Meta-analysis of proton pump inhibitors in treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.
To evaluate the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) compared with placebo and histamine receptor antagonists (H2RAs) for reducing the incidence of rebleeding, surgery, and death in acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) associated with peptic ulcer disease. A systematic search of the English-language literature was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Pre-MEDLINE (from 1966 to September 2000) and a manual search of references. Randomized, controlled trials evaluating any PPI for acute GIB in adults with the end points of rebleeding, surgery of death. Nine trials (1829 pts.) were included. The relative odds of rebleeding indicated a 50% reduction in the PPI-treated group (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.77; p = 0.002, NNTB 9; 95% CI NNTB 6 to 13). The relative odds of surgery indicated a 53% reduction in the PPI-treated group (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.77; p = 0.003; NNTB 17, 95% CI 12 to 35). The relative odds for mortality indicated a nonsignificant 8% decrease in the odds of death in the PPI-treated group (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.83, p = 0.81; NNTB 323, 95% CI NNTB 47 to infinity to NNTH 33). PPIs are superior to H2RAs and placebo in preventing rebleeding and the need for surgery in patients with GIB, although they do not appear to reduce mortality.


Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Protocol Evaluation and Data Quality in Normal and Malignant Liver Tissue and Comparison to the Literature.
Although intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) becomes more and more popular, there is currently no clear consensus on the number and distribution of b-values to use. In this work, we (1) tested and evaluated the data quality of a 25-b-value IVIM protocol in patients with malignant liver lesions and normal liver tissue as a standard of reference, (2) calculated an optimal b-value distribution and compared with the standard of reference, and (3) compared the 25-b-value protocol with other proposed protocols in the literature. Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging with 25 b-values was performed at 3 T in a total of 15 patients with malignant liver lesions. Reference IVIM parameter maps were calculated in tumor and normal liver tissue. With these parameters, optimal IVIM protocols with reduced numbers of b-values were calculated. These optimal IVIM protocols were again applied to calculate new IVIM parameter maps that were compared with the reference parameter maps by calculating mean relative errors. In addition, 35 other IVIM protocols, as found in literature, were compared in a similar way with the 25-b-value protocol serving as a standard of reference. The mean relative error depends on the number of b-values and their distribution. In tumor tissue, the error is higher and more variable than in normal-appearing liver tissue. The largest errors occur in tumor tissue and in the protocols having low numbers of b-values in the IVIM protocols. In the calculated optimal IVIM protocols, the mean relative errors decreased by 40% or more when the number of b-values included increased from 4 to 16. The mean relative errors in the protocols adapted from the literature vary substantially between the various b-value distributions. One optimized 16-b-value protocol, which was found in literature, reduced the average relative error by 80% when compared with 4- and 5-b-value protocols listed in literature. Including more b-values and applying an optimized b-value distribution significantly reduces errors in the IVIM parameter estimates, thereby increasing its accuracy.This effect is even more pronounced in inhomogeneous tumor compared with that in normal liver tissue. However, when restrictions in acquisition time or patient-related factors apply, a minimum of 16 b-values should be considered for reliable results.


Biomolecular effects of JB1 (an IGF-I peptide analog) in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy.
Low-serum IGF-I levels at birth is a risk factor for the development of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely LBW infants. We tested the hypothesis that JB1 (an IGF-I analog) prevents oxygen-induced retinopathy in our rat model. Neonatal rats were exposed to 50% oxygen with brief, clustered, hypoxic (12%) episodes from birth to P14. The pups were treated with s.c. injections of 1) JB1 (1 μg/d) on P1, P2, and P3 (JB1x3); 2) JB1 (1 μg/d) on alternate days from P1 to P13 (JB1x7); or 3) equivalent volume saline. Control littermates were raised in room air (RA) with all conditions identical except for inspired O2. Groups were analyzed after hyperoxia/hypoxia (H/H) cycling at P14 or allowed to recover in RA until P21. Systemic and ocular VEGF, soluble VEGFR-1, and IGF-I; retinal vasculature; and gene profile of retinal angiogenesis were assessed. JB1x3 was more effective with associated increases in sVEGFR-1 and decreased retinal pathologies than JB1x7. We conclude that early short-term exposure to systemic JB1 treatment normalizes retinal abnormalities seen with H/H cycling, an effect that may involve sVEGFR-1.


cDNA clone and expression analysis of rodent fast and slow skeletal muscle troponin I mRNAs.
We have characterized the structure and expression of rodent mRNAs encoding the fast and slow skeletal muscle isoforms of the contractile regulatory protein, troponin I (TnIfast and TnIslow). TnIfast and TnIslow cDNA clones were isolated from mouse and rat muscle cDNA clone libraries and were used as isoform-specific probes in Northern blot and in situ hybridization studies. These studies showed that the TnIfast and TnIslow mRNAs are expressed in skeletal muscle, but not cardiac muscle or other tissues, and that they are differentially expressed in individual muscle fibers. Fiber typing on the basis of in situ hybridization analysis of TnI isoform mRNA content showed an excellent correlation with fiber type as assessed by myosin ATPase histochemistry. These results directly demonstrate that the differential expression of skeletal muscle TnI isoforms in the various classes of vertebrate striated muscle cells is based on gene regulatory mechanisms which control the abundances of specific TnI mRNAs in individual muscle cells. Both TnIfast and TnIslow mRNAs are expressed, at comparable levels, in differentiated cultures of rat L6 and mouse C2 muscle cell lines. Thus, although neuronal input has been shown to be an important factor in determining fast versus slow isoform-specific expression in skeletal muscle, both TnIfast and TnIslow genes can be expressed in muscle cells in the absence of nerve. Comparison of the deduced rodent TnI amino acid sequences with previously determined rabbit protein sequences showed that residues with potential fast/slow isoform-specific function are present in several discrete clusters, two of which are located near previously identified actin and troponin C binding sites.


Speech fluency: effect of age, gender and context.
The effects of age, gender and task on speech fluency performance in three speaking conditions were examined in 78 older (55-92 years) talkers. Results were analyzed for significant differences (p < or = 0.01) as a function of age, gender and task between speakers groups formed on increasingly older chronological age and as compared to a young (25-35 years) control group. The relationship between speech fluency and speech rate performance data obtained on the same tasks was also examined. Only a few significant effects and/or interactions were found for the variables in this study. These findings are discussed and compared to those of other recent studies.


[Determination of target volume in pediatric radiotherapy: application to brain tumors].
Pediatric tumors have enjoyed considerable improvements for the past 30 years. This is mainly due to the extensive use of combined therapeutical modalities in which chemotherapy plays a prominent role. In many children, local treatment including radiotherapy, can nowadays be adapted in terms of target volume and dose to the "response" to an initial course of chemotherapy almost on a case by case basis. This makes precise recommendation on local therapy highly difficult in this age group. We will concentrate in this paper on brain tumors in which chemotherapy is of limited value and radiotherapy still plays a key-role.


[Significance of findings of chest X-rays and thoracic CT routinely performed at the emergency unit: 102 patients with multiple trauma. A prospective study].
To evaluate prospectively whether and to what extent both thoracic computed tomography (Tx-CT) and supine X-ray of the chest (Rx-Tx) are able to show additional findings that are therapeutically relevant. According to a fixed study protocol, we performed Rx-Tx and Tx-CT in 102 consecutive, haemodynamically stable polytrauma patients (mean age, 41.2 yrs; age range, 12-93 yrs). Findings of therapeutical relevance drawn from both Tx-CT and Rx-Tx, and urgent interventions indicated by an attending trauma team were documented on a standardized evaluation sheet immediately. Any change in the patient's management that is different from routine life-saving procedures, and any therapeutical intervention done in the emergency room or elsewhere (operating theatre, angiographic facility) were considered therapeutically relevant. Of 102 patients, 43 (42.2%) had a total of 51 therapeutically relevant findings. Rx-Tx alone yielded 23 relevant findings (45.1%) in 23 patients (22.5%). Of them, Tx-CT has shown additional important findings in 7 patients (30.4%). When Tx-CT alone is considered, it revealed 22 new findings of therapeutical relevance (43.2%) in 20 patients (46.5%). Altogether, Tx-CT was able to show 30 relevant findings in 27 patients, i.e., there was a therapeutical benefit for 26.5% of all polytrauma patients included. Most frequently, there was a need for chest-tube insertion (n = 29). Polytrauma patients if haemodynamically stable may profit from computed tomography of the chest when therapeutically relevant thoracic injuries are looked for or early therapeutical interventions are to be checked. However, chest X-ray should stay as a "front-line" screening method because of its superbly quick feasibility and availability.


Bicarbonate Is Not a General Acid in Au-Catalyzed CO2 Electroreduction.
We show that bicarbonate is neither a general acid nor a reaction partner in the rate-limiting step of electrochemical CO2 reduction catalysis mediated by planar polycrystalline Au surfaces. We formulate microkinetic models and propose diagnostic criteria to distinguish the role of bicarbonate. Comparing these models with the observed zero-order dependence in bicarbonate and simulated interfacial concentration gradients, we conclude that bicarbonate is not a general acid cocatalyst. Instead, it acts as a viable proton donor past the rate-limiting step and a sluggish buffer that maintains the bulk but not local pH in CO2-saturated aqueous electrolytes.


Use of calcium channel blockers and myocardial infarction in hypertensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis - A nationwide cohort study.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should be regarded as a high risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI). In addition to anti-hypertensive effect, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were frequently used as anti-angina drugs in patients with MI. However, the association between CCBs and MI in RA remains unclear. We investigated whether CCBs could decrease incidence of myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension and RA. We identified patients from the Registry for Catastrophic Illness, a nation-wide database encompassing almost all of the RA patients in Taiwan from 1995 to 2008. The primary endpoint was MI and the median duration of follow up was 3,050 days. Propensity score matching and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios for MI. Among 27,844 patients with hypertension, 17,317 (61.5%) subjects received CCBs (mean age = 58.8 years, 72.1% female). The incidence of MI significantly decreased in patients treated with CCBs (hazard ratio [HR] 0.560; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.494-0.634). After propensity match, subjects receiving CCBs had significantly lower risk of MI (HR 0.637, 95% CI 0.549-0.740). The protective effect of CCBs therapy was significantly better in patients taking longer duration. Of note, the effect remained robust in subgroup analyses, including dihydropyridine CCBs (HR 0.550; 95% CI 0.466-0.650) and non-dihydropyridine CCBs (HR 0.674, 95% CI 0.588-0.773). Therapy of CCBs is associated with a lower risk of MI among hypertensive patients with RA. Hence, the prescription of CCBs may be a compelling indication of BP lowering in RA population.


Multicentric study comparing intravesical chemotherapy alone and with local microwave hyperthermia for prophylaxis of recurrence of superficial transitional cell carcinoma.
To compare the efficacy and local toxicity of the intravesical instillation of a cytostatic drug versus the same cytostatic agent in combination with local hyperthermia as an adjuvant treatment, after complete transurethral resection (TURB) of superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. The study was designed as a prospective, multicentric, randomized trial. Eighty-three patients suffering from primary or recurrent superficial (Ta-T1) TCC of the bladder, after a complete TURB, were randomly assigned to receive intravesical instillations of mitomycin C (MMC) alone, for 41 patients, and MMC in combination with local microwave-induced hyperthermia, for 42 patients. For the combined approach, a new system, Synergo101-1 (Medical Enterprises, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) was used. The effectiveness evaluation end points of the study were evaluation of recurrence-free survival and the estimated probability of recurrence. The safety evaluation end points included subjective and objective side effects and clinical complications. For the efficacy end point, Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed, with the log-rank test for significance. Minimum follow-up time was 24 months. Of the 83 randomly assigned patients, 75 completed the study according to the protocol and had valid cystoscopy results. Survival analysis of the 75 assessable patients demonstrated a highly significant difference in the survival curves in favor of thermochemotherapy. Subjective intolerance and clinical complications were significantly higher but transient and moderate in the combined treatment group. In our series, endovesical thermochemotherapy appears to be more effective than standard endovesical chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment for superficial bladder tumors at 24-month follow-up, despite an increased but acceptable local toxicity.


Activation of dihydropyridine sensitive Ca2+ channels in rat hippocampal neurons in culture by parathyroid hormone.
We examined the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on rat hippocampal neurons in culture to determine whether it caused a similar intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) increase in these cells to that seen with renal epithelial cells and found that PTH induced the effect in about 30% of the neurons. The effects appeared gradually during continuous administration of full-length PTH(1-84) or its active fragment, PTH(1-34), but not of an inactive fragment, PTH(39-84). However, the active fragment of the PTH-related peptide (PTHrP(1-34)) had little effect on [Ca2+]i during 60 min of administration. The PTH effect was inhibited by nifedipine, an L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist, and facilitated by S-(-)-BAY K 8644, an L-type Ca2+ channel agonist. Our findings suggest that PTH is one of the causal factors for the age-related increase in the density of voltage gated Ca2+ channels in hippocampal neurons.


Environmental nonhuman sources of leprosy.
Leprosy has been considered to occur only after exposure to a human case. However, evidence has been accumulating that this conventional view is wrong and that an environmental nonhuman source is critical to some human infections with Mycobacterium leprae. Observations, some of which date back to the nineteenth century, support soil, vegetation, water, arthropods, and armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) as environmental sources of leprosy. Disparate clinical, epidemiologic, and microbiologic evidence has been critically reviewed in light of the fact that 50%-70% of sporadic cases of leprosy in well-studied populations occur in persons who have had no known contact with human leprosy. Historical data and current information alike substantiate the concept of nonhuman sources of the disease; recent observations with monoclonal antibody have shown that phenolic glycolipid-I antigen, which is unique to the M. leprae cell wall, is present in soil. In the absence of a technique for in vitro cultivation, indirect methods and the body of observations reviewed here persuasively favor but do not prove the existence of environmental nonhuman sources of M. leprae.


Inducing synthesis of amorphous EuFePt nanorods and their comprehensive enhancement of magnetism, thermostability and photocatalysis.
EuFePt ternary amorphous alloy nanorods are first synthesized through Eu itself inducing action, and this nanoalloy including 4f electrons exhibits excellent properties on magnetism, thermostability, especially the cooperation photocatalysis activity of TiO(2).


Therapeutic Targeting of the G-CSF Receptor Reduces Neutrophil Trafficking and Joint Inflammation in Antibody-Mediated Inflammatory Arthritis.
G-CSF is a hemopoietic growth factor that has a role in steady state granulopoiesis, as well as in mature neutrophil activation and function. G-CSF- and G-CSF receptor-deficient mice are profoundly protected in several models of rheumatoid arthritis, and Ab blockade of G-CSF also protects against disease. To further investigate the actions of blocking G-CSF/G-CSF receptor signaling in inflammatory disease, and as a prelude to human studies of the same approach, we developed a neutralizing mAb to the murine G-CSF receptor, which potently antagonizes binding of murine G-CSF and thereby inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation and G-CSF receptor signaling. Anti-G-CSF receptor rapidly halted the progression of established disease in collagen Ab-induced arthritis in mice. Neutrophil accumulation in joints was inhibited, without rendering animals neutropenic, suggesting an effect of G-CSF receptor blockade on neutrophil homing to inflammatory sites. Consistent with this, neutrophils in the blood and arthritic joints of anti-G-CSF receptor-treated mice showed alterations in cell adhesion receptors, with reduced CXCR2 and increased CD62L expression. Furthermore, blocking neutrophil trafficking with anti-G-CSF receptor suppressed local production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) and chemokines (KC, MCP-1) known to drive tissue damage. Differential gene expression analysis of joint neutrophils showed a switch away from an inflammatory phenotype following anti-G-CSF receptor therapy in collagen Ab-induced arthritis. Importantly, G-CSF receptor blockade did not adversely affect viral clearance during influenza infection in mice. To our knowledge, we describe for the first time the effect of G-CSF receptor blockade in a therapeutic model of inflammatory joint disease and provide support for pursuing this therapeutic approach in treating neutrophil-associated inflammatory diseases.


Mesoporous Iron Sulfide for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.
We report a facile synthetic protocol to prepare mesoporous FeS2 without the aid of hard template as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The mesoporous FeS2 materials with high surface area were successfully prepared by a sol-gel method following a sulfurization treatment in an H2S atmosphere. A remarkable HER catalytic performance was achieved with a low overpotential of 96 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 78 mV per decade under alkaline conditions (pH 13). The theoretical calculations indicate that the excellent catalytic activity of mesoporous FeS2 is attributed to the exposed (210) facets. The mesoporous FeS2 material might be a promising alternative to the Pt-based electrocatalysts for water splitting.


Optic chiasmatic glioma in children.
We reviewed the records of 29 patients with optic nerve or chiasm glioma, or both, seen from 1955 to 1966. Sixteen patients were girls and 13 were boys. At the time of diagnosis, 14 patients were less than 2 years old. Optic atrophy was the most frequently seen physical finding, present in 26 of 29 patients. Twelve patients had diencephalic syndrome (41%). Proptosis was seen in eight. Eleven patients (38%) had associated neurofibromatosis. Pneumoencaphalogram was done on 26 patients and was abnormal in 23. The diagnosis was confirmed at surgery in 27 patients. All tumors were astrocytomas. Eighteen patients underwent radiotherapy. Surgery and radiotherapy were used as treatment for optic-chiasmatic glioma with diencephalic syndrome.


[Effect of HOXA10 gene silenced by shRNA on proliferation and apoptosis of U937cell line].
To investigate the effects of lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting HOXA10 gene on the proliferation, apoptosis and morphology of leukemic cell line U937. Four different shRNA plasmids were designed and built to interfere with HOXA10 gene. The four interference plasmids were transfected into 293T cells with the HOXA10 over expression plasmid and then the RNAi efficiency of the four interference plasmids was determined by Western blot. The best one was chosen to transfect 293T cells with lentiviral helping plasmids to produce packaged lentivirus (lenti-shHOXA10). U937 cells were divided into interference group (lenti-shHOXA10), negative control group and untreated group. After infection with the packaged lentivirus, infection efficiency of lentivirus for U937 was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of HOXA10 gene mRNA and protein was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. Cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Lentiviral-shRNA vector of HOXA10 gene was successfully constructed. Compared with the negative control and untreated groups, mRNA level of HOXA10 decreased by (92.3±1.3)%, protein levels decreased by 91.1%, and the inhibition rate of U937 cells [(43.9±0.7)%] increased in the interference group (P<0.05). Wright's staining showed that the ratio of karyon to cytoplasm was reduced and mitotic phase was rare in the interference group. Apoptosis rate in the interference group [(27.1±1.4)%] was significantly higher than in the negative [(19.4±1.9)%] and untreated groups [(5.5±1.3)%] (P<0.05). Lentivirus mediated RNAi can reduce the expression level of HOXA10, effectively inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of U937 cells. HOXA10 gene is expected to become a new target for the treatment of leukemia at gene level.


X-ray structure of a galactose-specific lectin from Spatholobous parviflorous.
A galactose-specific seed lectin from Spatholobous parviflorus (SPL) has been purified, crystallized and its X-ray structure solved. It is the first lectin purified and crystallized from the genus Spatholobus (family: Fabaceae). The crystals belong to the space group P1, with a=60.792 Å, b=60.998 Å, c=78.179 Å, α=78.68°, β=88.62°, γ=104.32°. The data were collected at 2.04 Å resolution under cryocondition, on a MAR image-plate detector system, mounted on a rotating anode X-ray generator. The coordinates of Dolichos biflorus lectin (1lu1) were successfully used for the structure solution by molecular replacement method. The primary structure of the SPL was not known earlier and it was unambiguously visible in the electron density. S. parviflorus lectin is a hetero-dimeric-tetramer with two alpha and two beta chains of 251 and 239 residues respectively. SPL has two metal ions, Ca(2+) and Mn(2+), bound to a loop region of each chain. The SPL monomers are in jelly roll form.


Inverse association between trans isomeric and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in cord blood lipids of full-term infants.
Previous studies showed significant inverse correlations between values of trans isomeric and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipids of preterm infants and healthy children aged 1-15 y. We sought to evaluate the same correlations in full-term infants at birth. We studied healthy full-term infants (n = 42) born after normal pregnancies and deliveries. All infants had a family history of atopy (both parents or one of the parents and a sibling had atopic symptoms). The fatty acid composition of venous cord blood lipids was determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography. The mean (+/-SEM) sum of trans fatty acids was 0.49 +/- 0.02% by wt in phospholipids, 2.47 +/- 0.20% by wt in cholesterol esters, 1.73 +/- 0.09% by wt in triacylglycerols, and 1.59 +/- 0.07% by wt in nonesterified fatty acids. Linear correlation analysis showed significant inverse correlations between the sum of trans fatty acids and both arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in phospholipids (r = -0.56, P < 0.001, and r = -0.48, P = 0.01, respectively), cholesterol esters (r = -0.52, P < 0.001, and r = -0.39, P = 0.018, respectively), and nonesterified fatty acids (r = -0.41, P = 0.007, and r = -0.41, P = 0.006, respectively). Because trans fatty acids in the fetal circulation must originate from the maternal diet, our results indicate that maternal exposure to trans fatty acids may represent a previously neglected variable that inversely influences long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status in full-term infants at birth.


Investigating the validity of the minimal disease activity state for patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with abatacept.
To validate the definitions of minimal disease activity (MDA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to compare abatacept to control with respect to patients attaining a state of MDA. Two randomized controlled trials comparing abatacept to control in patients with RA were considered: ATTAIN and AIM. Core set measures, Disease Activity Score 28-joint count (DAS28), and, for AIM, radiographic scores were available. The core set and DAS-based definitions for MDA were calculated and the number of patients in the treatment groups meeting the definitions was compared to determine sensitivity of the criteria to treatment differences and patient severity. The number of times achieving MDA was compared to the change in Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and for the AIM study compared to change in radiographic scores. For both definitions of MDA, the change in radiographic scores showed a continual decrease in progression the more often a patient was in MDA. The change in HAQ, for both studies, showed a similar consistent improvement - the longer a patient was in MDA, then the better the HAQ score. Significantly more patients in the abatacept group met the core set and DAS-based definition of MDA than in the control group. The presence and persistence of MDA was associated with slowing of radiographic progression and improvement in the HAQ, providing support for discriminative and predictive validity of the measure. The MDA results were consistent with other efficacy analyses indicating a treatment advantage for abatacept.


Induction of tenascin in rat lungs undergoing bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Lung injury induced by bleomycin is associated with early inflammation and subsequent excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. In the present study, we investigated the expression of extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin (TN) during pulmonary injury induced by bleomycin. After the initial lung injury induced by intratracheal bleomycin instillation, TN and collagen type III (COL III) mRNAs were greatly induced. The pattern of induction of TN was distinct from that of COL III. TN was primarily induced during the early inflammatory phase, whereas the increase in COL III synthesis continued during the reparative phase. The induction and localization of TN mRNA during bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury were also examined by in situ hybridization. TN mRNA was focally induced in rat lungs 3 days after bleomycin administration. Induction of TN mRNA was spatially restricted in the areas of tissue inflammation. The interstitial cells in alveolar septal walls and secondary septal tips in the areas of tissue damage were the major source of TN mRNA production. Expression of TN mRNA was decreased as the inflammation attenuated and development of fibrosis proceeded. Immunocytochemical analyses of TN protein distribution in the lung yielded corroborative results. Immunoreactive TN protein was found in a patchy distribution in alveolar septal walls and secondary septal tips in the areas of damaged tissues. This study demonstrated that TN is a unique early-response extracellular matrix component to bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury and is induced at the sites of the inflammation, suggesting a potential role of TN as a modulator of pulmonary inflammation and repair.


Analytical expression of the purine/pyrimidine autocorrelation function after and before random mutations.
The mutation process is a classical evolutionary genetic process. The type of mutations studied here is the random substitutions of a purine base R (adenine or guanine) by a pyrimidine base Y (cytosine or thymine) and reciprocally (transversions). The analytical expressions derived allow us to analyze in genes the occurrence probabilities of motifs and d-motifs (two motifs separated by any d bases) on the R/Y alphabet under transversions. These motif probabilities can be obtained after transversions (in the evolutionary sense; from the past to the present) and, unexpectedly, also before transversions (after back transversions, in the inverse evolutionary sense, from the present to the past). This theoretical part in Section 2 is a first generalization of a particular formula recently derived. The application in Section 3 is based on the analytical expression giving the autocorrelation function (the d-motif probabilities) before transversions. It allows us to study primitive genes from actual genes. This approach solves a biological problem. The protein coding genes of chloroplasts and mitochondria have a preferential occurrence of the 6-motif YRY(N)6YRY (maximum of the autocorrelation function for d = 6, N = R or Y) with a periodicity modulo 3. The YRY(N)6YRY preferential occurrence without the periodicity modulo 3 is also observed in the RNA coding genes (ribosomal, transfer, and small nuclear RNA genes) and in the noncoding genes (introns and 5' regions of eukaryotic nuclei). However, there are two exceptions to this YRY(N)6YRY rule: the protein coding genes of eukaryotic nuclei, and prokaryotes, where YRY(N)6YRY has the second highest value after YRY(N)0YRY (YRYYRY) with a periodicity modulo 3. When we go backward in time with the analytical expression, the protein coding genes of both eukaryotic nuclei and prokaryotes retrieve the YRY(N)6YRY preferential occurrence with a periodicity modulo 3 after 0.2 back transversions per base. In other words, the actual protein coding genes of chloroplasts and mitochondria are similar to the primitive protein coding genes of eukaryotic nuclei and prokaryotes. On the other hand, this application represents the first result concerning the mutation process in the model of DNA sequence evolution we recently proposed. According to this model, the actual genes on the R/Y alphabet derive from two successive evolutionary genetic processes: an independent mixing of a few nonrandom types of oligonucleotides leading to genes called primitive followed by a mutation process in these primitive genes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


A Clinical Quality Improvement (CQI) Project to Improve Pain After Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair.
Patients who undergo laparoscopic ventral hernia repair can have significant post-operative pain and discomfort from both somatic pain due to mesh fixation and visceral pain due to CO2 insufflation pressure. In an attempt to improve outcomes, a Clinical Quality Improvement (CQI) project was implemented by a multi-disciplinary hernia team. CQI tools were applied for consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair from June 2012 through September 2015 (39 months). Initiatives for improved patient outcomes during this period included the administration of a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and/or an intra-operative block with long-acting local anesthetic first, and then a low pressure pneumoperitoneum (LPP) system was implemented later in the project. One-hundred-twenty patients who underwent a laparoscopic ventral/incisional hernia repair were included in the analysis. Fifty-three patients had no block and had conventional insufflation at 15 mmHg (No Block-No LPP group). Outcomes for this group included a median time in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) of 126 minutes, a median length of stay of 4.0 days, a median use of opioid morphine equivalents (MEQ) in the PACU of 10.0, and a total use of opioid MEQ for the entire hospital stay of 100.0. Thirty-seven patients had blocks with a long-acting local anesthetic and conventional insufflation at 15 mmHg (Block only group). Outcomes for this group showed improvement for all outcomes, but none were statistically significant. Thirty patients had blocks with a long-acting local anesthetic and a low pressure pneumoperitoneum system with a standard pressure of 8 mmHg. Outcomes for this group included a median time in PACU of 83.6 minutes, a median length of stay of 1.5 days, a median amount of opioid use in the PACU of 5.0 MEQ, and a median use of opioid use for the entire hospital stay of 26.0 MEQ. All of these outcomes were statistically significant improvements compared with the No Block-No LPP and Block only groups. Implementation of a CQI program, including long-acting local anesthetic blocks and a low pressure pneumoperitoneum system as part of a multi-modal pain strategy for patients who underwent laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, was associated with decreased PACU time, decreased length of stay, and less opioid use in the PACU and for the entire hospital stay.


Eight-year (2007-2014) trends in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical components in the Capital Region of Alberta, Canada.
Currently there have been questions about ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in the Capital Region of Alberta, Canada. An investigation of temporal trends in PM2.5 and its chemical components was undertaken in the City of Edmonton within the Capital Region over an 8-year period (2007-2014). A non-parametric trend detection method was adopted to characterize trends in ambient concentrations. No statistically significant change was observed for ambient PM2.5 concentrations during 2007-2014, while significant decreasing trends were found for organic carbon, elemental carbon, oxalate, barium, lead and cadmium. A statistically significant increasing trend was observed for sodium chloride indicating an increase of de-icing salt contribution for winter road maintenance in recent years. Concentrations of potassium ion and zinc exhibited strong and significant seasonal variability with higher concentrations in winter than in summer likely reflecting wood smoke origins more than other potential sources in Edmonton and the surrounding region. No statistically significant changes were observed for all other chemical components examined. Notwithstanding robust population growth that has occurred in Edmonton, these findings reveal that particulate air quality and corresponding trace elements in Edmonton's air has been unchanged or improved over the investigated period (2007-2014). Longer-term air quality monitoring at least over several decades is needed to establish whether trends reported here are actually occurring.


Dietary Intake of Structured Lipids with Different Contents of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids on Obesity Prevention in C57BL/6J Mice.
Three medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) with different contents of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) (10% to 30%, w/w) were prepared and evaluated for their anti-obesity potential in C57BL/6J mice. The group fed with a high fat diet of MLCT containing 30% (w/w) MCFA showed significantly decreased body weight and fat mass (P < 0.05) relative to the control mice fed an obesity-inducing high fat rapeseed oil diet. In addition, serum parameters including triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B in the treatment group fed with 30% (w/w) MCFA were close to those of mice fed with a low fat rapeseed oil diet, but significantly different (P < 0.05) from those of the obesity control group. Moreover, the intake of MLCT with high content of MCFA reduced the size of adipocytes. In addition, the visceral fat and liver weights, as well as the liver triacylglycerol for 3 treatment groups were lower than those of the obesity control group. These results demonstrate the great potential of MLCT with high content of MCFA in weight loss.


Antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase stability of MDL 19,592, an oral cephalosporin.
We compared the in vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of MDL 19,592, an orally absorbed cephalosporin, with that of cephalexin and cefaclor. It inhabited Staphylococcus aureus at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml, Streptococcus pyogenes at 0.25 microgram/ml, sero groups B, C and G streptococci at 1 microgram/ml, and Streptococcus pneumoniae at 2 micrograms/ml. It was slightly more active than cefaclor and cephalexin. MDL 19,592 did not significantly inhibit Enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter spp. strains (MIC greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml). MDL 19,592 was not hydrolyzed by the plasmid beta-lactamases TEM-1 and SHV-1 of Klebsiella but was hydrolyzed by the TEM-3, Staphylococcus aureus beta-lactamase, and the chromosomal-mediated Enterobacter cloacae P99 enzymes.


Strategic operating indicators point to equity growth.
As healthcare managers become more business-like in their behavior, they are becoming increasingly concerned with the equity growth rate of their organizations. Strong equity growth means a financially healthy organization. Equity growth can be expressed as a product of five financial ratios--the most important ratio being the operating margin. Improvements in operating margins will lead to improvements in equity growth. Thirty indicators, called strategic operating indicators, have been developed to monitor operating margins. These indicators, when compared with values from other peer groups, can help point to strategies for improvement of operating margins, and hence equity growth.


Glomerulus development in the absence of a set of mitral-like neurons in the insect olfactory lobe.
Mitral cells are the first neurons in the mammalian olfactory bulb to synapse with olfactory receptor axons during glomerulus development, and in an invertebrate, the moth Manduca sexta, mitral-like neurons overlap very early with olfactory receptor axons as they begin to form protoglomeruli. The possibility for early interaction between receptor neurons and mitral-like neurons led us to ask whether such an interaction plays an essential role in glomerulus development. In the current study in the moth, we surgically removed a major class of these mitral-like neurons before glomeruli began to form and asked: (a) Is the formation of the array of olfactory glomeruli triggered by an interaction of the first-arriving receptor axons with the dendrites of mitral-like neurons? (b) At the level of individual glomeruli, must the mitral-like dendrites be in place either to maintain receptor axons in a glomerular arrangement, or to guide later-growing dendrites of other types into the developing glomeruli? Our results indicate that even without the participation of this group of mitral-like neurons, the array of sexually isomorphic ordinary glomeruli forms and the basic substructure of individual glomeruli develops apparently normally. We conclude that the mitral-like neurons in Manduca are not essential for the formation of ordinary olfactory glomeruli during development.


Disruption of BRCA1 function results in telomere lengthening and increased anaphase bridge formation in immortalized cell lines.
BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor that functions in controlling cell growth and maintaining genomic stability. BRCA1 has also been implicated in telomere maintenance through its ability to regulate the transcription of hTERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, resulting in telomere shortening, and to colocalize with the telomere-binding protein TRF1. The high incidence of nonreciprocal translocations in tumors arising from BRCA1 mutation carriers and Brca1-null mice also raises the possibility that BRCA1 plays a role in telomere protection. To date, however, the consequences for telomere status of disrupting BRCA1 have not been reported. To examine the role of BRCA1 in telomere regulation, we have expressed a dominant-negative mutant of BRCA1 (trBRCA1), known to disrupt multiple functions of BRCA1, in telomerase-positive mammary epithelial cells (SVCT) and telomerase-negative ALT cells (GM847). In SVCT cells, expression of trBRCA1 resulted in an increased incidence of anaphase bridges and in an increase in telomere length, but no change in telomerase activity. In GM847 cells, trBRCA1 also increased anaphase bridge formation but did not induce any change in telomere length. BRCA1 colocalized with TRF2 in telomerase-positive cells and with a small subset of ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs) in ALT cells. Together, these results raise the possibility that BRCA1 could play a role in telomere protection and suggest a potential mechanism for one of the phenotypes of BRCA1-deficient cells.


Random initial condition in small Barabasi-Albert networks and deviations from the scale-free behavior.
Barabasi-Albert networks are constructed by adding nodes via preferential attachment to an initial core of nodes. We study the topology of small scale-free networks as a function of the size and average connectivity of their initial random core. We show that these two parameters may strongly affect the tail of the degree distribution, by consistently leading to broad-scale or single-scale networks. In particular, we argue that the size of the initial network core and its density of connections may be the main responsible for the exponential truncation of the power-law behavior observed in some small scale-free networks.


Relationships Between Catecholamine Levels and Stress or Intelligence.
Catecholamines, including epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA), are associated with the response to stressful conditions. However, the relationships of catecholamines with intelligence and their interactions with stress remain unclear. This study assessed stress, intelligence quotient (IQ), and catecholamine levels in 70 healthy subjects to elucidate associations between catecholamines and stress, and between catecholamines and IQ. Additionally, the associations of catecholamines with stress and IQ were analyzed according to hemispheric dominance using the Brain Preference Indicator (BPI). There were positive correlations between the NE/E ratio and the somatization of stress but negative correlations between the E/NE ratio and the somatization of stress among the total number of subjects. In the right-brain-dominant group, a high E/DA ratio was correlated with low levels of stress, somatization and depression, and high NE/E and DA/E ratios were associated with high levels of somatization. In the left-brain-dominant group, high E levels were correlated with low levels of depression. In the total subjects, there were positive correlations between the NE/E and DA/E ratios and the sum of the vocabulary, arithmetic, picture arrangement, and block design IQ subtests. Thus, these catecholamines were associated with stress and IQ, which suggests that the autonomic functional regulation of catecholamine levels in relation to stress may also affect cognitive functions related to intelligence in the brain. Furthermore, the relationships between catecholamines and stress or IQ differed depending on hemispheric dominance, which suggests that the present results could be used to inform the development of personalized therapies based on hemispheric asymmetry.


[The potential dependence of calcium current deactivation via the somatic membrane of sensory neurons in the mouse].
Potential dependence of calcium inward current deactivation kinetics was studied in the somatic membrane of mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons by intracellular dialysis technique. The decay of the high-threshold calcium current upon repolarization was reasonably described by single-exponential process with the time constant tau less than or equal to 130 microseconds (V = = -80 mV), when the intracellular solution contained tris-PO4, and by two-exponential process (tau congruent to 0.1 and tau = 0.8 divided by ms, V = -80 mV), when the intracellular solution contained Cs-aspartate and EGTA. Both time constants were strongly voltage dependent. The amplitude of the fast component of the tail current had sigmoidal voltage dependence, and the slow component had V-shaped voltage dependence. The low-threshold calcium current deactivation occurs more slowly with high voltage dependent kinetics (tau = 1.1 divided by 1.2 ms, V = -160 mV). A dependence of low-threshold current deactivation time constant on the type of penetrating cation was observed. A kinetic model of calcium current deactivation was proposed considering three types of calcium channels presented in the somatic membrane of the neurons studied.


Enhanced exclusive-OR and quick response code-based image encryption through incoherent illumination.
For practical application of any optical cryptographic technique, good quality decryption is necessary. Exclusive-OR (XOR) operation is a well-known technique for image encryption but faces the problem of quality degradation, while optically implemented. One of the reasons for quality degradation is the presence of laser speckles. The other reason is the noise that induces around image pixels. In this study, we demonstrate an image encryption using XOR operation based on light-emitting diode (LED) and quick response code, which not only reduces the damage caused by speckles but also overcomes the noise problem. The results with green and white LEDs and laser sources have been compared. Overall, the proposed optical cryptosystem is simple, compact, and cost-effective.


Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C polymorphisms are associated with a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune rheumatological disease thought to have substantial genetic contributions. Several genetic factors involved in the susceptibility to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been identified with genome-wide association studies, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C, junction adhesion molecule 2 (JAM2) and REL. Psoriasis and PsA may share many features in common with RA. We hypothesized that this polymorphism may contribute to RA susceptibility in a Chinese population. We studied HLA-C rs10484554 C/T, HLA-C rs12212594 T/C, HLA-C rs12191877 C/T, JAM2 rs2829866 A/T and REL rs702873 G/A polymorphisms in 520 patients with RA and 520 controls in a Chinese population. HLA-C rs12191877 C/T polymorphism was in complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) (D' = 1.0, r (2) = 1.0) with HLA-C rs10484554 C/T polymorphism. When the HLA-C rs10484554 CC homozygote genotype was used as the reference group, the TT/CT genotypes were associated with a significantly decreased risk for RA (adjusted OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.52-0.99, p = 0.044). We found that the HLA-C rs12191877 C/T polymorphism was also associated with a decreased risk of RA. HLA-C rs12212594 T/C, JAM2 rs2829866 A/T and REL rs702873 G/A polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of RA. These results provide evidence that HLA-C polymorphisms are associated with a decreased risk of RA.


Ex Vivo Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood-derived CD34+ Cells Using Valproic Acid.
Umbilical cord blood (UCB) units provide an alternative source of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for patients who require allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. While UCB has several unique advantages, the limited numbers of HSCs within each UCB unit limits their use in regenerative medicine and HSC transplantation in adults. Efficient expansion of functional human HSCs can be achieved by ex vivo culturing of CD34+ cells isolated from UCBs and treated with a deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA). The protocol detailed here describes the culture conditions and methodology to rapidly isolate CD34+ cells and expand to a high degree a pool of primitive HSCs. The expanded HSCs are capable of establishing both short-term and long-term engraftment and are able to give rise to all types of differentiated hematopoietic cells. This method also holds potential for clinical application in autologous HSC gene therapy and provides an attractive approach to overcome the loss of functional HSCs associated with gene editing.


Trends in incidence of head and neck cancer in the northern territory, Australia, between 2007 and 2010.
Incidence trends of head and neck cancer (HNC) have implications for screening strategies, disease management, guiding health policy making, and are needed to further oral cancer research. This paper aims to describe trends in age-adjusted HNC incidence rates focusing on changes across calendar period between 2007 and 2010 in Australian Northern Territory. Age-adjusted incidence rates of HNC were calculated for 2007- 2010 using Northern Territory population based data assembled by Department of Health, Northern Territory Government of Australia. Changes in the HNC rate ratio (RR) and Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) between 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 were calculated. A total of 171 HNC patients were recorded by the Northern Territory Department of Health during the time period between 2007 and 2010, out of which, 135 were males (78.9% of male HNC patients) and 36 were females (21.1% of female HNC patients). In conclusion, HNC incidence rate has decreased in the Northern Territory Australian males but remains unchanged in Australian females. High incidences of HNC may be associated with the high smoking rate and high alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory. Continued monitoring of trends in HNC incidence rates is crucial to inform Northern Territory based cancer prevention strategies.


Activity-dependent mapping in the retinotectal projection.
It is now 15 years since the discovery that N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activity is required to maintain the refined topographic organization of retinotectal projections. Recent studies have identified additional components of the signaling pathways required for activity-dependent map formation and maintenance. Nitric oxide and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, candidate retrograde messengers, and serotonin and acetylcholine, modulators of neuronal excitability, all affect mapping. These studies indicate that the mapping process intersects with other processes fundamental to visual system development and function, such as process outgrowth, synaptic turnover and neuromodulation.


Surface chemistry and in situ spectroscopy of a lysozyme langmuir monolayer.
Surface pressure and surface potential-area isotherms were used to characterize a lysozyme Langmuir monolayer. The compression-decompression cycles and stability measurements showed a homogeneous and stable monolayer at the air-water interface. Salt concentration in the subphase and pH of the subphase were parameters controlling the homogeneity and stability of the Langmuir monolayer. In situ UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to verify the homogeneity of the lysozyme monolayer and to identify the chromophore residues in the lysozyme. Optimal experimental conditions were determined to prepare a homogeneous and stable lysozyme Langmuir monolayer.


Tunable pretilt angles based on nanoparticles-doped planar liquid-crystal cells.
The nanoparticles-induced vertical alignment technique was applied to generate variable liquid-crystal pretilt angles based on doping different concentrations of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles in the planar-aligned liquid crystal cells. Competition between the homogeneously aligned polyimide layer and POSS-induced spontaneous vertical alignment domain generated the variable pretilt angle. Experimental results demonstrated that the pretilt angle theta(p) is a function of the doped POSS concentration and can be controlled continuously over the range of 0 degrees <theta(p)<90 degrees .


Sugars, signalling, and plant development.
Like all organisms, plants require energy for growth. They achieve this by absorbing light and fixing it into a usable, chemical form via photosynthesis. The resulting carbohydrate (sugar) energy is then utilized as substrates for growth, or stored as reserves. It is therefore not surprising that modulation of carbohydrate metabolism can have profound effects on plant growth, particularly cell division and expansion. However, recent studies on mutants such as stimpy or ramosa3 have also suggested that sugars can act as signalling molecules that control distinct aspects of plant development. This review will focus on these more specific roles of sugars in development, and will concentrate on two major areas: (i) cross-talk between sugar and hormonal signalling; and (ii) potential direct developmental effects of sugars. In the latter, developmental mutant phenotypes that are modulated by sugars as well as a putative role for trehalose-6-phosphate in inflorescence development are discussed. Because plant growth and development are plastic, and are greatly affected by environmental and nutritional conditions, the distinction between purely metabolic and specific developmental effects is somewhat blurred, but the focus will be on clear examples where sugar-related processes or molecules have been linked to known developmental mechanisms.


Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 stimulates proliferation and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion of endometriotic stromal cells.
Inflammation has been proposed to play essential roles in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, in which neutrophils and mast cells have been suggested to be involved. We studied whether the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), which is activated by enzymes from neutrophils and mast cells, in endometriotic stromal cells (ESC) has any implication in the development of the disease. Cultured ESC were stimulated with various concentrations of a specific PAR2 agonist peptide. Proliferating activity of the cells was determined using immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (a cell proliferation marker), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA and cell count. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were measured using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The phosphorylation of three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), i.e. p38 MAPK, p42/44 MAPK and stress-activated protein Kinase/c-jun N terminal Kinase, in ESC was examined with Western blot analysis. Activation of PAR2 stimulated the proliferation of ESC and the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 from ESC in a dose-dependent manner. Activation of PAR2 stimulated the phosphorylation of all three MAPK, and inhibitors of each MAPK suppressed the PAR2 activation-induced proliferation of ESC. The activation of PAR2 in ESC may be involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis by inducing the growth and inflammation of endometriotic lesions.


Structural studies on human muscle fatty acid binding protein at 1.4 A resolution: binding interactions with three C18 fatty acids.
Muscle fatty acid binding protein (M-FABP) is one of a family of cytosolic lipid-binding proteins involved in fatty acid processing. In order to investigate the precise interactions between M-FABP and its ligands and to understand the structural basis of differential binding affinity, we have compared the structures of M-FABP in complex with three C18 fatty acids. We describe the crystal structures of M-FABP in complex with n-octadecanoate (stearate), trans-delta 9-octadecenoate (elaidate) and cis-delta 9-octadecenoate (oleate). These structures were refined using least-squares positional and anisotropic temperature factor refinement to final R-factors of 11.4%, 12.1% and 13.2% respectively for all the data between 8.0 A and 1.4 A resolution. Stearate, elaidate and oleate each adopt highly similar U-shaped conformations when they bind to M-FABP within a large interior binding cavity, which also contains 13 ordered water molecules. The atomic structure of the protein is virtually identical, regardless of the nature of the bound ligand. The fatty acid is thought to enter the interior cavity of the protein via a portal in its surface while interior solvent is released through a secondary opening. The ligand affinity can be correlated with the conformational energy and the solubility of the bound ligand.


Human behavioral influences and milk quality control programs.
Mastitis is a major disease affecting the herds of dairy farmers worldwide. One of the indicators directly related to the widespread infection of this disease in herds is the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC). Recent studies have shown that one of the risk factors associated with mastitis is the human factor. Therefore, understanding the influence of humans is essential to control and prevent the disease. The main goal of this study was to determine whether the motivations and barriers perceived by farmers could explain the variation in the BTSCC. This study was conducted at 75 dairy farms in southern Brazil. In the interviews with farmers, a survey based on Likert scale items was used to collect data. Structural equation models were used to explain the subjectivity in the ratio of observed variables and latent variables elucidating the possible causal relationships between the variables. The model indicated that some of the variation in the BTSCC can be explained by the farmer's behavior, which is elucidated by his/her motivations and barriers. The correlations between motivations and the BTSCC and between barriers and the BTSCC were positive. These findings suggest that variations in the BTSCC can be explained by the motivations and barriers perceived by farmers and that the Fogg Behavior Model used in this study can be used to explain how human behaviors influence mastitis control. This study also indicates that consulting companies focused on improving milk quality should pay attention to the human factor to reduce these barriers.


Forced Convective Heat Transfer of Aqueous Al₂O₃ Nanofluid Through Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger.
This study presents the forced convective heat transfer of a nanofluid consisting of distilled water and different weight concentrations (1 wt% and 2 wt%) of Al2O3 nanoparticles flowing in a vertical shell and tube heat exchanger under counter flow and laminar flow regime with certain constant heat flaxes (at 20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C and 50 °C). The Al2O3 nanoparticles of about 50 nm diameter are used in the present study. Stability of aqueous Al2O3 nanofluids, TEM, thermal conductivity, temperature differences, heat transfer rate, T-Q diagrams, LMTD and convective heat transfer coefficient are investigated experimentally. Experimental results emphasize the substantial enhancement of heat transfer due to the Al2O3 nanoparticles presence in the nanofluid. Heat transfer rate for distilled water and aqueous nanofluids are calculated after getting an efficient setup which shows 19.25% and 35.82% enhancement of heat transfer rate of 1 wt% and 2 wt% aqueous Al2O3 nanofluids as compared to that of distilled water. Finally, the analysis shows that though there are 27.33% and 59.08% enhancement of 1 wt% Al2O3 and 2 wt% Al2O3 respectively as compared to that of distilled water at 30 °C, convective heat transfer coefficient decreases with increasing heat flux of heated fluid in this experimental setup.


Protective effect of dieckol isolated from Ecklonia cava against ethanol caused damage in vitro and in zebrafish model.
In the present study, the protective effects of phlorotannins isolated from Ecklonia cava against ethanol-induced cell damage and apoptosis were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Three phlorotannin compounds, namely phloroglucinol, eckol and dieckol, were successively isolated and identified from the extract. Dieckol showed the strongest protective effect against ethanol-induced cell apoptosis in Chang liver cells, with the lowest cytotoxicity. It was observed that dieckol reduced cell apoptosis through activation of Bcl-xL and PARP, and down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 in Western blot analyses. In the in vivo study, the protective effect of ethanol induced by dieckol was investigated in a zebrafish model. The dieckol treated group scavenged intracellural reactive oxygen species and prevented lipid peroxidation and ethanol induced cell death in the zebrafish embryo. In conclusion, dieckol isolated from E. cava might possess a potential protective effect against ethanol-induced liver diseases.


Financial assistance in promoting occupational health services for small-scale enterprises in Japan.
In spite of the diversified views on the governmental financial assistance in promoting occupational health services (OHS) for small-scale enterprises (SSE), the issue has not been much studied. Considering the large differences between countries in the degree of governmental financial assistance, the international comparative research will provide insight into its advantages and disadvantages. In order to conduct such comparative research, the status of each country must first be clarified. This informative piece of study aims at stimulating researchers in other countries to share their experiences and facilitate future comparative studies. This study was conducted to clarify the financial assistance of the Japanese government for SSE. Published reports on financial assistance for SSE were collected and used for the study. The Ministry of Labor initiated the policy of subsidizing OHS for SSE in the early 1960s. Activities to be subsidized through four routes included primary and secondary prevention of occupational injuries and diseases. The amount of subsidy was limited from one-third to two-thirds of costs. There was a fourteen-fold increase in the amount of subsidies for SSE from US$ 7 million in 1986 to US$ 98 million in 1998. The long history of financial assistance for SSE and the increasing amount of subsidies suggest that the Ministry of Labor recognizes the importance of financial assistance in promoting OHS in small scale enterprises.


One-year outcomes of eyes treated with a sutureless scleral fixation technique for intraocular lens placement or rescue.
To report the 1 year results of a novel surgical technique for sutureless scleral fixation of a 3-piece intraocular lens. Retrospective consecutive series of patients who underwent sutureless scleral fixation of a three-piece intraocular lens. All patients were required to have at least 1 year of follow-up to be included in the series. Outcomes data were obtained and treated with simple statistical analyses. A total of 24 patients were included in the study population. The average age was 75 years (range, 44-87). Short-term complications were few and included vitreous hemorrhage (n = 2), elevated intraocular pressure (n = 1), and hypotony (n = 1). Long-term complications included intraocular lens dislocation (n = 3) and cystoid macular edema (n = 1). Mean visual acuity improved from logMAR 1.30 (Snellen 20/399) to 0.52 (Snellen 20/66) at 1 year. This novel technique for sutureless scleral fixation of a three-piece intraocular lens was well-tolerated 1 year after surgery.


Mild to moderate Crohn's disease: an evidence-based treatment algorithm.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition with a relapsing-remitting disease course. Treatment often requires both induction and maintenance strategies. The management of mild to moderate Crohn's disease is challenging because the natural history of mild disease is not known and effective treatment options are limited. In this article, our objective is to provide a brief overview of the evidence supporting current therapies in the treatment of mild to moderate luminal Crohn's disease and to explore a few of the newer therapeutic options. As induction agents for mild to moderately active Crohn's disease, there is reasonable evidence to support the use of budesonide for terminal ileal and right colonic disease, and sulfasalazine for colonic disease. Although budesonide can be used in the short term (3-6 months) for maintenance of quiescent disease, there are no effective therapies for the long-term maintenance of mild to moderate Crohn's disease. Mesalazine appears to have no role in either the treatment of active or quiescent disease. Currently, there is insufficient data to draw conclusions on the potential role of antibacterials, probiotics or prebiotics.


Thermal conductivity of ordered-disordered material: a case study of superionic Ag2Te.
Thermoelectric devices, which can generate electricity from waste heat, offer an attractive pathway for addressing an important niche in the globally growing landscape of energy demand. In the past few decades, the search for high-efficiency thermoelectrics has been guided by the concept of 'phonon-glass electron-crystal' (PGEC), i.e. an ideal thermoelectric material should have high carrier mobility and low thermal conductivity. Although remarkable progress has already been made along this line, the efficiency of thermoelectrics is still too poor to compete with other electricity producing methods. Ordered-disordered material, an emerging trend of high performance thermoelectrics under the concept of PGEC, is a new hot topic in the current thermoelectric research community. Taking superionic phase silver telluride (α-Ag2Te) as an example, we performed a comprehensive study of the thermal transport properties and of its physical mechanism by means of equilibrium molecular dynamic simulations. The results show that the thermal conductivity of α-Ag2Te is intrinsically very low. By analyzing the different contributions to the overall thermal conductivity, we revealed for the first time from atomistic simulations that the vibration of the Te(2-) sublattice dominates the thermal transport of α-Ag2Te, while the collision between the randomly diffusing Ag(+) ions and the Te(2-) sublattice yields a significant negative contribution to the thermal transport. We also studied the effect of isotropic compressive stain and carrier concentration on the thermal conductivity of α-Ag2Te. It has been found that the thermal conductivity can be largely reduced by applying compressive strain or with stoichiometric quantity modulation. Our studies shed light on the governing mechanism of thermal transport in ordered-disordered materials and could offer useful guidance for engineering the thermal transport properties of superionic conductors in terms of enhancing their thermoelectric performance.


Effects of substance P and its antagonist L-733060 on long term potentiation in guinea pig hippocampal slices.
The neuropeptide substance P (SP) has been suggested to be involved in several physiological and pathological conditions including learning and memory and the processing of pain. This study investigated for the first time acute effects of SP and the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist L-733060 on long term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Electrically evoked fEPSP was tested under the influence of SP in the CA1 region of the guinea pig hippocampus. Concentrations of 1 and 10 microM SP increased fEPSP slopes to 114.3+/-4.5% and 115.8+/-2.7%, respectively. A threshold concentration was found at 0.1 microM SP. The SP-specific NK-1 receptor antagonist L-733060 did not influence fEPSP in a concentration of 1 microM. In experiments with LTP, a significant increase of potentiations after 60 min was seen with 1 microM SP. Even if the initial baseline increase due to SP (1 microM) was subtracted, potentiations were bigger compared to controls. L-733060 (1 microM) suppressed the excitatory effects of 1 microM SP nearly complete and subsequent induced LTP was not increased. In conclusion, SP has excitatory effects in the hippocampus and is able to facilitate LTP via activation of the NK-1 receptor.


Metabolic Syndrome but not Obesity Adversely Affects Outcomes after Open Aortoiliac Bypass Surgery.
Although the incident risk of peripheral artery disease increases in patients with metabolic syndrome, several authors report favorable outcomes in obese patients after arterial bypass surgery. We examine the effect of the so-called "obesity paradox" and metabolic syndrome on outcomes after open aortoiliac bypass surgery. We identified patients between 2004 and 2015 who had open surgical bypass for aortoiliac occlusive disease. We excluded patients with endovascular repair and those treated primarily for aneurysmal disease. Variables that were analyzed included preoperative medical history, Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document on Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease II classification, Rutherford classification, intra-operative, and postoperative outcomes. Metabolic syndrome was defined by World Health Organization criteria: diabetes and 2 or more of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m2). Data were analyzed by stratified Kaplan-Meier and multiple Cox regression for outcomes including long-term mortality and reintervention rate. There were 154 open bypass surgery patients during the study period with a median age of 60 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53-68), median glomerular filtration rate 76.1 mL/min (IQR 54-102), and 58% female prevalence. In all, 53 patients had metabolic syndrome (4%), and 14 patients (9%) were obese but did not have metabolic syndrome. Primary bypass graft patency was 89.0 ± 2.7% at 1 year and 77.4 ± 4.1% at 5 years and was not significantly different between metabolic syndrome, obese, and nonmetabolic syndrome patients. Reintervention rate for the entire cohort was 25.3 ± 3.7% at 1 year and 40.6 ± 4.7% at 5 years. In those with and without metabolic syndrome, reintervention rate at 1 and 5 years was 33.0 ± 6.8% vs. 21.1 ± 4.2% and 56.1 ± 7.9% vs. 30.7 ± 5.4%, respectively (log-rank P = 0.003). In multivariable analyses, metabolic syndrome (hazard ratio [HR] 1.8, P = 0.036) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) (HR: 3.2, P = 0.001) were the only independent predictors of reintervention. Neither obesity nor the individual components comprising metabolic syndrome was a risk for reintervention. Multivariate analysis demonstrated age, female gender, CLI, and nonobesity as the independent risk factors for long-term mortality. Our study supports the "obesity paradox" that obesity by itself is not a risk factor for reintervention and was a protective factor for mortality after open aortoiliac bypass surgery. Bypass graft patency and major amputation rates were not affected. Although the individual components do not predispose to worse outcome, metabolic syndrome is a constellation of factors that, together, are associated with adverse events.


Neurochemical and pathological alterations following infusion of leupeptin, a protease inhibitor, into the rat brain.
It is known that proteases participate in cellular protein turnover and eliminate abnormal and potentially toxic proteins. Disturbed proteolysis may be responsible for generating the pathological features of some neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer disease, for instance, is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and a condition in which proteins of the cell membrane and cytoskeleton are abnormally processed and accumulated in the brain. It is of interest to investigate the effect of protease inhibitors on neurons and neurotransmitter systems in the brain. We examined neurochemical and morphological neuronal changes in the rat brain following long-term intracerebroventricular infusion of leupeptin, a potent calcium-activated protease (calpain) inhibitor. Leupeptin (5 mg) was infused into the lateral ventricle using an osmotic minipump for 14 days. We found a significant reduction of regional choline acetyltransferase activities in the hippocampus, and of somatostatin concentrations in the hypothalamus and entorhinal cortex. Moreover, leupeptin caused a wide-spread, highly significant decrease in neuropeptide-Y concentrations. Leupeptin infusion produced severe degeneration of neuronal processes in both axons and dendrites, and accumulation of electron-dense bodies in the hippocampus. The results indicate that long-term intracerebroventricular infusion of leupeptin in the rat produces neurochemical and morphological changes resembling those of some neurodegenerative disease and aging. Abnormal proteolysis caused by either reduced protease or enhanced protease inhibitor activities might play an important role in these conditions.


[Hypnotics and tranquillisers. Patients' knowledge and attitudes.].
To elicit patients' views and attitudes towards the use of hypnotics and tranquillisers and their knowledge about such drugs and household remedies. During 1986-1993 a total of 577 individuals in Egilsstaethir district (3029 inhabitants) had used sedatives and/or tranquillisers. Out of this group a stratified randomised sample composing 208 individuals, received a questionnaire with 22 or 24 questions about the use of tranquillisers and hypnotics. The mean age was 55.1 years for users of tranquillisers, 60.1 years for the users of hypnotics. Women were in majority in both groups, most of them were married and working outside the home. Users of tranquillisers were divided into two main categories i.e. daily users and occasional users. Only a few used tranquillisers two or three times daily. Many used tranquillisers only as sleeping medicine. A fourth of the participants began using hypnotics after sleeping problems of less than one month. Doctors usually prescribed the medicines the first time they were used. 55% have tried household remedies against anxiety and sleeping problems. A majority had tried to stop using these medicines. Feelings of guilt because of the use of medicines was not common. Participants were well informed about how much sleep is needed. Our results show that most of the patients in the research area had gripped their doctors' message regarding sleeping problems, health promotion and the risk of addiction after continuous use of hypnotics and tranquillisers. It is however likely, that more education in this direction can further increase health promotion and minimise the use of drugs.


Characterization of TiN coating layers using ultrasonic backward radiation.
Since ceramic layers coated on machinery components inevitably experience the changes in their properties it is necessary to evaluate the characteristics of ceramic coating layers nondestructively for the reliable use of coated components and the remaining life prediction. To address such a need, in the present study, the ultrasonic backward radiation technique is applied to examine the very thin TiN ceramic layers coated on AISI 1045 steel or austenitic 304 steel substrate. Specifically, the ultrasonic backward radiation profiles have been measured with variations in specimen preparation conditions such as coating layer thickness and sliding loading. In the experiments performed in the current study, the peak angle and the peak amplitude of ultrasonic backward radiation profile varied sensitively according to two specimen preparation conditions. In fact, this result demonstrates a high possibility of the ultrasonic backward radiation as an effective tool for the nondestructive characterization of the TiN ceramic coating layers even in such a thin regime.


Iron replacement therapy: do we need new guidelines?
Approximately, one-third of the world's population suffers from anemia, and at least half of these cases are because of iron deficiency. With the introduction of new intravenous iron preparations over the last decade, uncertainty has arisen when these compounds should be administered and under which circumstances oral therapy is still an appropriate and effective treatment. Numerous guidelines are available, but none go into detail about therapeutic start and end points or how iron-deficiency anemia should be best treated depending on the underlying cause of iron deficiency or in regard to concomitant underlying or additional diseases. The study points to major issues to be considered in revisions of future guidelines for the true optimal iron replacement therapy, including how to assess the need for treatment, when to start and when to stop treatment, when to follow-up for relapse, which dosage and type of therapy should be recommended or not recommended, and if some patients should not be treated.


Mammalian TOR: a homeostatic ATP sensor.
The bacterial macrolide rapamycin is an efficacious anticancer agent against solid tumors. In a hypoxic environment, the increase in mass of solid tumors is dependent on the recruitment of mitogens and nutrients. When nutrient concentrations change, particularly those of essential amino acids, the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) functions in regulatory pathways that control ribosome biogenesis and cell growth. In bacteria, ribosome biogenesis is independently regulated by amino acids and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Here we demonstrate that the mTOR pathway is influenced by the intracellular concentration of ATP, independent of the abundance of amino acids, and that mTOR itself is an ATP sensor.


Construction of a dilution refrigerator cooled scanning force microscope.
We present a scanning force microscope that operates in a dilution refrigerator at temperatures of about 100 mK. We use tuning fork sensors for scanning gate experiments on mesoscopic semiconductor nanostructures. Slip-stick motors allow sample coarse-positioning at base temperature. The construction, thermal anchoring, and a procedure to optimize the settings of the phase-locked loop that we use for sensor control are discussed in detail. We present low-temperature topographic and scanning gate images as examples of successful operation.


HemoVision: An automated and virtual approach to bloodstain pattern analysis.
Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a subspecialty of forensic sciences, dealing with the analysis and interpretation of bloodstain patterns in crime scenes. The aim of BPA is uncovering new information about the actions that took place in a crime scene, potentially leading to a confirmation or refutation of a suspect's statement. A typical goal of BPA is to estimate the flight paths for a set of stains, followed by a directional analysis in order to estimate the area of origin for the stains. The traditional approach, referred to as stringing, consists of attaching a piece of string to each stain, and letting the string represent an approximation of the stain's flight path. Even though stringing has been used extensively, many (practical) downsides exist. We propose an automated and virtual approach, employing fiducial markers and digital images. By automatically reconstructing a single coordinate frame from several images, limited user input is required. Synthetic crime scenes were created and analysed in order to evaluate the approach. Results demonstrate the correct operation and practical advantages, suggesting that the proposed approach may become a valuable asset for practically analysing bloodstain spatter patterns. Accompanying software called HemoVision is currently provided as a demonstrator and will be further developed for practical use in forensic investigations.


Restricted expression pattern of vegf-d in the adult and fetal mouse: high expression in the embryonic lung.
Endothelial growth factors have become the target of intense research since the initial discovery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF/VPF). At present, VEGF is established as a major inducer of angiogenesis in normal and pathological conditions. Recently several new members in the VEGF family have been described; VEGF-B/VRF, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. VEGF-D is most closely related to VEGF-C by virtue of the presence of N- and C-terminal extensions that are not found in other VEGF family members. We have here examined the expression pattern of vegf-d mRNA with in situ hybridization in developing and adult mice. This shows a restricted expression pattern, with high levels mainly in lung tissue. The expression in embryonic lung is upregulated prior to birth. Expression of vegf-d in other tissues, as well as in lung tissue of the E14 embryo, was either low or absent. This suggests that VEGF-D may be of special relevance for the vascularization of lung tissue during the last trimester of fetal development.


Electrospun polyurethane-based vascular grafts: physicochemical properties and functioning in vivo.
General physicochemical properties of the vascular grafts (VGs) produced of the solutions of Tecoflex (Tec) with gelatin (GL) and bivalirudin (BV) by electrospinning (ES) are studied. The electrospun VGs of Tec-GL-BV and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) implanted in the abdominal aorta of 36 Wistar rats have been observed over different time intervals up to 24 weeks. A comparison shows that 94.5% of the Tec-GL-BV VGs and only 66.6% of e-PTFE VGs (р = 0.0438) are free of occlusions after 6-month implantation. At the intermediate observation points, Tec-GL-BV VGs demonstrate severe neovascularization of the VG neoadventitial layer as compared with e-PTFE grafts. A histological examination demonstrates a small thickness of the neointima layer and a low level of calcification in Tec-GL-BV VGs as compared with the control grafts. Thus, the polyurethane-based protein-enriched VGs have certain advantages over the e-PTFE VGs, suggesting their utility in clinical studies.


Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of three heat shock protein genes (hsp90, hsc70, and hsp19.5) from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) and their expression in relation to developmental stage and temperature.
Heat shock protein genes, hsp90, hsc70, and hsp19.5, were cloned and sequenced from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) by RT-PCR and RACE method. The cDNA sequence analysis of hsp90 and hsp19.5 revealed open reading frames (ORFs) of 2,151 and 522 bp in length, which encode proteins with calculated molecular weights of 82.4 and 19.5 kDa, respectively. Analysis of cDNA from hsc70 revealed an ORF of 1,878 bp coding a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 69.3 kDa. Furthermore, the analysis of genomic DNA from hsc70 confirmed the presence of introns while no introns were apparent in hsp90 and hsp19.5. Southern blot analysis suggested the presence of multiple copies of each gene family in the DBM genome. Detectable expression of hsp19.5 was observed at the pupal stage while expression of hsp90 and hsc70 was detected at both pupal and adult stages. At adult stage, females showed a higher expression of hsp90 and hsc70 than males. An increased expression was observed in all three genes after exposure to a high temperature in both sexes. These results suggest that in addition to a heat shock response, these HSP genes might be involved in other functions during the course of development in DBM.


Effect of adenovirus-mediated transfer of the CTLA4IG gene in hamster-to-rat xenotransplantation.
Costimulatory molecules such as CD28 and B7 are essential for T cell activation, as well as playing a role in the T cell receptor and major histocompatibility complex pathway. It is well known that rejection in allotransplantation is diminished by treatment with CTLA4Ig, but whether a similar effect occurs in xenotransplantation remains to be determined. In this study, we investigated whether adenovirus-mediated gene transfer with CTLA4Ig cDNA by intravenous injection to the recipient is effective in suppression in hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation. With CTLA4Ig gene transfer, the duration of gene expression was clearly prolonged, based on reduced production of antiadenovirus antibody and shrinkage of the spleen. The survival of cardiac xenografts was significantly prolonged with CTLA4Ig gene transfer compared to the control graft, and survival with combination use of FK506 and CTLA4Ig gene transfer in xenotransplantation was also significantly prolonged compared to that with CTLA4Ig gene transfer alone. Cessation of the cardiac graft in the combination treatment occurred in parallel with the elevation of antihamster IgM antibodies in rat sera. These results suggest that adenovirus-mediated CTLA4Ig gene transfer is effective for immunosuppression in hamster-to-rat xenotransplantation.


Suppressors of cytokine signaling inhibit effector T cell responses during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Protective immune responses during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection are regulated at multiple levels and critically dependent on the balance in the secretion of pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines. A key factor that governs this balance at the cellular level is suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS). We recently demonstrated that toll-like receptor 2 and dendritic cell (DC)-SIGNR1 differentially regulate SOCS1 expression in DCs during M. tuberculosis infection. This consecutively regulated IL-12 production and determined M. tuberculosis survival. In this study, we characterized the role of SOCS1 in regulating effector responses from CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells during M. tuberculosis infection. Our data indicate that T cells from M. tuberculosis-infected mice show increased and differential association of SOCS1 with CD3 and CD28, when compared with uninfected mice. While SOCS1 displays increased association with CD3 than CD28 in CD4(+) T cells; SOCS1 is associated more with CD28 than CD3 in CD8(+) T cells. Further, SOCS1 shows increased association with IL-12 and IL-2 receptors in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from infected mice when compared with naive mice. Silencing SOCS1 in T cells increased signal transduction from T cell receptor (TCR) and CD28 with enhanced activation of key signaling molecules and proliferation. Significantly, SOCS1-silenced T cells mediated enhanced clearance of M. tuberculosis inside macrophages. Finally, adoptive transfer of SOCS1-silenced T cells in M. tuberculosis-infected mice mediated significant reduction in M. tuberculosis loads in spleen. These results exemplify the negative role played by SOCS1 during T cell priming and effector functions during M. tuberculosis infection.


Nifedipine for angina and acute myocardial ischaemia.
This paper reviews the mechanisms believed to be responsible for myocardial ischaemia and the mode of action of calcium antagonist drugs. The clinical management of patients with myocardial ischaemia is discussed in the context of current knowledge about patho-physiology and drug action.


Junin virus infection of Callithrix jacchus: pathologic features.
Infection of Callithrix jacchus, a New World primate, with the prototype strain of Junin virus produced a severe disease. The animals developed multifocal hemorrhages and characteristic microscopic lesions such as meningoencephalitis, interstitial pneumonia, lymphocytic depletion of lymphatic tissue, hepatocytic necrosis, and a variable decrease in bone marrow cellularity. High virus concentrations correlated with lesions, and with the presence of viral antigenic determinants as revealed by immunofluorescent methods. With the exception of central nervous system damage, the morphological features and immunohistochemical and viral findings were similar to those recorded in human Argentine hemorrhagic fever.


[Trends in occupational injuries in employees affiliated with MC Mutual in Spain, 2005-2009].
In recent years, occupational injury rates are declining significantly. This study analyzes temporal trends of nonfatal occupational injuries among employees affiliated with MC Mutual in the period 2005-2009, by sex, age, activity of the company and duration of sick leave. Time series. We calculated the annual incidence rate adjusted by sex, age and activity of the company through direct standardization, as well as changes in annual and overall rates, together with stratified analysis by duration of sick leave. The standardized incidence of occupational injuries decreased from 74.8 per 1000 workers-year in 2005 to 48.3 in 2009 (a 35.4% reduction). The highest standardized incidence and rate of reduction was observed among sick leave processes lasting between 4 and 15 days, which decreased from 41.1 in 2005 to 25.2 in 2009 (a 38.6% reduction). Changes in trends were not consistent when considering the duration of the sick leave. There was a significant reduction in nonfatal occupational injuries resulting in sick leave during the study period, after considering age and sex of workers and the economic activity of affiliated companies, mainly at the expense of sick leave processes of short duration.


Bread type intake is associated with lifestyle and diet quality transition among Bedouin Arab adults.
The traditionally semi-nomadic Bedouin Arabs in Israel are undergoing urbanisation with concurrent lifestyle changes, including a shift to using unfortified white-flour bread instead of wholewheat bread as the main dietary staple. We explored associations between the transition from wholewheat to white-flour bread and (1) lifestyle factors, (2) overall diet quality, and (3) health status. We conducted a nutrition survey among 451 Bedouin adults, using a modified 24 h recall questionnaire. Bread intake accounted for 32.7 % of the total energy intake. Those consuming predominantly white bread (PWB) (n 327) were more likely to be urban (OR 2.79; 95 % CI 1.70, 4.58), eating store-bought rather than homemade bread (OR 8.18; 95 % CI 4.34, 15.41) and currently dieting (OR 4.67; 95 % CI 1.28, 17.11) than those consuming predominantly wholewheat bread (PWWB) (n 124). PWB consumption was associated with a lower intake of dietary fibre (23.3 (se 0.6) v. 41.8 (se 1.0) g/d; P < or = 0.001), a higher intake of saturated fats (26.9 v. 24.6 % of total fat; P = 0.013) and lower intakes of Fe (11.0 (se 0.3) v. 16.7 (se 0.4) mg/d), Mg (262.2 (se 5.9) v. 490.3 (se 9.8) mg/d), vitamin E (6.5 (se 0.2) v. 8.6 (se 0.3) mg/d) and most B vitamins than PWWB consumption (P < 0.001 for all), after adjusting for total energy intake. Among those aged > or = 40 years, PWB consumption was associated with a 9.85-fold risk (95 % CI 2.64, 36.71; P = 0.001) of having one or more chronic conditions, as compared with PWWB consumption, after controlling for other risk factors. White bread intake was associated with a less traditional lifestyle and poorer diet quality, and may constitute a useful marker for at-risk subgroups to target for nutritional interventions.


Phylogeny, genomics, and symbiosis of Photobacterium.
Photobacterium comprises several species in Vibrionaceae, a large family of Gram-negative, facultatively aerobic, bacteria that commonly associate with marine animals. Members of the genus are widely distributed in the marine environment and occur in seawater, surfaces, and intestines of marine animals, marine sediments and saline lake water, and light organs of fish. Seven Photobacterium species are luminous via the activity of the lux genes, luxCDABEG. Much recent progress has been made on the phylogeny, genomics, and symbiosis of Photobacterium. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates a robust separation between Photobacterium and its close relatives, Aliivibrio and Vibrio, and reveals the presence of two well-supported clades. Clade 1 contains luminous and symbiotic species and one species with no luminous members, and Clade 2 contains mostly nonluminous species. The genomes of Photobacterium are similar in size, structure, and organization to other members of Vibrionaceae, with two chromosomes of unequal size and multiple rrn operons. Many species of marine fish form bioluminescent symbioses with three Photobacterium species: Photobacterium kishitanii, Photobacterium leiognathi, and Photobacterium mandapamensis. These associations are highly, but not strictly species specific, and they do not exhibit symbiont-host codivergence. Environmental congruence instead of host selection might explain the patterns of symbiont-host affiliation observed from nature.


[Prognostic analysis of four pathological features in carcinoma of the uterine cervix and its clinical significance].
The correlation between different pathological features of biopsy specimen and the five year survival rate of 442 patients with carcinoma of uterine cervix treated in our hospital during 1968 to 1980, were studied by means of gradual regression. The result showed that the five year survival rate was influenced, at different levels, by the pathological features. The peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration was the most significant factor influencing the prognosis. Then were the fibrous tissue reaction and the cell type but the mode of invasion was insignificant. The best regression equation to predict the prognosis of patients with carcinoma of uterine cervix was established by gradual choosing. By this equation, we could directly calculate the probability of the five year survival of the patient. It was proved by retrospective and prospective analysis that the equation could accurately reflect the real five year survival rate of patients with carcinoma of uterine cervix.


Complex dewetting scenarios captured by thin-film models.
In the course of miniaturization of electronic and microfluidic devices, reliable predictions of the stability of ultrathin films have a strategic role for design purposes. Consequently, efficient computational techniques that allow for a direct comparison with experiment become increasingly important. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that the full complex spatial and temporal evolution of the rupture of ultrathin films can be modelled in quantitative agreement with experiment. We accomplish this by combining highly controlled experiments on different film-rupture patterns with computer simulations using novel numerical schemes for thin-film equations. For the quantitative comparison of the pattern evolution in both experiment and simulation we introduce a novel pattern analysis method based on Minkowski measures. Our results are fundamental for the development of efficient tools capable of describing essential aspects of thin-film flow in technical systems.


The structures and electronic configuration of compound I intermediates of Helicobacter pylori and Penicillium vitale catalases determined by X-ray crystallography and QM/MM density functional theory calculations.
The structures of Helicobacter pylori (HPC) and Penicillium vitale (PVC) catalases, each with two subunits in the crystal asymmetric unit, oxidized with peroxoacetic acid are reported at 1.8 and 1.7 A resolution, respectively. Despite the similar oxidation conditions employed, the iron-oxygen coordination length is 1.72 A for PVC, close to what is expected for a Fe=O double bond, and 1.80 and 1.85 A for HPC, suggestive of a Fe-O single bond. The structure and electronic configuration of the oxoferryl heme and immediate protein environment is investigated further by QM/MM density functional theory calculations. Four different active site electronic configurations are considered, Por*+-FeIV=O, Por*+-FeIV=O...HisH+, Por*+-FeIV-OH+ and Por-FeIV-OH (a protein radical is assumed in the latter configuration). The electronic structure of the primary oxidized species, Por*+-FeIV=O, differs qualitatively between HPC and PVC with an A2u-like porphyrin radical delocalized on the porphyrin in HPC and a mixed A1u-like "fluctuating" radical partially delocalized over the essential distal histidine, the porphyrin, and, to a lesser extent, the proximal tyrosine residue. This difference is rationalized in terms of HPC containing heme b and PVC containing heme d. It is concluded that compound I of PVC contains an oxoferryl Por*+-FeIV=O species with partial protonation of the distal histidine and compound I of HPC contains a hydroxoferryl Por-FeIV-OH with the second oxidation equivalent delocalized as a protein radical. The findings support the idea that there is a relation between radical migration to the protein and protonation of the oxoferryl bond in catalase.


Effectiveness of biofeedback and relaxation training in reducing the side effects of cancer chemotherapy.
Assessed the effectiveness of electromyographic (EMG) and skin-temperature (ST) biofeedback and relaxation training (RT) in reducing the aversiveness of cancer chemotherapy. Eighty-one cancer patients, equated on several individual-difference variables, were randomized to one of six groups formed by a 3 (EMG Biofeedback, ST Biofeedback, No Biofeedback) x 2 (RT, No RT) factorial design. Outcome was assessed with physiological, patient-reported, and nurse-reported indices taken over five consecutive chemotherapy treatments. RT patients showed decreases in nausea and anxiety during chemotherapy and physiological arousal after chemotherapy. EMG and ST biofeedback reduced some indices of physiological arousal but had no other effects on chemotherapy side effects. These findings suggest that RT can be effective in reducing the adverse consequences of chemotherapy and that the positive effects found for biofeedback in prior research were due to the RT that was given with the biofeedback, not to the biofeedback alone.