The spectrum of actions of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on the CNS: a polygraphic study on rabbits.
The effects of i.c.v. administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on EEG, rectal temperature and behaviour were studied on rabbits in basal conditions and after different pretreatments. The effects of TRH on the EEG and behaviour do not seem to involve serotoninergic, catecholaminergic and cholinergic systems. A possible involvement of the GABAergic system is hypothesized.


Hostile attributional tendencies in maltreated children.
The hostile attributional tendencies of maltreated children in elementary school across key relationship figures (i.e., parents, teachers, and peers), the relation between children's hostile attributional tendencies and the frequency and severity of maltreatment, and the role of children's hostile attributions of their parents in mediating the relation between maltreatment and children's hostile attributions of unfamiliar peers were examined. The sample consisted of 44 maltreated and 56 nonmaltreated children (females = 51) of mixed ethnicity. Subjects were administered a 20-item measure of attributional processes. The results indicated that relative to nonmaltreated children, physically abused boys were more likely to attribute hostile intentions to a variety of relationship figures, including their parents, an unfamiliar teacher, their best friend, and unfamiliar peers. A positive relation was also found between the frequency of physical abuse and hostile attributional tendencies among males. Finally, support was found for the role of children's hostile attributions of their mothers in mediating the relation between physical abuse and children's hostile attributions of unfamiliar peers. The results support a link between physical abuse and hostile attributional tendencies in children in early elementary school.


Pathologic features in the human alimentary tract associated with invasiveness of Candida tropicalis.
The pathologic features of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in 23 consecutive autopsied patients with culture-proven disseminated candidiasis were studied in order to determine the pathologic basis for the greater virulence of C. tropicalis. Disseminated C. tropicalis infection with gastrointestinal invasion occurred only in eight neutropenic patients; whereas, C. albicans infection occurred in nine neutropenic and six nonneutropenic patients. C. tropicalis involved the entire alimentary tract in four of eight patients versus one of fifteen patients with C. albicans. C. tropicalis penetrated to the deep submucosa in six of eight patients with C. tropicalis and four of fifteen patients with C. albicans. Nine of ten patients with submucosal invasion were neutropenic. Invasion of submucosal blood vessels occurred in six of eight patients with C. tropicalis and only two of fifteen patients with C. albicans. All patients with submucosal blood-vessel invasion were neutropenic. A band of tissue necrosis at the advancing mycelial margin was present with C. tropicalis but not with C. albicans. These autopsy findings indicate that the greater virulence of C. tropicalis is related to increased invasiveness in the gastrointestinal tract in susceptible hosts.


[Does Ecuadorians with asthma has preferences in the use of information and communication technologies? Pilot study].
Inadequate communication between asthmatic patients and their physicians may interfere directly with asthma control. In the last years, the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) it has increased in Latin-America. This technology seems to be a good tool to improve communication and management of the asthmatic patient. We evaluated the frequency and preference patterns of communication and information technologies in Ecuadorian patients with bronchial asthma. We conducted a pilot cross-sectional study to identify the frequency and preferences of ICT in patients with asthma. The Spanish version of the Michigan questionnaire was used. Age and educational level were categorized into 3 groups. We used logistic regression between these groups regarding the frequency of use, interest in seeking and receiving information related to their asthma for the age and educational level of the patients. A total of 222 patients participated in our study. The mean age was 45.6 years (SD 17.4), the most common sex was female with 89.25 %. Almost all patients had a cell phone (87.5 %) and internet access (62.7 %). The three ICTs most likely to be used to search for or receive information about their illness were WhatsApp, Facebook and email (p <0.05). Information and communication technologies improve the care of asthmatic patients. In our pilot study email and text messages are the most preferred ICT among patients however WhatsApp and Facebook may be appropriate for certain ages especially young asthmatic. Knowledge of preferences can help the development of ICT in a personalized way and improve the outcomes in patients with asthma.


The use of herbal and over-the-counter dietary supplements for the prevention of prostate cancer.
Having a high probability of experiencing prostate cancer during their lifetime, men are increasingly seeking protection against this disease with the use of over-the-counter dietary supplements containing herbs, vitamins, or plant-derived biochemical agents. The use of these agents for prostate cancer prevention is driven by epidemiology supporting the idea that regional diets and consumption of specific dietary components (certain herbs, vitamins, isoflavones, and polyphenols) are associated with a lower risk for prostate cancer, in conjunction with basic research that is defining molecules within food substances that kill or suppress growth of cultured human prostate cancer cells. Moreover, there is a sense that these dietary agents lack side effects, although this assumption often is faulty. Unfortunately, at this time, there is insufficient clinical evidence to support the widespread use of these dietary supplements for chemoprevention of prostate cancer, although ongoing clinical trials of the most promising vitamins and minerals are approaching conclusion.


Use of a jugular vein graft in a modified Blalock-Taussig procedure in dogs.
To determine whether autologous jugular veins provide functional grafts with high 30-day patency rates in an experimental model of systemic-to-pulmonary shunting performed with a modified Blalock-Taussig procedure. 15 healthy Beagles. A segment of the left jugular vein was implanted between the left subclavian and pulmonary arteries. Echocardiograms were obtained prior to surgery, at day 4 to 7, and at day 30 after surgery. Selective angiograms were performed immediately after surgery and on day 30. Oximetric shunt calculations were made via terminal angiography prior to euthanasia. Gross and histologic evaluations of the grafts were conducted. Grafts were patent in 12 of 15 dogs 30 days after surgery as assessed via auscultation, color Doppler ultrasonography, angiography, and histologic examination. Echocardiographic analysis revealed compensatory eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Mean pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio was 1.5:1. Histologic evidence of endothelialization of the anastomotic sites and vein graft arterialization was detectable at 30 days. Autologous jugular vein grafts were effectively used to create a systemic-to-pulmonary shunt by use of a modified Blalock-Taussig procedure. High patency, ready accessibility, low cost, and theoretical adaptative remodeling during patient growth make autologous jugular vein grafts a valuable alternative to synthetic materials.


[The health economics of cancer screening in Germany: Which population-based interventions are cost-effective?]
Only a small proportion of German health expenditure is spent on prevention and early detection (screening). The rationale for screening is to identify persons with disease precursors or at the early stage of diseases when they are still asymptomatic, in order to decrease disease-specific morbidity and mortality. In Germany, the economic evidence is one of the evaluation criteria for screening measures, which, among other things, takes into account the additional cost per additional case detected or per case-related event avoided, as well as a cost-benefit balance.For this purpose, cost-effectiveness analyses, which report marginal or incremental cost effectiveness ratios, comparing a measure with its appropriate alternatives, may be a useful tool. Their application requires a defensible benchmark (threshold) for cost effectiveness and a supplementary analysis of the necessary infrastructure and the budgetary impact associated with program implementation. Also (albeit not only) because of the usually long time required to observe the clinical outcomes of a screening measure, the economic evaluation of such programs regularly involves the application of decision analytic simulation models. With regard to cancer screening programs, the available models indicate an excellent cost-benefit ratio for the fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening and, similarly, for the use of mammography for breast cancer screening. On the other hand, the economic evidence in favor of low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening does not yet appear sufficiently strong, and the currently available health economic evidence does not support the use of PSA testing for prostate screening.


Potential chemoprotective effects of selenium on diazinon-induced DNA damage in rat peripheral blood lymphocyte.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of selenium (Se) against genotoxicity induced by diazinon (DZN) in rat peripheral blood lymphocytes by micronucleus (MN) test. Animals were concurrently administered intraperitoneally with DZN in proper solvent (20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) and Se at three different doses (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg b.w.) for 30 consecutive days. The positive control group received DZN at the same dose without Se. After 24 h of last injection, 0.5 ml blood of each rat was received and cultured in culture medium for 44 h. The lymphocyte cultures were mitogenically stimulated with cytochalasin B to allow the evaluation of number of MNs in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells. Incubation of lymphocytes with DZN induced additional genotoxicity and is shown by increase in MNs frequency in human lymphocytes. Se at low dose of 0.5 mg/kg had a maximum effect and significantly reduced the MNs frequency in cultured lymphocytes (p < 0.0001) that reduced the frequency of MN from 12.78 ± 0.24% for DZN group to 4.40 ± 0.36. The present study revealed that Se particularly at low doses has a potent antigenotoxic effect against DZN -induced toxicity in rats, which may be due to the scavenging of free radicals and increased antioxidant status.


Penetration studies of clotrimazole from semisolid formulation using step-scan FT-IR photoacoustic spectroscopy.
The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential use of the step-scan FT-IR photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) for the non-destructive determination of drug penetration into membranes. The penetration of clotrimazole from a 10% (w/w) suspension in Vaseline into a dodecanol-collodion acceptor membrane was studied by three methods: the step-scan FT-IR PAS with a phase modulation, a multilayer membrane system, and a modified libration model. Based on Fick's second law, the diffusion coefficient of the drug in the membrane was derived by numerical fitting of the experimental data. The three methods applied provided almost the same diffusion coefficient D = 2.2 10(-9) cm2/s for clotrimazole in the membrane. Because of the non-destructive mode of operation, the accuracy of results obtained by FT-IR PAS is much better than that attainable by other two methods. Step-scan FT-IR photoacoustic spectroscopy in conjunction with a phase modulation is useful to determine the penetration of drug through membranes. The fact that samples can be investigated without elaborate preparation is an advantage of this spectroscopic technique.


Both Hepatitis C Virus-Specific T Cell Responses and IL28B rs12979860 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotype Influence Antihepatitis C Virus Treatment Outcome in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.
Despite new treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, IFNα-based regimens still have clinical relevance in special populations of patients and remain the only therapeutic option for many patients. We sought to elucidate the interplay between two relevant factors (IL28B polymorphism and T cell immune responses) involved in the outcome of this therapy in HCV-infected patients. We evaluated 38 patients infected with HCV genotype 1-17 coinfected with HIV-who were undergoing a full course of pegIFNα/RBV therapy. The interdependence and roles of T cell-mediated immune responses and IL28B rs12979860 single-nucleotide polymorphism genotype as predictors of virological response to anti-HCV treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated using nonparametric tests. Factors associated with rapid virological response (RVR) in univariate analysis were presence of CD4 T cell response against NS3 HCV protein, low baseline HCV-RNA, and IL28B CC genotype. Factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) in univariate analysis were IL28B CC genotype, low baseline HCV-RNA, and presence of CD4 response against NS2. In the multivariate analysis, low baseline HCV-RNA and NS3-specific CD4 response showed a clear trend toward association with RVR (P = 0.09 and P = 0.07, respectively). Regarding SVR, IL28B CC genotype was the strongest predictor (P = 0.02), with presence of NS2-specific CD4 response showing a clear trend (P = 0.09). HCV-specific T cell response influences the outcome of pegIFNα/RBV therapy regardless of IL28B genotype. HCV-specific T cell responses (adaptive immunity) seem to influence viral clearance both in the short and long term during therapy (RVR and SVR), whereas the influence of the IL28B genotype (innate immunity) may be more relevant to the long-lasting therapeutic effect (SVR).


Stress-evoked sterile inflammation, danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), microbial associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and the inflammasome.
Since the inception of the field of psychoneuroimmunolology research, there has been an appreciation that the physiological response to stressors includes modulation of immune function. Investigators initially focused on the effect of stress on cellular migration and immunosuppression and the resultant decreases in tumor surveillance, anti-viral T cell immunity and antigen-specific antibody responses. More recently, it has become clear that exposure to stressors also potentiate innate immune processes. Stressor exposure, for example, can change the activation status of myeloid lineage cells such as monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and microglia, leading to a primed state. In addition, stressor exposure increases the synthesis and release of a vast cadre' of inflammatory proteins both in the blood and within tissues (i.e., spleen, liver, adipose, vasculature and brain). The mechanisms for stress-evoked innate immune 'arousal' remain unknown. The goals of this presidential address are the following: (1) offer a personalized, brief overview of stress and immunity with a focus on 'aroused' innate immunity; (2) describe sterile inflammatory processes and the role of the inflammasome; and (3) suggest that these same processes likely contribute to primed myeloid cells and inflammatory protein responses (systemic and tissue) produced by stress in the absence of pathogens.


Relationship between G-protein beta-3 subunit C825T polymorphism and mirtazapine responses in Korean patients with major depression.
This study aimed to determine the relationship between the C825T polymorphism in the G-protein beta 3 subunit (GNB3) gene and the response to mirtazapine in a Korean population with major depressive disorder (MDD). Mirtazapine was administered for 8 weeks to the 101 MDD patients who completed this study. All subjects were examined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, and the severity of depression was assessed using the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD-21) scale. There was a significant main effect of time on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score during the 8-week study period. However, a main effect of or an interaction of genotype with time on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score during the 8-week study period was not found. ANOVA revealed no significant effects of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score at each time period. Although the C825T polymorphism of the GNB3 gene may affect the pathogenesis of MDD, our results do not support the hypothesis that this polymorphism is involved in the therapeutic response to mirtazapine in Korean patients with MDD.


Prevalence of rural intimate partner violence in 16 US states, 2005.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that affects people across the entire social spectrum. However, no previous population-based public health studies have examined the prevalence of IPV in rural areas of the United States. Research on IPV in rural areas is especially important given that there are relatively fewer resources available in rural areas for the prevention of IPV. In 2005, over 25,000 rural residents in 16 states completed the first-ever IPV module within the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored annual random-digit-dialed telephone survey. The BRFSS provides surveillance of health behaviors and health risks among the non-institutionalized adult population of the United States and several US territories. Overall, 26.7% of rural women and 15.5% of rural men reported some form of lifetime IPV victimization, similar to the prevalence found among men and women in non-rural areas. Within several states, those living in rural areas evidenced significantly higher lifetime IPV prevalence than those in non-rural areas. IPV is a significant public health problem in rural areas, affecting a similar portion of the population as in non-rural areas. More research is needed to examine how the experience of IPV is different for rural and non-rural residents.


Systematic development of an artificial neural network model for real-time prediction of ground-level ozone in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant that has recently gained notoriety for its detrimental effects on human and vegetation health. In this paper, a systematic approach is applied to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models for ground-level ozone (O3) prediction in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, using ambient monitoring data for input. The intent of these models is to provide regulatory agencies with a tool for addressing data gaps in ambient monitoring information and predicting O3 events. The models are used to determine the meteorological conditions and precursors that most affect O3 concentrations. O3 time-series effects and the efficacy of the systematic approach are also assessed. The developed models showed good predictive success, with coefficient of multiple determination values ranging from 0.75 to 0.94 for forecasts up to 2 hr in advance. The inputs most important for O3 prediction were temperature and concentrations of nitric oxide, total hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.


Electrospun biodegradable calcium containing poly(ester-urethane)urea: synthesis, fabrication, in vitro degradation, and biocompatibility evaluation.
In this work an in vitro degradable poly(ester-urethane)urea (PEUU) was synthesized using polycaprolactone diol, hexamethylene diisocyanate, and calcium salt of p-aminobenzoic acid. The synthesized polymer was characterized by (1) H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and viscosity studies. Scaffolds having random micro fibrous structures were fabricated from PEUU by electrospinning process. The thermal properties of the scaffold were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis. The mechanical property evaluation showed that the scaffold possess sufficiently high tensile strength of 16 MPa. The in vitro degradation studies of the electrospun scaffold were carried out in phosphate buffer saline for 6 months. The average mass loss of the scaffold after 6 months of hydrolytic degradation was 25%. FTIR spectroscopy study confirmed the degradation of the PEUU from decrease in intensity of 1400 cm(-1) peak corresponding to ionic carboxylate group. Presence of amine group and calcium ions in the degradation medium further confirmed the degradation of the hard segment in the hydrolytic medium. The mechanical property evaluation of the scaffold indicated a gradual decrease in tensile strength and modulus whereas percentage elongation of the scaffold increases with time of in vitro degradation. The morphological evaluation of the scaffold after degradation by SEM shows evidence of broken fibers and pores in the scaffold. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity test demonstrated that both the material and the degradation products were noncytotoxic in nature and the material showed good proliferation to L-929 cells.


Urodynamics in pelvic organ prolapse: when are they helpful and how do we use them?
The routine use of preoperative urodynamics in the woman considering surgery for pelvic organ prolapse is a topic of much debate. This article addresses the use of urodynamics in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. It specifically discusses the utility of urodynamics in the evaluation stress incontinence on prolapse reduction (occult stress urinary incontinence) as well as concomitant storage and voiding symptoms in these patients.


EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID ENHANCES HEATSTROKE-IMPAIRED INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL BARRIER FUNCTION IN RATS.
Dysfunction of the intestinal barrier plays an important role in the pathological process of heatstroke. Omega-3 (or n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), help protect the intestinal mucosal barrier. This study assessed if pretreating rats with EPA or DHA could alleviate heat stress-induced damage to the intestinal barrier caused by experimental heatstroke. Male Wistar rats were pregavaged with either EPA, DHA, corn oil, or normal saline (all 1 g/kg) for 21 days before the heatstroke experiment (control rats were not exposed to heat). Experimental rats were exposed to an ambient temperature of 37°C and 60% humidity to induce heatstroke, and then they were allowed to recover at room temperature after rapid cooling. Survival time of rats was monitored after heatstroke. Horseradish peroxidase flux from the gut lumen and the level of plasma D-lactate were measured to analyze intestinal permeability at 6 h after heatstroke. Plasma endotoxin levels were determined using a limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. Expressions of the tight junction (TJ) proteins occludin and ZO-1 were analyzed by Western blot and localized by immunofluorescence microscopy. Tight junction protein morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Fatty acids of ileal mucosa were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass selective detector. Eicosapentaenoic acid significantly increased survival time after heatstroke. Eicosapentaenoic acid significantly decreased intestinal permeability and plasma endotoxin levels. Eicosapentaenoic acid effectively attenuated the heatstroke-induced disruption of the intestinal structure and improved the histology score, whereas DHA was less effective, and corn oil was ineffective. Pretreatment with EPA also increased expression of occludin and ZO-1 to effectively prevent TJ disruption. Eicosapentaenoic acid pretreatment enriched itself in the membrane of intestinal cells. Our results indicate that EPA pretreatment is more effective than DHA pretreatment in attenuating heat-induced intestinal dysfunction and preventing TJ damage. Enhanced expression of TJ proteins that support the epithelial barrier integrity may be important for maintaining a functional intestinal barrier during heatstroke.


A comparison of different methods of extraction of the M-protein from Streptococcus equi.
The molecular weights of the proteins produced in different extracts of Streptococcus equi were compared on immunoblots with antisera against acid extracted and mutanolysin extracted M-protein. Acid and alkaline extracts of S. equi contained some peptides of similar molecular weight that reacted with antiserum against an acid extracted 41,000 m.w. fragment suggesting that these fragments contained common epitopes. Comparison of the amino acid compositions of the 35,000 m.w. fragment of the alkaline extract and the 41,000 m.w. fragment of the acid extract suggest that these immunologically reactive fragments were probably derived from the same protein. Little cross-reactivity was observed between antisera against S. equi acid extracted protein and the native 58,000 m.w. M-protein. This suggests that conformational epitopes on the native M molecule are not present after acid treatment.


A striving towards 'normality': illness-related beliefs among individuals living with a psychotic disorder.
Beliefs related to illness constrain or facilitate health and wellbeing, and are of importance in how people understand and manage their illness. The aim of this study was to identify illness beliefs among individuals living with illness from a psychotic disorder. Data collected through two qualitative interview studies was secondary analysed by means of a method for directed content analysis. Beliefs of being different and odd, and of what constitutes 'normality', are prominent and constrain, in several respects, wellbeing among the individuals with psychotic illness. Beliefs about possible wellbeing are preferably related to existential, human desires of caretaking and responsibility for self and others. An awareness among mental healthcare staff that one does not hold the unequivocal truth about what is normal and healthy, is of importance. They need to ask questions about illness beliefs and not ignore or judge the answers received, but instead discuss them. Relationship-centred care, where a mutual dialogue occurs between the individual, the family and mental healthcare staff, is highlighted.


[Incidence and Risk Factors of Hypokalemia in Tazobactam/Piperacillin-administered Patients].
Tazobactam/piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) is a useful antimicrobial agent with broad antibacterial activity. Hypokalemia is considered a rare side effect of TAZ/PIPC; however, it may occur more often than previously thought. In this study, hypokalemia frequency and risk factors were examined in 420 patients treated with TAZ/PIPC. Our results demonstrated that the hypokalemia incidence was 24.8% (grade 1-2: 18.3%, grade 3-4: 6.4%). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that age [odds ratio 1.057, 95% confidence interval 1.024-1.090, cutoff value 80.5 years] is a risk factor. Although the "Daily dosage/creatinine clearance" was not significant in multivariate analysis, univariate analysis indicated it be to be significant, with a cutoff value of 294.9 mg/mL/min. Furthermore, a "body mass index of 19.7 kg/m2 or higher", "serum potassium level before administration of 3.95 mEq/L or more", and "no empirical treatment for administration purposes" appeared to prevent the hypokalemia development. Overall, the hypokalemia incidence rate in TAZ/PIPC-administered patients was as high as 20%, with patients aged >80.5 years considered a high-risk group. Thus, careful monitoring of potassium levels in patients treated with TAZ/PIPC, particularly those aged >81 years, is warranted.


The time course of steroid action on blood-to-brain and blood-to-tumor transport of 82Rb: a positron emission tomographic study.
Blood-to-brain and blood-to-tumor transport rate constants for Rb (K1) and apparent tissue blood volume (Vb) were estimated in 8 patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors before and approximately 6 hours after a 100-mg intravenous bolus injection of dexamethasone using 82Rb and positron emission tomography. Eight additional patients were studied to evaluate test-retest variability and repositioning errors. Six hours following dexamethasone administration tumor K1 (but not Vb) was significantly reduced compared with contralateral control brain regions (p less than 0.03). These data are consistent with our previously published 24-hour-postdexamethasone data and suggest that comparable effects of corticosteroids on brain/tumor capillaries may be observed at 5 to 6 and 24 hours. The time course of dexamethasone-induced alterations in brain/tumor capillary permeability supports the view that these alterations may be responsible for at least some of the antiedema effects of corticosteroids.


[Follow-up of patients treated by conduits between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery].
Between 1981 and 1998, 77 right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduits were implanted in 67 patients (37 boys, 30 girls, average age 6.3 years; range: 3 months to 17 years). The diagnoses were transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and obstruction of the pulmonary outflow tract (N = 22), tetralogy of Fallot (N = 16), truncus arteriosus (N = 9), double outlet right ventricle with pulmonary stenosis or atresia (N = 8) and agenesis of the pulmonary valve with pulmonary stenosis (N = 2). The implanted conduits were homografts in 50 cases (43 aortic and 7 pulmonary), 11 valved Dacron grafts, 4 valved polystans grafts and 2 non-valved conduits. The average follow-up period was 3.6 years (range: 1 month to 17 years). Early death was observed in 8 patients (12%) and late death in 6 patients (9%). The 5, 10 and 15 year survival rates were 78.4%, 65.3%, and 65.3%, respectively. The conduits had to be replaced in 10 patients (15%). The non-replacement rate of all conduits at 5, 10 and 15 years was 81.4%; 40.7% and 40.7%, respectively. The causes of replacement were pure stenosis (54.5%), pure regurgitation (9%) and mixed stenosis and regurgitation (27.2%). These results are comparable to other published series showing a 15 year survival rate of 65% and a 59% reoperation rate at 15 years. Homografts have a slightly longer life compared with valved Dacron conduits but the difference is not statistically significant.


Effect of intravenous streptokinase on left ventricular function and early survival after acute myocardial infarction.
In a double-blind trial of streptokinase for acute myocardial infarction, 219 consecutive patients presenting with infarction within four hours (mean, 3.0 +/- 0.8) of the onset of chest pain were randomly assigned to treatment with streptokinase (1.5 million units) or placebo, given intravenously over 30 minutes. The primary end point of the study was left ventricular function in patients with first infarctions. Patients who could undergo beta-blockade also received intravenous propranolol. Heparin (for 48 hours) and a combination of low-dose aspirin and dipyridamole were administered to both groups until cineangiography was performed at three weeks. In the patients with first infarctions treated with streptokinase, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 6 percentage points higher (streptokinase vs. placebo, 59 +/- 10.5 vs. 53 +/- 13.5 percent; P less than 0.005), with benefit to patients with either anterior infarction (57 +/- 11.9 vs. 49 +/- 15.9 percent; P less than 0.05) or inferior infarction (60 +/- 9.1 vs. 55 +/- 11.3 percent; P less than 0.05). Left ventricular function was improved regardless of whether concomitant propranolol was given. Survival (at 30 days) was improved with streptokinase: 2 deaths occurred among 79 patients who received this drug, as compared with 12 deaths among 93 patients who received placebo (2.5 vs. 12.9 percent, P = 0.012). Rates of reinfarction (streptokinase vs. placebo, 3 vs. 1 percent) and requirements for surgery or angioplasty (7 vs. 5 percent) were similar in the two groups. We conclude that administration of intravenous streptokinase (1.5 million units) to patients with a first myocardial infarction results in improved left ventricular function and short-term survival.


An outbreak of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Netherlands (July to December 2013), with inter-institutional spread.
We describe an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-KP) ST258 that occurred in two institutions (a hospital and a nursing home) in the Netherlands between July and December 2013. In total, six patients were found to be positive for KPC-KP. All isolates were resistant to colistin and exhibited reduced susceptibility to gentamicin and tigecycline. In all settings, extensive environmental contamination was found. Whole genome sequencing revealed the presence of bla KPC-2 and bla SHV-12 genes, as well as the close relatedness of patient and environmental isolates. In the hospital setting, one transmission was detected, despite contact precautions. After upgrading to strict isolation, no further spread was found. After the transfer of the index patient to a nursing home in the same region, four further transmissions occurred. The outbreak in the nursing home was controlled by transferring all KPC-KP-positive residents to a separate location outside the nursing home, where a dedicated nursing team cared for patients. This outbreak illustrates that the spread of pan-resistant Enterobacteriaceae can be controlled, but may be difficult, particularly in long-term care facilities. It, therefore, poses a major threat to patient safety. Clear guidelines to control reservoirs in and outside the hospitals are urgently needed.


Ultraviolet light and dendritic cells.
The ultraviolet (UV) spectrum is divided into UVC (200-280 nm), UVB (280-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm). Of these only UVB and UVA are of environmental significance since UVC is effectively absorbed by ozone in the earth's atmosphere. UVB wavelengths penetrate the epidermis and are almost completely absorbed in the upper dermis while UVA penetrates to the deep dermis.


Treatment responsiveness of the Singing Voice Handicap Index.
To examine the responsiveness of the previously validated Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI) to treatment related changes in patients' singing voice. Prospective. Thirty singing patients at a tertiary voice clinic prospectively completed the Voice Handicap Index and SVHI at their initial presentation, pretreatment, and posttreatment. Patients had lower SVHI scores posttherapy compared with the initial SVHI scores (P <or= .001, paired t-test). The change in SVHI scores from initial to posttreatment evaluation was greater than the change from initial to pretreatment evaluation (P < .001, paired t-test). The Spearman correlation of the Voice Handicap Index difference with the SVHI difference before and after treatment was 0.71 (P < .001). The SVHI measures changes in patients' singing vocal health status resulting from treatment and the change correlates with that of other validated instruments.


[Quinoid radiotoxins in the blood of gamma-irradiated dogs].
Quinoid radiotoxins were found in the peripheral blood 3-4 h following gamma-irradiation of dogs with doses of 5.76 Gy. The authors developed a simple method of isolation and purification of quinoid radiotoxins and specified their physicochemical and biological characteristics.


Parameter estimation of human nerve C-fibers using matched filtering and multiple hypothesis tracking.
We describe how multiple-target tracking may be used to estimate conduction velocity changes and recovery constants of human nerve C-fibers. These parameters discriminate different types of C-fibers and pursuing this may promote new insights into differential properties of nerve fiber membranes. Action potentials (APs) were recorded from C-fibers in the peroneal nerve of awake human subjects. The APs were detected by a matched filter constituting a maximum-likelihood constant false-alarm rate detector. Using the multiple-hypothesis tracking method and Kalman filtering, the detected APs (targets) in each trace (scan) were associated to individual nerve fibers (tracks) by their typical conduction latencies in response to electrical stimulation. The measurements were one-dimensional (range only) and the APs were spaced in time with intersecting trajectories. In general, the AP amplitude of each C-fiber differed for different fibers. Amplitude estimation was therefore incorporated into the tracking algorithm to improve the performance. The target trajectory was modeled as an exponential decay with three unknowns. These parameters were estimated iteratively by applying the simplex method on the parameters that enter nonlinearly and the least squares method on the parameters that enter linearly.


The Management of Giant Cerviofacial Lymphatic Malformations in Children.
Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are rare and benign diseases. This article aimed to present a series of surgically treated giant cervicofacial LMs in children. A retrospective analysis of giant cervicofacial LMs (tumor diameter greater than 10 cm) in children over the past 8 years was performed in our department. The 10 patients included 4 males and 6 females. Macrocystic lesion presented in 4 patients, mixed cystic lesion presented in 4 patients, and microcystic lesion presented in 2 patients. All the patients underwent surgical resection combined with bleomycin sclerotherapy. Despite the wide range of lesions, most patients (7/10, 70%) received only a single treatment, 3 patients had a recurrent lesion. Seven patients experienced complete or almost complete resolution of the disease with an average follow-up time of 26.4 months. Surgical resection is the preferred method for the treatment of giant LMs, combination of bleomycin sclerotherapy can reduce the recurrence rate. The curative effect of macrocystic disease is relatively enhanced compared with microcystic and mixed cystic diseases.


Design of a high-throughput human neural crest cell migration assay to indicate potential developmental toxicants.
Migration of neural crest cells (NCCs) is one of the pivotal processes of human fetal development. Malformations arise if NCC migration and differentiation are impaired genetically or by toxicants. In the currently available test systems for migration inhibition of NCC (MINC), the manual generation of a cell-free space results in extreme operator dependencies, and limits throughput. Here a new test format was established. The assay avoids scratching by plating cells around a commercially available circular stopper. Removal of the stopper barrier after cell attachment initiates migration. This microwell-based circular migration zone NCC function assay (cMINC) was further optimized for toxicological testing of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived NCCs. The challenge of obtaining data on viability and migration by automated image processing was addressed by developing a freeware. Data on cell proliferation were obtained by labelling replicating cells, and by careful assessment of cell viability for each experimental sample. The role of cell proliferation as an experimental confounder was tested experimentally by performing the cMINC in the presence of the proliferation-inhibiting drug cytosine arabinoside (AraC), and by a careful evaluation of mitotic events over time. Data from these studies led to an adaptation of the test protocol, so that toxicant exposure was limited to 24 h. Under these conditions, a prediction model was developed that allows classification of toxicants as either inactive, leading to unspecific cytotoxicity, or specifically inhibiting NC migration at non-cytotoxic concentrations.


Syndrome of alopecia totalis and 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency.
A distinct and previously undescribed syndrome of alopecia totalis, ichthyosis, and male pseudohermaphroditism due to steroid 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency was observed in an Israeli-Arab newborn infant.


T cells reactive to keratinocyte antigens are generated during induction of contact hypersensitivity in mice. A model for autoeczematization in humans?
The role of keratinocytes (KC) in contact hypersensitivity (CH) has been examined more with respect to cytokine secretion and tolerance induction and less as a source of antigenic proteins to which chemical haptens can conjugate. To determine whether KC-derived proteins can serve as antigenic carriers for haptens such as dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). We examined the capacity of draining lymph node cells from BALB/c mice sensitized to DNFB to proliferate in response to hapten or to hapten-conjugated protein extracts derived from a KC line (DNP-Pam KC extract). Using limiting dilution microculture of these lymph node cells, we established DNP-specific T cell clones as well as DNP-Pam KC extract-reactive T cell clones. We also examined the proliferative responses of the DNP-Pam KC extract-reactive clones and of lymph node cells from mice sensitized to different haptens. Lymph node cells from DNFB-sensitized mice proliferated well to hapten or to DNP-Pam KC extract. Six la(d)-restricted, alphabeta TCR-bearing, CD4+ clones were established: 4 proliferated specifically to soluble hapten (DNBS), whereas 2 proliferated in response to DNP-Pam KC extract. Surprisingly, the DNP-Pam KC extract-reactive clones proliferated as well to Pam KC extract without hapten. Lymph node cells from hapten-sensitized mice not only proliferated specifically in response to the hapten to which they were sensitized, but also proliferated to Pam KC extract without hapten. T cell clones generated during the induction of (CH) in mice include those reactive to hapten as well as those reactive to KC antigens independent of hapten. Analogous mechanisms in humans might account for autoreactive events such as id reactions associated with CH and angry back syndrome during patch testing.


The nucleoside phosphatase method as a marker for the recognition of the autochthonous plexuses in blood vessel walls and the possible connection of the latter with acupuncture mechanisms.
The innervation of the blood vessels of the palatal mucosa of the frog is investigated histochemically. Besides vaso-motor nerves, fibers from the autochthonous plexuses also invest the vessels. Electron microscope studies of the latter show them to be non-nervous in structure contrary to previous belief. It is suggested they may influence vessels in a humoral manner and possibly play a part in acupuncture effector mechanisms. The electron micrographs are considered to reveal structure previously designated "terminal reticulum".


White bass Morone chrysops is less susceptible than its hybrid to experimental infection with Flavobacterium columnare.
Hybrid striped bass (HSB) and white bass (WB) were evaluated for their susceptibility to Flavobacterium columnare, the causative agent of columnaris disease, in 3 fundamental studies. In the first experiment, we determined whether columnaris disease could be developed by experimental challenge in HSB. This challenge consisted of 3 levels of F. columnare (10, 30, and 60 ml volumes) determined to be 2.25 × 10(7), 6.75 × 10(7), and 1.35 × 10(8) CFU ml(-1), respectively. Each treatment group exhibited significantly different survival rates: 0, 3.3, and 13.3% in the 60, 30, and 10 ml groups, respectively. In Expt 2, using the 30 ml dose, both HSB and WB had a 0% survival rate, with WB taking significantly longer to reach 100% mortality. In Expt 3, using the 10 ml dose, no HSB survived, whereas 33% of WB survived (p < 0.0001). Compared to controls, HSB treated with 10 ml showed extensive gill damage at 24 h, which could have contributed to the higher mortality observed in HSB; in contrast, WB gills showed noticeably less damage. From these series of experiments, it is clear that HSB are more sensitive to F. columnare, having lower survival and more extensive histological damage compared to WB following challenge.


[Computer-assisted calibration of inductive plethysmography].
A software program was written assisting calibration and measurement of the inductive plethysmography RESPITRACE. In 6 subjects calibration was carried out using both methods and a confirmation was found in the 20% area of dispersion. The use of only one measuring tape enables a very precise measurement of ventilation.


Characteristics and outcome of severe preeclampsia/eclampsia concurrent with or complicated by acute pancreatitis: a report of five cases and literature review.
The objective of this study is to determine the rate of acute pancreatitis in preeclampsia/eclampsia patients and describe the clinical manifestations, treatment characteristics and outcome of five cases of severe preeclampsia concurrent with or complicated by acute pancreatitis. The clinical data of pregnant women with preexisting or gestational hypertension who sought medical care between January 2002 and December 2015 at the Pregnant Women Critical Care Unit of Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China were retrieved. The rate of acute pancreatitis in preeclampsia/eclampsia patients was calculated and patients with preeclampsia/eclampsia and acute pancreatitis were included for further analysis. Totally 1703 pregnant women who received medical care at our institution during the review period were diagnosed with hypertension. Four hundred and seven (23.9%) of them had severe preeclampsia. Five (1.2%, 5/407) women with severe preeclampsia developed acute pancreatitis. Their median age was 32 (range 25-35) years and the median duration of gestation was 32 (range 28-40) weeks. Mild acute pancreatitis occurred in three cases, and moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis in one case each. Four patients underwent cesarean resection and one patient underwent vaginal delivery. Conservative therapy was undertaken. No patient received surgical intervention and cure was achieved in all patients. Acute pancreatitis may complicate severe preeclampsia/eclampsia or may be concurrent with severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, complicating and compromising the management of preeclampsia/eclampsia. Physicians should be alert for the presence of acute pancreatitis as prompt diagnosis and treatment, rapid termination of pregnancy and subsequent conservative management of pancreatitis could lead to a general favorable outcome.


Evaluation of the impact on non-communicable chronic diseases of a major integrated primary health care program in Mexico.
Primary health care is the best framework for implementing actions for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases at an appropriate scale. In 2002, the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), which provides health care to half of the Mexican population, implemented a primary care-based integrated program that included the improvement of the family health care practice and a preventive strategy called PREVENIMSS, to reduce the burden of disease. To asess the impact of this program on selected non-communicable chronic diseases. Morbidity and mortality were compared before and after implementation of the program and time trends in IMSS affiliates and non-affiliates using the difference-in-differences (DD) method. Incidence rates of diabetes and hypertension increased whereas those of cervical cancer, breast cancer and other cerebrovascular diseases decreased from 2000 to 2013. The DD in mortality rates, expressed per 100000 persons, showed a decrease of 49.4 for diabetes mellitus, 9.1 for hypertensive disease, 42.9 for ischemic heart disease, 17.4 for cerebrovascular disease, 7.5 for cervical cancer and 5.8 for breast cancer. The reductions in mortality rates could be explained by both changes in incidence rates and changes in case fatality rates associated with early detection and treatment. These initial findings can be interpreted as the potential impact of integrated programs based on primary health care in a developing country.


Interactions between primidone, carbamazepine, and nicotinamide.
The effect of nicotinamide on the conversion of primidone to phenobarbital was studied in mice and in three epileptic patients. In mice, 200 mg per kilogram of nicotinamide increased the half-life of primidone by 47.6%, and the conversion to phenobarbital and phenylethylmalonamide was decreased by 32.4% and 14.5%, respectively. Nicotinamide also decreased the conversion of primidone to phenobarbital in patients. The dose of nicotinamide correlated directly with the primidone-phenobarbital ratio (r = 0.861, p less than 0.01). Nicotinamide also increased carbamazepine levels in two patients treated with this drug. The data demonstrate that nicotinamide inhibits metabolism of primidone in mice and metabolism of primidone and carbamazepine in humans. This probably occurs by inhibition of cytochrome P-450 by nicotinamide.


Alternative tools for field analysis on malarial infection: a reappraisal.
Malaria is an important tropical infection affecting millions of world population. The gold standard for diagnosis of malaria is finding for intraerythrocytic malarial parasite from peripheral blood smear examination. Field diagnosis is important in disease detection and control. There is a need to find new alternative diagnostic tool for field diagnosis for malarial infection. The author hereby briefly reviews on the alternative diagnostic test for diagnosis for malaria in field study.


gamma-interferon production in atopic dermatitis shows differential modification by phosphodiesterase and prostaglandin inhibition.
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes (MNL) is reduced in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. This may be related to abnormalities in second messenger systems, and increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release from monocytes. We compared the effects of manipulating the second messenger activity using the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor Ro 20-1724, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclooxygenase inhibition of PGE2, on IFN-gamma production by cultured MNL from AD patients (n = 9) and normal controls (n = 10). Ficoll-Hypaque-separated MNL were cultured for 48 h with OKT3 stimulation, and cAMP, Ro 20-1724, or indomethacin. Supernatants were analysed for IFN-gamma by ELISA. Basal IFN-gamma was lower in AD patients, and the increase in IFN-gamma production with OKT3 was 6.5-fold greater in control subjects than patients with AD. Culture with indomethacin significantly enhanced OKT3-stimulated IFN-gamma production in both groups, whereas OKT3-stimulated IFN-gamma production was abolished with dibutyryl cAMP. IFN-gamma production was significantly lower with Ro 20-1742 in AD than in normal controls. We have shown reduced IFN-gamma release from unstimulated and stimulated MNL in AD patients compared with normal controls. The addition of indomethacin increased IFN-gamma production in both groups, although the increase was less in AD patients, suggesting an intrinsic cellular defect. IFN-gamma release from AD MNL was more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of PDE, and this may be due to increased PDE activity, or the hyperdynamic cAMP system present in atopics.


[Microsatellite polymorphisms at the TNF locus in Hubei Han population].
To investigate the distribution of tumor necrosis factor(TNF) microsatellite polymorphisms in Chinese. DNA was extracted from 164 unrelated healthy individuals' EDTA-blood. TNF microsatellite alleles were typed using PCR technique followed by high voltage denaturing PAGE with silver staining at the same time the PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Thirteen alleles and forty kinds of genotypes were detected at the TNFa locus; two alleles and three kinds of genotypes at the TNFa locus. The polymorphism information contents (PIC) were 0.80 and 0.28 respectively no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. Statistical analysis showed that the distribution of TNFa allele frequencies in Chinese Han population was significantly different from that in European Caucasian or in Japanese P<0.01. The result of sequencing revealed that the copy number of dinucleiotide repeats within the same TNF allele was not consistent with that in the reports from western countries. There exists ethnic difference in the distribution of TNFa allele. Further investigations will be necessary to define more accurately and clearly the TNFa alleles.


School-based survey participation: oral health and BMI survey of Ohio third graders.
During the 2009-2010 school year, the Ohio Department of Health conducted a statewide oral health and body mass index (BMI) screening survey among 3rd grade children. This marked the fifth school-based survey regarding the oral health of Ohio children since 1987. At 50 %, the participation rate of the 2009-2010 oral health and BMI survey was at the lowest level ever experienced. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with participation rates in a school-based survey. A stratified, random sample of 377 schools was drawn from the list of 1,742 Ohio public elementary schools with third grade students. All third grade children in the sampled schools with parent or guardian consent received an oral health screening and height/weight measurement by trained health professionals. Participation rates at the school level were then combined with data on school characteristics and survey implementation. Predictors of school form return, participation, and refusal rates were assessed by generalized linear modeling (GLM). High student mobility and larger school size were associated with lower form return (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively) and lower participation rates (p = 0.000 and p = 0.005, respectively). Surveying in the fall or spring (as opposed to winter) significantly decreased form return (p = 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively) and participation rates (p = 0.008 and p = 0.002, respectively), while being surveyed by internal staff (versus external screeners) significantly increased form return (p = 0.003) and participation rates (p = 0.001). Efforts to increase participation should focus more on schools with higher student mobility and larger size. Additionally, participation could be improved by using internal staff and surveying during winter.


Successful developmental outcome in intrauterine myelomeningocele repair.
Myelomeningocele (MM) is one of the forms of dysraphism. Hydrocephalus secondary to Arnold-Chiari (AC) malformation is responsible for the morbidity and mortality of the disease. The intrauterine repair of MM may reverse AC and limit hydrocephalus progression. The aim of this work is to report the successful outcome of a case of intrauterine correction of MM, with favorable evolution and birth at 36 weeks of pregnancy. KCMC, 19 years old, was submitted to intrauterine repair of MM at 24 weeks of gestational age after approval by the family and the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Medical Sciences-UNICAMP. Although it is not the standard option for surgical correction, selected MM cases with early fetal diagnosis may be eligible for intrauterine repair, when there is consensus with the Research Ethics Committees and family members.


Assessment of longterm benefit of total hip replacement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Clinical and radiographic follow-up examinations were obtained on 12 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who had undergone total hip replacement (THR). Four of these patients had bilateral THRs performed. The mean follow-up of these 16 THRs was 89 months (range 7-144 months). The THR had achieved excellent pain relief in 15 hips. Postoperative ankylosis did not occur. One arthroplasty has to be removed because of the development of protrusio acetabulum.. Radiographic follow-up was obtained in 14 hips. Six were found to have moderate periarticular ossification which did not significantly affect function. In our experience the risk of postoperative periarticular ossification developing in patients with AS is not a contraindication to hip replacement.


[Distribution of Aedes aegypti and dengue in the State of Maranhão, Brazil].
Dengue and Aedes aegypti are widespread in the State of Maranhão. During 1995, 87 of the 136 of the State's counties, including 176 towns and 480,687 households, were studied, of which 30 counties (34. 4%), 118 towns (67.0%) and 10,357 households (2.1%) were positive for Aedes aegypti. The positive counties are distributed as follow: 3 on São Luís Island, 7 in the Amazonia of Maranhão, 12 in the southern zone of the cerrados or savannas, and 5 in the mixed forest/savanna/palm grove zone. One positive county for Ae. aegypti was located in each of the following: alluvial fields, forest/palm grove, and sand dune/shoals areas. The Ae. aegypti-positive household rates were higher in the Amazonia of Maranhão (3.5%) and on São Luís Island (2.5%), because they are the most heavily traveled migratory and trade routes between Maranhão and neighboring states and are also the State's main economic centers. Household infestation rates for Ae. aegypti and reported dengue case rates were higher during the rainy season, showing the importance of rain in forming prime breeding sites for Aedes and spreading dengue.


Two new peculiar species of Neotropical Brachypogon Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).
Brachypogon biradialis from southern Argentina and Chile and Brachypogon tico from Costa Rica, are described and illustrated from female specimens. They are provisionally placed in the genus Brachypogon although not exactly fitting in any of the already recognized subgenera of this genus.


Abnormal epithelial transport in cystic fibrosis jejunum.
Abnormal epithelial electrolyte transport has been identified in a range of cystic fibrosis (CF) organs and appears to account for the various clinical manifestations of the disease. The aim of this study was to further define the Cl- secretion defect in CF jejunum. Excised jejunum was obtained from 11 CF patients and 12 controls. Transport studies were performed on stripped epithelium in vitro under short-circuited conditions in Ussing Chambers. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) (300 microM) significantly increased Cl- secretion in control (-2.3 +/- 0.6 to -3.3 +/- 0.7 mueq.cm-2.h-1; P less than 0.01, paired t test; n = 5 subjects) but not in CF jejunum (-0.5 +/- 0.3 to -0.1 +/- 0.4; n = 4). However in contrast to control jejunum, net Na+ absorption in CF jejunum was higher in the IBMX (1.3 +/- 0.5 mueq.cm-2.h-1) compared with basal periods (0.6 +/- 0.3; P less than 0.05, paired t test). IBMX stimulation of tissue adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) was similar in both control and CF jejunum. A range of secretagogues known to induce secretion in mammalian intestine, including dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP), DBcGMP, Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and the protein kinase C activator 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, failed to induce secretion in CF jejunum. In conclusion, CF jejunum failed to exhibit Cl- secretion and also demonstrated abnormalities of Na+ absorption. These results support the view that the defect lies at a site distal to the intracellular messengers. Moreover, these abnormalities of intestinal electrolyte transport may account for some of the gastrointestinal manifestations of the disease such as meconium ileus and distal intestinal obstruction syndrome.


Modeling of N2 adsorption in MCM-41 materials: hexagonal pores versus cylindrical pores.
Low-temperature nitrogen adsorption in hexagonal pores and equivalent cylindrical pores is analyzed using nonlocal density functional theory extended to amorphous solids (NLDFT-AS). It is found that, despite significant difference of the density distribution over the cross-section of the pore, the capillary condensation/evaporation pressure is not considerably affected by the pore shape being slightly lower in the case of hexagonal geometry. However, the condensation/evaporation step in the hexagonal pore is slightly larger than that in the equivalent cylindrical pore because in the latter case the pore wall surface area and, hence, the amount adsorbed at pressures below the evaporation pressure are underestimated by 5%. We show that a dimensionless parameter defined as the ratio of the condensation/evaporation step and the upper value of the amount adsorbed at the condensation/evaporation pressure can be used as an additional criterion of the correct choice of the gas-solid molecular parameters along with the dependence of condensation/evaporation pressure on the pore diameter. Application of the criteria to experimental data on nitrogen adsorption on a series of MCM-41 silica at 77 K corroborates some evidence that the capillary condensation occurs at equilibrium conditions.


Floccular influence on excitatory relay neurones of vestibular reflexes of anterior semicircular canal origin in the cat.
Floccular influence on excitatory vestibular reflex arcs of anterior semicircular canal origin was examined in the anaesthetized cat. Stimulation of the anterior semicircular canal nerve (ACN) evoked disynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in all sampled inferior oblique (IO), superior rectus (SR), and biventor cervicis (BIV) muscle motoneurones of the contralateral side. Conditioning stimulus to the flocculus depressed the amplitude of the EPSPs in both IO and SR motoneurones by 50% on the average but not in any BIV motoneurones. The excitatory vestibulo-ocular neurones identified by orthodromic and antidromic responses to stimulation of the ACN and the contralateral IO motoneurone pool, respectively, were classified as VOC (vestibulo-ocular neurones with axons descending to the cervical segment) or VO (vestibulo-ocular proper) neurones on the basis of whether or not they responded antidromically to stimulation of the spinal cord in the C1 segment. All of the VO neurones in the superior vestibular nucleus (n = 19) were inhibited from the flocculus while the activities of three-fourths of the VO neurones (36/48) in the other vestibular nuclei were not suppressed by floccular stimulation. In contrast, none of VOC neurones (n = 49) received floccular inhibition. Besides inhibition, floccular stimulation induced the antidromic or orthodromic responses in some VO and VOC neurones.


Hierarchical linear and logistic modeling of outcomes of antihypertensive treatment in elderly patients: findings from the PREVIEW study.
Achieving guideline-recommended blood pressure targets is difficult in older adults with hypertension. We completed a subgroup analysis of patients 65 years of age or older enrolled in PREVIEW, a prospective, multicenter, pharmacoepidemiological study of the determinants and outcomes of second-line antihypertensive treatment with valsartan in Belgium. Multilevel modeling was used to identify physician- and patient-level determinants of blood pressure values and practice guideline-derived definitions of blood pressure control. Data on 1560 patients and 504 physicians were used in this analysis. Blood pressure control rates for patients age 65 and over were lower for systolic (34.2% vs. 38.6%) and combined systolic/diastolic blood pressure (31.2% vs. 34.4%) compared to the entire PREVIEW sample. Twenty-seven percent of the variability in systolic, and 32% in diastolic pressure after 90 days of treatment were attributable to such variables as physicians' knowledge and adherence to evidence-based guidelines, practice patterns, and experience; with the remaining variance attributable to various demographic, behavioral, and clinical patient-related factors. Several independent predictors of uncontrolled blood pressure after 90 days of treatment were identified, largely confirming factors identified as determinants of blood pressure values. Recommendations for managing hypertension in the elderly are made in view of these findings.


Thermal instabilities and Rayleigh breakup of ultrathin silver nanowires grown in helium nanodroplets.
Ag nanowires with diameters below 6 nm are grown within vortex containing superfluid helium nanodroplets and deposited onto a heatable substrate at cryogenic temperatures. The experimental setup allows an unbiased investigation of the inherent stability of pristine silver nanowires, which is virtually impossible with other methods due to chemical processes or templates involved in standard production routes. We demonstrate by experiment and by adaption of a theoretical model that initially continuous wires disintegrate into chains of spheres. This phenomenon is well described by a Rayleigh-like breakup mechanism when the substrate is heated to room temperature. Our findings clarify the recent discussions on the cause of the observed segmented patterns, where a breakup during deposition [Gomez et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2012, 108, 155302] or mechanisms intrinsic to the helium droplet mediated growth process [Spence et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 6903] have been proposed. The experimental setup confirms the validity of previous suggestions derived from bulk superfluid helium experiments [Gordon et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 25229] for the helium droplet system, and further allows a much more accurate determination of the breakup temperature.


Comparison between secretory leukocytic protease inhibitor and reactive nitrogen intermediates levels in cervicovaginal secretions from symptomatic and asymptomatic trichomoniasis Egyptians patients.
Although trichomoniasis is one of the most widespread sexually transmitted diseases, limited information is known about the host and parasite factors which cause symptomatic versus asymptomatic infections. Both of Secretory Leukocytic Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) and Reactive Nitrogen Intermediates (RNI) are major effectors in the innate immune response against infection. This study aimed to compare the level of SLPI and RNI in relation to the vaginal complains among trichomoniasis Egyptian patients. Two groups of trichomonas infected patients were included. Group I included 30 symptomatic patients distributed in three equal subgroups mild, moderate and severe accordiing to degree of symptoms and Group II included 10 asymptomatic patients. Besides, control Group III included 10 healthy females. Cervicovaginal levels of SLPI & RNI were determined in all patients. The mean level of SLPI was less in symptomatic patients (187.75+/-11.61 ng/ml) than in asymptomatic ones (361.18+/-53 ng/ml), with statistically significant difference. Mean level of SLPI was markedly lower in severe symptomatic patients (173.97+/--4.64 ng/ml) when compared with moderate (188.60+/-2.47 ng/ml) and mild (200.69+/-3.01 ng/ml) subgroups respectively. This difference was statistically significant. In controversy, mean levels of RNI in symptomatic patients were significantly higher (39.4+/-7.15 microM) than asymptomatic (38.89+/-6.49 microM). The mean level of RNI was significantly low in severe symptomatic (30.07+/-1.79 microM) than moderate (41.83+/-1.01 microM) and mild (46.30+/-2.02 microM) symptomatic subgroups. This difference was statistically significant. Both of SLPI & RNI levels returned to normal levels in 93.4% & 80% of symptomatic patients respectively one week after metronidazole therapeutic course.


Exhalation of ¹³¹I after radioiodine therapy: measurements in exhaled air.
A considerable amount of radioiodine is exhaled after radioiodine therapy leading to unwanted radiation exposure through inhalation. This study focused on the concentration of radioactivity exhaled and its chemical nature. Air exhaled by 47 patients receiving (131)I-iodine for different thyroid diseases (toxic goitre n = 26, Graves' disease n = 13, thyroid cancer n = 8) was investigated with a portable constant air-flow sampler. Different chemical iodine species were collected separately (organic, elemental and aerosolic) up to 26 h after administration of the radioiodine capsule. The data approximated to a monoexponential time-activity curve when integrated over 100 h. The radioactivity in the filters was measured with a well counter at defined time points after administration. The radioactivity of (131)I in the exhaled air 1 h after administration ranged from 1 to 100 kBq/m(3). Two parameters (half-life of radioiodine exhalation and time-integrated activity over 100 h) were substantially higher in patients with cancer after near-total thyroidectomy (11.8 ± 2.1 h and 535 ± 140 kBq / m(3), respectively) than in patients with hyperfunctioning thyroid tissue due to toxic adenoma (7.6 ± 2.5 h and 115 ± 27 kBq / m(3), respectively) or Graves' disease (6.4 ± 3.6 h and 113 ± 38 kBq / m(3), respectively). The percentage of radioiodine in the exhaled air in relation to radioiodine administered to the patient was between 80 ppm and 150 ppm. The fraction of organically bound radioiodine (mean value) for all time points after administration was 94-99.9%. This percentage did not depend on the type of thyroid disease. The amount of exhaled radioiodine is small but by no means negligible on the first day after administration. This is the first study to provide experimental evidence on a systematic basis that radioiodine becomes exhalable in vivo, i.e. in the patient. The mechanism of organification of orally administered radioiodine remains to be investigated.


A ventral approach to stereotaxy of the guinea pig brain.
The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a species frequently used in neuromorphological and neurophysiological studies. Some experimental data suggest that the guinea pig might also be used to develop an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. These studies would require microsurgical manipulations of the nervous system. The present paper describes a method for ventral stereotaxic intrusions in the guinea pig brain through the oval foramen at the skull base. The topographic relationships of the bony landmarks to major parts of the central nervous system and the cranial nerves are analysed, and the results are tested by intrahippocampal injection of horseradish peroxidase.


In vivo clot lysis of human thrombus with intravenous abciximab immunobubbles and ultrasound.
Abciximab immunobubbles have been introduced recently for ultrasonographic molecular imaging of human thrombus. This study investigates the potential of using these novel bubbles for enhancing sonothrombolysis. In particular, it addresses the question of whether ligand targeting of bubbles with abciximab improves the effectiveness of lysis with ultrasound. A partial thrombotic occlusion of the right common carotid artery of 16 rats was produced by insertion of human clot material via an external carotid artery catheter. Rats received abciximab immunobubbles, non-specific control immunobubbles or saline intravenously over 30 minutes in combination with pulsed 2 MHz ultrasound. Blood samples were taken at baseline and 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes after beginning treatment. Human D-dimer levels for quantification of thrombolysis were analysed by ELISA. Only animals treated with abciximab immunobubbles and ultrasound showed a significant increase of D-dimer levels over time (p = 0.043, linear trend p = 0.037), whereas in the other two groups, no significant increase over time was found. Overall, animals in the abciximab immunobubbles group showed higher plasma D-dimer levels than animals treated with non-specific immunobubbles (p = 0.049) and animals treated with ultrasound alone (p = 0.017). In histological sections, thrombi treated with abciximab immunobubbles and ultrasound showed clear signs of disintegration in contrast to thrombi in both control groups. 2 MHz ultrasound in combination with abciximab immunobubbles induces thrombolysis without lytic agents that is superior to insonation of non-specific immunobubbles.


Enhanced Power Generation of Oxygen-Reducing Biocathode with an Alternating Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surface.
Most oxygen-reducing biocathodes for microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) require energy-intensive aeration of the catholyte, which negates the energy-saving benefits of MESs. To avoid aeration and enhance oxygen-utilization efficiency, columnar activated carbon with half of its surface coated by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE-coated CAC) was fabricated as biocathode material, and its performance was investigated using a tide-type biocathode MES (TBMES). The TBMES with PTFE-coated biocathode achieved a maximum power density of 8.2 ± 0.8 W m-3, which was 39% higher than that of the untreated control (CAC biocathode). The PTFE-coated biocathode was able to store a cumulative total charge (Qm) of (10.8 ± 0.2) × 104 C m-3 during one charge-discharge cycle, whereas the Qm of CAC biocathode was only (6.9 ± 0.1) × 104 C m-3, demonstrating that the oxygen entrapment capability of PTFE-coated biocathode was 54 ± 3.8% higher than that of the control. Internal resistance analysis under both oxygen sufficient and reoxygenation conditions suggested the oxygen entrapped by this surface-hydrophobic biocathode was basically sufficient for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction. The slight difference in cathodic microbial communities of the two biocathodes further indicated that the higher accessibility of oxygen due to the hydrophobic surface was the primary cause for the better performance of the PTFE-coated biocathode, while the higher biocatalytic activity of the cathodic biofilm was a minor factor.


Chemoresistant tumor cell lines display altered epidermal growth factor receptor and HER3 signaling and enhanced sensitivity to gefitinib.
Deregulated signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in chemoresistance. To identify the molecular determinants of sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839) in chemoresistance, we compared the response of matched chemosensitive and chemoresistant glioma and ovarian cancer cell lines. We found that chemoresistant cell lines were 2- to 3-fold more sensitive to gefitinib growth-inhibitory effects, because of decreased proliferation rather than survival. Sensitivity to gefitinib correlated with overexpression and constitutive phosphorylation of HER2 and HER3, but not EGFR, altered HER ligand expression, and enhanced activation of EGF-triggered EGFR pathway. No activating mutations were found in EGFR. Gefitinib fully inhibited EGF-induced and constitutive Akt activation only in chemoresistant cells. In parallel, gefitinib downregulated constitutively phosphorylated HER2 and HER3, and activated GSK3beta with a concomitant degradation of cyclin D1. Ectopically overexpressed HER2 on its own was insufficient to sensitize chemonaive cells to gefitinib. pHER3 coimmunoprecipitated with p85-PI3K in chemoresistant cells and gefitinib dissociated these complexes. siRNA-mediated inhibition of HER3 decreased constitutive activation of Akt and sensitivity to gefitinib in chemoresistant cells. Our study indicates that in chemoresistant cells gefitinib inhibits both an enhanced EGF-triggered pathway and a constitutive HER3-mediated Akt activation, indicating that inhibition of HER3 together with that of EGFR could be relevant in chemorefractory tumors. Furthermore, in combination experiments gefitinib enhanced the effects of coadministered drugs more in chemoresistant than chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells. Combined treatment might be therapeutically beneficial in chemoresistant tumors from ovary and likely from other tissues.


Thermal behavior of a lipid-protein membrane model and the effects produced by anesthetics and neurotransmitters.
Despite decades of intense research to understand the phenomenon of anesthesia and its membrane-related changes in neural transmission, where lipids and proteins have been proposed as primary targets of anesthetics, the involved action mechanisms remain unclear. Based on the overall agreement that anesthetics and neurotransmitters induce particular modifications in the plasma membrane of neurons, triggering specific responses and changes in their energetic states, we present here a thermal study to investigate membrane effects in a lipid-protein model made of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and albumin from chicken egg white under the influence of neurotransmitters and anesthetics. First, we observe how ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, and lysozyme (main albumin constituents from chicken egg white) interact with the lipid membrane enhancing their lipophilic character while exposing their hydrophobic domains. This produces a lipid separation and a more ordered hybrid lipid-protein assembly. Second, we measured the thermotropic changes of this assembly induced by acetylcholine, γ-aminobutiric acid, tetracaine, and pentobarbital. Although the protein in our study is not a receptor, our results are striking, for they give evidence of the great importance of non-specific interactions in the anesthesia mechanism.


Synthesis, crystal structure, electronic structure, and photoelectric response properties of KCu2SbS3.
Copper thioantimonates have received enormous attention due to their potential for applications in photovoltaic devices. In this work, a new layered compound KCu2SbS3 was synthesized via a reactive flux method using thiourea as a reactive flux. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1[combining macron]. The structure features two-dimensional [Cu2SbS3](-) layers stacking along the c axis with K(+) ions intercalated between the layers. Each [Cu2SbS3](-) layer is composed of two single graphene-like layers connected via interlayer Cu-S bonds and CuSb contacts. The optical measurements indicate that the compound has a band gap of 1.7 eV. The Hall effect measurement shows that KCu2SbS3 is a p-type semiconductor with a carrier concentration of 7 × 10(16) cm(-3). First-principles calculations reveal that the direct transition occurs between Cu-3d-S-3p orbitals (VBM) to Sb-5p-S-3p orbitals (CBM). The photoelectric response properties of KCu2SbS3 under visible light irradiation were analyzed. The photocurrent is 3.7 μA cm(-2) at 10 V bias, demonstrating its potential for applications in photoelectric devices.


The role of noninvasive methods in assessing airway inflammation and structural changes in asthma and COPD.
The aim of our study was to assess the role of non-invasive methods in assessing airway inflammation and structural changes in asthma and COPD. The study was conducted on patients attending outpatient and inpatient department of TB and Chest Diseases and Department of Pathology at our hospital from January 2006 to August 2007. 50 asthmatic and 46 COPD patients were selected. A detailed history and clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, pulmonary function testing, Chest X-ray PA and lateral view, HRCT Thorax, biochemical and cellular analysis of sputum was carried out in all cases. Quality control and procedures of pulmomary function test were performed according to the European Respiratory Society guidelines. Bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis and air trapping correlated well with disease severity in asthmatics while all abnormal HRCT finding correlate well with disease severity in COPD patients. The levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 increased significantly with increasing disease severity in both asthmatic and COPD groups. The MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio decreased with increasing disease severity in both groups. The major source of MMP-9 in human lungs is macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils. Macrophages and neutrophils were also the source of TIMP-1. Asthma and COPD are characterised by an imbalance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1. COPD patients showed a higher prevalence of HRCT findings which correlate with their lower MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio than asthmatics supporting fact that the destruction and fibrosis of alveolar walls are more prominent in COPD. MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio is associated with magnitude of HRCT findings in asthma and COPD and suggests that level of these markers reflect the extent of structural changes of airway.


CK and LD isozymes in human single muscle fibers in trained athletes.
Individual human muscle fibers from the vastus lateralis were isolated from age-matched endurance-trained and strength-trained athletes and untrained controls. Slow- (ST) and fast-twitch (FT) fibers were assayed for total creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, total lactate dehydrogenase (LD), the LD isozyme that predominates in the heart muscle of most vertebrates (LD1), and citrate synthase (CS). Regardless of training of the athletes, both CK-MB and CS were higher in ST than in FT fibers. Also, irrespective of fiber type, CK-MB and CS were greatest in the endurance-trained group. A positive correlation existed between CK-MB and CS, relating oxidative capacity of individual fibers with CK-MB. Total CK varied little among the fiber types, trained groups, or controls. Total LD in FT fibers was greater than in ST fibers in all groups, with only ST fibers from the endurance-trained group containing substantial amounts of LD1. These findings suggest that specific training, endurance exercise, causes a favorable metabolic adaptation of CK and LD isozymes at the individual fiber level, allowing for the muscle to cope with increased energy demands during prolonged exercise.


[An atypical case of Aujeszky's disease in a dog (author's transl)].
Two cases of Aujeszky's disease in a cat and a dog belonging to the same owner are reported. The two animals each were five months of age. The symptoms shown by the cat were typical of Aujeszky's disease: intense itching, salivation and the head bent to one side. The main symptoms shown by the dog consisted in salivation, ptosis of one eye, a drooping ear, the head bent to one side and ataxia. As itching was not observed in the dog and the animal had spent the first months of its life in wooded surroundings, it could also have been affected with rabies, although it had been inoculated with LEP-Flury vaccine forty days prior to importation. It is of importance to the practitioner to know that itching may be absent in dogs with Aujeszky's disease and that rabies should also be suspected in these cases. Only a laboratory diagnosis will be conclusive. Studies were negative for rabies, the virus of Aujeszky's disease being found to be present in the two cases. The source of infection probably consisted in contaminated pork offal (larynges).


Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and leg blood flow following epidural anaesthesia.
The influence of the severity of occlusive arterial disease, as evaluated from the ankle-brachial index (ABI) values, on blood flow and the distribution of blood flow within the lower limb following epidural block to the level of Th 4 to 6 was studied in 48 patients (ABI values ranging from 0.45-1.62). Leg (LBF) and foot (FBF) blood flows were measured with plethysmography and skin blood flow (SBF) was evaluated from laser-Doppler flowmetry and temperature recordings. The resting control LBF, FBF and SBF values were similar for all patients. Following the epidural block mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) decreased by about 20 mmHg. LBF, FBF and SBF all increased. There were significant correlations between the ABI values and the changes following the epidural block in LBF and FBF but not between ABI and SBF changes as evaluated from laser-Doppler flowmetry.


Medications prescribed for children with mood disorders: effects of a family-based psychoeducation program.
Few controlled trials have examined psychotropic medications in children with mood disorders. Multiple medications are often prescribed for these children, who frequently suffer from several comorbid conditions. However, this polypharmacy has been infrequently studied and may lead to adverse drug-drug interactions. Multi-Family Psychoeducation Groups (MFPGs) are an 8-session, manual-driven treatment for children with mood disorders, designed as an adjunct to current medications and psychotherapy. In part, MFPG teaches parents and children to be better consumers of mental health care, including medications. This study examined the effect of MFPG on medications taken by 165 children, ages 8-11, with mood disorders. The authors hypothesized that MFPG would not affect the mean number of medications taken but that the variance in number of medications would decrease from pre- to posttreatment (i.e., the number of medications prescribed for any given child should become more closely distributed around the sample mean). Approximately 70% of participants were diagnosed with bipolar spectrum disorders, and 30% were diagnosed with depressive spectrum disorders. Most had both comorbid behavioral (97%) and anxiety (69%) disorders. Information regarding medications was gathered 4 times: at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months. Approximately half (n=78) of the participants were randomized into immediate treatment, and half (n=87) were randomized into a 1-year wait-list condition. All were encouraged to continue treatment as usual throughout the study. As hypothesized, no significant pre- to posttreatment differences were found between groups for the mean number of current medications, but variance declined significantly from pre- to posttreatment. Implications and future research goals are discussed.


Comparative efficacy and persistency of permethrin in Olyset net and conventionally treated net against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi.
The efficacy of the Olyset net was compared to a net treated conventionally with permethrin 10% emulsifiable concentrate at the World Health Organization recommended dose. The nets were assessed under laboratory conditions against the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi. Knockdown efficacy for the Olyset net was assessed after the first 10 washings and then after the 15th and 20th washings. Data were not collected for the conventionally treated netting after 5 washings because the conventional treatment was no longer effective. The results of the study indicate permethrin effectively persisted on Olyset net for at least 20 washings, confirming the regeneration of pesticide after each wash.


An open randomized controlled trial of infection prevention in child day-care centers.
Child care outside the home increases children's infections substantially. We have to evaluate the possibilities for reducing the transmission of infections by an infection prevention program. A 15-month randomized controlled trial involving 20 day-care centers was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an infection prevention program. The program was introduced in 10 centers and the other matched 10 centers served as controls. Records were made of the occurrence of infections and absences from care or work because of infections among the children, their parents and the personnel of the day-care centers. Both the children and the personnel in the program centers had significantly fewer infections than those in the control centers, the reduction being 9% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 4 to 16%, P < 0.002] among 3-year-old children and 8% (95% CI 0 to 14%, P = 0.049) among the older children. The children at the program centers received 24% fewer prescriptions of antimicrobials (95% CI 22 to 27%, P < 0.001). Likewise there were 2.5 man-year fewer absences from work on the part of parents because of a child's illness during 1 year in the program centers, a 24% difference (95% CI 18 to 29%, P < 0.001). Effective prevention of infections is possible in child day-care centers, and this can benefit both the families and the personnel. Such a program is cost-effective even if a specialist nurse implements it.


Inhibition of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases decreases lymphocyte infiltration in the early phases of rat liver allograft rejection.
Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) has been shown to mediate lymphocyte adhesion to endothelia at sites of inflammation in vitro and in vivo. VAP-1 is also an ectoenzyme with semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity. In this study we investigated whether inhibition of SSAO influences the inflammatory infiltration in acute rat liver allograft rejection. BN recipients of DA liver allografts were treated with 50 mg/kg/d semicarbazide, an inhibitor of SSAO, or similar volumes of saline. 10 rats/group were followed for graft survival, and 10 rats/group were sacrificed on day 7 post-transplantation for histology and T-lymphocyte isolation. The area percentage of portal inflammatory infiltrates in the grafts was assessed from digital photomicrographs. The proportion of CD4-, CD8- and IL2-receptor positive lymphocytes in the graft was quantified with flow cytometry. On day 7, semicarbazide treatment significantly decreased the inflammatory infiltrate area in the grafts. CD4-, CD8- and IL2-receptor positive cells were equally affected. However, animal survival was not affected. Blockade of the enzymatic activity of VAP-1 has a significant effect on lymphocyte infiltration early in acute liver rejection. Later, activation of other adhesion pathways can by-pass the blockade caused by VAP-inhibition.


Potential role of RAB6C-AS1 long noncoding RNA in different cancers.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) refer to a group of non-protein-coding RNAs that are usually more than 200 nucleotides. These long transcripts play significant roles in diverse cellular processes, mostly through epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, dysregulation of lncRNAs is associated with various diseases, especially cancer. This study aims to investigate the probable roles of RAB6C-AS1 lncRNA in different cancers. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was applied for the analysis of RAB6C-AS1 lncRNA amplification in gastric cancer (GC) samples compared with normal ones. Also, several online and offline data sets and tools were used to analyze the relation between RAB6C-AS1 lncRNA and different cancers. The end result of our analyses indicated that RAB6C-AS1 was overexpressed in 40% of the investigated GC specimens. Also, the results demonstrated a true relation between RAB6C-AS1 overexpression and higher GC tumor grades. However, bioinformatic analyses showed that while RAB6C-AS1 possibly functions as an oncogene in some cancer types, including prostate and breast cancers, it might have a tumor suppressive function in some others including brain tumors. We found that RAB6C-AS1 lncRNA is mostly overexpressed in GC. Also, based on bioinformatic and systems biology analyses, RAB6C-AS1 might function either as an oncogenic factor or tumor suppressor in a tissue-specific manner. Thus, RAB6C-AS1 could be considered as a candidate biomarker for various malignancies, especially prostate and brain cancers. According to our results, RAB6C-AS1 has a notable prognostic value for patients with brain lower grade glioma.


Platelet storage lesion and apoptosis: are they related?
The relationship between the platelet storage lesion (PSL) and programmed cell death (apoptosis) is poorly understood. Nevertheless, there is some experimental evidence that platelets contain most of the components of the apoptosis machinery and both the apoptotic process and the PSL lead to platelet activation and microvesiculation with expression of phosphatidyl serine (PS) on the outer layer of cell membrane, a hallmark of all nucleated cells. The PS exposure is believed to contribute to the development of inflammatory or immunomodulation process, to the regulation of haemostatic balance and the ultimate clearance of dead or fragmented cells from the circulation. While there is no doubt that apoptosis, as a form of genetically encoded programmed cell death in nucleated cells, is triggered by several signalling stimuli at the nuclear level, there is some doubt as to whether platelets, as enucleated cells have retained the memory of the "parental" megakaryocytes for apoptosis or whether platelet mitochondrial DNA has a major role in both the apoptotic process and the PSL. The storage lesion occurs during processing and storage subsequent to mechanical trauma, hypoxic conditions or exposure to cold. In this brief report some observational evidence is provided in support of the notion that the PSL and apoptosis may be related to each other, despite the fact that, in contrast to the 'parental' megakarocyte, the platelets appear to survive upon stimulation with a high concentration of protein kinase inhibitors such as staurosporine (STS), in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX) which inhibit protein synthesis. This is a model which is often used to regulate the level of survival signals. The possible relevance of platelet microvesiculation to transfusion practice is briefly discussed.


Periosteal resorption of finger phalanges: radial versus ulnar surfaces.
Measurement of periosteal resorption (PR) at the radial and ulnar surfaces of the second, third and fourth middle phalanges of one hand in 60 normals and 61 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients showed generally higher involvement at the radial than the ulnar surfaces; however, best diagnostic results were achieved when PR was measured at both radial and ulnar surfaces of the index finger only. With the quantitative method, 31 of 61 CRF patients showed changes, whereas only 22 were identified with the grading method.


Metagenomics Approaches in Discovery and Development of New Bioactive Compounds from Marine Actinomycetes.
Marine actinomycetes are prolific sources of marine drug discovery system contributing for several bioactive compounds of biomedical prominence. Metagenomics, a culture-independent technique through its sequence- and function-based screening has led to the discovery and synthesis of numerous biologically significant compounds like polyketide synthase, Non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, antibiotics, and biocatalyst. While metagenomics offers different advantages over conventional sequencing techniques, they also have certain limitations including bias classification, non-availability of quality DNA samples, heterologous expression, and host selection. The assimilation of advanced amplification and screening methods such as φ29 DNA polymerase, Next-Generation Sequencing, Cosmids, and recent bioinformatics tools like automated genome mining, anti-SMASH have shown promising results to overcome these constrains. Consequently, functional genomics and bioinformatics along with synthetic biology will be crucial for the success of the metagenomic approach and indeed for exploring new possibilities among the microbial consortia for the future drug discovery process.


[Ayurveda].
The ancient medicine of India (ayurveda) is a broadly conceptualized anthropology embracing the whole human being without the Western body/soul dualism. A symptomatology based on careful observation leads, in conjunction with etiology, pathogenesis and pathology, with constitutional and personality features, to a differentiated nosology. This broad concept is matched by multidimensional therapy embracing pharmacologic, surgical, psychotherapeutic and "paramedical" measures. Ayurveda ("life knowledge") is a combination of religious, philosophical, anthropological, medical and psychological concepts. It is impressive how accurate the knowledge and description of psychiatric diseases already was 2,500 years ago, and how little these phenomena have changed with time. The therapeutic armamentarium (paramedical, psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic) of ayurveda psychiatry has not yet been sufficiently studied by scientific methods.


Diversity of Dickeya Strains Collected from Pineapple Plants and Irrigation Water in Hawaii.
Bacterial heart rot caused by a yet undetermined species of Dickeya was first observed in December 2003 in Oahu, HI, on a pineapple cultivar (Ananas comosus 'PRI 73-114') recently imported from Central America. Identical symptoms were later seen in the same plantation in fields that had been planted with propagules from the Philippines. Dickeya strains isolated from symptomatic plants and irrigation water collected over subsequent years were identified using bacteriological tests and partial 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and characterized using repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) with the BOXA1R primer (BOX-PCR), pathogenicity on pineapple leaves, and reactivity with two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Strains exhibited variability in pathogenicity and in reactivity with MAbs. BOX-PCR separated the plant-isolated Dickeya strains into seven haplotypes that were placed into four fingerprint groups (A to D). Strains from the A and B groups were isolated from the Central American stocks, whereas strains in the D group were identified from Philippine material. Strains from the C group were isolated from both planting materials. Most strains from water sources were placed into three haplotypes that loosely formed group E. BOX-PCR polymorphisms between the Dickeya strains isolated from foreign pineapple plants, a local collection of Dickeya strains, and strains from the plantation's water sources support the possibility that at least two separate introductions of genetically distinct strains occurred via imported planting stocks.


The effect of ibuprofen on the level of discomfort in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Studies have shown that patients undergoing orthodontic tooth movement can experience varying degrees of discomfort. The objective of this study was to determine whether nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis through acetylation and inactivation of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, can suppress orthodontic discomfort by inhibiting the inflammatory response normally observed after orthodontic adjustments. A total of 77 patients were included in a double-blind, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, single-dose, analgesic efficacy evaluation of ibuprofen and aspirin. Patients were divided into three groups. Group A received one dose of the drug ibuprofen (400 mg), group B received aspirin (650 mg), and group C received a placebo (beta-lactose). The level of discomfort was assessed using a visual analogue scale at 2, 6, and 24 hours and 2, 3, and 7 days after the insertion of either orthodontic separators or an initial arch wire. A repeated measures analysis of variance and post hoc studentized range statistics showed that the placebo group had significantly more discomfort than either the ibuprofen or the aspirin group at all the time intervals tested. In addition, ibuprofen produced significantly less discomfort than aspirin at the 6 and 24-hour and 2-day time phase after separator placement; and 2 and 6 hours and 2, 3, and 7 days after arch wire placement. These results support a recommendation for ibuprofen as a preferred analgesic in the treatment of discomfort because of postorthodontic adjustments.