[Age-related problems of wound healing].
A study on wound failures after surgical operations performed at the Dep. of Surgery, Köln-Merheim, revealed an overall rate of 10,8%. 40,3% of all complications were observed in patients aged more than 60 years, which gives a rate of 19,1% for those people. To date this significant increase of wound failures in older individuals is preferently explained by the reduced resistance of the old organism to infections. Our trials with rats as well as numerous publications of other authors on the topic of age-related changes of metabolism prove that the wound healing process is delayed in older individuals. This fact does not consequently lead to complications but the prolonged healing in connection with the repeated change of wound dressing gives an enhanced risk for infections. If special precautions are observed the age of a patient is not a principal contraindication to a great surgical operation today.


Dexamethasone attenuation of the cortisol response to nicotine in smokers.
The effect of corticosteroids upon the cortisol response to nicotine from smoking was investigated in five heavy smokers. Corticosteroid activity was manipulated by administering dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid (1 mg orally, 14 h before), in a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure. Testing took place in the middle of the day and involved the smoking of two high-nicotine (2.87 mg) research cigarettes over a 15-min period. The dexamethasone condition was characterized by a pronounced suppression of baseline plasma cortisol, as expected, and by a significant dampening of the cortisol response to nicotine, indicating diminished sensitivity to nicotine under conditions of enhanced corticosteroid activity.


Effects of IL-1β and IL-18 induced by NLRP3 inflammasome activation on myocardial reperfusion injury after PCI.
To investigate the effect of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in patients with myocardial reperfusion injury after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Twenty healthy controls (control group) and forty patients (treatment group) were recruited in this study. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 at various time points in both the control and treatment groups. Data processing and analysis were performed using the Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) 22.0 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Pearson's correlation coefficient test was applied in all data analyses. A difference was statistically significant when p<0.05. The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). The IL-1β level in the treatment group peaked at 0.5 h after PCI and then, gradually decreased. The multiple regression analysis showed that IL-1β level was positively correlated with levels of LDL-C and IL-18 (p<0.05, r=0.527 and 0.955 respectively), and negatively correlated with the HDL-C level (p<0.05, r=-0.34). The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 significantly rose in patients with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury after PCI.


Rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis.
Rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis is the most common manifestation of mucormycosis. In debilitated or acidotic patients, the presence of necrotic tissue should alert the examiner to the possibility of mucormycosis. Radical operation and proper management with early diagnosis should increase the patient's chance of survival.


Supplemental Internal Wire Suspension in Orthognathic Surgery Fixation.
Internal wire suspensions were previously used in the management of maxillary trauma and orthognathic surgery, but currently the gold standard is rigid internal fixation with bone plates and screws. The authors report a case of bimaxillary osteotomy in a skeletal class III patient where a supplemental circum-zygomatic-mandibular suspension was done to stabilize the maxilla because of the instability after rigid internal fixation due to poor bone thickness.


Comparison of the diagnostic accuracies of very low stress-dose with standard-dose myocardial perfusion imaging: Automated quantification of one-day, stress-first SPECT using a CZT camera.
Previous studies have demonstrated accurate diagnosis of reduced dose myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) technology. We compared the diagnostic performances of very low stress-dose (<2 mSv) with standard-dose stress-first, quantitative MPI using a CZT camera. Patients without known coronary artery- disease who underwent a stress-first Tc-99 m sestamibi CZT-MPI and invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and low-risk patients without ICA were included. A stress-rest standard-dose (10/30 mCi) MPI and a low-dose (5/15 mCi) MPI were compared. Normal limits for quantification were developed from 40 (20 males) low-risk patients, and total perfusion deficit (TPD) was derived. 208 patients who underwent MPI and ICA, and 76 low-risk patients were included. Of these, 128 had a standard-dose MPI and 156 had a low-dose MPI. Stress-doses in low-dose and standard-dose groups were 5.9 ± 1.2 vs 10.2 ± 0.5 mCi (1.7 ± 0.3 vs 3.0 ± 0.1 mSv), respectively, P < 0.001, and stress-rest effective radiation was 6.9 ± 1.1 vs 11.7 ± 0.4 mSv, respectively, P < 0.001. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values in the low-dose and standard-dose groups were 86.1%, 76.6%, and 81.4%; and 90.6%, 78.1%, and 84.4%, respectively, P = ns. Using TPD prone, specificity values were 84.9% and 80.3%, respectively, P = ns. One-day stress-first MPI with 50% radiation reduction and a very low stress-dose (<2 mSv) using CZT technology and quantitative supine and prone analysis provided a high diagnostic value, similar to standard-dose MPI.


[Comparative study of infusion therapy options in patients with hemorrhagic shock].
This work presents the results of treatment of 60 patients with 2nd degree hemorrhagic shock at pre-hospital and hospital stages by different variations of infusion therapy. It is established that balanced infusion therapy in patients with 2nd degree hemorrhagic shock helps to stabilize the system hemodynamic and improve the general condition. The balanced infusion therapy does not lead to unfavorable changes in acid-alkaline and electrolyte balance.


Noninvasive evaluation of endothelial function.
Endothelial dysfunction is generally believed to be the inciting event in atherosclerosis, and is probably important in ischemic manifestations as well. The release of endothelium-derived vasoactive substances is not only triggered by acetylcholine, but also controlled by a host of neuromediators and by shear forces exerted by the blood flowing through the blood vessel. However, this balance is altered in disease states such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, chronic heart failure, coronary artery disease, or hypertension. The most important mechanism in the decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation appears to be a reduced release of nitric oxide. In healthy people, the predominant effect of stimulation of the endothelium is vasodilation. It is tempting to hypothesize that endothelial dysfunction is one of the initial steps involved in the development of atherosclerosis, but also in peripheral artery atherosclerosis. Impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the coronary arteries has been demonstrated not only in patients with documented atherosclerosis and/or established cardiovascular risk factors. Noninvasive evaluation of brachial artery vasoactivity using high resolution B-mode ultrasound is currently being established to evaluate endothelial function. We studied the endothelial function in 50 normal volunteers, 28 hypertensive subjects, and 31 hypercholesterolemia subjects. The diameter of the target artery was measured from two-dimensional ultrasound images with 10 MHz linear transducer. The results suggested that antihypertensive therapy with a certain calcium antagonist did not have a favorable effect on endothelial function and after cessation of cholesterol lowering therapy, the endothelial dysfunction developed again. The endothelial function can now be readily measured in humans and is very useful research tool to assess the effect of risk factors and their treatment on vascular function. Endothelial function testing will assume a prominent role in the evaluation and treatment of patients at risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis and its sequelae.


Airway management for victims of penetrating trauma: analysis of 50,000 cases.
Current recommendations for victims of penetrating trauma include prompt transportation to a trauma center. It remains unclear whether field intubation allows for improvements in mortality rate. A retrospective review of the National Trauma Data Bank of adult victims of penetrating trauma was performed. Standard demographic data, method, and location of airway management were examined. Mortality rate was used as the primary outcome measure. There were 56,094 victims of penetrating trauma identified. A total of 1,925 patients required a prehospital airway. The mortality rate for patients who underwent airway management at the scene was 69.2%, compared with a rate of 35.9% for patients in whom airway management was deferred. The mortality rate for patients undergoing surgical airway management at the scene was only 23.9%. Victims of penetrating trauma who require any airway management have a high mortality rate. The cause of this difference awaits further prospective investigation.


Combination of p16 levels and pre-radiotherapy factors predicts outcome in patients treated for oropharyngeal carcinoma.
To explore whether tumor biomarkers and pre-treatment factors correlate with treatment outcome in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Fifty-seven consecutive patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal SCC were treated using intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Thirty-four (60%) patients were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy to a median total dose of 70 Gy and 23 (40%) were treated with postoperative RT to a median total dose of 66 Gy. Concurrent platinum- based chemotherapy was used in 51 patients (90%) and cetuximab in 3 (5%) patients. Forty-four (77%) cases were positive and 13 (23%) were negative for p16 expression. Eighty-eight percent of non-smokers, 87% of smokers in their remote past and 56% of active smokers were diagnosed with p16-positive cancer. After 22 months median follow up, 51 (89%) patients were alive. Forty-five (77%) patients were without evidence of disease at their last follow up, 82% of the patients with p16-positive tumors vs 58% of those with p16-negative cancer, respectively (p= 0.04). Locoregional disease-free survival was 82% for the entire cohort, 91% for patients treated postoperatively and 76% for patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Five (9%) patients developed distant metastases, and 3 (5%) developed new malignancies. One third of the patients with pre-RT hemoglobin level of ≤ 11 g/dL experienced persistent/recurrent disease; 80% of patients with hemoglobin ≤ 11 g/dL were smokers and 42% had p16-negative tumors. Smoking, p16 expression and pre-RT anemia are interrelated and influence outcome in oropharyngeal cancer patients and should be evaluated as stratifying variables in further clinical trials.


LC determination of loratadine and related impurities.
Loratadine, an antihistamine, could include in its raw material seven impurities that ought to be separated identified and quantified for drug development and quality control. A HPLC method employing a SymmetryShield RP8 column has been developed and validated for loratadine and related compounds measurement, the last ones under the 0.1% level. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-buffer A (65:35, v/v), being buffer A: H(3)PO(4) 10 mM (H(2)O) brought up to pH 7.00 with triethylamine. UV detection was performed at 244 nm. Validation parameters for linearity, accuracy and precision are in agreement with ICH guidelines for all the analytes and that permits to consider the method reliable and suitable for application to long-term stability and purity studies.


Type I gaucher disease: extraosseous extension of skeletal disease.
To investigate the frequency and morphology of extraosseous extension in patients with Gaucher disease type I. MRI examinations of the lower extremities were analyzed in 70 patients with Gaucher disease type I. Additionally, the thoracic spine and the midface were investigated on MRI in two patients. Four cases are presented in which patients with Gaucher disease type I and severe skeletal involvement developed destruction or protrusion of the cortex with extraosseous extension into soft tissues. In one patient, Gaucher cell deposits destroyed the cortex of the mandible and extended into the masseter muscle. In the second patient, multiple paravertebral masses with localized destruction of the cortex were apparent in the thoracic spine. In the third and fourth patient, cortical destruction with extraosseous tissue extending into soft tissues was seen in the lower limbs. Extraosseous extension is a rare manifestation of Gaucher bone disease. While an increased risk of cancer, especially hematopoietic in origin, is known in patients with Gaucher disease, these extraosseous benign manifestations that may mimic malignant processes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extraosseous extension into soft tissues. A narrow neck of tissue was apparent in all cases connecting bone and extraosseous extensions.


Relationship between soluble microbial products (SMP) and effluent organic matter (EfOM): characterized by fluorescence excitation emission matrix coupled with parallel factor analysis.
Effluent organic matter (EfOM) originating from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is of significant concern, as it not only influences the discharge quality of WWTP but also exerts a significant effect on the efficiency of the downstream advanced treatment facilities. Soluble microbial products (SMP) is a major part of EfOM. In order to further understand the relationship between soluble microbial products (SMP) and EfOM, and in turn, to propose measures for EfOM control, the formation of SMP and EfOM in identical activated sludge sequencing batch reactors (SBR) with different feed water was investigated using fluorescence excitation and emission spectroscopy matrix coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) as well as other organic matter quantification tools. Results showed that EfOM contained not only SMP but also a considerable amount of allochthonous organic matter that derived not merely from natural organic matter (NOM). Four components in EfOM/SMP were identified by EEM-PARAFAC. Tyrosine-like substances in EfOM (Component 3, λex/em=270/316 nm) were mainly originated from utilization associated products (UAP) of SMP. Tryptophan-like substances (Component 2, λex/em=280/336 nm) as well as fulvic-like and humic-like substances in EfOM (Component 1, λex/em=240(290)/392 nm and Component 4, λex/em=260(365)/444 nm) were majorly derived from the refractory substances introduced along with the influent, among which Component 2 was stemmed from sources other than NOM. As solid retention time (SRT) increased, Component 2 and polysaccharides in SMP/EfOM decreased, while Component 4 in SMP increased.


Clonal evolution from trisomy into tetrasomy of chromosome 8 associated with the development of acute myeloid leukemia from myelodysplastic syndrome.
Tetrasomy 8, though rare, is usually associated with trisomy 8, a far more common chromosomal abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Yet the clonal relationship between trisomy 8 and tetrasomy 8 in the cases with these chromosomal abnormalities has been unclear. Here, we report a case of a 17-year-old male, diagnosed as having a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Chromosome analysis showed the presence of trisomy 8. Five years later, he developed overt AML exhibiting tetrasomy 8 only. After chemotherapy, the blast cells in the bone marrow decreased to 3.4%, and the karyotype showed trisomy 8 alone. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using a probe specific for chromosome 8 showed that the percentages of cells exhibiting 2/ 3 /4 signals were 7.8/89.2/2.0 at the MDS stage, 20.5/36.1/41.0 when overt AML developed and 24.0/72.1/2.4 after chemotherapy. These results suggested that tetrasomy 8 is derived from the AML clone, possibly evolved from the MDS clone with trisomy 8. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed case report of clonal evolution from trisomy 8 into tetrasomy 8 associated with the development of AML from MDS.


Function of nuclear factor kappaB in pancreatic cancer metastasis.
We seek to elucidate the role of constitutive nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activity in human pancreatic cancer cells. We have demonstrated that the transcription factor NFkappaB is activated constitutively in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma and human pancreatic cancer cell lines but not in normal pancreatic tissues or in immortalized/nontumorigenic pancreatic epithelial cells, suggesting that NFkappaB plays a critical role in development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. By pooling all of the puromycin resistant clones after inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB phosphorylation mutant (IkappaBalphaM) retroviral infection, we generated pancreatic tumor cell lines that express a IkappaBalphaM (S32, 36A) that blocks NFkappaB activity. Inhibition of metastatic phenotype was assayed in an orthotopic nude mouse model. NFkappaB activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and the expression of NFkappaB downstream target genes was analyzed by Northern, Western, and immunohistochemical analyses. We showed that inhibiting constitutive NFkappaB activity by expressing IkappaBalphaM suppresses liver metastasis, but not tumorigenesis, from the metastatic human pancreatic tumor cell line AsPc-1 in an orthotopic nude mouse model. Furthermore, inhibiting NFkappaB activation by expressing IkappaBalphaM significantly reduced in vivo expression of a major proangiogenic molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor, and, hence, decreased neoplastic angiogenesis. Inhibiting NFkappaB activation by expressing IkappaBalphaM and using pharmacologic NFkappaB inhibitor PS-341 also significantly reduced cytokine-induced vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 expression in AsPc-1 pancreatic cancer cells. These results demonstrated that the inhibition of NFkappaB signaling can suppress the angiogenic potential and metastasis of pancreatic cancer, and suggest that the NFkappaB signaling pathway is a potential target for anticancer agents.


Comparison of the effects of BPA and BPAF on oocyte spindle assembly and polar body release in mice.
Bisphenol AF (BPAF), a homolog of bisphenol A (BPA), is a widely used environmental chemical that has adverse effects on reproduction. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of BPA and BPAF exposure on oocyte maturation in vitro. Oocytes were cultured in the presence of BPA or BPAF (2, 20, 50 or 100 μg/ml) for 18 h. At concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/ml, BPA and BPAF inhibited oocyte maturation, with BPAF treatment causing a sharp decrease in the number of oocytes reaching maturity. Oocytes were exposed to BPA or BPAF at 2 μg/ml and cultured for different durations (6, 9, 12, 15 or 18 h). Both BPAF and BPA caused a cell cycle delay under these conditions. Oocytes cultured in the presence of BPA or BPAF (50 μg/ml) for 21 h were tested for the localization of α-tubulin and MAD2 using immunofluorescence. High concentrations of BPAF induced cell cycle arrest through the activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. After 12 h of culture in BPAF (50 μg/ml), oocytes were transferred to control medium for 9 h. Only 63.3% oocytes treated in this manner progressed to metaphase II (MII). Oocytes exposed to high doses of BPA experienced a cell cycle delay, but managed to progress to MII when the culture period was prolonged. In addition, MAD2 was localized in the cytoplasm of these oocytes. In conclusion, both BPAF and BPA exposure affected oocyte maturation, however BPAF and BPA have differential effects on SAC activity.


Biosynthesis of the human milk oligosaccharide 3-fucosyllactose in metabolically engineered Escherichia coli via the salvage pathway through increasing GTP synthesis and β-galactosidase modification.
3-Fucosyllactose (3-FL) is one of the major fucosylated oligosaccharides in human milk. Along with 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), it is known for its prebiotic, immunomodulator, neonatal brain development, and antimicrobial function. Whereas the biological production of 2'-FL has been widely studied and made significant progress over the years, the biological production of 3-FL has been hampered by the low activity and insoluble expression of α-1,3-fucosyltransferase (FutA), relatively low abundance in human milk oligosaccharides compared with 2'-FL, and lower digestibility of 3-FL than 2'-FL by bifidobacteria. In this study, we report the gram-scale production of 3-FL using E. coli BL21(DE3). We previously generated the FutA quadruple mutant (mFutA) with four site mutations at S46F, A128N, H129E, Y132I, and its specific activity was increased by nearly 15 times compared with that of wild-type FutA owing to the increase in kcat and the decrease in Km . We overexpressed mFutA in its maximum expression level, which was achieved by the optimization of yeast extract concentration in culture media. We also overexpressed L-fucokinase/GDP- L-fucose pyrophosphorylase to increase the supply of GDP-fucose in the cytoplasm. To increase the mass of recombinant whole-cell catalysts, the host E. coli BW25113 was switched to E. coli BL21(DE3) because of the lower acetate accumulation of E. coli BL21(DE3) than that of E. coli BW25113. Finally, the lactose operon was modified by partially deleting the sequence of LacZ (lacZΔm15) for better utilization of D-lactose. Production using the lacZΔm15 mutant yielded 3-FL concentration of 4.6 g/L with the productivity of 0.076 g·L-1 ·hr-1 and the specific 3-FL yield of 0.5 g/g dry cell weight.


Infantile spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type I presenting without respiratory involvement: Novel mutations and review of the literature.
Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1), also known as distal spinal muscular atrophy 1 (DSMA1) or distal hereditary motor neuropathies type 6 (dHMN6), is a rare autosomal recessive motor neuron disorder that affects infants and is characterized by diaphragmatic palsy, distal muscular weakness and muscle atrophy. The disease is caused by mutations in the gene encoding immunoglobulinm-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2). We present a female child with novel compound heterozygous mutations in IGHMBP2 gene c.344C>T (p.115T>M) and c.1737C>A (p.579F>L), displaying distal limbs weakness and atrophy without signs of diaphragmatic palsy or respiratory insufficiency. We review 20 reported SMARD1 cases that have no respiratory involvement or have late onsets. We propose that IGHMBP2 gene mutations are characterized by significant phenotypic heterogeneity. Diaphragmatic palsy and respiratory distress may be absent and SMARD1 should be considered in infantile with the onset of peripheral neuropathies.


Adsorption of protein-surfactant complexes at the water/oil interface.
Interfacial tension measurements have been performed at the water/hexane interface on mixtures of the bovine milk protein β-lactoglobulin and positively charged cationic surfactants (alkytrimethylammonium bromides). The addition of surfactants with different chain lengths leads to the formation of protein-surfactant complexes with different adsorption properties as compared to those of the single protein. In this study, the formation of complexes has been observed clearly for protein-long chain surfactant (TTAB and CTAB) mixtures, which has shown in addition to specific electrostatic interactions the relevance of hydrophobic interactions between surfactant molecules and the protein. The modeling of interfacial tension data by using a mixed adsorption model provides a quantitative understanding of the mixture behavior. Indeed, the value of the adsorption constant of the protein obtained in the presence of surfactants has strongly varied as compared to the single protein. Actually, this parameter which represents the affinity of the molecule for the interface is representative of the hydrophobic character of the compound and so of its surface activity. Even if a more hydrophobic and more surface active protein-surfactant complex has been formed, the replacement of this complex from the interface by surfactants close to their cmc was observed.


A truncated poisson regression model with applications to occurrence of adenomatous polyps.
Adenomatous polyps are considered as the dominant precursor lesion of colorectal cancer. A phase III colorectal cancer prevention trial, conducted by the Arizona Cancer Center, concerns the ability of wheat bran fibre supplement to reduce the recurrence of adenomatous polyps. All participants in the study are to have had colorectal polyps detected and removed during a baseline (qualifying) colonoscopy within three months prior to enrolment. In this paper, our interest focuses on occurrence of adenomatous polyps at the baseline colonoscopy. We use a truncated Poisson model to fit these types of data. We develop a regression model to assess the effects of explanatory factors on the positive counting variable. We fit truncated Poisson parameters by a log-linear regression model and estimate regression parameters by the maximum likelihood procedure. Finally, we apply it to the baseline colonoscopy data from the Wheat Bran Fiber study.


Development of a data-based short food frequency questionnaire for assessing nutrient intake by middle-aged Japanese.
Development of a data-based short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for evaluating intake of nutrients by middle-aged Japanese. Of 102 foods listed in the formerly developed semi-quantitative FFQ, foods having similar nutrient contents were combined into 72 foods/food groups by research dietitians. Nutrient contents were computed by multiplying the weight of foods consumed and its nutrient contents. Next, a cumulative multiple regression coefficient up to 0.85 was applied, and 47 foods/food groups were chosen for a brief FFQ for assessing intake of 21 nutrients including energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. The 47 foods/food groups comprised rice, bread and noodles (3), margarine/butter (2), eggs (1), milk and dairy products (2), soybean and soybean products (3), miso-soup (1), meat including beef, pork and chicken (4), fish (3), other fish, shellfish and fish products (4), green-yellow vegetables (5), other vegetables and mushrooms (3), edible roots (4), seaweeds (1), mayonnaise (1), fried dishes (2), seeds (1), fruit (2), beverages, including alcohol (3), and confectioneries (2). The evidence-based short FFQ efficiently covered the intake of 21 nutrients, and may be competent to rank the middle-aged general public Japanese according to intake of nutrients.


Mechanoreceptors in insects: Johnston's organ in Nezara viridula (L) (Pentatomidae, Heteroptera).
Behavioural observations of Nezara viridula suggested that the antennae could be involved in detecting the substrate vibrations important in intraspecific communication of these insects. Therefore the vibrosensitive properties of Johnston's organ, a mechanoreceptor sensitive to the movements of the antennal flagellum relative to pedicel, were investigated. Vibrational stimuli were applied to the proximal flagellar segment where activity in the antennal nerve was recorded via a tapered tungsten electrode inserted into the second antennal segment where Johnston's organ is located. Sensory cells of Johnston's organ scolopidia respond to low frequency substrate vibrations (below 200 Hz). Both fast and slowly adapting receptor cells are present. However, the sensitivity of Johnston's organ to substrate vibrations in Nezara viridula is much lower than that of vibroreceptors in their legs which are known to be involved in intraspecific vibrational communication.


Effect of the α2 -receptor agonists medetomidine, detomidine, xylazine, and romifidine on the ketamine metabolism in equines assessed with enantioselective capillary electrophoresis.
The combination of ketamine and an α2 -receptor agonist is often used in veterinary medicine. Four different α2 -receptor agonists, medetomidine, detomidine, xylazine, and romifidine, which differ in their chemical structure and thus in selectivity for the α2 -receptor and in the sedative and analgesic potency, are typically employed during surgery of equines. Recovery following anesthesia with ketamine and an α2 -receptor agonist is dependent on the α2 -receptor agonist. This prompted us to investigate (i) the inhibition characteristics for the N-demethylation of ketamine to norketamine and (ii) the formation of the ketamine metabolites norketamine, 6-hydroxynorketamine (6HNK), and 5,6-dehydronorketamine (DHNK) in presence of the four α2 -receptor agonists and equine liver microsomes. Samples were analyzed with enantioselective capillary electrophoresis using highly sulfated γ-cyclodextrin as chiral selector. All four α2 -receptor agonists have an impact on the ketamine metabolism. Medetomidine was found to be the strongest inhibitor, followed by detomidine, whereas xylazine and romifidine showed almost no effect on the ketamine N-demethylation in the inhibition studies with a short-incubation period of the reaction mixture. After prolonged incubation, inhibition with xylazine and romifidine was also observed. The formation of 6HNK and DHNK is affected by all selected α2 -receptor agonists. With medetomidine, levels of these metabolites are reduced compared to the case without an α2 -receptor agonist. For detomidine, xylazine, and romifidine, the opposite was found.


Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) pattern in serum of calves with a total artificial heart (TAH).
Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LD) patterns of 16 calves with total artificial heart (TAH) were studied to identify a mean LD pattern in their serum (survival 51-293 days). Evaluations were made by the sum of vectors method (SV). The mean LD pattern was determined from serum LD patterns, interval days of 33 - 49 with TAH. Serum LD patterns of control and mean LD pattern differed significantly (n = 12, P < 0.05) in single isoenzymes and resultant vectors as the representatives of LD patterns. The different tissues with an increased risk of being affected were identified by evaluation of LD patterns in the serum of calves within term without perceptible acute damage and in the terminal stage of experiments. Such identified organs suggest that the organism under study is out of balance and specific treatment is needed.


[Ambulatory excision of perianal duplicatures].
For successful outpatient treatment of perianal duplicatures, it was necessary to solve two main problems. First was bleeding from wounds following excision of perianal duplicatures, which is often marked and "pulsating", as well as to accelerate defect healing after excision so as to eliminate or minimize sick leave following this outpatient procedure. To effectively stop acute bleeding we use Traumacel powder, which after applying to a tampon we apply to the bleeding site and by compression we facilitate its effect. Traumacel spray also has a significant haemostatic effect, which we spray directly onto the bleeding site, where it reacts and creates a strongly adhering coagulum, which has significant haemostatic properties. This effect may also be potentiated by applying compression in the form of tampon or longuette. After cessation of acute bleeding, as prevention against future seepage, surgical haemostatic materials are used, which adhere to the wound, or bleeding lesion, and are left in situ for approximately 12 hours. After stopping the bleeding, hydrocortisone and epithelializing cream is applied to the defects to support healing by significantly decreasing secretion from the wound and also significantly decreasing healing time by facilitating epithelization. At outpatient check-ups, wound surfaces treated as such are cleanly granulated without necrotic coating and with minimal surrounding redness. The total healing time is generally 2 weeks, whereas after 4 days the patients are almost without troubles. This effective healing not only lessens the patient's pain, but also improves the comfort of the patient and allows a more rapid return to daily activities.


[Microbiological changes in subgingival flora after treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid].
The association amoxicillin-clavulanic acid can be employed as an alternative to the usual antibiotic therapy of periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to determine subgingival microbial changes in 33 patients with periodontitis after using amoxicillin (500 mgrs.-t.i.d.) and clavulanic acid (125 mgrs.-t.i.d.) for 5 days. It resulted clinically in a decrease of both gingival index and plaque index (not significant) and microbiologically in absence of the main bacterial pathogens found pretreatment, such as Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Bacteroides intermedius, Eikenella corrodens and Actinomyces sp., although it was not able to eliminate Actinobacillus asinomycetemcomitans from a juvenile periodontitis and from a prepuberal periodontitis patient. Atibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all bacteria tested were sensitive to this antibiotic. Although this short term study shows good microbial response of main periodontal pathogens, long term studies are necessary to assess the effect of this antibiotic in periodontitis therapy.


Development of a novel oligonucleotide array-based transcription factor assay platform for genome-wide active transcription factor profiling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Transcription factors (TFs) play a central role in regulating gene expression and in providing interconnecting regulatory networks between related pathway elements. Although single TF assays provide some insights into pathway regulation, a method that allows the parallel investigation of all active TFs is highly desired to elucidate the complex inter-regulated cellular mechanisms. We have developed a novel oligonucleotide array-based transcription factor assay platform for genome-wide active TF profiling of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can simultaneously analyze the activities of 93 different TFs. The platform has been validated using 28 purified TFs produced in Escherichia coli, cell extracts from yeast strains overexpressing particular TFs, and by detailed control experiments. We then used the platform to examine the activity changes of all yeast TFs during diauxic shift, and results showed, in good agreement with previous studies, that the Sip4 was induced specifically. Other individual TFs required for growth in synthetic complete medium were also identified. Genome-wide analysis of TF activity is extremely useful in investigating complex gene regulatory networks and for the development of systematic understanding of the complexity of genomic functions. These results obtained in this report demonstrate the validity, and for the first time the utility, of this technology for genome-wide investigation of TF activities.


Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) extract prevents adiposity in high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice.
Two main chalcones, 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol, from Ashitaba, which is a food ingredient and a folk medicine in Asia, have been demonstrated to modulate lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ashitaba extract on adiposity in mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet and its underlying mechanisms based on adipose tissue and hepatic lipid metabolism. C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal or HF diet supplemented with Ashitaba extract (0.01% and 0.1%, w/w) for 16 weeks. Ashitaba extract suppressed the HF diet-induced body weight gain and fat deposition in white adipose tissue, reduced plasma cholesterol, glucose, and insulin levels, increased the adiponectin level, lowered triglyceride and the liver cholesterol content, increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in adipose tissue and liver, inhibited lipogenesis in adipose tissue by down-expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), inhibited lipogenesis in the liver by down-expression of SREBP1 and its target enzyme fatty acid synthase, and promoted fatty acid oxidation by up-expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A and PPARα. In conclusion, Ashitaba extract can possibly prevent adiposity through modulating lipid metabolism through phosphorylation of AMPK in adipose tissue and liver.


Powerful effect of HL-DR matching on survival of cadaveric renal allografts.
Matching for HLA-DR antigens seems to be an effective method of improving the survival rate of cadaveric donor renal allografts; this was shown in the analysis of 190 cadaver transplants in one unit. Patients receiving kidneys well-matched for HLA-DR (no incompatibilities) had a significantly better survival rate (85% at 1 year) than patients with 1 or 2 incompatibilities (64% and 56% respectively, at 1 year). This high survival rate of the DR matched grafts was not due to coincidental better matching of the HLA-A and B antigens. DR matching seems to improve graft survival even in patients who have never been transfused or not. Matching for the limited number of DR antigens mostly with a relatively high antigen frequency should simplify the matching procedure for selection of donor-recipient pairs in cadaveric transplantation.


An automated method for baseline correction, peak finding and peak grouping in chromatographic data.
An automated method (FastChrom) for baseline correction, peak detection and assignment (grouping) of similar peaks across samples has been developed. The method has been tested both on artificial data and a dataset obtained from gas chromatograph analysis of wine samples. As part of the automated approach, a new method for baseline estimation has been developed and compared with other methods. FastChrom has been shown to perform at least as well as conventional software. However, compared to other approaches, FastChrom finds more peaks in the chromatograms and not only those with retention times defined by the user. FastChrom is fast and easy to use and offers the possibility of applying a retention time index which facilitates the identification of peaks and the comparison between experiments.


Ion fragmentation activated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in an ion-trap/reflectron time-of-flight device.
An ion-trap storage/reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been used to study the decay of large ions following activation by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). It is shown that large ions may undergo fragmentation over long periods of time, extending even to milliseconds in some cases. These fragments are stored in the trap and detected as stable ions in the reflectron device, rather than as metastable ions due to decay during the flight time to the detector. The ion decay is found to depend strongly on the laser intensity, while a smaller effect may be due to the matrix used in the MALDI process. The fragmentation observed was found to also depend strongly on the RF voltage applied to the ring electrode; higher RF voltage produced enhanced fragmentation. A gated RF experiment further demonstrated the importance of the level of the RF voltage, during the initial activation event, in producing fragmentation. A study of the effects of buffer gas composition and pressure showed that increased pressure may result in reduced fragmentation due to collisional cooling in the trap. However, the use of argon or nitrogen buffer gas at increased pressure in the trap may result in fragmentation upon extraction from the trap, producing metastable ions in the flight tube. The implications of the use of the time variable for obtaining fragmentation in the trap for rapid sequencing are discussed.


Simultaneous ultrasound assessment of brachial artery shear stimulus and flow-mediated dilation during reactive hyperemia.
In flow-mediated dilation (FMD) studies, brachial artery diameter changes due to reactive hyperaemia are typically measured through manual or automatic analysis of high resolution B-mode images while the stimulus of diameter change, i.e., the flow change, is qualitatively estimated by measuring the mean velocity in the vessel and assuming a parabolic velocity profile. This article describes an experimental approach to simultaneously measure the wall shear rate (WSR) and the diameter variations, through multigate spectral Doppler and B-mode image processing, respectively. By using an ultrasound advanced open platform (ULA-OP), experimental results from the brachial arteries of 15 presumed healthy volunteers have been obtained. The mean increments during reflow against baseline were 105% ± 22% for the peak WSR and 8% ± 3% for the FMD. The mean time interval between the WSR peak and the beginning of plateau of diameter waveform was 38 ± 8 s. The results confirm that in young healthy subjects the postischemic vasodilation of brachial artery is largely correlated to the WSR increase.


Lower lid blepharoplasty: the use of Lockwood's ligament for orbicularis oculi suspension and orbital fat preservation-a new technique.
A new technique of lower lid blepharoplasty is presented. The technique consists of suspending the skin-muscle flap of the lower lid on the suspensory Lockwood's ligament in all the orbit length, with preservation of the orbital fat behind the created anatomic layer. The anatomic base of the technique is analyzed by a study of the literature, by personal observations of the changes in the anatomic elements of the orbit in a large number of operations the authors performed for patients with endocrinic exophthalmos using Olivari's method (transpalpepral orbital decompression by removal of the orbital fat), and by fresh cadaver dissections. The technique is described in detail, and the results are presented. After 8 years of follow-up evaluation, it can be confidently said that the proposed technique can solve almost all the problems associated with lower lid laxity and can be applied for the majority of patients.


Lower-pole caliceal stone clearance after shockwave lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and flexible ureteroscopy: impact of radiographic spatial anatomy.
Spatial anatomy of the lower renal pole, as defined by the infundibulopelvic angle (LIP angle), infundibular length (IL), and infundibular width (IW), plays a significant role in the stone-free rate after shockwave lithotripsy. A wide LIP angle, a short IL, and a broad IW, individually or in combination, favor stone clearance, whereas a LIP <70 degrees, an IL >3 cm, or an IW < or =5 mm are individually unfavorable. When all three unfavorable factors or an unfavorable LIP and IL coexist, the post-SWL stone-free rate falls to 50% or less. Using these criteria, more than one fourth of our patients with a lower-pole calculus might have been better served by an initial percutaneous or perhaps ureteroscopic procedure, neither of which is significantly affected by the lower-pole spatial anatomy.


Current presentation and optimal surgical management of sternoclavicular joint infections.
Infection of the stemoclavicular joint is unusual, and treatment of this entity has not been standardized. We sought to characterize the current presentation and optimal management of this disease. We retrospectively reviewed the records of the last 7 patients undergoing operation for suppurative infections of the stemoclavicular joint at this institution. Patients were interviewed regarding upper extremity function after formal joint resection. Predisposing factors were common and included diabetes mellitus (n = 2), clavicular fracture (n = 1), human immunodeficiency virus infection (n = 1), immunosuppression (n = 1), and pustular skin disease (n = 1). All patients presented with local symptoms including clavicular mass and tenderness. Diagnosis and evaluation were facilitated by cross-sectional imaging. Organisms isolated included Staphylococcus aureus, group G streptococcus, and Proteus and Propionibacterium species. Antibiotic therapy and simple drainage and debridement were generally ineffective, leading to recurrence of infection in 5 of 6 patients treated initially in this manner. Six patients were treated with resection of the stemoclavicular joint and involved portions of first or second ribs with soft tissue coverage by advancement flap from the ipsilateral pectoralis major muscle. Response to this therapy was excellent, with cure in all patients, no wound complications, and excellent upper extremity function at long-term follow-up. Aggressive surgical management including resection of the sternoclavicular joint and involved ribs with pectoralis flap closure would appear to be the preferred treatment for all but the most minor infections of the sternoclavicular joint. This approach has minimal impact on upper extremity function.


A decision support system for diabetes care: ethical aspects.
In this paper the design and implementation of a decision support system for diabetes care is examined from an ethical perspective. It is noted that the system creates potential for enhancing the realization of the principle of autonomy through improved information to patients and participation by patients. However, there is also potential for using the system in a way that is contrary to good health care. It may provide patients with information they are unable to interpret and handle, and it may be used by healthcare authorities for controlling their personnel in ways contrary to good quality working conditions. In order for a decision support system to function as a well-integrated element in ethically based health care, different ethical aspects have to be taken into account during the design of the system. The ethical aspects also constitute one perspective of a systematic re-evaluation and re-design process.


Prevalence of severe pelvic organ prolapse in relation to job description and socioeconomic status: a multicenter cross-sectional study.
The aim of this study was to determine if certain occupations or socioeconomic levels are associated with pelvic organ prolapse. Investigators at six American sites performed pelvic organ prolapse quantification examinations on women presenting for routine gynecologic care. Between September 1999 and March 2002, 1,004 patients were examined. Severe pelvic organ prolapse was defined as the leading edge being 1 cm or more beyond the hymeneal ring. The data was analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, Bonferroni test, multiple logistic regression, and descriptive statistics. The prevalence of severe pelvic organ prolapse in our group was 4.3%. Women who were laborers/factory workers had significantly more severe prolapse than the other job categories (p < 0.001). Women with annual income of Dollars 10,000 or less had significantly more severe pelvic organ prolapse than other income groups (p < 0.001). These differences persisted even when controlling for age, race, number of deliveries, body mass index >30, and smoking status (all p < 0.001). Laborers/factory worker jobs and an annual household income of Dollars 10,000 or less are associated with severe pelvic organ prolapse.


Lorente de Nó: From Neuroanatomy to Neurophysiology.
Rafael Lorente de Nó (1902-1990) was the youngest and last of Santiago Ramón y Cajal's students. With Fernando de Castro, Lorente de Nó helped to transition the focus of Ramón y Cajal's School from neuroanatomy to neurophysiology. His main contributions to neuroscience concerned the cytoarchitecture of the cerebral isocortex and hippocampus, neural networks, central vestibular system anatomy, vestibulo-ocular reflex physiology, cochlear nuclei anatomy, and synaptic transmission mechanisms. This article pays tribute to the memory of Lorente de Nó by providing a comprehensive review of the life and work of this giant of neuroscience. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


T cell lymphoproliferative disorder following bone marrow transplantation for severe aplastic anemia.
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is uncommonly of T cell origin, especially following BMT. We describe a 13-year-old boy with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and no evidence of Fanconi's anemia who underwent BMT at 11 years of age using CY 10 mg/kg once daily i.v. on days -5, -4, antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) 30 mg/kg once daily i.v. on days -5 approximately -3 and CsA from day -1 as conditioning. The BMT failed and he received a further peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) 240 days after BMT. Conditioning was with CY 50 mg/kg once daily i.v. on days -5 approximately -2, and ALG 15 mg/kg once daily i.v. on days -4 approximately -2. GVHD prophylaxis included CsA and MTX. Engraftment was later confirmed by cytogenetic studies. Desquamation and ulcers of the oral mucosa and mouth angle developed in the 13th month post PBSCT. A buccal mucosa biopsy on day +524 revealed only plasmacytosis. Immunosuppressants were discontinued at that point. Generalized lymphadenopathy, prolonged fever (waxing and waning) and facial swelling developed in the 18th month post PBSCT. A neck lymph node biopsy on day +601 showed T cell lymphoma of diffuse large cell type with monoclonal TCR gamma-chain gene rearrangement. A FISH study showed that the malignant T cells were of recipient origin. EBV in situ hybridization was negative. He did not receive further treatment apart from discontinuation of immunosuppressants. He was followed up in our out-patient clinic and showed good performance 1170 days post PBSCT. We speculate that a different mechanism was operating in the pathogenesis of T cell lymphoma in this case. Risk factors include SAA and two transplants, conditioned with CY and ALG, long term use of CsA and treatment with azathioprine.


Multiple shoot formation from normal and malformed somatic embryo explants of Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.).
A procedure for multiple shoot formation from somatic embryo explants of Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) cultured on DKW medium containing benzyladenine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) was developed. TDZ in combination with BA produced more shoots than either treatment alone. The highest number of shoots (3.3 to 3.4 shoots per explant) was obtained from partially desiccated and wounded explants treated with a combination of 5 or 10 μM BA and 0.5 or 1.0 μM TDZ for 20 days before being transferred to the same medium without TDZ. The number of shoots formed was increased from 1.5 to 3.2 shoots per explant by cutting through the cotyledonary node prior to culture. In addition, the frequency of explants forming shoots was increased by desiccation of somatic embryo explants to approximately 50% moisture and by using somatic embryos with two well formed cotyledons as explants.


Evidence in support of a feedback-sensitive central timekeeper for an over-learned repetitive motor behavior (pencil shading).
To demonstrate the presence of a CNS timekeeper for an over-learned repetitive voluntary movement (pencil shading), and to learn if the timekeeper is influenced by changes in sensory feedback. Self-paced pencil shading; fast, maximally-fast, and slow hand waving, as well as enhanced physiologic tremor (EPT) were recorded on 3 separate occasions with a surface-mounted accelerometer placed on the hand in 9 normal volunteers. Variation in inter-trial peak frequency was calculated. Shading and EPT were also recorded with and without visual masking in 9 normals and in 2 deafferented patients. Variation in intra-trial beat-to-beat intervals, a measure of movement regularity, was calculated. Shading and maximally-fast waving displayed preferred frequencies with no more variability in peak frequency between trials than did EPT, while slow and fast waving had significant inter-trial variability. Variation in beat-to-beat intervals for the shading task was less in controls than for EPT, and less in controls than for the patients in both the masked and unmasked conditions. In addition, in the masked condition, pencil shading by the patients was performed with much higher amplitude and lower frequency than by the controls. These data support the hypothesis that certain repetitive voluntary movements, such as pencil shading, are paced by central timekeepers that are influenced by changes in sensory feedback.


Synergistic interactions in haemopoiesis: biological implications and clinical use.
Growth factors promote the survival and proliferation of haemopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and in their absence the haemopoietic cells undergo apoptosis and die. The results of studies reported here indicate that multipotent stem cells have receptors for most, if not all, of the growth factors, but that even saturated binding of the receptors for a single growth factor is not sufficient to transduce an effective stimulus for the proliferation of these cells (possibly due to very low receptor numbers). However, when the growth factors are combined synergistic effects can be seen. Studies in which stem cell factor was used in combination with other growth factors showed that stem cell factor allowed the survival of stem cells, while a second growth factor (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) stimulated the stem cells to develop normally. Stem cell factor was also shown to alter the dose-response relationships of developing haemopoietic cells for other growth factors.


The radical nature of combined psychotherapy.
Abstract The therapist's commitment in thought and action to combined practice influences all aspects of professional life. Hence, the "radical" (or foundational): The idea as well as the shared history of combined psychotherapy are rooted within the complexities and intensities of the multiple transference-countertransferences, intrapsychic defenses, interpersonal strategies, and inevitable enactments of all members of one's practice. Case anecdotes illustrate (a) the psycho-social impact of Establishment psychoanalysis and group analysis on the therapist; (b) the intertwining of dyadic-group experience on manifest and latent content, inference making, and interpretation; (c) how the "group" never leaves the room, that is, the salutary effects on the therapist's thinking and clinical relationships of the idea as well as the reality of group, even with those patients not exposed to combined treatment; and (d) resistances specific to combined treatment. Combined individual-group psychoanalytic therapy is a natural fit, yet a radical extension of contemporary relational psychoanalytic theory and practice.


Reliability and validity of World Health Organization Quality of Life-100 in homeless substance-dependent veteran population.
The number of homeless individuals and specifically homeless veterans is increasing. Accurate assessment of quality of life is an important need in working with this population because of the myriad problems encountered. However, the reliability and validity of quality-of-life instruments have not been assessed in this population. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the U.S. version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-100 in a homeless veteran population. Results found adequate internal consistency for all domain and most facet scores, while test-retest stability varied for the facet scores. We confirmed validity by using subsamples with physical, emotional, and social problems and by comparing scores from populations that returned to the community with employment and housing. Limitations and directions for future study are discussed.


Evaluation of myocardial metabolism with microdialysis after protection with cold blood- or cold crystalloid cardioplegia. A porcine model.
There has been a considerable change in the patient population referred for cardiac surgery in the last decade. More complex and marginal patients require optimized myocardial protection. An insufficient cardioplegic procedure results in anaerobic metabolism during cardiac arrest with subsequent lactate accumulation. Increased lactate level is regarded as a predictor for low cardiac output syndrome. In an acute porcine model we examined two standard cardioplegic methods. Myocardial microdialysis was used to investigate the metabolism during cardioplegic arrest and in the reperfusion period. Twelve domestic pigs were randomly chosen to receive either cold blood-or cold crystalloid cardioplegia. After midline sternotomy two microdialysis probes were implanted in two different regions of the heart. Cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated, aorta was clamped, and antegrade cardioplegia was delivered. These conditions were maintained for 90 min. Subsequent to myocardial reperfusion the animals were observed for 180 min. Microdialysis and plasma markers to characterize myocardial metabolism, and plasma markers for myocardial failure and necrosis were obtained every 30 min. Lactate concentrations were significantly increased in the cold crystalloid cardioplegia group compared to the cold blood cardioplegia group, in tissue dialysate (p < 0.001) as well as in serum (p = 0.018). Pyruvate concentrations in the dialysate were significantly increased in the cold crystalloid cardioplegia group compared to the cold blood cardioplegia group (p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in dialysate concentrations of glycerol. Plasma markers for myocardial failure (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) and for myocardial necrosis (Cardiac Troponin T) showed no differences between the groups. The results indicate that cold blood cardioplegia offers superior protection of the heart, in terms of more rapid normalization of myocardial metabolism. The microdialysis technique seems to have a high sensitivity and ability to detect even minor metabolic changes. This enhances the possibility of designing a myocardial protection, which might lower morbidity and mortality risk.


Intra-limb coordination in karate kicking: Effect of impacting or not impacting a target.
This study aimed to investigate the kicking limb coordinative patterns adopted by karate practitioners (karateka) when impacting (IRK), or not impacting (NIRK) a target during a roundhouse kick. Six karateka performed three repetitions of both kicks while kicking limb kinematics were recorded using a stereophotogrammetric system. Intra-limb coordination was quantified for hip and knee flexion-extension from toe-off to kick completion, using the Continuous relative phase (CRP). Across the same time interval, thigh and shank angular momentum about the vertical axis of the body was calculated. For all trials, across all participants, CRP curve peaks and maximum and minimum angular momentum were determined. A RM-ANOVA was performed to test for differences between kicking conditions. The CRP analysis highlighted, during the central portion of both kicks, a delayed flexion of the hip with respect to the knee. Conversely, during the terminal portion of the CRP curves, the NIRK is performed with a more in-phase action, caused by a higher hip angular displacement. The NIRK is characterized by a lower angular momentum which may enhance control of the striking limb. It would seem that the issue of no impact appears to be solved through the control of all segments of the kicking limb, in contrast to the primary control of the lower leg only observed during the IRK.


Spectrophotometric determination of penicillins in pure and pharmaceutical formulations using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent.
A new combination of time, temperature, and alkali is described for the spectrophotometric determination of amoxicillin and ampicillin using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The method is based on the development of blue-coloured product due to the reduction of tungstate and/or molybdate in Folin-Ciocalteu reagent by amoxicillin and ampicillin in alkaline medium. The chromogenic reaction has λ(max) at 720 and 740 nm with molar absorptivity 1.6295 × 10⁴ and 0.1085 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in the Beer's Law range 2-10 µg mL⁻¹ and 10-70 µg mL⁻¹ for amoxicillin and ampicillin, respectively. The method is reproducible, quick, inexpensive, and particularly helpful in determining the drug content in commercial dosage forms.


Human T lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) immortalizes human T cells in vitro--its implication in the pathogenesis of adult T cell leukemia (ATL).
HTLV-I is the first human retrovirus that was isolated from a patient with T-cell malignancy in 1980 in the United States. HTLV-I is detected in most patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and healthy carriers, who are frequently found in the southwestern parts of Kyushu and Shikoku Districts. HTLV-I-infected cells express IL-2 receptors, and HTLV-I-infected T cell lines can be established from most of ATL patients in culture in the presence of IL-2. Furthermore, these IL-2 dependent T cell lines often begin to proliferate in the absence of IL-2 and to not respond to IL-2, despite IL-2 receptors on their cell surface, thus mimicking ATL cells in vivo. These findings suggest that HTLV-I is an etiological agent of ATL. In this mini-review, the T cell immortalizing activity of HTLV-I in vitro, with special reference to the evolution of ATL cells based on our results, is described.


Corneal thickness changes from bathing solutions.
Corneal thickness changes were measured after bathing the outer corneal surface with sodium chloride solutions of various concentrations. Bathing was accomplished by total immersion in the solution in a goggle or by the application of drops for a period of 20 minutes. A nearly linear relationship was found between hypotonicity and the degree of corneal swelling.


[Dental caries in an ecological perspective].
Dental caries affects the majority of the Danish population. Its aetiology is multi-factorial, but a pH-induced change in the homeostasis of the oral biofilm leading to overgrowth of acid-tolerating bacteria is a key event. A non-invasive concept for prevention and management is emerging based on the common risk factor approach. There is strong evidence that tooth brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste is the most cost-effective way to prevent and control caries development. Physicians need to consider that a number of drugs may affect the saliva flow rate, which increases the caries risk.


Equid herpesvirus type-1 exhibits neurotropism and neurovirulence in a mouse model.
Intranasal inoculation of equid herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) Brazilian strains A4/72 and A9/92 induced an acute and lethal infection in four different inbred mouse strains. Clinical and neurological signs appeared between the 2nd and 3rd day post inoculation (dpi) and included weight loss, ruffled fur, a hunched posture, crouching in corners, nasal and ocular discharges, dyspnoea, dehydration and increased salivation. These signs were followed by increased reactivity to external stimulation, seizures, recumbency and death. The virus was recovered consistently from the brain and viscera of all mice with neurological signs. Histopathological changes consisted of leptomeningitis, focal haemorrhage, ventriculitis, neuronal degeneration and necrosis, neuronophagia, non-suppurative inflammation, multifocal gliosis and perivascular infiltration of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated that EHV-1 strains A4/72 and A9/92 replicated in neurons of the olfactory bulb, the cortex and the hippocampus. In contrast, mice inoculated with the EHV-1 Brazilian strain A3/97 showed neither weight loss nor apparent clinical or neurological signs; however, the virus was recovered consistently from their lungs at 3 dpi. These three EHV-1 strains showed distinct degrees of virulence and tissue tropism in mice. EHV-1 strains A4/72 and A9/92 exhibited a high degree of central nervous system tropism with neuroinvasion and neurovirulence. EHV-1 strain A3/97 was not neurovirulent despite being detected in the brains of infected BALB/c nude mice. These findings indicate that several inbred mouse strains are susceptible to neuropathogenic EHV-1 strains and should be useful models for studying the pathogenesis and mechanisms contributing to EHV-induced myeloencephalopathy in horses.


Glucose oxidation by Gluconobacter oxydans: characterization in shaking-flasks, scale-up and optimization of the pH profile.
In this study, the advantage of a novel measuring device for the online determination of oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer rates in shaking-flasks is reported for glucose oxidation by Gluconobacter oxydans. In this fermentation process, this device was used for the characterization of the oxidation pattern of different strains. G. oxydans NCIMB 8084 forms 2,5-diketogluconate from d-glucose in a multi-stage process via three different membrane-bound dehydrogenases. This strain was chosen for a scale-up of the process from shaking-flasks to a 2-l stirred vessel. An enhancement of 2,5-diketogluconate production was realized by controlling the pH at different levels during the fermentation.


[Explaining discrepancies in self-reported quality of life in frail older people: a mixed-methods study].
Most research on (multidimensional) frailty focuses on deficits and risks of adverse outcomes. However, frail older people can still report positive outcomes, such as a relatively high QoL. In order to develop more positively oriented prevention strategies, this exploratory study aimed (a) to identify characteristics related to QoL among frail older people; and (b) to explain discrepancies between higher and lower levels of QoL, with a specific focus on strengths frail older people with a higher QoL still may have. Quantitative and qualitative data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews with Flemish community-dwelling, frail older people with higher (n = 16) and lower QoL levels (n = 18). Quantitative analyses showed that frail older people with a higher QoL were older, had lower levels of psychological frailty, and reported higher meaning in life compared to those with a lower QoL. Outcomes of qualitative analysis showed that participants in the high QoL subgroup adapted more effectively to difficulties, had more things in prospect, performed more activities, and were more satisfied with their social network compared to the low QoL subgroup. To conclude, this exploratory study suggests possibilities to promote and improve QoL by strengthening specific resources among frail older people.Please note that an English version of this article has been published in BMC Geriatrics: van der Vorst A, Zijlstra GAR, De Witte N, Vogel RGM, Schols JMGA, Kempen GIJM, D‑SCOPE Consortium. Explaining discrepancies in self-reported quality of life in frail older people: a mixed-methods study. BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1): 251. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0641-y .


Microwave oxidation treatment of sewage sludge.
Microwave-oxidation treatment of sewage sludge using various oxidants was studied. Two treatment schemes with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and ozone were examined: hydrogen peroxide and ozone were introduced into the sludge simultaneously, followed by microwave heating. The other involved the ozonation first, and then the resulting solution was subjected to microwave and hydrogen peroxide treatment. The set with ozonation followed by hydrogen peroxide plus microwave heating yielded higher soluble materials than those of the set with hydrogen peroxide plus ozone first and then microwave treatment. No settling was observed for all treatments in the batch operation, except ozone/microwave plus hydrogen peroxide set at 120°C. The pilot-scale continuous-flow 915 MHz microwave study has demonstrated that microwave-oxidation process is feasible for real-time industrial application. It would help in providing key data for the design of a full-scale system for treating sewage sludge and the formulation of operational protocols.


Neurotoxic effects of manganese: studies on cell cultures, tissue homogenates and intact animals.
This paper gives a short summary of some neurotoxic effects of manganese. Further, a model of toxicological action of manganese is discussed. Such a model should probably involve influences via redox reactions. In this study results revealed that the lipid peroxidation was reduced when neuroblastoma cells in culture were treated with manganese chloride. Additionally, the thiol content of proteins as well as non-protein thiols were reduced in the same experimental system. Due to the essential function of thiol groups in life processes, the observed drop in the amount of thiols must be of some importance for the toxicology of manganese. In relation to this, previously known physiological and biochemical effects of manganese are discussed.


[Geometric representation of the human thorax in electrocardiographic theory].
An accurate representation of the thoracic surface is required to solve the inverse problem of electrocardiography. For the purpose we have searched the second degree surface which fits 55-88 positions distributed around the trunk. Over a group of 17 young men, we have found that the positions always scattered around an ellipsoid the cephalo-caudal limits of which extended far away from the zero potential gradient levels. This discrepancy is discussed and a proposal is formulated.


[Nerve classification with hyperspectral imaging technology].
In surgical nerve repair surgery, the identification of nerve fascicles is a key to a good repair of their broken end. Some of the existing nerve fascicles identification method are not ideal. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology provides information of images and spectra of biological tissue at the same time. It can supply a qualitative, quantitative and positioning description of the test objectives, and identify different biological tissues by biochemical characteristic difference, and classify and position these tissues in the image. Compared to other medical imaging technology, this techriology has unique advantages. In this study, the hyperspectral imaging technology is used in the identification and classification of the nerve fascicles by the spectral characteristics of different nerve fascicles, and in determining the orientation of the nerve fascicles in the image by the image spectral information in order to better help surgical personnel to carry out the nerve repair surgery. The significance of this paper is: the first to propose a new method of identification and location of the nerve fascicles and assist surgical staff to improve the efficacy of nerve repair; the second to reserve hyperspectral imaging techniques used in qualitative and quantitative and orientation research combined with biological organization, and speed up the molecular hyperspectral imaging technology to the practical stage.


Biocompatible photoresistant far-red emitting, fluorescent polymer probes, with near-infrared two-photon absorption, for living cell and zebrafish embryo imaging.
Exogenous probes with far-red or near-infrared (NIR) two-photon absorption and fluorescence emission are highly desirable for deep tissue imaging while limiting autofluorescence. However, molecular probes exhibiting such properties are often hydrophobic. As an attractive alternative, we synthesized water-soluble polymer probes carrying multiple far-red fluorophores and demonstrated here their potential for live cell and zebrafish embryo imaging. First, at concentrations up to 10 μm, these polymer probes were not cytotoxic. They could efficiently label living HeLa cells, T lymphocytes and neurons at an optimal concentration of 0.5 μm. Moreover, they exhibited a high resistance to photobleaching in usual microscopy conditions. In addition, these polymer probes could be successfully used for in toto labeling and in vivo two-photon microscopy imaging of developing zebrafish embryos, with remarkable properties in terms of biocompatibility, internalization, diffusion, stability and wavelength emission range. The near-infrared two-photon absorption peak at 910 nm is particularly interesting since it does not excite the zebrafish endogenous fluorescence and is likely to enable long-term time-lapse imaging with limited photodamage.


[Cerebral haemodynamics during carotid angioplasty with flow interruption. The correlation between oximetry and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography].
To determine the correlation between oximetry and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TDU) during and following carotid stent-angioplasty with flow interruption, and to evaluate the level of hypoperfusion and its recovery during the procedure. Records were made, prospectively, of the flow rates in the middle cerebral artery and the trans-cutaneous oxygen saturation of 18 patients who had undergone surgery to perform a carotid stent-angioplasty. Monitoring was basal and at 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 minutes after stopping and opening the flow. Measurements, in units and percentages of change, were stratified by groups as mild, moderate and severe. The agreement between the two tests was studied. Occlusion time: 8.2 +/- 2.7 minutes. Two patients (11.1%) presented cerebral hypoperfusion. Flow was re-established in two patients due to its reaching critical values. Mean of the baseline values: 56.3 +/- 11.4 cm/s (TDU) and 67.6 +/- 7.1% (oximetry). The changes in the absolute values and percentages of change between TDU and oximetry were evaluated and results showed an agreement between them in occlusion (rho = 0.8-0.9; p < 0.05), with less association on re-establishing the flow (rho = 0.4-0.8; p < 0.05). In percentages of change there was very good agreement in occlusion (kappa = 0.8-1; p < 0.05). Agreement was good (kappa = 0.68; p < 0.05) at 1, 3 and 5 minutes after opening up the flow. A significant correlation was found between the methods during the interruption of carotid flow, which means they can be used independently. Overall, 88.9% remained below the safety threshold for cerebral ischaemia and, given that the procedure can be carried out with brief interruptions, control by oximetry or TDU can be just as safe in evaluating cerebral ischaemia.


Cytogenetic studies in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: identification of a case with a 6p chromosome abnormality.
Lymphocytes from patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) were studied with prometaphase G banding to search for minor chromosome anomalies and in mutagen stress assays to assess the extent of chromosome breakage under these conditions. One patient, a sporadic case of WAS, was found to have a stable inversion of a large segment of one chromosome 6 that involved the region encoding the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The anomaly was not present in the patient's parents, nor in three other unrelated patients with WAS, all of whom demonstrated X-linked inheritance (based on family history). None of the four patients showed an excessive number of breaks or radial exchange figures following exposure to mitomycin C or diepoxybutane. Thus chromosome fragility in WAS was not confirmed by these studies. However, the incidental finding of 6p inversion in a sporadic case of WAS suggests that genetic rearrangement involving the MHC can result in clinical immunodeficiency mimicking WAS.


The effect of the frequency of subcutaneous insulin-like growth factor-1 administration on weight gain in growth hormone deficient mice.
To ascertain the frequency of subcutaneous IGF-1 administration necessary to promote growth we examined the weight gain of male homozygous lit/lit mice in response to either sc. IGF-1 or bovine GH administration. Lit/lit mice showed a dose dependent response to treatment with GH. Bovine GH induced a response in body weight gain within 3 days of the start of treatment. Following a single subcutaneous injection of IGF-1, plasma IGF-1 levels were elevated for 4-6 hours. Three treatment schedules for IGF-1 were used (once daily, twice daily and four times daily), each employing the same total daily dose of IGF-1 (30 micrograms). With IGF-1 treatment, a significant effect on body weight gain was obtained when administered four times daily. The growth rate with IGF-1 treatment 6 hourly was similar to that observed following treatment with bGH (10 micrograms sc daily). Twelve hourly IGF-1 administration only had a significant effect on body weight gain when weight was measured in the evening. Lit/lit mice treated once daily with 30 micrograms IGF-1 had no weight gain response and became severely hypoglycaemic. Frequent subcutaneous IGF-1 administration is one approach to growth enhancement in GH deficiency; higher doses administered less frequently do not promote growth and may cause hypoglycaemia.


Exploratory analysis of estimated acoustic peak rarefaction pressure, recanalization, and outcome in the transcranial ultrasound in clinical sonothrombolysis trial.
Acoustic peak rarefaction pressure (APRP) is the main factor that influences ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis. We sought to determine whether recanalization rate and functional outcomes in the Transcranial Ultrasound in Clinical SONothrombolysis (TUCSON) trial could be predicted by estimated in vivo APRP. We developed an acoustic attenuation model to estimate the in vivo APRP at the arterial occlusion site in each subject of the TUCSON trial with CT scans eligible for measurements. Variables included temporal bone thickness, depth of arterial occlusion site, and average attenuation of skin and brain tissues. Recanalization was defined as partial or complete using the Thrombolysis in Brain Infarction flow grades. Functional independence was assessed at 3 months using the modified Rankin Scale score (mRS, 0-1). APRP was calculated in 20 acute ischemic stroke patients treated with sonothrombolysis (mean age, 64 ± 15 years, 65% men; median NIHSS score, 13; IQR, 6-17). The mean APRP was 30.2 ± 15.5 kPa (range, 8-68 kPa). Patients with persisting occlusion had nonsignificantly lower APRP than patients with partial or complete recanalization (25.2 ± 8.0 versus 32.3 ± 17.7 kPa; p = 0.228). Patients who were functionally independent at 3 months had nonsignificantly higher APRP than patients with worse outcome (35.1 ± 19.5 versus 25.9 ± 11.2 kPa; p = 0.217). Our exploratory analysis suggests a potentially important role of successful energy delivery to augment thrombolysis with 2-MHz ultrasound in acute ischemic stroke patients.


[Proximal migration of a Double J catheter: case report and review of the literature].
To report one case of proximal migration of ureteral stent. To perform a bibliographic review about other cases and management to avoid this complication. 48-year-old woman who presents right obstructive uropathy after gynecologic surgery. After the introduction of the right ureteral stent we observed a proximal stent migration. We put on a right nephrostomy tube and antergrade ureteral stent. The right stent length and proper location of the distal tip are important factors to avoid this complication.


Tissue-specific coordinate regulation of enzymes of cholesterol biosynthesis: sciatic nerve versus liver.
Exposure of weanling rats to a diet containing the element tellurium results in specific inhibition of squalene epoxidase, an obligate enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. Liver responds to the resulting intracellular sterol deficit by up-regulating, in parallel and to the same extent, expression of mRNA for squalene epoxidase and for HMG-CoA reductase, the major rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway. This increased mRNA expression, coupled with additional translational and posttranslational activation of the pathway allows normal levels of cholesterol synthesis in liver despite tellurium-induced inhibition of squalene epoxidase. The response to tellurium challenge in sciatic nerve is very different. In this tissue, cholesterol synthesis is prominent because of the large amount of cholesterol required for synthesis and maintenance of myelin. Although nerve shows an initial (at 1 day) up-regulation of mRNA expression for both enzymes in response to tellurium exposure, this is followed quickly by parallel down-regulation of both enzymes, in concert with down-regulation of mRNA expression for myelin proteins. We suggest that the tellurium-induced deficit in sterols leads to a coordinate down-regulation of synthesis of myelin components. The initial early up-regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis in sciatic nerve due to the cholesterol deficit is countered by down-regulation which is coordinated with overall control of the program of myelin assembly. This tissue-specific control of cholesterol synthesis in sciatic nerve is a point of vulnerability to toxicants, and may be related to the need for coordinate synthesis of all components of myelin.


Effects of high-K low-Na, diltiazem, caffeine and Ba on spontaneous fluctuating contractile activities in rat cardiac muscle.
The effects of 1) high-K low-Na, 2) caffeine, 3) diltiazem and 4) Ba on spontaneous fluctuating contractile activity were examined in isolated rat trabecular muscles. Intracellular contractile activity was recorded by means of light intensity fluctuation at a point on a magnified image of the muscle illuminated by laser light. Perfusion with a high-K (124 mM) low-Na (25 mM) solution increased the root mean square (RMS) values of the light intensity fluctuations. Perfusion with the normal solution after this perturbation decreased the RMS values below those in the initial control. Caffeine (above 2.5 mM) markedly decreased the RMS values. Diltiazem (0.1 mM or 1 mM) did not change the RMS values. Ba (2.0 mM) without Ca reduced the RMS values. These observations suggest that the spontaneous fluctuating contractile activity is due to oscillating movements of Ca between contractile machinery and sarcoplasmic reticulum, and that Na/Ca exchange modulates these movements but Ca current through the slow channel does not influence these movements during resting periods.


hTRPC1-associated alpha-actinin, and not hTRPC1 itself, is tyrosine phosphorylated during human platelet activation.
Canonical transient receptor potential channels (TRPCs), which are regulated by several processes, including tyrosine phosphorylation, are candidates for the conduction of store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE). To assess hTRPC phosphotyrosine content upon platelet stimulation. A new protein complex immunological separation assay (ProCISA) was developed to allow assessment of isolated hTRPC tyrosine phosphorylation by Western blotting. Classical immunoprecipitation suggested that thrombin (Thr) evoked an initial decrease in hTRPC1 phosphotyrosine content, which reached a minimum at 1 s, and then increased again, exceeding basal levels after 3 min. However, TRPC isolation from protein complexes using ProCISA revealed that hTRPC1, 4 and 5 were not tyrosine phosphorylated at rest or after Thr stimulation. Stimulation with Thr for 3 min increased the phosphotyrosine content of alpha-actinin, which shows similar electrophoretic properties to hTRPCs and coimmunoprecipitates with hTRPC1. Thr-evoked alpha-actinin tyrosine phosphorylation was increased by inhibiting the alpha-actinin phosphatase, SHP-1, which enhanced phosphorylation of the TRPC complex and SOCE. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation impaired the interaction between hTRPC1 and the intracellular Ca(2+) sensor STIM1. hTRPC1, 4 and 5 are not tyrosine phosphorylated during SOCE in human platelets although tyrosine phosphorylation is important for SOCE. The results obtained using ProCISA caution the use of classical immunoprecipitation for the determination of the tyrosine phosphorylation state of a given protein, where the presence of other proteins with similar electrophoretic mobilities may give misleading results.


Failure to protect: why the individual insurance market is not a viable option for most U.S. families: findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey, 2007.
Between 2001 and 2007, an increasing share of adults with private insurance--whether employer-based coverage or individual market plans--spent a large amount of their income on premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs, were underinsured, and/or avoided needed health care because of costs. Those with coverage obtained in the individual market were the most affected. Over the last three years, nearly three-quarters of people who tried to buy coverage in this market never actually purchased a plan, either because they could not find one that fit their needs or that they could afford, or because they were turned down due to a preexisting condition. Even people enrolled in employer-based plans are spending larger amounts of their income on health care and curtailing their use of needed services to save money. The findings underscore the need for an expansion of affordable health insurance options, particularly during a time of mounting job losses.


Ascaris lumbricoides infection causing respiratory distress after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Ascaris lumbricoides infects an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide, but is usually asymptomatic. Herein we report a case of acute respiratory distress caused by upper airway obstruction due to an adult A. lumbricoides nematodes after cardiac surgery. Case report and review of pertinent literature. A 70-year old female, until recently a resident of the rural Philippines, underwent coronary bypass grafting in New York City. Nine hours after surgery (one hour after endotracheal extubation), cough and arterial oxygen desaturation prompted airway suctioning, which retrieved an adult nematode from the posterior oroharynx. symptomes abated immediately, after which the patient receive a curative course of mebendazole. Although infection with A. lumbricoides is rare in the United States, it may become manifest with severe consequences in the postoperative period.


Evaluation of nucleic acid sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of the 28S rDNA and the internal transcribed spacer region using SmartGene IDNS [corrected] software for identification of filamentous fungi in a clinical laboratory.
Filamentous fungal infections have recently increased because of the increasing numbers of immunocompromised hosts. In this study, we evaluated DNA sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using SmartGene (SG; SmartGene Inc., Raleigh, NC) for the identification of a broad range of commonly encountered filamentous fungi. The SG proofreaders were used to upload, align, and edit fragments, and the resultant sequences were interpreted using the quality-controlled SG database. The results were compared with reference identifications using conventional phenotypic methods or ITS DNA sequences obtained from GenBank if phenotypic identifications were inconclusive. A total of 146 clinical isolates were included in this study, representing 49 different genera. The overall agreements of the D1/D2 and the ITS sequencing methods to reference identification were 97.2% (95% CI, 93.1% to 98.9%) and 97.7% (95% CI, 92.8% to 99.4%), respectively. Of the 146 isolates, 18 (12.3%) did not amplify using the ITS universal primers after repeated attempts and, therefore, could not be sequenced using this target. Correct identification was achieved for 100% (95% CI, 97.4% to 100%) of the isolates when applying both the D1/D2 and ITS targets. In summary, DNA sequencing using SG software provides a rapid, accurate, and reliable tool for the identification of filamentous fungi in a clinical laboratory.


Work-related reproductive, musculoskeletal and mental disorders among working women--history, current issues and future research directions.
According to the recent changes of working environments and socio-economical conditions, the proportion of working women are increasing in Japan. Characteristics of occupational workload and stress of Japanese working women are consistent with those in many industrialized countries except man-dominant culture. In this review we describe the history, current issues, and future research directions on occupational health of working women, especially focused on reproductive health, work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (WMSDs), and mental disorders. In the reproductive health survey, traditionally main concern was about pregnancy outcomes, then fecundity studies, such as time to pregnancy, became topics recently. Future research will be shifted to outcomes not only during pregnancy but also disorders of hormonal balance and climacterium or health conditions after menopause. WMSDs are reviewed on mainly gender difference and its causative factors. Historically, mental health of working women in Japan has focused on the job stress of nurses. We compare results with a lot of recent researches in Europe and U.S.A., where interaction between occupational stress and family roles were studied. It is not easy to predict the prospective status of female workers in Japan, but social, workplace and familial supports will enhance their health promotion.


A review on endoscopic palliation of obstructive jaundice before surgery.
Since its development, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has evolved from a simple diagnostic technique to an important therapeutic procedure. Obstructive jaundice is often the first and most common complication in patients with malignant disease of the extrahepatic biliary tract. Although preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) may be instituted in many centers, different studies have reported divergent results regarding its benefits in reducing the complications of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, especially with regard to pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. In this review, we will summarize the current literature of PBD and describe its indications, possible benefits, and, when indicated, the appropriate interval before surgery.


δ-Methyl Branching in the Side Chain Makes the Difference: Access to Room-Temperature Discotics.
Although discotic liquid crystals are attractive functional materials, their use in electronic devices is often restricted by high melting and clearing points. Among the promising candidates for applications are [15]crown-5 ether-based liquid crystals with peripheral n-alkoxy side chains, which, however, still have melting points above room temperature. To overcome this problem, a series of o-terphenyl and triphenylene [15]crown-5 ether derivatives was prepared in which δ-methyl-branched alkoxy side chains of varying lengths substitute the peripheral linear alkoxy chains. The mesomorphic properties of the novel crown ethers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. δ-Methyl branching indeed lowers melting points resulting in room-temperature hexagonal columnar mesophases. The mesophase widths, which ranged from 87 to 30 K for o-terphenyls, significantly increased to 106-147 K for the triphenylenes depending on the chain lengths, revealing the beneficial effect of a flat mesogen, due to improved π-π interactions.


Seasonal abundance and parity of Culicoides biting midges associated with livestock at Roma, Lesotho (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).
A light-trap survey was undertaken of the species composition, seasonal abundance and parity of Culicoides at Roma, Lesotho, to establish whether the likely vectors for bluetongue and African horse sickness occur in this area as well as the chance of transmission. A total of 34 catches was made between 21 September 1985 and 24 September 1986; 32,819 Culicoides were caught belonging to 19 species. Culicoides numbers rapidly built up from December to a peak in February which implies that this may also be the optimum time for virus transmission. The number of Culicoides dropped sharply in April with the onset of cooler conditions. C. zuluensis was the dominant species forming 69.6% of the totalled catches, followed by C. pycnostictus with 11.7%. C. imicola, the only proven vector of bluetongue, was never abundant representing only 4.4% of the midges caught. The parous rate for each of the 2 commonest species was low, implying a low vector capacity.


Altered brain cholinergic enzymes activity in the genetically obese rat.
Genetically obese male Zucker rats (fa/fa) and their lean littermates (Fa/-) were used in this experiment. Fourteen-week-old obese and lean littermates were sacrificed and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes were assayed in specific brain regions. The assays of these enzymes indicate that obese animals had a significantly lower ChAT activity in the cerebellum, pons, and cerebral cortex and a significant increase in ChAT activity in the thalamus and hypothalamus. Meanwhile, the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain, thalamus and hypothalamus of the obese animals showed significantly higher AChE activity than their lean littermates. It was concluded from this study that obesity may be associated with changes in the enzymes of the brain cholinergic system.


Tunable doping of graphene nanoribbon arrays by chemical functionalization.
We demonstrate the controlled tuning of the electronic band structure of large-arrays of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) by chemical functionalization. The GNR arrays are synthesized by substrate-controlled metal-assisted etching of graphene in H2 at high temperature, and functionalized with different molecules. From Raman spectroscopy and carrier transport measurements, we found that 4-nitrobenzenediazonium (4-NBD) and diethylene triamine (DETA) molecules can tune the doping level of the GNR arrays to p- and n-type, respectively. In both cases, the doping effects induced in the GNRs were found to be higher than for a pristine graphene sheet, due to the presence of a large quantity of edges. Effects of chemical doping on the Raman spectrum of sp(2) carbon materials are also discussed. Our findings offer an effective way to control the electronic structure of GNRs by chemical functionalization, and are expected to facilitate the production of nanoribbon-based p-n junctions for future implementation into electronic circuits.


Evaluation of advanced treatment technologies for the elimination of pharmaceutical compounds.
Pharmaceuticals and their metabolites have developed as ecotoxicologically relevant micropollutants in the aquatic environment. During conventional biological wastewater treatment they are eliminated insufficiently and therefore reach surface waters via discharges. They are either partially or completely non-biodegradable and/or hardly eliminable by activated sludge adsorption because they often have polar structures. Membrane bioreactor treatment (MBR) was applied to pre-treat wastewater containing pharmaceutical compounds, e.g., antibiotics like floxacins and their synthetic precursor compounds. Our objectives were to eliminate these persistent target compounds from wastewater prior to discharge into receiving waters. Therefore an advanced treatment applying MBR combined with different chemical and physicochemical processes was performed. The addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC), nano filtration (NF), reverse osmosis (UO) or ozone (O3) and O3/UV were applied to MBR permeate spiked with the selected target compounds. Treatment efficiency was assessed using conventional inorganic and organic chemical analyses besides advanced physicochemical methods like liquid chromatography coupled with mass and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS and -MS-MS).


Interspecific interactions between larval digeneans in the eyes of perch, Perca fluviatilis.
The changes in prevalence and abundance of the three species of metacercariae in the humour of the eyes of perch Perca fluviatilis in Slapton Ley, Devon, have been monitored over a period of 29 years. Earlier studies had revealed that Diplostomum gasterostei was originally the sole occupant of this niche, but Tylodelphys clavata colonised in 1973 and T. podicipina in 1976. A decline in the number of perch with heavy infections of D. gasterostei was significantly negatively correlated with population abundance of T. clavata and a decline in recruitment rate of D. gasterostei coincided with the population increase in T. podicipino over the period 1976-1979. It was suggested that the decline in population size of D. gasterostei was due to inter-specific competition, but this hypothesis could not be tested experimentally. Subsequent investigations, reported here, confirmed the decline when the data set was extended to 1985. A severe decline in the perch population over the winter of 1984/1985 resulted in the disappearance of D. gasterostei and T. podicipina and this was followed by a slow recovery from 1990 onwards. This natural experiment provided an opportunity to test the hypothesis. Only T. clavata survived throughout the perch crash and the population continued at pre-crash levels up to 1999. Its congener T. podicipina did not re-appear until 1994 and was probably a re-introduction: it did not attain pre-crash levels until 1999. It is likely that D. gasterostei survived the crash as it re-appeared in 1991, but was confined to young of the year fish and barely approached pre-crash levels even in 1999. Its continual low levels cannot be explained by changes in the lake or in densities of snail intermediate or bird definitive hosts. New data revealed that the suspensory ligaments of the eye were the preferred site of all three species and that the eye was partitioned out between them. The data from the post-crash period do not refute but rather confirm earlier conclusions that inter-specific competition is responsible for the decline in D. gasterostei and this remains the preferred hypothesis.