Impact of particle size on distribution, bioaccessibility, and cytotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor dust.
Contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), can be absorbed on the particles of indoor dust, which may pose potential health risks. In this study, indoor dust samples were collected and sieved into 6 size fractions (i.e., <43 μm, 43-63 μm, 63-100 μm, 100-150 μm, 150-200 μm, and 200-2000 μm). Ingestion bioaccessibility of PAHs was measured by physiologically based extraction test. Bioaccessibility in fractions of 200-2000 μm was generally higher than those in other particle sizes. Daily uptake doses based on benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalency quantity were 1.09-15.0 ng/d/kg, and peaked at fractions of <43 μm, while doses considering bioaccessibility ranged from 0.02 to 0.21 ng/d/kg, and peaked at fractions with relatively larger particle size. Cell toxicity was also investigated by human normal liver cell line viability through exposure to organic extracts of indoor dust fractions with various particle sizes. Our results indicated that it is crucial to consider dust particle size and bioaccessibility during risk assessment.


Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of rhizome of Podophyllum hexandrum against carbon tetra chloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
To test possible antioxidant activity of n-hexane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ability of the extract to interact with the stable free radical DPPH, Superoxide (O2-), Hydroxyl (OH-), Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals, and reducing power ability of the extract was also evaluated. Under in vivo conditions the extract was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity by measuring different biochemical parameters, such as serum alanine aminotransaminase, serum aspartate aminotransaminase and serum lactate dehydrogenase and antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidant status was estimated by determining the activities of antioxidative enzymes, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and by determining the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Hexane extract of P. hexandrum exhibited good radical scavenging capacity in neutralization of DPPH, O2-, OH-, and H2O2 radicals in a dose dependent manner. n-hexane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum at the doses of 20, 30, and 50 mg/kg-day produced hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum marker enzymes, while it significantly increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in a dose dependant manner. The effect of n-hexane extract was comparable to that of standard antioxidant vitamin E. The extract of Podophyllum hexandrum possess free radical scavenging activity under in vitro conditions and could protect the liver tissue against CCl(4) induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidant defense activities.


Effect of acyclovir on thermal stress-induced herpesvirus reactivation.
Acyclovir has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrent herpes simplex virus lesions of the genitalia and oral labia. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of acyclovir on the appearance of infectious virus in the peripheral nervous system and in an end organ, the eye. Mice latent for the McKrae strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 were given 3.5 mg/ml acyclovir in their drinking water. Control animals received water without drug. Acyclovir treatment was continued for 4 successive days. On the third day, the mice were subjected to a brief period of hyperthermic stress to induce viral reactivation. Twenty-four hours after stress induction, swabs of the ocular surface and homogenates of the cornea and trigeminal ganglia were analyzed for the presence of infectious herpes simplex virus type 1 and viral DNA. Acyclovir treatment significantly decreased the frequency of infectious virus in the ocular tear film and the cornea but not in the trigeminal ganglion. The corneal homogenates of acyclovir-treated animals contained smaller amounts of viral DNA compared with untreated controls, whereas the amounts of viral DNA in the trigeminal ganglia of acyclovir-treated and untreated animals were similar. These results suggest that oral administration of acyclovir, at least at the dose used in this study, is effective in modestly reducing viral replication in peripheral tissues such as the eye but is not effective in inhibiting viral reactivation and viral DNA synthesis in the peripheral nervous system in mice subjected to induction of reactivation by hyperthermic stress.


Nicotinamide modulates energy utilization and improves functional recovery from ischemia in the in vitro rabbit retina.
The central nervous system depends critically on a regular supply of oxygen and glucose for the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the sustenance of its energy metabolism. Consequently, a significant reduction in the supply of oxygen and glucose to neuronal tissue causes an imbalance between the energy supply and demand, inducing the onset of neuronal ischemia and triggering many metabolic cascades leading to irreversible injury and cell death. Nicotinamide (NAm), an essential precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which raises brain ATP levels, may improve cerebral blood flow and is neuroprotective against ischemia-induced injury. We therefore chose to examine the metabolic and electrophysiologic/functional effects of NAm (0.1 mM, 1.0 mM, 10.0 mM) under normal, control, and ischemic conditions, as well as following the early stages of reperfusion ("return-to-control" conditions) using an in vitro rabbit retina model where blood flow effects are excluded. Under nonischemic, control conditions, the protective concentration of NAm (10.0 mM) increased glucose utilization (34%, P < 0.01) and decreased lactate production (44%, P < 0.01), but had no significant effect on electrophysiologic function. After 2 h of ischemia, glucose utilization was significantly decreased (41%, P < 0.01) and lactate production was unaffected by NAm (10 mM). Following 3 h of "reperfusion", NAm (10 mM) significantly improved glucose utilization (217%, P < 0.01), lactate production (40%, P < 0.01), and electrophysiologic function (264%, P < 0.01) relative to controls. Thus, the functional neuroprotective effects of NAm may be independent of blood flow effects, but related, at least in part, to its improvement of tissue glucose utilization and lactate production.


In situ observation of radicals and molecular products during lignin pyrolysis.
Lignin pyrolysis is a promising method for the sustainable production of phenolic compounds from biomass. However, detailed knowledge about the radicals involved in this process and their influence on the molecular products is missing. Herein, we report on the pyrolysis of hard- and softwood Klason lignins under inert gas conditions in a temperature range between 350-550 °C. During the pyrolysis process, the formed radicals were detected by in situ high-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The overall formation of volatile products during lignin pyrolysis was determined using thermogravimetric analysis. The volatile molecular products were characterized and quantified using GC-MS analysis. Major differences were observed between hardwood and softwood lignins. Hardwood lignins form more radicals and volatile products than softwood lignins at temperatures from 350 to 450 °C. In the late stages of the pyrolysis process at 550 °C radical quenching reactions become dominant in hardwood lignins. We identified the disproportionation of two semiquinone radicals to quinone and hydroquinone species as the most likely quenching reaction. Our results show that both the pyrolysis temperature and the type of lignin source have a major influence on radical formation and the molecular products during the depolymerization of lignin.


[Analysis on biotransformation of Epimedium brevicornu flavonoids].
This study aims to investigate the biotransformation of Epimedium brevicornu flavonoids under the effect of hydrolytic enzymes in vitro. Snailase was mainly used to hydrolyze E. brevicornu flavonoids, and HPLC was used to determine the content of the main flavonoids in E. brevicornu flavonoids. The data results showed that the main known flavonoids included icariin, epimedin A, epi-mendin B and epimendin C, which were completely transformed into baohuoside I, sagittatoside A, sagittatoside B and 2"-O-rhamnosyl-icariside II in 1-2 h, respectively. Their transformed products were continuously hydrolyzed over time. In conclusion, snailase could transform E. brevicornu flavonoids into secondary glycoside or aglycone under 37 degrees C in pH 6.0 HBSS balanced salt solution in 2 h. Moreover, its enzymatic hydrolysates were consistent with intestinal metabolites.


Prospects for the development of a vaccine against Helicobacter pylori.
Over 50% of the world population is chronically infected by the gastric pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, which is responsible for most peptic ulcer disease and is closely associated with adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Current therapies for peptic ulcer disease include antibiotic eradication of H. pylori infection. While effective, the high cost, difficulty of patient compliance with the treatment regimens, and risks of selection for resistant strains make these therapies impractical on a large scale. Studies of the pathogenesis of H. pylori have led to the identification of bacterial antigens as candidates for inclusion in novel vaccines against this disease. Both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination have been demonstrated in animal models of Helicobacter infection. Preclinical evaluations of several antigens are at present under way and trials of vaccination in humans are planned.


Billing and payment of commercial and Medicaid health plan adult vaccination claims in Michigan since the Affordable Care Act.
Provider concern regarding insurance non-payment for vaccines is a common barrier to provision of adult immunizations. We examined current adult vaccination billing and payment associated with two managed care populations to identify reasons for non-payment of immunization insurance claims. We assessed administrative data from 2014 to 2015 from Blue Care Network of Michigan, a nonprofit health maintenance organization, and Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, a Medicaid managed care plan, to determine rates of and reasons for non-payment of adult vaccination claims across patient-care settings, insurance plans, and vaccine types. We compared commercial and Medicaid payment rates to Medicare payment rates and examined patient cost sharing. Pharmacy-submitted claims for adult vaccine doses were almost always paid (commercial 98.5%; Medicaid 100%). As the physician office accounted for the clear majority (79% commercial; 69% Medicaid) of medical (non-pharmacy) vaccination services, we limited further analyses of both commercial and Medicaid medical claims to the physician office setting. In the physician office setting, rates of payment were high with commercial rates of payment (97.9%) greater than Medicaid rates (91.6%). Reasons for non-payment varied, but generally related to the complexity of adult vaccine recommendations (patient diagnosis does not match recommendations) or insurance coverage (complex contracts, multiple insurance payers). Vaccine administration services were also generally paid. Commercial health plan payments were greater for both vaccine dose and vaccine administration than Medicare payments; Medicaid paid a higher amount for the vaccine dose, but less for vaccine administration than Medicare. Patients generally had very low (commercial) or no (Medicaid) cost-sharing for vaccination. Adult vaccine dose claims were usually paid. Medicaid generally had higher rates of non-payment than commercial insurance.


Effective connectivity matrix for neural ensembles.
In this paper, we present an efficient framework to study the directional interactions within the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) biological neural network from spiketrain data. We used an efficient generalized linear model (GLM) with Laguerre basis functions to model a MIMO neural system, and developed an Effective Connectivity Matrix (ECM) to visualize excitatory and inhibitory connections within the neural network. A new causality representation was developed based on system dynamics. Statistical test was applied to identify the significance of the measured causality. We tested ECM on both common-input model and random networks. The results showed that ECM could (1) solve the common-input problem; (3) recover the causality among random neural networks with different connection probabilities and sizes of networks; and (3) identify the excitatory and inhibitory connections among neuronal populations accurately.


Anesthesia Management of Organ Donors.
The shortage of suitable organs is the biggest obstacle for transplants. At present, most organs for transplant in the United States are from donation after neurologic determination of death (brain death). Potential organs for transplant need to maintain their viability during a series of insults, including the original disease, physiologic derangements during the dying process, ischemia, and reperfusion. Proper donor management before, during, and after procurement has potential to increase the number and quality of organs from donors. Anesthesiologists need to understand the physiologic derangements associated with brain death and the updated donor management during the periprocurement period.


The investigation of renovascular hypertension in children: the accuracy of radio-isotopes in detecting renovascular disease.
Renovascular disease is an important cause of hypertension in children because it is potentially treatable by surgical or angioplasty techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of radio-isotopes (DMSA, DTPA and MAG3) combined with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, in detecting children with renovascular hypertension. We retrospectively reviewed the ultrasound and pre- and post-captopril radionuclide studies (either DMSA and/or DPTA and/or MAG3) of children with sustained hypertension investigated at our institution. Renal angiography was used as the 'reference technique'. Thirty-nine children, over a period of 10 years, were evaluated: 17 (44%) children had renovascular disease that involved the proximal three divisions of the renal arteries, some of which were amenable to treatment. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for detecting such renovascular disease, as assessed by changes between pre- and post-captopril radio-isotope studies, were disappointing at 59%, 68%, 59% and 68%, respectively. When considering only abnormalities in post-captopril studies, these indices were 82%, 41%, 52% and 75%, respectively. Three children with potentially treatable renovascular disease were not identified on the captopril studies. We conclude that renal angiography should remain the 'reference technique' in identifying children suspected of renovascular hypertension.


The supination deformity and associated deformities of the upper limb in severe birth lesions of the brachial plexus.
We reviewed 42 consecutive children with a supination deformity of the forearm complicating severe birth lesions of the brachial plexus. The overall incidence over the study period was 6.9% (48 of 696). It was absent in those in Narakas group I (27.6) and occurred in 5.7% of group II (13 of 229), 9.6% of group III (11 of 114) and 23.4% of group IV (18 of 77). Concurrent deformities at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand were always present because of muscular imbalance from poor recovery of C5 and C7, inconsistent recovery of C8 and T1 and good recovery of C6. Early surgical correction improved the function of the upper limb and hand, but there was a tendency to recurrence. Pronation osteotomy placed the hand in a functional position, and increased the arc of rotation of the forearm. The supination deformity recurred in 40% (17 of 42) of those treated by pronation osteotomy alone, probably because of remodelling of the growing bone. Children should be followed up until skeletal maturity, and the parents counselled on the likelihood of multiple operations.


Production of antibodies to gliadin by peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with celiac disease: the use of an enzyme-linked immunospot technique for screening and follow-up.
Problems in the diagnosis of celiac disease are that a long time is needed between challenge with gluten and the appearance of the typical diagnostic morphologic signs in gut mucosa. Furthermore, local immunity to gliadin is only slowly and often incompletely mirrored by serum IgA anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) levels. It is known that a local IgA-associated immune response in the gut may be better and more quickly mirrored by an increase of circulating IgA-producing cells against the immunogen than by IgA serum antibodies. We have therefore used an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay to enumerate IgA AGA spot-forming cells (SFC) in peripheral blood in 82 children with suspected celiac disease or with other gastrointestinal symptoms. The numbers of IgA AGA SFC/10(6) mononuclear cells were markedly increased in 17 patients with untreated (and later biopsy-verified) celiac disease compared with healthy children, children with nonceliac disease, and patients treated for celiac disease (p < 0.0001). In 20 children with celiac disease the numbers of IgA AGA SFC increased rapidly (p < 0.0001) after gluten challenge. As early as 2 wk after gluten challenge, 15/20 of these patients had abnormal levels of IgA AGA SFC, 6/20 patients had increased levels of serum IgA AGA, and 7/20 had IgA anti-endomysium antibodies. Our results indicate that analysis of IgA AGA production in peripheral blood cells may in further clinical studies provide a sensitive method for the diagnosis of celiac disease after a short time of gluten challenge.


Risk of recurrence after treatment of early breast cancer with skin-sparing mastectomy.
Skin-sparing mastectomy, combined with immediate breast reconstruction, has become increasingly popular. However, there are no published long-term data to support its oncologic safety. Our purpose was to evaluate the long-term oncologic risk of skin-sparing mastectomy. The records of all patients who had undergone treatment of T1 or T2 breast cancer by mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, and who were followed for at least 5 years or developed recurrence of disease before that time were reviewed. Local and distant recurrence rates observed in patients treated by skin-sparing mastectomy were compared with those in patients treated by conventional, non-skin-sparing mastectomy. A total of 104 patients were treated with skin-sparing mastectomies. In that group, 6.7% developed local recurrences, 12.5% developed distant metastases, 88.5% remained free of disease, and 7.7% died of their disease. Among the 27 patients who did not have skin-sparing mastectomies. 7.4% had local recurrences, 25.9% had distant metastases, 74.1% remained free of disease, and 18.5% died of disease. These recurrence rates are similar to those reported elsewhere after treatment with conventional mastectomy and without reconstruction. Our findings suggest that skin-sparing mastectomy does not significantly increase the risk of local or systemic disease recurrence in patients with early breast cancer.


Novel supercritical carbon dioxide impregnation technique for the production of amorphous solid drug dispersions: a comparison to hot melt extrusion.
The formulation of BCS Class II drugs as amorphous solid dispersions has been shown to provide advantages with respect to improving the aqueous solubility of these compounds. While hot melt extrusion (HME) and spray drying (SD) are among the most common methods for the production of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), the high temperatures often required for HME can restrict the processing of thermally labile drugs, while the use of toxic organic solvents during SD can impact on end-product toxicity. In this study, we investigated the potential of supercritical fluid impregnation (SFI) using carbon dioxide as an alternative process for ASD production of a model poorly water-soluble drug, indomethacin (INM). In doing so, we produced ASDs without the use of organic solvents and at temperatures considerably lower than those required for HME. Previous studies have concentrated on the characterization of ASDs produced using HME or SFI but have not considered both processes together. Dispersions were manufactured using two different polymers, Soluplus and polyvinylpyrrolidone K15 using both SFI and HME and characterized for drug morphology, homogeneity, presence of drug-polymer interactions, glass transition temperature, amorphous stability of the drug within the formulation, and nonsink drug release to measure the ability of each formulation to create a supersaturated drug solution. Fully amorphous dispersions were successfully produced at 50% w/w drug loading using HME and 30% w/w drug loading using SFI. For both polymers, formulations containing 50% w/w INM, manufactured via SFI, contained the drug in the γ-crystalline form. Interestingly, there were lower levels of crystallinity in PVP dispersions relative to SOL. FTIR was used to probe for the presence of drug-polymer interactions within both polymer systems. For PVP systems, the nature of these interactions depended upon processing method; however, for Soluplus formulations this was not the case. The area under the dissolution curve (AUC) was used as a measure of the time during which a supersaturated concentration could be maintained, and for all systems, SFI formulations performed better than similar HME formulations.


Rare occurrence of P53 gene mutations in multiple myeloma.
We looked for mutations of exons 5-8 of the P53 gene in bone marrow cell from 37 cases of multiple myeloma, using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. 25 patients also had cytogenetic analysis. A point mutation, leading to an amino acid change in the P53 protein was found in only one case, involving exon 5. These findings suggest that P53 mutations are very rare in multiple myeloma, and that this disease may be categorized among the few neoplasms where P53 abnormalities have very limited role, if any.


Persistent low grade synovitis without erosive progression in magnetic resonance imaging of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with infliximab over 1 year.
Disease remission is only reached by a minority of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with infliximab. Radiological assessment reported in clinical trials support the view that even under persistent inflammatory activity there is no further structural damage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows a highly accurate detection of synovitis, bone edema, and erosions, constituting the ideal instrument for the evaluation of treatment response. The goal of this study was to evaluate MRI changes over 1 year in RA patients treated with infliximab. Four RA patients refractory to methotrexate (MTX) therapy were treated with infliximab 3 mg/kg 8/8 weeks and followed up for 1 year. Disease Activity Score (DAS28) was measured in the day of each infliximab administration. MRI was performed at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year. A simplified OMERACT RA MRI scoring (RAMRIS) was applied to the dominant wrist: synovitis (0-3) was measured in the intercarpal-carpometacarpal joints (CMTJ); bone edema (0-39) and erosions (0-130) in the base of the metacarpal and wrist bones. Baseline DAS28 was superior to 3.2 in all patients (ranging from 4.8 up to 6.2). At 14 weeks, DAS28 was still superior to 3.2 (ranging from 3.5 up to 4.6) and at 46 weeks all patients have responded, however without having achieved clinical remission, as DAS28 was still above 2.6 (ranging from 2.6 up to 3.4). MRI showed that synovitis was reduced in all patients to a score of 1, bone edema was slightly reduced (10% reduction), and erosive score was unchanged (baseline values ranging from 2 up to 20). Despite persistent low disease activity, these four RA patients treated with infliximab had stable simplified RAMRIS erosive scores over 1 year. These results support the view that there might be an uncoupling process between inflammation and bone erosions when tumor necrosis factor alpha is targeted in RA.


[Methods of direct detection of sarcocysts and their diagnostic reliability].
The methods of the direct determination of sarcocysts in bovine muscle were studied. The results obtained with the compression, histological, homogenization and digestion methods were compared and evaluated. The criteria included capture rate, labor requirement, economic requirements, expediency and diagnostic reliability. The compression method was found to be the cheapest but, at the same time, the least reliable. The highest capture rate and diagnostic reliability were found in the digestion method with trypsin used as the diagnostic agent.


Humor in critical care: no joke.
As the climate of healthcare continues to change, critical care nurses are under increasing stress, which in turn puts them at risk for stress-related illnesses. Nurses can benefit from having a repertoire of healthy coping mechanisms, and one of the means available to them is humor. When used appropriately, humor can have positive psychologic, communication, and social benefits, as well as positive physiologic effects. Without considering the elements of bond, environment, and timing, however, humor can come across as offensive and hurtful. This article explores some of the precursors of stress for nurses, the use of humor to combat stress, how to keep humor constructive, and the importance of being active rather than passive in producing humor.


Bupivacaine local injection in anorectal surgery.
A retrospective study of 46 patients who received bupivacaine local injections after hemorrhoidectomy were compared to a matching group of 46 patients of similar age and sex distribution who underwent the same operation. Pain medications requirement on the same day of operation and on subsequent days were measured and found to be the same in both groups. The incidence of urinary retention was equal in both groups. However, the group receiving bupivacaine had a shorter hospital stay. In this respect, local injection of bupivacaine after hemorrhoidectomy may have a role in making patients more comfortable and shortening hospital stay.


Neuroaxonal dystrophy in distal symmetric sensory polyneuropathy of the diabetic BB-rat.
We and others have previously described neuroaxonal dystrophic changes as one of the hallmarks of structural diabetic autonomic polyneuropathy involving sympathetic nerves. In the present study, a systemic search for similar changes was undertaken in the mainly sensory symmetric polyneuropathy of the spontaneously diabetic BB-rat. Changes identical to those described in sympathetic nerves in this model were found in sensory ganglion cells, in their proximal extramedullary axons, and in proximal and distal myelinated axons of the spinal dorsal columns. The dystrophic substructures consisted of tubulovesicles, tubular rings, layered membranes, electron-dense membranous bodies, and neurofilamentous changes. Neuroaxonal dystrophic abnormalities increased with increasing duration of diabetes, and exhibited a topographic distribution along the sensory neuroaxonal axis, suggesting metabolic abnormalities as well as abnormalities in the turn-around mechanism of fast axonal transport in the pathogenesis of dystrophic changes in diabetic nerves.


Gly111Ser mutation in CD8A gene causing CD8 immunodeficiency is found in Spanish Gypsies.
We describe the second case of CD8 immunodeficiency. It confirms the pathogenic effect of p.Gly111Ser, leading to complete deficit of CD8+ lymphocytes, although the clinical manifestations may vary in severity. Similarly to the first case reported, our patient is also from Spanish Gypsy origin and homozygous for the p.Gly111Ser mutation in CD8alpha chain. The patient has suffered repeated respiratory infections from childhood but with conservation of her pulmonary parenchyma, on the contrary to the first patient, who died because of his respiratory injury. We developed an AluI-PCR-RFLP assay to screen a total of 1127 unrelated control individuals: 734 subjects of Gypsy ancestry from different sub-isolates and geographic locations in Europe, and 393 of Spanish (non-Gypsy) ethnicity. The results indicate that p.Gly111Ser is confined to the Spanish Gypsy population, where it occurs at a carrier rate of 0.4%. Analysis of microsatellite markers flanking the CD8A mutated gene revealed a shared polymorphic haplotype suggesting a common founder for p.Gly111Ser mutation that causes CD8 deficiency in the Spanish Gypsy population. CD8 immunodeficiency should be given diagnostic consideration in Spanish Gypsies with recurrent infections. Our findings may also have implications for these patients in terms of specific recommendations in vaccination and healthy habits and for genetic counseling of affected families.


MiR-136 promotes apoptosis of glioma cells by targeting AEG-1 and Bcl-2.
MicroRNAs have the capacity to coordinately repress multiple target genes and interfere with biological functions of the cell, such as proliferation and apoptosis. Here we report that miR-136 is downregulated in human glioma, and that the miRNA promotes apoptosis of glioma cells induced by chemotherapy. Two anti-apoptotic genes, AEG-1 and Bcl-2, are identified as targets of miR-136, and restoration of AEG-1 or Bcl-2 expression suppresses miR-136-enhanced apoptosis. Therefore, miR-136 might play a tumor-suppressive role in human glioma and thereby might represent a potential therapeutic strategy.


Influence of DNA concentration on the interfacial electrode impedance.
Sensitive and accurate DNA quantification is an essential step in most DNA analyses, especially in analysis of a small amount of DNA. Instead of typical DNA quantification methods (i.e., UV spectrometry, fluorometry, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction), electrical impedance spectroscopy has recently been investigated for label-free and efficient quantification of DNA. In this study, quantification of DNA in solution was investigated using electrical impedance spectroscopy without pre-processing, including the modification of the electrode surface and immobilization of DNA onto the electrode. The results showed that the measured impedance spectra were in agreement with a designed equivalent circuit model, and that the extrapolated parameters of interfacial electrode impedance were dependent on DNA concentration. The impedance measured at 1 and 10 kHz showed good correlation with DNA concentration (R2 > 0.95), with a dynamic range of detection from 0.01 pg/microl to 100 ng/microl. Based on the results, it is expected to utilize impedance spectroscopy for the real-time and label-free characterization of DNA concentration with high sensitivity and low operation cost.


Thermodynamics of native protein/foreign surface interactions. IV. Calorimetric and microelectrophoretic study of human fibrinogen sorption onto glass and LTI-carbon.
1. According to a working hypothesis put forward in the previous papers of this series2-4, the initial phases of native blood/foreign surface interactions have been considered within the framework of a physicochemical model of contact activation at the molecular level. The salient features of this hypothesis are: a) the arrival and adsorption of native plasma proteins on a contact surface overwhelmingly precedes that of the cellular blood components; b) the interaction energy that arises between a particular foreign surface and native plasma proteins settling on it, is a characteristic quantity depending upon the effective surface molecular structure as well as the nature of the proteins; c) the "intensity" of native protein/foreign surface interactions can be treated in terms of thermodynamic quantities since these energy terms are independent of the type of forces acting between protein and surface; and d) depending upon the degree to which the adsorption of a native protein is thermodynamically favored by enthalpy and/or entropy factors, the interaction energy can be utilized to induce conformational changes of varying degree in the sorbed protein. 2. Using glass and low temperature isotropic (LTI) carbon adsorbents, i.e., a known procoagulant and a relevant biomaterial, respectively, the adsorption properties and the potential surface-induced conformational changes of high-purity native human fibrinogen (clottability greater than or equal to 92%) were studied, at 25 degrees C, by 3 independent methods. In all of the experiments performed, a) both adsorbents were employed in the form of particles less than or equal to 1.0 mu representing specific surface areas of 9.85 M2/Gm and 27.7 (nominal) M2/Gm for the glass and LTI-carbon powders, respectively, and b) the fibrinogen was absorbed from a standaridized buffer (pH = 7.2, ionic strength 0.05) using the same fixed surface area/protein solution volume ratio with a given adsorbent. 3. The 25 degrees C adsorption isotherms of fibrinogen obtained for both the glass and LTI-carbon powder adsorbents are not amenable to Langmuir type analysis but indicate multilayer sorption with a possible change in binding mechanism after the completion of the first sorbed monolayer. The adsorptivities attained at first monolayer coverage were slightly greater on glass (approximately 0.76 mug/cm2) than on LTI-carbon (approximately 0.52 mug/cm2). 4. Using a custom-built, thermistorized, isothermal-jacketed microcalorimeter routinely capable of resolving temperature changes of 0.00001 degrees C in 100 ml of aqueous sample volume, the "intensity" of interaction between fibrinogen and each of the microparticulate adsorbents was studied by the direct measurement of the net overall enthalpy changes, hI(SLP)25 arising as a result of protein adsorption. From these values, the net heat of protein sorption has been determined...


Impact of commercial marketing on patient demand.
This pilot study attempts to determine the impact of commercial direct-to-consumer advertising on the incidence of patients requesting medication for urinary incontinence by brand name. Of 310 patients interviewed prior to urodynamics, 237 (76%) sought treatment after seeing related commercials. After testing, 119 (50.2%) were prescribed the advertised drug for detrusor instability. Fifty-nine (24.8%) were diagnosed with intrinsic sphincter deficiency and were recommended anticholinergics, collagen injections, or surgery. Forty-one (17.2%) men were found to have bladder outlet obstruction, but only four were prescribed the advertised drug. Three (1.2%) were recommended intermittent catheterization along with the advertised drug and 15 (6.6%) had various other treatments. The results suggest that 50% of those seeking treatment were not candidates for the medication advertised.


Systemic lupus erythematosus. Disease outcome in patients with a disease duration of at least 10 years: second evaluation.
Data related to the disease course of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with special attention to the persistence of disease activity in the long term are scarce. At this moment reliable figures are only known about the survival rate as a measure of outcome. The aim of this multicenter study was to describe the outcome of SLE patients with a disease duration of greater than 10 y. Outcome parameters were two disease activity-scoring systems (SLEDAI and ECLAM), the end organ damage (SLICC/ACR damage index) and treatment. Our results are derived from 187 SLE patients followed at 10 different centres in Europe over a period of 1 y. Serious clinical signs or exacerbations, defined by the occurrence or detoriation of already existing symptoms of renal and cerebral nervous systems were observed in 2-11% of the patients, seizures and psychosis in 3%, proteinuria in 11% and an increase in serum creatinine in 5% of the patients. No change took place in the overall damage index. Yet, the disease course in most patients was characterized by periods of tiredness (42-60%), arthritis (20-25%), skin involvement such as malar rash (32-40%), migraine (15-20%), anaemia (15%) and leucopenia (17-19%). Summarizing these results it is shown that patients, still under care after such a long time of having this disease, do have a disease that is far from extinguished.


Reconstruction of the central one half of an eyelid.
The technique recommended in this communication concerns the use of a semicircular graft from the lateral canthal area to close a lid margin defect comprising one half of the lid. When the defect is closed, the semicircular flap will straighten and become the lateral portion of the lid.


Association between thyroid function and urinary levels of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol: data from NHANES 2007-2008.
Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2007-2008 were used to evaluate the association between serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and thyroglobulin (TGN) with the urinary levels of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPY). Gender-stratified regression models with log10-transformed values of thyroid hormones as dependent variables and TCPY tertiles, age, race/ethnicity, smoking and iodine sufficiency statuses, fasting time, body mass index, and poverty income ratio as independent variables were fitted. TCPY levels were not found to be associated with the levels of TSH, FT3, FT4, and TT3 for either males or females. TCPY levels in the third tertile as compared to first tertile were found to be negatively associated (p ≤ 0.01) with TT4 levels for both males and females. TGN levels for those males who were in third tertile of TCPY were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.01) than for those who had their TCPY levels in first or second tertile. Irrespective of age, gender, race/ethnicity, and smoking status, unadjusted TCPY levels for the period 2009-2010 were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.01) than TCPY levels during the period 2001-2002. TCPY levels for 2009-2010 were as low as 35.8% of what they were in 2001-2002 for adolescents and not more than 56.9% of what they were for 2001-2002 for males.


Rectal premedication in children. Use of diazepam, morphine and hyoscine.
Rectal premedication with diazepam, morphine and hyoscine has been used in 20 healthy children undergoing minor surgery. Satisfactory sedation was achieved in the majority of children and the anticholinergic effects were also adequate. Peak plasma levels of diazepam and morphine were reached within 30 minutes, and the plasma levels decreased after 2 hours. No adverse effects on ventilation were seen during anaesthesia.


Influence of double flask investing and microwave heating on the superficial porosity, surface roughness, and knoop hardness of acrylic resin.
Simultaneous polymerization of maxillary and mandibular complete dentures with teeth in occlusion through investing in a double special flask has been described as a more rapid and efficient method to polymerize prostheses than the conventional method; however, no study has been done to verify important properties of resin, including superficial porosity, surface roughness, and hardness, when processed by this technique. The purpose of this study was to verify if the simultaneous polymerization associated with microwave heating may alter the superficial porosity, surface roughness, and Knoop hardness of acrylic resin. Resin specimens processed in single and double dental flasks were compared using microwave energy and warm water methods. Four groups were tested according to the investing flask and the method of resin cure: Group I control specimens (n = 15) were invested in single metal flasks and cured by warm water at 74 degrees C for 9 hours. Group II (n = 15) specimens were invested in single polyvinyl chloride flasks and cured by microwave energy at 90 W for 20 minutes plus 450 W for 5 minutes. Group III (n = 30) and Group IV (n = 30) specimens were processed by simultaneous polymerization in double flasks and cured by the same warm water and microwave energy protocols, respectively. No significant differences were found in mean superficial porosity (8.06 +/- 2.28 pore/cm(2)), surface roughness (0.14 +/- 0.03 mum), or Knoop hardness (19.66 +/- 2.25 kgf/mm(2)) between the control group (GI), and the other three experimental groups (p > 0.05). Processing acrylic resin in a double flask heated by either warm water or microwave energy does not alter the resin's superficial porosity, surface roughness, or Knoop hardness; however, other properties of resin should be analyzed using this denture processing technique.


Quantification of the position, orientation, and surface area of bone loss in type B2 glenoids.
The purpose of this computed tomography-based study was to quantify erosions in B2 glenoids. We hypothesized that erosions do not occur symmetrically and that they have a predictable orientation. This study evaluated 55 type B2 glenoid cases. Computed tomography data were used to create three-dimensional reconstructions, and point coordinates were extracted from each reconstruction for morphologic analysis of the osteoarthritic glenoid and humerus. There was a significant difference between the mean orientation angle (28° ± 11°) of the posterior glenoid line of erosion and the superoinferior axis (P < .001), which resulted in the average erosion being directed toward the 8-o'clock position. On average, the erosion started 1.6 ± 3.4 mm posterior to the glenoid center point. In 35% of B2 cases, the line of erosion was curved. The mean surface area was 763 ± 296 mm(2) for the neoglenoid and 957 ± 276 mm(2) for the paleoglenoid, indicating that the neoglenoid occupied 44% ± 12% of the total glenoid area. In this cohort, the mean radius of the humeral head neoarticulation was 32 ± 6 mm, the neoglenoid radius was 37 ± 8 mm, and the paleoglenoid radius was 34 ± 7 mm. The radius of the humeral head was significantly less than that of the neoglenoid (P < .001) and the paleoglenoid (P = .009). In addition, the radius of the neoglenoid was significantly greater than the radius of the paleoglenoid (P = .012). Type B2 glenoids have a predictable wear pattern, which is not axisymmetric to the glenoid superoinferior axis. In addition, the identified anatomic characteristics of B2 erosions will aid surgeons in the operative management of bone loss and may assist manufacturers in the design of augmented components.


Bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
The effects of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in X-linked childhood adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) are described in four Japanese patients. Two older patients, 10-year-old boys with IQ 60 and difficulty in school, had favourable results. IQ levels and MRI findings were generally maintained after BMT. One patient showed improvement of gait disturbance. They have both attended ordinary schools after BMT, although a learning disorder persists. On the other hand, two other younger patients with a rapid course and indeterminate IQ at BMT showed deterioration of neurological functions. Indication for BMT seems to be a maintained IQ level, preferably higher than 80, since it seems to be difficult to normalize IQ level after BMT. Younger patients have higher risk of developing a rapidly progressive form of the disease. Identification of presymptomatic boys, and serial and careful follow-up by neuropsychological and neuroradiological studies, are essential prerequisites to successful BMT in X-ALD.


[Immunohistochemical localization of epidermal growth factor in proximal tubules of rats with acute renal failure].
Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that epidermal growth factor (EGF) may have a role in the repair of tubular injury on acute renal failure (ARF). On the other hand, platelet-depletion reduces the renal damage in experimental ARF rats. We investigated the expression of EGF in the renal tissues of mercuric-chloride (HgCl2, 2mg/kg)-induced ARF rats with (group-1) or without (group-2) platelet depletion for clarification of the role of EGF in the recovery of the renal tubules after ARF. Platelet-depletion was accomplished by the injection of anti-rat platelet serum (APS) 24 hours prior to the induction of ARF. The tubular necrosis and deterioration of renal function were significantly suppressed in group-1 compared with group-2 24 hours after HgCl2 injection (S-Cr 0.60 +/- 0.17 mg/dl, Ccr 0.58 +/- 0.11 ml/min in group-1 and 1.45 +/- 0.10 mg/dl, 0.20 +/- 0.02 ml/min in group-2, p < 0.05) but were in the same range between both groups 12 hours after (S-Cr 0.75 +/- 0.03 mg/dl, Ccr 0.49 +/- 0.02 ml/min in group-1 and 0.60 +/- 0.05 mg/dl, 0.67 +/- 0.08 ml/min in group-2). By immunohistochemistry, EGF was localized in the ascending limbs of Henle and distal convoluted tubules in normal rats. However, in both ARF rats, EGF was stained on the proximal tubules, including the necrotic area as well as the ascending limbs of Henle and distal convoluted tubules, both 12 and 24 hours after ARF induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The NAS-NRC Twin Registry and Duke Twins Study of Memory in Aging: An Update.
The National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) Twin Registry is one of the oldest, national population-based twin registries in the USA. It comprises 15,924 White male twin pairs born in the years 1917-1927 (N = 31.848), both of whom served in the armed forces, chiefly during World War II. This article updates activities in this registry since the most recent report in Twin Research and Human Genetics (Page, 2006). Records-based data include information from enlistment charts and Veterans Administration data linkages. There have been three major epidemiologic questionnaires and an education and earnings survey. Separate data collection efforts with the NAS-NRC registry include the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) subsample, the Duke Twins Study of Memory in Aging and a clinically based study of Parkinson's disease. Progress has been made on consolidating the various data holdings of the NAS-NRC Twin Registry. Data that had been available through the National Academy of Sciences are now freely available through National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA).


Chromosome interaction hubs around nuclear bodies.


Vitamin A improves the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and decreases 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT): A pilot study.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complicated neurodevelopmental disorders. Many studies have demonstrated that children with autism have multiple nutritional deficiencies and increased serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels. In our previous study, 77.9% of autistic children were found to have vitamin A deficiency, and the concentration of vitamin A was negatively associated with the CARS score. In the present study, we sought to test whether vitamin A supplementation could improve autistic symptoms and decrease serum 5-HT levels. The DSM-V criteria and CARS score were used for symptom description and symptom assessment of the patients, respectively, before and after vitamin A supplementation (VAS). Serum retinol and 5-HT levels, mRNA levels of RAR α, β, and γ and TpH 1 expression were detected in autistic children before and after VAS and in normal children. Serum retinol levels in children with ASD were significantly lower than in control children. Serum 5-HT levels in children with ASD were higher than in control children, which were correlated with symptom severity of children with autism. After VA supplementation, the children with ASD exhibited significant improvement in autism symptoms. Serum retinol concentrations of children with ASD were significantly increased, and serum 5-HT levels were decreased. Moreover, statistically significant changes were observed in mRNA expression levels of RAR α, RAR γ and TpH 1 after VAS compared to baseline. This study suggested that VA supplementation may improve symptoms and reduce 5-HT levels in children with ASD, indicating that VA supplementation is a reasonable therapy at least for a subset of children with autism.


Community-acquired bacterial bloodstream infections in developing countries in south and southeast Asia: a systematic review.
Information about community-acquired bacteraemia in developing countries in south and southeast Asia is scarce. We aimed to establish the case fraction of bacteraemia in febrile patients admitted to hospital. We searched four databases and identified studies of south and southeast Asia published between 1990 and 2010 that prospectively assessed patients admitted to hospital and from whom a blood culture was taken. We reviewed 17 eligible studies describing 40,644 patients. Pathogenic organisms were isolated from 3506 patients (9%; range 1-51%); 1784 (12%) of 14,386 adults and 1722 (7%) of 26,258 children. Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi was the most common bacterial pathogen, accounting for 532 of 1798 (30%) isolates in adults and 432 of 1723 (25%) in children. Other commonly isolated organisms in adults were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and other gram-negative organisms, and in children were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. A substantial case fraction of bacteraemia occurs in patients admitted to hospital with fever in this region. Management could be improved if diagnostic microbiology facilities were more widely available. The prevailing organisms causing bacteraemia and their susceptibility patterns could inform empirical treatment regimens and prevention strategies.


Reducing multiple pregnancy from assisted reproduction treatment: educating patients and medical staff.
Multiple pregnancy, with its adverse outcomes, is a significant problem in assisted reproductive technology. Single embryo transfer (SET) is the only feasible solution for reducing the rate of multiple pregnancy. Many patients and some clinicians remain to be convinced that SET is a better clinical option. Adequate education, based on available evidence, is one important way to promote the use of SET.


[Development of a video image system for wireless capsule endoscopes based on DSP].
A video image recorder to record video picture for wireless capsule endoscopes was designed. TMS320C6211 DSP of Texas Instruments Inc. is the core processor of this system. Images are periodically acquired from Composite Video Broadcast Signal (CVBS) source and scaled by video decoder (SAA7114H). Video data is transported from high speed buffer First-in First-out (FIFO) to Digital Signal Processor (DSP) under the control of Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD). This paper adopts JPEG algorithm for image coding, and the compressed data in DSP was stored to Compact Flash (CF) card. TMS320C6211 DSP is mainly used for image compression and data transporting. Fast Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) algorithm and fast coefficient quantization algorithm are used to accelerate operation speed of DSP and decrease the executing code. At the same time, proper address is assigned for each memory, which has different speed;the memory structure is also optimized. In addition, this system uses plenty of Extended Direct Memory Access (EDMA) to transport and process image data, which results in stable and high performance.


Rathke's cleft cysts with significant squamous metaplasia--high risk of postoperative deterioration and close origins to craniopharyngioma.
Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) with significant squamous and/or stratified epithelium including smooth transition from single cuboidal to squamous epithelium (tRCC) is rare and possibly represents an intermediate form to craniopharyngioma. Twelve patients with histologically confirmed tRCC were retrospectively investigated from a series of 167 cases of RCC and 96 cases of craniopharyngiomas. Clinical data were reviewed, and immunohistochemistry findings for cytokeratins and β-catenin were examined. All lesions were located in the sella turcica with marked extension to suprasellar cistern. Six of the 12 patients had suffered postoperative re-enlargement, and three of these six patients required more than two additional operations and irradiation. CAM5.2 was positive in the glandular epithelium in all tRCCs and focally positive in the squamous epithelium of all these tRCCs. 34βE12 was positive in the squamous epithelium in all tRCCs and focally positive in the glandular epithelium in all but one tRCC. The findings of cytokeratin expression of tRCCs were very similar to those of craniopharyngioma. β-Catenin showed nuclear translocation in five cases. All patients with nuclear translocation of β-catenin suffered postoperative re-enlargement. tRCC carries an extremely high risk of re-enlargement. Cytokeratin expression resembles that in craniopharyngioma, which might indicate a very close origin of these pathologies. Nuclear translocation of β-catenin may be related to the aggressive clinical course.


Sarcoidosis-induced alopecia.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis of the scalp may induce scarring alopecia, which clinically resembles other forms of primary cicatricial alopecia. Differentiation via histologic evaluation is necessary because sarcoidosis demonstrates classical non-caseating granulomas. Review of the literature reveals that sarcoidosis-induced alopecia occurs more commonly in black females age 23 to 78, with the majority of patients having coexisting facial sarcoidosis with pulmonary and lymph node involvement. Given the strong association between sarcoidal alopecia and systemic sarcoidosis, evaluation of the patient is indicated if alopecia is the initial presenting manifestation.


[Development of an HPV vaccine--remaining issues and perspective].
Cervical cancer, the second most frequent gynecological malignancy in the world, is caused by infection with one of the 15 types of high-risk HPVs. Vaccines protecting women from infection with high-risk HPVs can reduce prevalence of cervical cancer. At present, two prophylactic vaccines (GlaxoSmithKline "Cervarix" and Merck "Gardasil") have been approved by several countries. These vaccines can almost completely protect HPV16 and 18 infections which account for approximately 50% and 20% of cervical cancer, respectively. However, cervical cancer screening should continue in all vaccinated women due to exposure of the other oncogenic HPV types. There are also unanswered remaining questions about overall vaccine effectiveness, duration of protection, and adverse effect.


The significance of molecular studies in the long-term follow-up of children with beckwith- wiedemann syndrome.
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital disorder of imprinting caused by epimutations and mutations affecting two imprinted loci on chromosome 11p15. Its clinical features are heterogeneous, including macrosomia, macroglossia, hemihyperplasia, abdominal wall defects, neonatal hypoglycemia, and increased risk of embryonal tumors such as Wilms tumor, adrenocortical carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and neuroblastoma. The molecular and clinical heterogeneity of BWS makes the diagnosis challenging, but essential, since different etiologies of BWS have different clinical prognoses - most crucially, patients with gain of maternal methylation at imprinting control region type 1 (ICR1) are at significant risk of Wilms tumor or hepatoblastoma. We present three cases of BWS with different symptomatology and two different molecular diagnoses. The authors emphasize the importance of molecular studies in the long-term follow-up of children with BWS, including refinement of phenotype-genotype correlation and its connection with optimal management and tumor surveillance.


Facilitating effective learning during clinical placement.
The aim of this pilot study was to employ a qualitative research methodology to explore students' perceptions of learning and assessment of that learning whilst on clinical placement. The students' perceptions were sampled by questionnaire both pre- and post-placement (ten weeks block placement). The analysis of the data was undertaken using principles from Grounded Theory (Strauss and Corbin 1990). The analysis yielded a number of categories and bipolar paradigms relating to learning and assessment. However little change was seen between comments made pre and post-placement. The implications of this analysis are discussed.


Microwave-promoted hydrolysis of plant seed gums on alumina support.
Using a catalytic amount of potassium persulfate (1.48 x 10(-4)M), eight different seed gums were fully hydrolyzed on alumina support under microwave irradiation. The hydrolysis time varied between 1.33 and 2.33 min depending upon the seed gum structure. The used solid support could be easily separated from the hydrolyzates and recycled. However, under microwave field in an aqueous medium, the same amount of persulfate was unable to hydrolyze the seed gums. Solid-supported microwave hydrolysis has been compared with the microwave-enhanced aqueous hydrolysis (using K2S2O8 or 0.1N H2SO4) and also with the conventional hydrolysis procedures.


The emerging role of lipoproteins in atherogenesis: beyond LDL cholesterol.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol has a well-established role in atherogenesis and the development of coronary heart disease. However, despite effective lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, many patients continue to have cardiovascular events. It has subsequently emerged that several additional dyslipidemic states promote atherogenesis. In particular, the atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype comprising an elevation of triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins; decreased concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and increased small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, in addition to impaired postprandial lipemia, have been demonstrated to have profound effects on the arterial wall. As such, these factors have become important targets in the development of effective strategies to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.


Cloning and partial characterization of an antigen detected on membrane surfaces of non-pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica.
A novel and unique mAb (318-28) which specifically interacts with a 60 kDa antigen that is found only on the surfaces of non-pathogenic (NP) strains of E. histolytica has been recently characterized. The antigen appears to be present also on (NP) cyst forms of amebas but was not detected on any of the various (P)-strains tested. It was also not found on other Entamoeba species such as Moshkovskii, Laredo, Huff, Coli, Gingivalis, or Invadens. Clinical trails for the differentiation of (P) and (NP) amebas directly from stools using this mAb are in progress. Cloning of the gene encoding for the (NP)-specific antigen was achieved after screening with mAb 318-28 a lambda gt11 expression library of NP strain SAW 1734R. No sequence homology to any known protein was found in data bases.


Thallophilic interactions and Tl-aryl π-interactions are competitive with cation-cation repulsion: [LTl2L]2+ dications as salts of weakly co-ordinating anions.
The synthesis and characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of two thallium salts of the non-co-ordinating anion [B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4] are reported. They possess Tl-Tl contacts supported by Tl-aryl interaction. This cation association overcomes both electrostatic repulsion and cation-anion size and charge matching considerations in the [LTl2L](2+) dications so formed.


Retracted: Multilevel Predictors of Math Classroom Climate: A Comparison Study of Student and Teacher Perceptions.
The above article, published online on June 23, 2014 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor-in-Chief, Nancy Guerra, and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been agreed upon following the discovery that this article contained inaccurate data. It came to the author's attention that the names of some of the items reported in the Measures section of the paper could not be correct because such items did not exist in the surveys. The authors tried to identify exactly which items had been used in the data analyses but they could not establish without some doubt exactly which items had actually been used. Reference Wang, M.-T. and Eccles, J. S. (2014), Multilevel Predictors of Math Classroom Climate: A Comparison Study of Student and Teacher Perceptions. Journal of Research on Adolescence. doi: 10.1111/jora.12153.


Mentally ill chemical abusers in residential treatment programs: effects of psychopathology on levels of functioning.
Measures of psychopathology among mentally ill chemical abusers (MICAs) were examined as predictors of levels of functioning in two types of community based, residential programs: therapeutic community (TC) and community residence (CR). Non-significant associations were generally observed between scales of psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, psychotic ideation, cognitive disorientation, and hostility) and counselors' ratings of the residents' capacity to meet the social and interpersonal expectations of the programs (e.g., personal care, involvement in interpersonal relationships, and development of work skills). The study suggests that individuals with moderately severe psychopathology can be successfully engaged in residential treatment, even in programs with relatively high expectations for interpersonal involvement and functioning, such as the therapeutic community.


Structural and dynamical analyses of the kinase network derived from the transpath database.
We analyze the structural design and the dynamical properties of a protein kinase network derived from the Transpath database. We consider structural properties, such as feedback cycles, pathway lengths, fraction of shortest pathways and crosstalk. Dynamic characteristics of the network are analyzed by using nonlinear differential equations with a special focus on kinase amplitudes and signal propagation times. Comparison with random networks shows that the cellular kinase network exhibits special features which might be a result of natural selection. In particular, the Transpath network contains no cycles, and input kinases and output kinases are generally connected by shortest signalling routes. Moreover, it displays a characteristic spectrum of cross-talk between different pathways.


Investigation of breeding strategies to increase the probability that German shepherd dog and Labrador retriever dog guides would attain optimum size.
An optimum-sized dog guide weighs 18 to 32 kg and measures 53 to 64 cm in height at the withers when mature body size is attained. Effects of selection index with and without restrictions, independent trait selection, directional selection, stabilizing selection, and negative assortative mating were modeled using data from German shepherd dogs and Labrador retrievers raised by the Seeing Eye, Inc., Morristown, NJ from 1979 to 1997. The selection goals were to decrease mature weight and mature height in German shepherd dogs and to decrease mature weight and increase mature height in Labrador retrievers. Mature weights were recorded for 1,333 German shepherd dog offspring and their 69 dams and 17 sires, and 1,081 Labrador retriever offspring and their 51 dams and 13 sires. Mature heights also were recorded for offspring and parents, including 871 German shepherd dogs from 70 dams and 15 sires, and 793 Labrador retrievers from 40 dams and 13 sires. Selecting on mature weight alone produced the highest aggregate genetic-economic gain for German shepherd dogs compared with the selection indices with and without restrictions, generating a 2.10-kg decrease in mature weight and a correlated 0.36-cm decrease in mature height. In Labrador retrievers, selecting for mature height alone produced the highest aggregate genetic-economic gain but caused an increase in mature weight. Weighting the two traits equally but in the opposite direction without restrictions was the only index that produced the desired effect of decreasing mature weight and increasing mature height in Labrador retrievers. Response to selection for one generation of directional selection for a single trait included a 0.50-kg decrease in mature weight for German shepherd dogs, a 0.59-kg decrease in mature weight for Labrador retrievers, a 0.18-cm decrease in mature height for German shepherd dogs, and a 0.91-cm increase in mature height for Labrador retrievers. Increasing the percentage of dogs attaining optimum size may decrease the cost of production for the Seeing Eye, Inc., because fewer dogs would need to be raised and trained to provide assistance to the same number of blind individuals.


Structural polymorphism of hydrated ether-linked dimyristyl maltoside and melibioside.
The structural polymorphism of two selected disaccharide glycolipids with a maltose (DMMA) and a melibiose (DMME) carbohydrate headgroup linked to dimyristyl alkyl chains were investigated by FTIR-spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and film-balance measurements. The compounds displayed thermotropic multilamellar phases. In the gel phase, DMMA formed also a crystalline phase of orthorhombic symmetry, and DMME an interdigitated phase. The gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature T(c) of DMMA depended on the storage and hydration conditions, a precooled sample having a T(c) around 45 degrees C, and a freshly prepared sample around 33 degrees C. In contrast, the phase transition temperature for the gel to liquid crystalline phase of DMME was always found at 24 degrees C. Surface pressure isotherms of the lipids on water and buffer showed that DMMA covers only a small surface area (approximately 35A(2)) whereas DMME requires 50 A(2) of space on the surface. Films of DMMA can be compressed up to a maximum compressibility Pi(max) of 54 mN m(-1) whereas the tilted DMME forms less stable films with Pi(max) of 34 mN m(-1). These different structural characteristics reflect the different conformations of the disaccharide head groups. The presence of the alpha1-->4 linked maltose head group in DMMA and an alpha1-->6 linked melibiose head group in DMME induces geometrical structures ranging from a slightly wedge-shaped towards a more tilted structure, and as a consequence of Israelachvilis packing model, to the formation of different phases. In addition, the structural constraints of DMME allow the formation of a phase with interdigitated hydrocarbon chains.


[Detection of antigens immunologically related to the envelope antigens of mouse mammary gland cancer virus antigens in human breast cancer tissue].
A highly sensitive method of electroimmunodiffusion in acetate cellulose films developed by G.I. Abelev on the principle of isotachophoresis was used for the detection in human mammary gland carcinoma (HMGC) of an antigen related to envelope antigens of mouse mammary gland cancer (MMGC) virus. In 4 out of 10 HMGC cases, fractions of proteins with molecular weight about 50,000 d previously isolated in PAAG with sodium dodecyl sulphate were found to contain an antigen reacting with the antiserum to p52 MMGCV precipitation band which proved immunological identity of both antigens.


Metabolism of n-hexyl-homologues of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse.
n-Hexyl-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (n-hexyl-delta-8-THC) and n-hexyl-delta-9-THC were synthesized by condensation of (1S)-cis-verbenol with 5-n-hexyl-1,3-dihydroxybenzene and administered intraperitoneally to male Charles-River CD-1 mice. Hepatic metabolites were isolated by solvent extraction and chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and identified by GC/MS. Eleven metabolites were identified from n-hexyl-delta-8-THC and sixteen from n-hexyl-delta-9-THC. The pattern of metabolites was intermediate between that previously observed from the pentyl homologues and that from n-heptyl-delta-9-THC with the major biotransformation pathway being hydroxylation and oxidation at C-11. Other metabolites were mainly hydroxylated derivatives of these compounds. Metabolites containing two hydroxy groups in the side-chain were present in low concentration. These have not been observed from lower homologues but are major metabolites of n-heptyl-delta-9-THC. Compared with the metabolism of the n-pentyl homologue, there was a trend towards the production of more hydroxy metabolites at the expense of carboxylic acids, in keeping with the general reduction of oxidation observed with other homologous cannabinoids as the chain length increases.


Does religiosity protect against cognitive and behavioral decline in Alzheimer's dementia?
several studies have shown that religiosity has beneficial effects on health, mortality and pathological conditions; little is known about religiosity in Alzheimer's disease and the progression of its cognitive, behavioral and functional symptoms. Our aim was to identify any relationship between religiosity and the progression of cognitive impairment and behavioral disorders in mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease, and any relationship between the patient's religiosity and the stress in caregivers. 64 patients with Alzheimer's disease were analyzed at baseline and 12 months later using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Behavioral Religiosity Scale (BRS) and the Francis Short Scale (FSS). Caregivers were also questioned on the patient's functional abilities (ADL, IADL), the behavioral disturbances (NPI), and on their stress (NPI-D, CBI). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to BRS: a score of <24 meant no or low religiosity (LR), while a score of > or =24 meant moderate or high religiosity (HR). LR patients had worsened more markedly after 12 months in their total cognitive and behavioral test scores. Stress was also significantly higher in the caregivers of the LR group. Global BRS and FSS scores correlated significantly with variations after 1 year in the MMSE (r: 0.50), NPI (r:-0.51), NPI-D (r:-0.55) and CBI (r:-0.62). A low religiosity coincided with a higher risk of cognitive impairment, considered as a 3-point decrease in MMSE score (OR 6.7, CI: 1.8-24.7). higher levels of religiosity in Alzheimer's dementia seem to correlate with a slower cognitive and behavioral decline, with a corresponding significant reduction of the caregiver's burden.


CT appearance of incidental pancreatic lipomas: a case series.
Pancreatic lipomas are rare benign lesions, with only 15 examples documented in the current literature. We describe five cases of intrapancreatic lipomas from a single institution, all incidentally found using computed tomography within a 14-month period. Computed tomography depicted lipomas as homogeneous, nonenhancing, well-marginated lesions with a density coefficient consistent with adipose tissue.


Origins of heart rate variability: autonomic blockade of large magnitude, transient bradycardia in conscious rabbits.
Heart period sequences are composed of recurrent, similarly shaped, physiologically meaningful, transient heart period structures. One such structure is a large magnitude transient bradycardia (LMTB), which resembles published reports of responses to alerting stimuli. Alerting responses are sensitive to alpha1-adrenoceptor and cholinergic receptor blockade. To determine whether LMTBs are related to alerting responses by assessing the response of rabbit LMTBs to autonomic inhibitors. Using a Latin square, crossover design, six conscious, unsedated rabbits received placebo, intramuscular glycopyrrolate 0.05 mg/kg and intravenous prazosin 0.15 mg/kg, and six rabbits received placebo, intravenous metoprolol 0.15 mg/kg and intravenous ICI-118,551 0.1 mg/kg. Heart period and blood pressure were continuously recorded, digitized and analyzed off-line. LMTBs were suppressed by 93% and 95% by alpha1-adrenergic and muscarinic blockade, respectively, but not by beta1-adrenergic or beta2-adrenergic blockade. The drugs altered none of the morphological parameters of shape, magnitude or duration, or any of the hypotensive features. LMTBs are similar to alerting responses; they are both expressed as transient hypotensive and bradycardic events that are markedly reduced by muscarinic and alpha1-adrenoceptor blockade but not by beta-adrenoceptor blockade. The presence of LMTBs may indicate ongoing, subtle changes in the laboratory environment.


Higher-order spectral analysis in laser-Doppler flowmetry signal processing.
This paper presents an application of higher order statistics and spectra to the problem of laser-Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) for microcirculation monitoring. The proposed signal processing technique computes the bispectra of LDF signals after appropriate pre-processing and extracts features which can be used for classification of the signals to a normal or patient category. Bispectra are defined in terms of the third-order moments or cumulants of signals and are shown to contain valuable information for the above classification of LDF signals. Experimental studies, including (a) a set of 17 normal subjects and 69 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and (b) 50 LDF-signals separated to four groups from patients that have different pathologic characteristics, are described and results are presented which illustrate the performance of the proposed approach when applied to the LDF signals.


How drugs decrease fracture risk: lessons from trials.
In women with osteoporosis, each 1% improvement in spine BMD (by DXA) is expected to reduce vertebral fracture risk by about 4%. However, randomized trials of antiresorptive agents show that 1 to 6% improvements in spine BMD reduce vertebral fracture risk by 35 to 50%. Less 20% of the decreased spine fracture risk produced by alendronate or raloxifene be explained by improvement in spine BMD. The discrepancy is even greater during the first year or two of treatment when 1 to 4% improvements in BMD are associated with 65-68% decreases in spine fracture risk. Bisphosphonates continue to increase BMD but the reduction in fracture risk wanes to 20 to 45%. DXA underestimates the change in bone density of spinal trabecular bone and this might explain part of the discrepancy between expected and observed reductions in spine fracture risk. Even more accurate measurement of BMD would not explain the rapid onset and later waning of effect despite gradually increasing BMD. The biomechanical effects inhibiting bone resorption could explain the early onset but not the waning effectiveness. The waning effectiveness of antiresorptives raises concerns that prolonged inhibition of remodeling may weaken bone by allowing microdamage to accumulate. The effect of drugs on nonspine fracture risk is more complex and cannot be predicted from changes in DXA BMD. For example, Beck showed that long-term users of estrogen increase section modulus vs. nonusers with a net increase in section modulus and predicted femoral neck strength despite losing about 0.4% per year in femoral neck BMD. PTH reduces spine fracture risk and this effect is more completely explained by improvement in spine BMD. This suggests that sustaining the increased BMD produced by PTH may maintain long-term reductions in fracture risk.


Otoplasty: Excision of conchal floor cartilage.
In 10 consecutive otoplasties, conchal floor cartilage was excised to facilitate rotating prominent ears back against the head. The procedure is most effective in aural prominence due to deep conchae. Cosmetic improvement is as good as that achieved by excision of posterior wall cartilage, and recontouring of the antihelix fold is needed less often. The amount of cartilage to remove is easily determined, matching of asymmetrically prominent ears is simplified, and concha-mastoid sutures can be placed without tension. The corrections have been followed 1-2 years without recurrence of the deformity.


Ophthalmic drug delivery considerations at the cellular level: drug-metabolising enzymes and transporters.
Ophthalmic drugs typically achieve < 10% ocular bioavailability. A drug applied to the surface of the eye may cross ocular-blood barriers where it may encounter metabolising enzymes and cellular transporters before it distributes to the site of action. Characterisation of ocular enzyme systems and cellular transporters and their respective substrate selectivity have provided new insight into the roles these proteins may play in ocular drug delivery and distribution. Altered metabolism and transport have been proposed to contribute to a number of ocular disease processes including inflammation, glaucoma, cataract, dry eye and neurodegeneration. As ocular enzyme and transport systems are better characterised, their properties become an integral consideration in drug design and development.


[Results and alternatives in the surgical treatment of lung cancer].
The aim of our study was to analyse the results of surgical treatment in lung cancer cases. Between 1990 and 1999, 860 patients were operated on for primary lung cancer. In 775 patients (90.1%), resection was performed, 85 patients underwent explorative thoracotomy. The 5-year survival rate was 45.3%, the mean survival time was 47 months. In the univariate analysis, the radicality of the resection (p < 0.0001), the pT stage (p < 0.0001), the pN stage (p < 0.0001) and the histological type (p = 0.0039) had a significant correlation with the survival. The survival was not influenced whether N2 lymph node metastases were observed at one or more level. In the multivariate survival calculations sex (p = 0.024), histological type (p = 0.006), pT classification (p = 0.002) and the pN classification (p < 0.0001) proved to be independent prognostic factor. The pM status did not affect the survival. Postoperative complications were observed in 242 of patients (28.2%). The most frequent complication were expansions problems (9.7%), bronchial stump insufficiency (3.3%), retention of bronchial secretion (2.1%) and cardiac complications (7.1%). 26 patients died, the 30-day mortality rate was 2.8%. 32 reoperations were necessary (3.7%). Our results indicate that non-small-cell lung cancer can be operated on with good survival possibilities and limited risk, in selected cases even with more advanced tumour stages.


Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia should not be confused with Kimura's disease.
To emphasize the differences between angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) and Kimura's disease (KD), two entities often confused in the ophthalmic literature. Case report of a subcutaneous mass in the periocular region of a 45-year old woman and a MEDLINE review of the ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic literature on ALHE and KD. The clinical and histopathological findings of the present case were consistent with ALHE, but not with KD. A survey of the current ophthalmic literature indicates that these two designations are still often used synonymously, despite that non-ophthalmic papers now separate ALHE from KD. The clinical and histopathological features of ALHE are most often distinctly different from KD and these entities should be clearly separated in the ophthalmic literature.


Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
Failure of the normal circulatory adaptation to extrauterine life results in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Although this condition is most often secondary to parenchymal lung disease or lung hypoplasia, it may also be idiopathic. PPHN is characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance with resultant right-to-left shunting of blood and hypoxemia. Although the preliminary diagnosis of PPHN is often based on differential cyanosis and labile hypoxemia, the diagnosis is confirmed by echocardiography. Management strategies include optimal lung recruitment and use of surfactant in patients with parenchymal lung disease, maintaining optimal oxygenation and stable blood pressures, avoidance of respiratory and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, and pulmonary vasodilator therapy. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is considered when medical management fails. Although mortality associated with PPHN has decreased significantly with improvements in medical care, there remains the potential risk for neurodevelopmental disability which warrants close follow-up of affected infants after discharge.


Functional comparison of posterior cruciate retention and substitution knee replacement.
Thirty-eight matched pairs of osteoarthritic knees from patients who underwent primary total knee replacements with minimum 2 years of followup were studied to compare the functional outcome between a cruciate retention and posterior stabilized design with essentially identical articulation surfaces. Patients were matched for age, weight, gender, diagnosis, activity, deformity of the knee, type of tibial component, and duration of followup. The patients were evaluated functionally by three methods: the Knee Society scoring system; a self-administered questionnaire; and an activity rating based on distance walked. In addition, in vivo fluoroscopic examination was performed in 10 cruciate retention and 10 posterior stabilized knees to determine the functional knee kinematics. Results showed that by patient self-assessment, functional improvement was achieved in 35 (92%) cruciate retention knees and 36 (95%) posterior stabilized knees. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the clinical evaluations. Fluoroscopic kinematics showed that the posterior stabilized knee experienced anteroposterior femorotibial translation more similar to the normal knee during normal gait and deep knee bend. These clinically equivalent results are not in agreement with the predicted better functional results of cruciate retained knees as determined by gait studies.


[A case report of collision in twin pregnancy].
A parturient who had never been examined during pregnancy was admitted to the maternity ward at the end of the first phase of labour. Owing to a stoppage in the expulsion of the regularly rotated head, the forceps was applied. The extraction of the head was followed by the collision of the shoulders. Behind the fetus's neck, in the uterine canal, there was the head of the other fetus. The attempt of the reposition of the head of the other twin in general anesthesia was a failure. Since auscultation revealed no heart tones in any of the twins, the perforation of the head of the other fetus was performed, and in this way the extraction of the first and then of the second fetus was possible. The authors emphasize the importance of the echographic detection of the position and site of the fetuses in twin pregnancy.


Separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes with a gel permeation chromatography system.
A gel permeation chromatography system is used to separate aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate suspensions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). This automated procedure requires no precentrifugation, is scalable, and is found to yield monochiral SWCNT fractions of semiconducting SWCNTs with a purity of 61-95%. Unsorted and resulting monochiral fractions are characterized using optical absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy.


Predictors of return to work and duration of absence following work-related hand injury.
The aims of the study were to explore the situation and the potential determinants of return-to-work (RTW) and the absence duration following work-related hand injury, and to provide evidence for the future intervention strategy of improving RTW. A prospective cohort of workers with work-related hand injury from three selected hospitals in East China was followed up on the outcomes of RTW up to 8 months after discharge. Demographic and clinical data were collected during admission; economic factors, psychological factors and RTW outcomes were, respectively, investigated using a structured questionnaire via phone call after discharge from the hospitals in 0.5 month, 2 months, 4 months and 8 months. Univariate analysis and Cox regression model were used to examine the associations between potential determinants and outcomes of the RTW. Out of the 246 cases, 192 (78.1%) eventually returned to work with the median duration of the absence of 44.0 days during the 8-month follow-up. Factors from demographic, clinical, economic and psychological domains affected RTW in the univariate analyses. Receiving timely treatment at outpatient clinics, less serious injury, no tendon trauma and no skin loss were found to be significantly beneficial to RTW, while workers with the decreased monthly salary during absence and lower pre-injury salary were likely to take longer sick leave. Most of the workers successfully achieved RTW after work-related hand injury. Proper clinical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as economic and social support seem to have played vital roles in prompting RTW that should be prioritised for the intervention strategy.


Dynamic mechanical analysis of provisional resin materials reinforced by metal oxides.
In this study, several provisional resin materials were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The materials were autopolymerized PMMA and PEMA, light cured PMMA. Autopolymerized PMMA has the highest T(g) (131 degrees C) compared to that of the autopolymerized PEMA (102 degrees C) and light cured PMMA (120 degrees C). The storage moduli for autopolymerized PMMA, autopolymerized PEMA and light cured PMMA are 2.9, 1.8 and 2.3 GPa, respectively. The loss moduli of the same resins are 330, 300 and 350 MPa, respectively. Each of these resins were reinforced with 1%, 3% and 5% of each of metal oxides of MgO, ZrO2 and Al2O3 and then studied with DMA. Small changes were observed for dynamic mechanical properties tested. However, the changes are not systematic and noticeable. This is most probably due to smaller size of metal oxides particles compared to that of polymer particle size.


Flow injection spectrophotometric or conductometric determination of ascorbic acid in a vitamin C tablet using permanganate or ammonia.
Two simple flow injection (FI) procedures for the determination of ascorbic acid content in a vitamin C tablet are proposed: spectrophotometric involving injection into a stream of acidic potassium permanganate solution and monitoring its color change due to the redox reaction; FI conductometry based on the neutralization of ascorbic acid injected into a flowing ammonia solution yielding a change in conductivity. The procedures have been applied to the analysis of locally commercial vitamin C tablet samples. A through-put of at least 90 injections h(-1) can be achieved. The relative standard deviation was found to be 2.5% (for a 50 mg vitamin C tablet; n=7) for both. Results obtained by either procedure agree with a standard titrimetric method.


The final pH of bacteria comprising the predominant flora on sound and carious human root and enamel surfaces.
Acidogenesis at low pH appears to be an important bacterial cariogenic trait. However, most information in this regard pertains to only a few of the acidogenic dental plaque bacteria. Therefore, the 'final' pH in sugar broth was determined for a wide variety of oral bacteria. Their source was: (1) carious material from advanced root lesions (ARL), (2) plaque from sound root surfaces of root-caries-free subjects (SRS), (3) plaque from "white spot" coronal lesions and sound coronal surfaces of caries-active subjects, and (4) plaque from sound coronal surfaces of caries-free subjects. Strains from groups 1 and 2 (ARL, 389 strains; SRS, 358 strains) were previously identified (van Houte et al., 1994) to the genus/species level and belonged to the predominant cultivable flora (PCF). Strains from groups 3 and 4 also belonged to the PCF but were not identified. All strains were placed in one of 4 final pH categories: < 4.2, 4.2-4.4, 4.4-4.6, and > or = 4.6. The main findings were: (1) ARL samples contained many strains with a final pH < 4.2 (mean percentage of 25.7). They included all strains of Lactobacillus and mutans streptococci (MS), most Bifidobacterium strains and non-mutans streptococci (non-MS), and about 20% of the Actinomyces strains. By contrast, SRS samples contained far fewer strains with a final pH < 4.2 (mean percentage of 8.4) which were nearly all non-MS. (2) Organisms with a final pH < 4.4 constituted mean percentages of 41.5 and 32.1 for the ARL and SRS samples, respectively. (3) The final pH distribution of strains in samples from coronal surfaces showed a tendency relative to caries activity (group 3 vs. group 4) similar to that for groups 1 and 2. Our findings further support the concept that increased cariogenic conditions are associated with increased proportions of organisms capable of acidogenesis at a low pH and that this shift involves organisms other than the MS and lactobacilli.


Free-flap distal arteriovenous fistula: when to close it?
A distal arteriovenous fistula was created secondarily in an innervated radial forearm free flap, to salvage the neophallus in three female-to-male transsexuals. This resulted in permanent edema and an arterial thrill in the neophallus. The arteriovenous fistulas were closed after 6 weeks to 20 months. Acute endothelial damage with risk of thrombosis, due to ischemia and exposure to arterial blood pressure, may be expected to have been repaired 4 to 6 weeks after arterialization of the veins. Intimal thickening will have started by then, but a subsequent decrease in vascular luminal diameter may still be expected to be reversible. The authors conclude that ligation of the distal arteriovenous fistula may safely be performed some 6 weeks after the salvage procedure.


Use of magnetic resonance imaging to analyze the performance of hollow-fiber bioreactors.
Preliminary experiments were described that demonstrate that MRI is an effective tool for the noninvasive study of hollow-fiber bioreactors. Flow-compensated velocity-encoding pulse sequences were successively applied to analyze the velocity patterns in a module operated without cells, with an artificially induced flow field perturbation. Diffusion damping pulse sequences were also used to spatially resolve regions of cell growth in a bioreactor. These experiments provide the necessary basis from which future flow and spectroscopic studies can be conducted.


Inhibition of acute feeding responses to systemic 2-deoxyglucose or insulin in rats pretreated with the GABA-transaminase blocker ethanolamine-O-sulfate (EOS).
Acute feeding responses to 2-deoxyglucose (750 mg/kg) or insulin (12 U/kg) were examined 24 hr after intracisternal injection of the GABA-transaminase inhibitor ethanolamine-O-sulfate (EOS, 400 micrograms) in female rats. EOS pretreatment completely abolished acute feeding responses to both challenges. These findings complement recent research showing that central EOS can reverse chronic overeating in several experimental preparations. The present results are consistent with previous indications that EOS treatment may induce a metabolic shift away from brain glucose utilization, thus making glucoprivation irrelevant as a metabolic challenge. An alternative possibility is that EOS-induced increases of brain GABA may offset specific neural mechanisms through which these glucoprivic agents normally induce feeding.


Lys- and Tyr-arylamidase activities in serum and brain during the estrous cycle of the rat.
Peptidase enzymes are involved in neuropeptide processing or degradation. In order to analyse a possible functional participation of these enzymes, arylamidase activity of several rat brain regions and serum was assayed in the soluble fraction during the estrous cycle using L-Lys- and L-Tyr-beta-naphthylamide as substrates. Significant differences were present in the hypothalamus, the pituitary and serum when both substrates were used. However, there were no differences in cortical areas. These results suggest a role for arylamidase activity in the hormonal changes that happen during the estrous cycle of the rat.


Development and validation of a tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction combined with melting analysis-assay for clinical JAK2 V617F mutation detection.
JAK2 V617F mutation is a molecular marker for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). As there are no China Food and Drug Administration-approved assays for the detection of JAK2 V617F mutation in China, validation of the analytic performance of this assay is important for the clinical laboratory before its clinical implementation. We have established a method for detecting JAK2 V617F using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) combined with melting-curve analysis. A total of 202 blood samples and 20 bone marrow aspirates were obtained from MPNs patients at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. The accuracy, precision, reproducibility, analytical sensitivity, lower limit of detection, analytical specificity, interfering substances, ruggedness, robustness, reportable range and reporting of this assay were validated. There was a close agreement between the reference method (sequencing) and melting-curve analysis (κ = 0.89). The precision was 100 % and the results of the assay were unaffected by lipoprotein (<27 mmol/L) or bilirubin (<450 µmol/L). The analytical sensitivity of the JAK2 mutation was 1.25 %. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) combined with melting-curve analysis can be used in the clinical laboratory for detection of the JAK2 V617F mutation.


Plasmids carrying cloned fragments of RF DNA from the filamentous phage (phi)Lf can be integrated into the host chromosome via site-specific integration and homologous recombination.
Different regions of RF DNA from the filamentous bacteriophage phiLf were cloned in Escherichia coli vectors that can not be maintained in Xanthomonas. After introduction into X. campestris pv. campestris 17 (Xc17), most of these constructs were found to integrate into the host chromosome, either by recA-dependent homologous recombination or recA-independent site-specific integration. Mutations in himA, which codes for the alpha-subunit of the Integration Host Factor, does not affect the integration. Integration occurs into a chromosomal region which harbors a copy of a defective phage (4445 bp) that shares a high degree of identity with the phiLf genome. While various parts of the 4445-bp region are susceptible to homologous recombination, site-specific integration requires the attB sequence on the chromosome and the phage attP. The attB shows a high level of sequence identity (22 out of 28 bp) to the dif site required for E. coli Xer site-specific recombination, including the 6-bp central region, and 8/11 identity in both the left XerC-binding arm and the right XerD-binding arm, with the innermost 5 nt of the arms forming a dyad symmetry that is also present in dif. The attP has the same central region and shows 10/11 identity to the dif site in the left arm, but the sequence of the right arm is less conserved than that of attB. The smallest regions still capable of mediating integration are a cloned 72-bp phiLf attP-containing sequence and a 51-bp Xc17 attB-containing sequence, which was reinserted into the Xc17 chromosome after the 4445-bp region had been deleted, indicating that accessory sequences are not necessary and that the integrase required for site-specific integration is neither specified by the 4445-bp Xc17 chromosomal region nor encoded by the phiLf genome.


Application of geostatistical approaches to predict the spatio-temporal distribution of summer ozone in Houston, Texas.
Mitigation of adverse effects of air pollution requires understanding underlying exposures, such as ambient ozone concentrations. Geostatistical approaches were employed to analyze temporal trends and estimate spatial patterns of summertime ozone concentrations for Houston, Texas, based on hourly ozone observations obtained from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. We systematically assess the accuracy of several spatial interpolation methods, comparing inverse distance weighting, simple kriging, ordinary kriging, and universal kriging methods utilizing the hourly ozone observations and meteorological measurements from monitoring sites. Model uncertainty was assessed by leave-one-out cross-validation. Kriging methods performed better, showing greater consistency in the generated surfaces, fewer interpolation errors, and lower biases. Universal kriging did not significantly improve the interpolation results compared to ordinary kriging, and thus ordinary kriging was determined to be the optimal method, striking a balance between accuracy and simplicity. The resulting spatial patterns indicate that the more industrialized areas east and northeast of Houston exhibit the highest summertime ozone concentrations. Estimated daily maximum 8 h ozone concentration fields generated will be used to inform research on population health risks from exposure to surface ozone in Houston.