included case reports, it appears that medical treatment may slightly shorten the course of disease (to 9-11 d, varying by therapy) but should be considered on an individual patient basis. However, the treatment of symptoms, reassurance, and the avoidance of re-exposure are sufficient treatment recommendations for this condition.


Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val 108/158 Met polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a case control study in Syria.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates catechol estrogens by methylation and thus may play a protective role against mutations induced by estrogen metabolites. In this study we investigated the relationship between the Vall58Met polymorphism in the COMT gene and breast cancer risk in a population-based case control study in Syria. We examined 135 breast cancer patients and 107 healthy controls in North Syria to determine the association between the functional genetic Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene and female breast cancer risk. There was no significant overall association between the COMT genotype and individual susceptibility to breast cancer. Our data suggest that there may be no overall association between the COMT genotype and breast cancer.


Somatosensory anticipatory alpha activity increases to suppress distracting input.
Effective processing of sensory input in daily life requires attentional selection and amplification of relevant input and, just as importantly, attenuation of irrelevant information. It has been proposed that top-down modulation of oscillatory alpha band activity (8-14 Hz) serves to allocate resources to various regions, depending on task demands. In previous work, we showed that contralateral somatosensory alpha activity decreases to facilitate processing of an anticipated target stimulus in a tactile discrimination task. In the current study, we asked whether somatosensory alpha activity is also modulated when expecting incoming distracting stimuli on the nonattended side. We hypothesized that an ipsilateral increase of alpha to suppress distracters would be required for optimal task performance. We recorded magneto-encephalography while subjects performed a tactile stimulus discrimination task where a cue directed attention either to their left or right hand. Distracters were presented simultaneously to the unattended hand. We found that alpha power contralateral to the attended hand decreased, whereas ipsilateral alpha power increased. In addition, posterior alpha power showed a general increase. Importantly, these three alpha components all contributed to discrimination performance. This study further extends the notion that alpha band activity is involved in shaping the functional architecture of the working brain by determining the engagement and disengagement of specific regions: Contralateral alpha decreases to facilitate stimulus detection, whereas ipsilateral alpha increases when active suppression of distracters is required. Importantly, the ipsilateral alpha increase is crucial for optimal task performance.


The nucleation and growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate on self-assembled monolayers (SAMS).
A physical chemical approach was used to study calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) nucleation and growth on various organic interfaces. Self-assembling monolayers (SAMs), containing derivatized organic functional groups, were designed to mimic various amino acid residues present in both urine and stone matrix macromolecules. Derivatized surfaces include SAMs with terminal methyl, bromo, imidazole, and thiazolidine-carboxylic acid functional groups. Pronounced differences in COM deposition were observed for the various interfaces with the imidazole and thiazolidine surfaces having the greatest effect and the methyl and bromo groups having little or no nucleating potential.


Interventional treatment of neuroendocrine liver metastases.
Neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours are rare with an incidence of 2-4/100.000 per year. More than 75% of the patients develop hepatic metastases, which reduce the five year survival from 70-80% to 30-40%. In addition to chemo- and biotherapy, interventional therapy of liver metastases should be considered in order to prolong survival and reduce endocrine and local symptoms. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment, but possible in less than 10% of the patients. Curative and palliative resection, which is possible in less than 20-25% of the patients, relieve endocrine and local symptoms in 90% of the patients for more than two years, and the five year survival is prolonged to 40-85%, although metastases recur or progress in almost all patients. Tumour ablation by radiofrequency therapy has a palliative effect on endocrine symptoms in 70-90% of the patients for up to two years, but should not be a substitute for surgical treatment. When metastases are not eligible for surgical treatment or ablation, embolization or chemoembolization are alternative options with a reduction in tumour burden in about 50% and a five year survival of around 60% ofthe patients. The symptomatic response rate is 90% with a mean duration of two years. Liver transplantation should be restricted to very few and highly selected patients without extrahepatic disease. Recurrence is inevitable in nearly all patients.


Magnetic transcutaneous fixation: an experimental study in pigs.
Magnetic subdermal implants have never been studied in the context of magnetic fixation of an external device to the body's surface. Excessive attractive force between the implant and the external device may compromise local circulation due to mechanical compression, leading to necrosis. To evaluate the feasibility of transcutaneous magnetic fixation and assess secondary skin changes when subjected to a continuous static magnetic field. Using the pig as an animal model, 72 implants were introduced in 12 animals. After wound healing, ultrasonography was performed to measure implant depths. Computer simulations were applied to allow magnetic attachment between implants and external devices without impairing local blood flow. External devices of different magnetic strengths were applied over the skin for 7 days. Local skin was examined and collected for analysis. A senior dermatopathologist blindly examined skin specimens and controls for abnormal findings, measuring dermal and epidermal thickness. Statistical analysis (P <0.05) was performed over the data. Nineteen implants presented extrusion. The remaining 53 skin sites underwent magnetic compression, of which 43 (81%) evolved uneventfully. Implant depth varied between 4.6 mm and 8.3 mm (5.8 mm; ± 8.6 mm) with estimated pressure levels between 13.28 mmHg and 37.04 mmHg (27.6 mmHg; ±6.0 mmHg). Stronger magnets were associated with an increase in dermal thickness (P = 0.011) and neovascularization (P = 0.045). Transcutaneous magnetic fixation is compatible with skin viability in vivo, under experimental conditions. Skin interposition between two permanent magnets resulted in a continuous static magnetic field stimulation, which showed similar effects to pulsed electromagnetic fields reported on scientific literature.


Impact of television on nutritional intake in communal dining room settings among those with acquired brain injury: A pilot study.
Those with acquired brain injury (ABI) experience impairments in executive function, attention and concentration that may contribute to or exacerbate poor nutritional intakes. This is frequently observed in long-stay rehabilitation settings. This investigation aimed to identify the specific impact of the dining room television as a factor that exacerbates poor intake and nutritional status among those with ABI. Routine meal audits were completed (six television on, six television off) over four non-consecutive days. Each individual's protein and energy intake per meal and day were assessed, and the differences were examined through paired t-tests. Dining room decibels were measured, with means, peaks and minimums recorded. Complete data for 12 meals were collected for seven individuals. Clinically, but not statistically significant increases in 48-hour protein and energy intake occurred with television off compared with on, including those requiring texture modified diets. This pilot investigation highlights that television may have a detrimental impact on nutritional intakes among those with ABI. Given the negligible costs and risk, minimising disruptive influences by turning the television off may become a recommendation for ABI in long-care rehabilitation settings.


Light response of sunflower and canola as affected by plant density, plant genotype and N fertilization.
Crop response to light is an important parameter determining crop growth. Three field (split plots) experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of plant density, plant genotype and N fertilization on the light absorption and light extinction of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.). A detailed set of plant growth, light absorption and crop yield and oil related parameters were determined. Light was measured at noon during the sunny days with clear sky. In experiment I, although the plant density (PD) of 14 resulted in the highest rate of sunflower light absorption (31.37%) and light extinction (0.756), the highest rate of grain yield and grain oil yield was resulted at PD12 at 3639 and 1457.9kg/ha, respectively; as well as by genotype SUP.A. In experiment II (canola), PD80 resulted in the highest rate of light absorption (13.13%), light extinction (0.63), grain yield (2189.4kg/ha) and grain oil yield (556.54kg/ha). This was also the case for Genotype H. In experiment III (canola), although N150 resulted in the highest rate of light absorption (10.74%) and light extinction (0.48), the highest rate of grain yield (3413.6kg/ha) and grain oil yield (891.86kg/ha) was resulted at N100 as well as by Genotype H401. Results indicate how light properties, crop growth and yield of sunflower and canola can be affected by plant and environmental parameters, which are also of practical use by farmers.


Comparison of native xenogeneic and allogeneic bone morphogenetic proteins in the sheep skull defect assay model.
The purpose of this study was to determine, if there is any difference in the osteoinductive response between xenogeneic and allogeneic bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in the skull defect assay model. The skull samples of two experimental series were chosen for uniform radiomorphometric measurement. In the xenogeneic BMP group (X-group), 52 mg of native moose (Alces alces) BMP (mBMP) was implanted in six 22-mm sheep midline skull defects, and in the allogeneic BMP (A-group), 8 mg of native sheep BMP (sBMP) was used in six same size parietal skull defects. The formation of new bone was confirmed histologically and the quantity of it was measured radiomorphometrically at 16 weeks after implantation from the standardized radiographs using a common flatbed scanner and image processing software, the mean grey scale intensity (radiopacity) multiplied by the original defect area giving the new bone volume. This was divided by the milligram amount of implanted BMP to get the value for comparison of BMP activities. The control defects in both groups, implanted with 13 mg of type IV collagen, showed that the defects did not heal spontaneously during the follow-up time. In the X-group, the healing percentage was 92.4 +/- 3.0%, the calculated average bone volume (ABV)/mg being 12.4 +/- 0.5 units, whereas in the A-group the healing percentage was 62.9 +/- 8.5% and ABV/mg 60.9 +/- 6.7. Hence the activity per milligram proved to be more than four-fold with allogeneic compared to xenogeneic BMP. However, when the difference in spontaneous healing of the defects in the two series was taken into consideration, only slight but not significant difference (P = 0.077) of activity could be demonstrated between xenogeneic (5.7 +/- 1.7) and allogeneic BMP (9.05 +/- 3.7). The result is in concordance with the previous published results showing that no significant immune inhibition is seen after a single implantation of xenogeneic BMP in an orthotopic site.


Correction: Dye adsorption mechanisms in TiO2 films, and their effects on the photodynamic and photovoltaic properties in dye-sensitized solar cells.
Correction for 'Dye adsorption mechanisms in TiO2 films, and their effects on the photodynamic and photovoltaic properties in dye-sensitized solar cells' by Kyung-Jun Hwang et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 21974-21981.


Dopaminergic system modulation of nociceptive response in long-term diabetic rats.
The present study examines the effects of dopaminergic system modulation on nociceptive response time in male diabetic rats. In this study, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/kg) in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Insulin replacement therapy was initiated 6 weeks after the induction of diabetes for one-half of the diabetic group (1.5-2.5 IU/12 h/rat) and was continued throughout the duration of the study (up to 14 weeks). After 6 weeks of daily insulin replacement therapy, eight rats from each experimental group (STZ-diabetic, STZ-diabetic+insulin and nondiabetic control) were injected with either bromocriptine (BROM, 3 mg/kg/12 h), haloperidol (HALO, 1.5 mg/kg/12 h) or vehicle. Nociceptive response was measured by the hot plate (HP) latency test before the induction of diabetes (baseline), every 3 weeks for the first 12 weeks and then on days 5, 9 and 14 of treatment with dopaminergic agents. Animals were sacrificed 3 or 4 days after the last HP test and the brain, blood, spinal cord (SC), pituitary and adrenal glands (AD) were dissected for Met-enkephalin (ME) assay. The results show that nociceptive response of untreated diabetic animals increased gradually and significantly over the duration of this study. Administration of BROM and HALO significantly decreased and increased the nociceptive response, respectively, in all groups. However, the response of the diabetic group was more pronounced than that of the other two groups, especially for those treated with BROM. Daily insulin administration normalized nociceptive response to that of the nondiabetic controls. Diabetic animals receiving insulin replacement+BROM also showed normalized nociceptive response while the diabetic animals+HALO did not. Moreover, the administration of HALO and BROM resulted in an increase and decrease ME concentrations, respectively, in most tissues and brain regions examined. The effect of these dopaminergic agents on ME levels was greater in brain regions and tissues of the diabetic rats than in the diabetic groups receiving vehicle or in the nondiabetic control receiving these two agents. These data suggest that diabetes alters the sensitivity of the dopaminergic receptors and that altered response of the dopaminergic system could be indirectly involved in the modulation of nociception in diabetic rats possibly through the enhancement and/or deactivation of the endogenous Met-enkephalinergic system.


Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors for reduction of proteinuria in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.
The effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) on proteinuria, renal function, and serum proteins were evaluated in six children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and proteinuria of 3-15 g/24 h (277 +/- 47 mg/m2 per hour). Following ACEI, proteinuria decreased from 7,408 +/- 2,385 (mean +/- SEM) to 3,746 +/- 1,395 mg/24 h (P less than 0.05). Creatinine clearance was 87.8 +/- 22.6 before and 96.4 +/- 23.6 ml/min per 1.73 m2 after ACEI. In two patients, inulin and para-aminohippuric acid clearances were normal before and after ACEI, together with parallel reductions of urine protein of 50% and 46%. Clearance of total protein was reduced by 56% following ACEI, compared with reduction in the clearance of gamma globulin by 58% and albumin by 39.5%. No significant change was seen in blood pressure, serum albumin, or total protein following ACEI. After ACEI, diuretic doses were able to be reduced or eliminated in three patients. Reduction of proteinuria was sustained during a followup period of 11-20 months in three patients. ACEI may be of benefit in the clinical management of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndromes, allowing reduction in diuretic requirements.


CT-P13: a review on a biosimilar to infliximab in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Introduction: CT-P13 was developed as an infliximab biosimilar in 2013. The primary structure of CT-P13 is identical to that of original infliximab and it has highly similar higher order structure, physiochemical characteristics, and biological properties. To date, data from real-life cohorts and randomized controlled trials show comparable clinical efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of biosimilar CT-P13, and the original reference medicinal Product (RMP). Areas covered: This article reviews the comparability of CT-P13 and the RMP and focuses on the emerging clinical trial and observational cohorts data on efficacy and safety of CT-P13 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The development of a subcutaneous formulation of Infliximab CT-P13 is also addressed. Expert opinion: There is a plethora of evidence to show CT-P13 is non-inferior to infliximab RMP in IBD and that a switch from RMP to this biosimilar is feasible and safe. However, interchangeability and multiple switches can still not be endorsed for introduction into clinical practice.


Protoplast fusion in Aspergillus niger strains accumulating citric acid.
Auxotrophic strains of Aspergillus niger were obtained from citric-acid-producing strains of the fungus after irradiation with UV light. Protoplasts were isolated from young hyphae of the auxotrophic strains after treatment with snail enzyme and than treated with polyethylene glycol (30%, W/V), in a Ca2+ (10 mmol/L) solution. The pH value of the suspension was adjusted to 9.0. The frequency of the heterokaryons (related to the number of protoplasts reverting after PEG treatment) was 0.67%. Prototrophic heterozygous spores were isolated from a heterokaryon with the frequency of 1.2 x 10(-6). Citric acid production in the best heterozygous strains was about 15% higher than that of the high-production parent strain.


Accelerated calcification in electrically conductive polymer composites comprised of poly(epsilon-caprolactone), polyaniline, and bioactive mesoporous silicon.
In this study the fabrication and characterization of an electrically conductive composite material comprised of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), polyaniline (PANi), and bioactive mesoporous silicon (BioSilicon) is discussed. The influence of PANi and silicon on calcium phosphate induction was assessed via ex vitro calcification analyses (by acellular simulated body fluid (SBF) exposure) both with and without electrical bias. Acceleration of calcium phosphate formation is one possible desirable feature of "smart" synthetic scaffolds for selected orthopedic-relevant applications. In addition, electrical stability assays were performed in growth medium (DMEM) to determine the stability of such structures to bias in an authentic electrolyte during a typical cell experiment. The cytocompatibility of the composites was evaluated in vitro using human kidney fibroblasts (HEK 293) cell proliferation assays, along with more orthopedically relevant mesenchymal stem cells from mouse stroma. Importantly, these composites demonstrate accelerated calcification in SBF when electrical bias is applied cathodically to the scaffold. Furthermore, these scaffolds exhibit noncytotoxic behavior in the presence of fibroblasts over an 8-day culture period, and attachment of stromal cells to the semiconducting scaffold was directly imaged via scanning electron microscopy. Overall, these results suggest that materials of this type of composition have potential merit as a biomaterial.


Isolation and characterization of human and mouse ZIRTL, a member of the IRT1 family of transporters, mapping within the epidermal differentiation complex.
We report the precise mapping and characterization of ZIRTL (zinc-iron regulated transporter-like) gene, the first mammalian member of an extensive family of divalent metal ion transporters, comprising IRT1 and ZIP1, ZIP2, ZIP3, and ZIP4 in plants and ZRT1 and ZRT2 in yeast. The human gene maps at the telomeric end of the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC), within chromosomal band 1q21, while the mouse gene maps within the mouse EDC, on mouse chromosome 3, between S100A9 and S100A13. The structure of the human gene has been determined, and message was detected in most adult and fetal tissues including the epidermis. The mouse gene is developmentally regulated and found expressed in fetal and adult suprabasal epidermis, osteoblasts, small intestine, and salivary gland.


[Analysis epidemiological and pathogen characters of mumps in China from 2004 to 2006].
The study was conducted to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in China (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan excluded) from 2004 to 2006 and to provide basic data for mumps control. Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted based on the data of epidemic parotitis from National Notifiable Disease Reporting System and mumps virus surveillance database from Nation Measles Lab. The annual incidence rates of parotitis cases during 2004-2006 were 17.45/100, 000, 22.40 /100, 000, 20.76 /100, 000 respectively. All the provinces had parotitis cases report. In all parotitis cases during 2004-2006, the percentage of case number of children (< 15 years old) were 89.77%, 87.87%, 85.15% respectively, while the children between 5-9 years old were 49. 16%, 46.90%, 43.26% respectively. The homology based on 316 nucleotides of the Chinese mumps virus isolated during 2004 - 2006 was 95.4%-100%. To prevent and control mumps, the mumps surveillance for serology, virology and eoidemiology should be strengthened in China.


Etiologic factors in carcinoma of the prostate.
A staining method is presented by which azocarmine combines with spermine to form a poorly soluble red precipitate highlighted against the yellow cytoplasm of positive cells achieved by counterstaining with metanil yellow. In the prostate, the spermine-dye complex was abundant in normal acinar epithelial cells, moderate in the epithelial cells of hyperplastic glands, and moderate to absent in carcinoma cells. Spermine is evidently concerned with stabilizing the structure of desoxyribose nucleic acid and probably of proteins, notably several zinc metalloenzymes. Diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma of the prostate should include an adequate basic diet, retention of testes, hormonal treatment oriented toward testicular, pituitary and hypothalamic hormones; zinc--ordinary and radioactive; and utilization of spermine and precursors.


[The autoimmune changes in children living in areas contaminated by radionuclides after the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].
A study of the blood sera of 50 children from the zone contaminated by radionuclides due to the Chernobyl accident was conducted to determine the immune status (level of immunoglobulin of Ig classes (A,M,G), presence of serum autoantibodies, determination of active anti-Sm antibody zones). A statistically valid increase of the IgM and IgG, reduction IgA levels was found. Antibodies to thyroid, smooth muscles, parietal cells, mitochondria were not found; 7% of patients showed autoantibodies to DNA and antinuclear factor.


[Advance on insulin-like growth factor 2].
Insulin-like growth factors play an important role in fetal growth and development, tumour cell proliferation and muscle growth. This review is focused on the insulin-like growth factor 2 gene structures, and their imprintings in mammalian genomes. In addition, we also discussed that IGF2 is the major paternally expressed candidate gene affecting muscle mass.


Acute suppressive effect of human growth hormone on basal insulin secretion in man.
The acute effects of human growth hormone (GH) on the basal levels of glucose and insulin in blood were investigated in 11 healthy men. GH doses of 5, 10, 20, and 40 mug/kg body weight were given iv as a constant-rate infusion over 30 min, and resulted in peak hormone levels (30 min) of 20.5 plus or minus 1.0, 48.5 plus or minus 2.2, 108.2 plus or minus 4.5, and 229.2 plus or minus 14.6 ng/ml, respectively. There was a small (max 9.8 plus or minus 2.6%) but significant decrease in the blood glucose level, observed already at 15 min after the beginning of the GH infusion and persisting up to 90 min. The highest dose of GH induced the most marked changes, but there was otherwise no clear correlation between dose and effect. The basal plasma insulin levels showed a more marked (max 16.0 plus or minus 4.7%) decrease which was not correlated, in time or in magnitude, with the changes in blood glucose. In some subjects, in whom no significant decrease in blood glucose was observed, plasma insulin still demonstrated a similar fall (max 20.2 plus or minus 7.6%). Neither were these changes in plasma insulin correlated to the dose of GH within the range used in this study. The findings suggested that the early, insulin-like effect of GH on blood glucose is distinct from its effect on the pancreas. The latter is a suppressive one, consistent with earlier findings on glucose-induced insulin release.