Pollen callus culture in Triticum aestivum.
Pollen shed between 4-8 d from anthers of Triticum aestivum cultured in liquid medium gave rise to calluses. Tillers were harvested at the mid-to late-unicellular pollen stages and chilled for 8 d at 4-5 °C before the anthers were dissected out. Pollen cultures gave about 6 times as many calluses on a per anther basis as anthers cultured on solid medium. With the most productive of 5 cultivars tested, pollen culture results in roughly one callus for each anther used, though the calluses formed by pollen culture were less productive for the regeneration of shoots than calluses derived from anthers cultured on solid medium. The ratio of green to albino shoots is roughly 1∶ 1 for anther cultures but considerably less for pollen cultures.


Fuzzy-Super twisting control implementation of battery/super capacitor for electric vehicles.
The present paper deals with a real-time implementation of a novel Fuzzy logic energy management strategy (EMS), applied to a battery-super capacitor hybrid energy system and associated with a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) which emulates the traction part of an electric vehicle (EV). On the sources side, the fuzzy logic supervisor acts in a smart way to permute smoothly between the various operations modes via an efficient power frequency splitting. In addition, it permits a quite regulation of both the DC bus and the super-capacitor (SC) voltages regardless of the speed profile variations to ensure an optimal power flow to the load and to keep the SC operation in a safe voltage range while providing or absorbing power in transients. On the traction side, a second order sliding mode control called 'super-twisting' (ST), associated with a space vector modulation (SVM) strategy is applied to ensure both decoupled torque and flux control under low torque and flux ripples. The assessment of the proposed control techniques is conducted on a small-scale battery/SC/PMSM system, controlled via two dSPACE1104 cards. The obtained experimental results show a smooth operation of the whole system, where the proposed Fuzzy logic supervisor succeeds to provide fast and high performances under different speed levels and ensures the proper functioning of each source while respecting its dynamics. Furthermore, the second order sliding mode controller shows good dynamic performances, where the system arrives to track perfectly the speed profile, under tolerable torque and flux ripples.


GFAP mutations and polymorphisms in 13 unrelated Italian patients affected by Alexander disease.
Alexander disease (AD), a rare neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, is characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic protein aggregates (Rosenthal fibers) composed of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and small heat-shock proteins within astrocytes. To date, more than 40 different GFAP mutations have been reported in AD. The present study is aimed at the molecular diagnosis of Italian patients suspected to be affected by AD. By analyzing the GFAP gene of 13 unrelated patients (eight with infantile form, two with juvenile form and three with adult form), we found 11 different alleles, including four new ones. Among the novel mutations, three (p.R70Q, p.R73K, and p.R79P) were identified in exon 1 and p.L359P in exon 6. The sequence analysis also detected six different single nucleotide polymorphic variants, including two previously unreported ones, spread throughout non-coding regions (introns 2, 3, 5, 6, and 3'UTR) of the gene. All patients were heterozygous for the mutations, thus confirming their dominant effect.


Effects of new multi-site hormone blockers on the fertility of male rats.
The effects on the fertility of adult male rats of six new synthetic steroids: I, 3-cyano-5alpha-androst-1-en-17-one; II, the 17beta-acetate form of I; III, 17beta-hydroxy-5beta-cyano-androstan-3-one; IV, 6-methylpregnenolone; V, 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-ethynyl-5beta-cyano-19-norandrostan-3-one; and VI, 19-norspiroxenone (oestr-4-en-3-one-spiro-17alpha-2'-[tetrahydrofuran]) have been tested. After 6 weeks of treatment with daily doses of 5 mg (I, II, III), 15 mg (IV) or 10 mg (V, VI) only steroid VI blocked the completion of spermatogenesis and reduced the number of foetuses sired in at least five females/male. Steroid VI also diminished seminal vesicular, prostatic, testicular and epididymal weights. It inhibited the testicular enzymes, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-delta4-5-3-oxosteroid isomerase system, 17alpha-hydroxylase, and C17-20 lyase markedly, but did not affect the adrenal dehydrogenase-isomerase system. It depressed, strikingly, testicular and serum levels of testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone and reduced pituitary and serum levels of FSH and LH. Although marked depression of target organ weights also occurred with steroids II, IV and V, and reduction of androgen levels and LH in the circulation with III, IV and V, only VI was a potent blocker of male fertility with the exception of a slight block of the siring of viable foetuses by steroids IV and V. The major difference in site of action of steroid VI from the others was the depression of pituitary and serum levels of FSH along with a marked diminution of testicular content of both testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. 19-Norspiroxenone in the rat is a potent anti-oestrogen without inherent oestrogenicity and is anti-uterotrophic. Thus, VI may affect male fertility by virtue of its potent anti-oestrogenic action in the hypothalamus or testis.


Comparing MSM in the southeastern United States who participated in an HIV prevention chat room-based outreach intervention and those who did not: how different are the baseline HIV-risk profiles?
Chat room-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention interventions are being implemented to reduce the risk of HIV exposure, infection and reinfection among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, little is known about how participants in chat room-based prevention interventions differ from their online non-participating peers. This analysis compared the baseline risk profiles of participants in an HIV prevention intervention ('active recruitment') to their chat room peers who did not participate in the intervention ('passive recruitment'). Data were collected using an online brief risk assessment from MSM (N = 448) who were recruited within Internet chat rooms. Mean age was 30 years. Half self-identified as Black or African American, 29% as White and 64% as gay. Compared with participants, non-participants were more likely to report: spending higher mean number of hours in online chat rooms; using condoms inconsistently during anal intercourse with a man met online during the past 3 months; having had an sexually transmitted disease; being HIV seropositive; using methamphetamines during the past 30 days and using drugs to enhance sexual satisfaction during the past 30 days. Although risk among MSM who use chat rooms remains high, those at greater risk may be those who are less likely to engage in online HIV prevention interventions.


Effect of laser in situ keratomileusis on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements by scanning laser polarimetry.
To determine the effect of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on retinal nerve fiber layer measurements by scanning laser polarimetry in a large clinical trial. Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul, Korea. Scanning laser polarimetry measurements were performed in 59 eyes of 59 consecutive patients who had LASIK. The mean retardation values of the whole measurement ellipse and of the superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal sectors of the ellipse before and after LASIK were compared statistically. The mean spherical equivalent refractive error was -6.10 diopters (D) +/- 2.34 (SD) (range -1.19 to -15.50 D) preoperatively and -0.31 +/- 0.52 D (range +0.68 to -2.13 D) postoperatively. The mean ablation depth was 94.0 +/- 30.49 microm (range 28.0 to 161.1 microm). The mean postoperative retardation values of all the sectors and of the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal sectors showed reduced nerve fiber layer thickness (P =.000, P =.000, P =.011, P =.000, and P=.002, respectively). Laser in situ keratomileusis affected nerve fiber layer thickness measurements by scanning laser polarimetry. The change in nerve fiber layer thickness was probably due to modification of the corneal architecture. This effect of keratorefractive surgery should be considered when using scanning laser polarimetry as a diagnostic and follow-up tool for glaucoma.


Autoradiographic studies on the effect of ethanol on muscarinic receptors in rat brain.
The effect of ethanol vapour inhalation on the binding characteristics of muscarinic receptors in rat brain has been studied using quantitative autoradiography. After 14 days in ethanol vapour there was increased binding of [(3)H]QNB to the cortex of 4- and 6-week-old animals, but not 11-week-old animals, and to the hippocampus of the 6-week-old animals. Displacement studies indicated that the effect of ethanol was due to an increase in the density of low-affinity carbachol binding sites. There was no effect on the binding of [(3)H]QNB in the presence of pirenzipine. The data strongly suggest that the increase in binding after ethanol exposure is due to an increase in M(1) sites in the younger animals possibly linked to age-related plasticity of the nervous system.


Neuromuscular transmission in thyrotoxicosis.
The occurrence of thyrotoxicosis in myasthenia gravis is estimated as 5.3% (Osserman et al. 1967) but the incidence of myasthenia in the course of thyrotoxicosis is only 0.2% (Simpson 1968). The association between these two diseases is not a chance one and there are two possible basic mechanisms viz. the action of thyroid hormone on the neuromuscular junction or the existence of a cause common to both. The fatigability seen clinically in thyrotoxic myopathy could be partly attributed to myasthenia. With these possibilities in mind, a search for electromyographic stigmata of latent myasthenia was done on 48 consecutive cases of hyperthyroidism who also had chronic myopathy by performing repeated nerve stimulation. Eight cases had abnormal neuromuscular transmission as in myasthenia gravis and one of these cases later developed clinical myasthenia involving the ocular muscles. Three other cases showed abnormal facilitation as in the Eaton-Lambert syndrome.


Protective effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast on smoking-induced lung injury in Wistar rats.
Increased activation of alveolar macrophage, neutrophil and mast cell has been proven in cigarette smoking (CS)-related lung disorders (CSLD). An increased production of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTs), which are mediators secreted from the mentioned cells, in response to CS has been shown in humans. The protective effect of LT1 receptor-1 antagonist (LTR-1AT) on CSLD is, however, not known. In this study we aimed to determine whether there is any protective effect of a LTR-1AT, montelukast (MK), on CSLD in Wistar rats. Nine controls and twenty-three smoke-exposed rats were enrolled into this study. Controls were exposed to non-filtered air, and the smoke-exposed rats were exposed to CS for 6 h/day, 6 days/week for three weeks. The CS-exposed rats were also treated with 0.1 mg/kg/day of MK or saline. Morphometric criteria for lung injury were determined as the mean linear intercept of alveolar septa (Lm), the volume density of alveolar septa (Vvspt) and the density of the alveolar surface area per unit volume of lung parenchyma (Sva.pa). Lung mast cells (LMC), which are a major source of LTs, were also counted. Results showed that Lm of the control group was significantly lower and Vvspt, Sva.pa of the controls were significantly higher compared to those of the CS-exposed groups. Animals treated with MK had significant protection against CSLD. Lm was significantly higher and Vvspt, Sva.pa were lower in the saline group than in the MK-treated group. The number of LMC in the CS-exposed groups was also significantly higher than that in the control group. Based on these results, one can suggest that some part of the pathogenesis of CSLD may be related to an enhanced LTs synthesis and LTR-1AT. Therefore, montelukast may protect against active or passive smoking-induced lung injury and related disorders.


Analysis of drug-drug interactions among patients receiving antiretroviral regimens using data from a large open-source prescription database.
Results of a study of contraindicated concomitant medication use among recipients of preferred antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens are reported. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate concomitant medication use in a cohort of previously treatment-naive, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected U.S. patients prescribed preferred ART regimens during the period April 2014-March 2015. Data were obtained from a proprietary longitudinal prescription database; elements retrieved included age, sex, and prescription data. The outcome of interest was the frequency of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) associated with concomitant use of contraindicated medications. Data on 25,919 unique treatment-naive patients who used a preferred ART regimen were collected. Overall, there were 384 instances in which a contraindicated medication was dispensed for concurrent use with a recommended ART regimen. Rates of contraindicated concomitant medication use differed significantly by ART regimen; the highest rate (3.2%) was for darunavir plus ritonavir plus emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DRV plus RTV plus FTC/TDF), followed by elvitegravir-cobicistat-emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EVG/c/FTC/TDF)(2.8%). The highest frequencies of DDIs were associated with ART regimens that included a pharmacoenhancing agent: DRV plus RTV plus FTC/TDF (3.2%) and EVG/c/FTC/TDF (2.8%). In a large population of treatment-naive HIV-infected patients, ART regimens that contained a pharmacoenhancing agent were involved most frequently in contraindicated medication-related DDIs. All of the DDIs could have been avoided by using therapeutic alternatives within the same class not associated with a DDI.


Thromboprophylaxis post vaginal delivery: are we forgetting it? Audit on thromboprophylaxis prescription post vaginal births.
Pulmonary thromboembolism is the leading direct cause of maternal deaths in the UK. The majority of deaths occur in the puerperium. Caesarean section has been recognised as a risk factor but there is concern that more attention to thromboprophylaxis after vaginal births is needed. The hospital maternity unit in Dumfries has written guidelines on thromboprophylaxis after vaginal births. This audit assessed the compliance with these guidelines within this maternity unit. The case notes relating to spontaneous vaginal births over a 2-month period (n=148) and instrumental vaginal births over a 7-month period (n=29) were reviewed. Information concerning venous thromboembolism risk and any thromboprophylaxis given was extracted. The audit showed that 9% of spontaneous vaginal births and 62% of instrumental vaginal births required specific thromboprophylaxis. However, only 31% of the spontaneous vaginal births and 22% of the instrumental vaginal births in which thromboprophylaxis was indicated did indeed receive the required treatment. Failure to respond to venous thromboembolism risk factors was common. Measures to increase the awareness of maternity staff to these factors are suggested.


A comparative study of room temperature ionic liquids and their organic solvent mixtures near charged electrodes.
The structural properties of electrolytes consisting of solutions of ionic liquids in a polar solvent at charged electrode surfaces are investigated using classical atomistic simulations. The studied electrolytes consisted of tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (NEt4-BF4), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (c2mim-BF4) and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (c8mim-BF4) salts dissolved in acetonitrile solvent. We discuss the influence of electrolyte concentration, chemical structure of the ionic salt, temperature, conducting versus semiconducting nature of the electrode, electrode geometry and surface roughness on the electric double layer structure and capacitance and compare these properties with those obtained for pure room temperature ionic liquids. We show that electrolytes consisting of solutions of ions can behave quite differently from pure ionic liquid electrolytes.


Hydrogen peroxide diffusion with and without light activation.
The aim of this study was to assess the dental bleaching efficacy of 37.5% hydrogen peroxide (HP), with and without light activation, in HP-exposed and unexposed areas. 28 bovine teeth were selected and divided into two groups (n = 14). Crowns were detached and stained with tea. The gingival half was covered with a gingival barrier. In the incisal half, 37.5% HP (Pola Office+, SDI) was applied three times, with a 1-week interval between applications. In HP-A group, the bleaching agent was activated for 3 min with a LED lamp. No light activation was applied in HP-N group. Dental color variation was determined through a spectrophotometer in both halves. Statistical analysis between groups was performed with an ANOVA test, and intragroup differences were evaluated, with an ANOVA test for paired data, with a significance level of P < 0.05. An increase in lightness and a decrease in chroma were found in both groups and halves. No significant differences in ΔE between groups (P > 0.5) were detected in the incisal half. After treatment, a significantly higher ΔE was found in the gingival half for HP-A group (P < 0.05). For the same group, a significantly higher bleaching effect was found in the gingival half, compared with the incisal half (P < 0.05). LED activation did not have a significant effect in terms of bleaching in the incisal half, but increased clearance in the gingival half. HP light activation does not significantly increase the whitening effect, but it can improve the bleaching diffusion to areas where it has not been directly applied.


Friction, adhesion and durability and influence of humidity on adhesion and surface charging of skin and various skin creams using atomic force microscopy.
Skin cream is commonly used to improve skin health and create a smooth, soft and moist perception by altering the surface roughness, friction, adhesion, elasticity and surface charging of skin surface. In this study, we present the first systematic study on friction, adhesion, durability and influence of humidity on adhesion and surface charging of skin and various skin creams using atomic force microscopy. Skin is subjected to various daily activities with time, and the durability is closely tied to product compositions. Durability of various skin creams was studied by repeated cycling tests. In order to better understand the frictional behaviour, the dynamic viscosities of various skin creams were measured. Skin cream thinly coats the skin surface and can cause drastic changes in the mechanical properties. In addition to mechanical properties, adhesive force is one of the important factors in determining the tactile perception of skin cream and is directly affected by the film thickness. Because the environmental dependence of skin and skin cream is of importance, the influence of humidity on adhesive force, film thickness and Young's modulus mapping were measured using force distance technique. The health and feel of skin are significantly affected by its surface charging, the surface potential of skin and various cream-treated skins was measured using the Kelvin probe method.


Mass-analyzed threshold ionization of an excited state of lanthanum dioxide.
LaO(2) was produced in a pulsed laser-vaporization molecular beam source and studied by mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy and ab initio electronic structure calculations. The calculations included density functional theory, second-order perturbation theory, coupled cluster theory, and complete active space self-consistent field methods. The adiabatic ionization energy of the molecule and vibrational frequencies of the molecule and its cation were measured accurately for the first time from the MATI spectrum. Numerous ionization processes of lanthanum dioxide, peroxide, and superoxide were considered; the (3)B(2) ← (4)B(2) electronic transition of the dioxide was assigned upon comparison with the observed spectrum. The ionization energy and O-La-O bending frequency of the (4)B(2) neutral state are 4.9760 (6) eV and 92 cm(-1), respectively. The La-O stretching and O-La-O bending frequencies of the (3)B(2) cationic state are 656 and 122 cm(-1), respectively. The (4)B(2) state is formed by two electron transfer from lanthanum to oxygen atoms, and the (3)B(2) state is produced by the further removal of a lanthanum 6s-based electron.


Structural insight to mutated Y116S transthyretin by molecular dynamics simulation.
Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is strictly associated with point mutations of transthyretin (TTR) protein. The Tyr116-->Ser (Y116S) mutant TTR is an important amyloidogenic variant responsible for FAP. Structural dynamics of monomeric TR and its mutant (Y116S) may give some clue relating to amyloid formation. In this study, molecular dynamic simulation at 310 K has been performed on wild-type and mutant (Y116S) 'ITR monomer, which can provide the molecular insight of structural transition in the inner and outer strand of the protein. Results show that mutation in the H-strand (Tyr116-->Ser) leads to disruption of secondary structure and H-bonding pattern of some important parts of the inner DAGH-sheet of the protein. Especially, the residues T106, A108, L110 of G-strand, S117 and T119 of H-strand are affected, which are involved in the binding of thyroxin hormone. This unfolding of mutant structure during dynamics may cause instability in the protein and thus induce amyloidgenesis.


Efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone in patients with highly relapsing neuromyelitis optica.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone hydrochloride and determine how it exhibits a differential inhibitory effect on subsets of B cells in patients with highly relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Retrospective case series with prospective follow-up. Three referral medical centers in the Republic of Korea. Twenty patients with highly relapsing NMO or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder who had at least 2 relapses during the year preceding the start of mitoxantrone treatment, despite other immunotherapies. Infusions of mitoxantrone up to a maximum cumulative dose of 120 mg/m(2). Annualized relapse rate, disability according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, and fraction of CD27(+)CD19(+) memory B cells. During mitoxantrone treatment, the median annualized relapse rate was reduced by 75%, and 50% of patients became relapse free. Disability improved or stabilized in all patients. No patients had serious adverse effects during the mean follow-up period of 41 months after completing therapy. Flow cytometric analysis of cell surface markers revealed that mitoxantrone treatment preferentially affected CD27(+)CD19(+) memory B cells. Treatment with mitoxantrone in patients with highly relapsing NMO significantly reduces relapse rates, resulting in subsequent functional stabilization or improvement.


Usefulness of hand rehabilitation after carpal tunnel surgery.
The purpose of this randomized trial was to assess the clinical evolution after carpal tunnel release in subjects with long-term carpal tunnel syndrome. The evaluation criteria were symptom occurrence, motor performance, and delay in returning to work. A total of 100 subjects were assessed four times (prior to surgery, and 12 days, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery) using the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire, the nine-hole peg test (NHPT), and the Jebsen-Taylor test (JTT). Subjects were randomized to a rehabilitation program or to a progressive home exercise program. No difference in symptom occurrence between the two groups was detected after 1 and 3 months. One month after surgery, only patients in the first group showed motor dexterity improvement according to NHPT and JTT scores. At the 3-month follow-up, the two groups did not differ but the group undergoing rehabilitation showed a shorter return-to-work interval. A rehabilitation approach after hand surgery is clinically relevant to accelerate recovery but neither modifies functional recovery nor reduces symptom occurrence.


Specific binding of the calcium antagonist [3H]verapamil to membrane fractions from plants.
Specific binding of the Ca2+ channel blocker [3H] verapamil to a membrane fraction from plants has been characterized. Binding to zucchini membranes was saturable and reversible. The apparent equilibrium dissociation constant is KD = 102 nM and the maximum number of binding sites is Bmax = 60 pmol/mg of protein. The KD determined from the association and dissociation rate constants is 130 nM. [3H]Verapamil binding to zucchini membranes could not be inhibited by the Ca2+ antagonists nifedipine and diltiazem. However, [3H]verapamil could be displaced by diltiazem but not by nifedipine from corn membranes. Sucrose density fractionation of zucchini membrane preparations revealed that [3H]verapamil binding sites are located primarily at the plasma membrane.


Malignant external otitis: treatment with fluoroquinolones.
Malignant external otitis (MEO) is still a potentially lethal disease. Early treatment based on a correct diagnosis is the most important single factor in achieving a cure for the disease. The preferred treatment is long-term systemic antibiotics followed by surgical intervention. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be supplemented in refractory cases. A new fluoroquinolone, Ciprofloxacin, has been successfully used in four cases of MEO which did not respond to the accepted treatment. Ciprofloxacin is active against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and several clinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of urinary tract and soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis. This report is the first of which we are aware to document the use of Ciprofloxacin in the treatment of MEO.


Fetomaternal hemorrhage in women undergoing elective cesarean section.
To investigate the degree of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) caused by elective cesarean section. Descriptive study. University Hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark. Women scheduled for elective cesarean section, in the period September 2007 to January 2009, at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Two maternal blood samples were taken, the first before cesarean section and the second immediately after. Both samples were analyzed at the Blood Bank, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, for the presence of fetal red blood cells (fRBCs) using flow cytometry. FMH associated with cesarean section was defined as the difference between the volumes of fRBCs in the two samples. The frequency and volume of FMH caused by elective cesarean section. 207 women were included in the study. FMH was detected in 38 cases (18.4%). Of these, 22 women (10.6%) had FMH of less than 1 ml fRBCs, 13 women (6.3%) had FMH between 1 and 4 ml fRBCs, and three women (1.4%) had FMH above 4 ml fRBCs. We found no evidence for recommending general screening for FMH in connection with elective cesarean section, provided guidelines such as the current Danish guidelines for Rhesus prophylaxis are followed.


Subcellular targeting of the coat protein of African cassava mosaic geminivirus.
The coat protein (CP) of geminiviruses is involved in a number of processes during the life cycle of the virus. The predominant function is encapsidation of single-stranded DNA and formation of the virus particle to protect viral DNA during transmission. The CP of monopartite geminiviruses is absolutely essential for virus movement, whereas CP mutants of bipartite geminiviruses are able to infect some host plants systemically, indicating an involvement of the CP in host specificity. During the life cycle of geminiviruses, the viral DNA enters the nucleus of the infected cell where virus replication, transcription, and encapsidation occur. For systemic infection, the virus moves cell-to-cell from the site of inoculation to vascular tissue and via phloem to other plant tissues. To move, viral DNA has to shuttle in and out of the nucleus and through plasmodesmata. Parts of the bipartite African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) CP were fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) or beta-glucuronidase (GUS). CP domains were identified that mediate both nuclear import and export, as well as targeting of CP-fusion proteins to the cell periphery. These results indicate that domains of the CP facilitate several aspects of geminivirus movement, including nuclear import and export and transport of the viral genome to the cell periphery.


Stable carbon isotope ratio in atmospheric CO2 collected by new diffusive devices.
In this paper, stable carbon isotope ratios (δ (13)C) were determined in the atmosphere by using a Ca-based sorbent, CaO/Ca12Al14O33 75:25 w/w, for passively collecting atmospheric CO2, in both field and laboratory experiments. Field measurements were conducted in three environments characterized by different carbon dioxide sources. In particular, the environments under consideration were a rather heavily trafficked road, where the source of CO2 is mostly vehicle exhaust, a rural unpolluted area, and a private kitchen where the major source of CO2 was gas combustion. Samplers were exposed to the free atmosphere for 3 days in order to allow collection of sufficient CO2 for δ(13)C analysis, then the collected CO2 was desorbed from the adsorbent with acid treatment, and directly analyzed by nondispersive infrared (NDIR) instrument. δ (13)C results confirmed that the samplers collected representative CO2 samples and no fractionation occurred during passive trapping, as also confirmed by an appositely designed experiment conducted in the laboratory. Passive sampling using CaO/Ca12Al14O33 75:25 w/w proved to be an easy and reliable method to collect atmospheric carbon dioxide for δ (13)C analysis in both indoor and outdoor places.


Anesthesia for repair of ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction.
A surgical patient with ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction is presented. The primary concern of general anesthesia was in the maintenance of systemic arterial pressure and reduction of afterload. General anesthesia was induced with a combination of fentanyl, ketamine, and propofol, which successfully suppressed fluctuations of hemodynamic variables associated with induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation. Intravenous milrinone was used for inotropic support and reduction of systemic vascular resistance. The ventricular septal rupture was successfully repaired.


Detection of avian influenza A/H7N9/2013 virus by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
The first case of avian influenza A/H7N9 infection was reported in Shanghai in mid-February, 2013; by May 1, 2013, it had infected 127 people and caused 26 deaths in 10 provinces in China. Therefore, it is important to obtain reliable epidemiological data on the spread of this new infectious agent, a need that may be best met by the development of novel molecular methods. Here, a new method was described for the detection of avian influenza A/H7N9 using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Using serial dilutions of avian influenza A H7N9 cultures, the detection limit of the assay was determined to be approximately 3.2×10(-4) HAUs (hemagglutination units) for the H7 gene and 6.4×10(-4) HAUs for N9 gene. In tests of serial dilutions of in vitro-transcribed avian influenza A H7 and N9 gene RNA, positive results were obtained for target RNA containing at least three copies of the H7 gene and six copies of the N9 gene. Thirteen throat swabs from H7N9 patients were tested; all tested positive in the assay. Specificity was evaluated by testing 18 other subtypes of influenza viruses; all tested negative. A total of 180 throat swabs from patients infected with influenza virus, including 60 from patients infected with seasonal influenza A/H1N1 virus, 60 from patients infected with pandemic influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus, 30 from patients infected with seasonal influenza A/H3N2 virus and 30 from patients infected with influenza B virus, were also tested; all tested negative.


[Acute confusional state in the elderly].
Delirium is common and associated with important adverse consequences in elderly persons. It is an acute syndrome characterized by the rapid onset of cognitive and attention impairment, with a fluctuating course. In most cases, the etiology is multifactorial, combining predisposing and precipitating factors. Delirium management combines specific treatments of precipitating factors with the symptomatic treatment of delirium manifestations, based on nonpharmacologic as well as pharmacologic approaches.


Glutamate uptake determines pathway specificity of long-term potentiation in the neural circuitry of fear conditioning.
Long-term synaptic modifications in afferent inputs to the amygdala underlie fear conditioning in animals. Fear conditioning to a single sensory modality does not generalize to other cues, implying that synaptic modifications in fear conditioning pathways are input specific. The mechanisms of pathway specificity of long-term potentiation (LTP) are poorly understood. Here we show that inhibition of glutamate transporters leads to the loss of input specificity of LTP in the amygdala slices, as assessed by monitoring synaptic responses at two independent inputs converging on a single postsynaptic neuron. Diffusion of glutamate ("spillover") from stimulated synapses, paired with postsynaptic depolarization, is sufficient to induce LTP in the heterosynaptic pathway, whereas an enzymatic glutamate scavenger abolishes this effect. These results establish active glutamate uptake as a crucial mechanism maintaining the pathway specificity of LTP in the neural circuitry of fear conditioning.


Deep pelvic endometriosis: MR imaging for diagnosis and prediction of extension of disease.
To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the preoperative diagnosis of deep pelvic endometriosis and extension of the disease. One hundred ninety-five patients (mean age, 34.2 years; range, 20-71 years) who were suspected of having pelvic endometriosis were recruited at two institutions. Two experienced radiologists evaluated the MR images independently. Deep pelvic endometriosis was defined as implants or tissue masses that appeared as hypointense areas and/or hyperintense foci on T1- or T2-weighted MR images in the following locations: torus uterinus, uterosacral ligaments (USLs), vagina, rectovaginal septum, rectosigmoid, and bladder. MR imaging results were compared with surgical and pathologic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy of MR imaging for prediction of deep pelvic endometriosis were assessed. Pelvic endometriosis was confirmed at pathologic examination in 163 (83.6%) of 195 patients. Endometriomas, peritoneal lesions, and deep pelvic endometriosis were diagnosed on the basis of surgical findings, alone or combined with pathologic findings, in 111 (68.1%), 83 (50.9%), and 103 (63.2%) of 163 patients, respectively. Torus uterinus and USL were the most frequent sites of deep pelvic endometriosis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of MR imaging for deep pelvic endometriosis were 90.3% (93 of 103), 91% (84 of 92), 92.1% (93 of 101), 89% (84 of 94), and 90.8% (177 of 195), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively, of MR imaging for the diagnosis of endometriosis in specific sites were as follows: USL, 76% (57 of 75), 83.3% (100 of 120), and 80.5% (157 of 195); vagina, 76% (16 of 21), 95.4% (166 of 174), and 93.3% (182 of 195); rectovaginal septum, 80% (eight of 10), 97.8% (181 of 185), and 96.9% (189 of 195); rectosigmoid, 88% (53 of 60), 97.8% (132 of 135), and 94.9% (185 of 195); and bladder, 88% (14 of 16), 98.9% (177 of 179), and 97.9% (191 of 195). MR imaging demonstrates high accuracy in prediction of deep pelvic endometriosis in specific locations.


[Cerebral venous angioma. Angiographic and x-ray computed tomographic aspects. Apropos of a case].
Cerebral venous angioma is a vascular malformation, rarely recognized before use of C.T. It remains an angiographic diagnosis and prescribes, except when hemorrhage, quite uncommon, the surgical abstention.


A novel T cell cytokine stimulates interleukin-6 in human osteoblastic cells.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a heavy lymphocytic infiltration into the synovial cavity, resulting in the secretion of a variety of cytokines which ultimately leads to destruction of joint tissue. Among the infiltrating cells are activated T cells which produce specific cytokines capable of osteoclast progenitor cell expansion, fusion, and activation. Cultures of activated human T cells and human osteoblasts (hOBs) were used to study the possibility that lymphokines may act on osteoblasts to produce the osteoclastogenic factor interleukin-6 (IL-6). Purified T cells were activated with a combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies, cocultured with hOBs in direct physical contact or separated by a transwell system, and conditioned media (CM) were assayed for IL-6 production. After a 72 h incubation period, activated T cell-hOB interaction resulted in a 100-fold increase of IL-6 production over basal levels. The immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CsA) inhibited T cell tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-6 production but did not inhibit the T cell induction of IL-6 from hOB. Assay of activated T-cell CM on hOB revealed that a soluble factor, not cell-cell contact, was the major inducer of IL-6. The induction of IL-6 mRNA by both activated T cell CM and CsA-treated activated T cell CM was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Neutralizing antibodies to IL-13 and IL-17 did not affect IL-6 production. These findings suggest that activated T cells produce a novel, potent, IL-6 inducing factor that may be responsible for the bone loss observed in RA patients.


Separate quality-control measures are necessary for estimation of RNA and methylated DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by quantitative PCR.
Estimations of RNA abundance and DNA methylation by quantitative PCR (qPCR) from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens are not yet routine in clinical laboratory practice. Excluding specimens with poorly preserved nucleic acids is an important quality-control step for avoiding unreliable results. Because the assays for RNA abundance and DNA methylation have different critical limiting factors, we examined the extent of overlap of excluded specimens for RNA abundance versus methylated DNA. The transcript abundance of three reference genes and of the test gene, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), was estimated by SYBR Green qPCR in 250 breast cancer specimens. The estrogen receptor (ER) protein was identified by IHC, and concordance between ESR1 and ER was estimated by Cohen's κ. TaqMan PCR for the ALU-C4 sequence was performed with bisulfite-treated DNA to determine usability in the MethyLight assay. Excluding specimens with mean reference gene CT values exceeding the group mean by >1 SD led to significant improvement of the concordance of ESR1 and ER. Specimens with usable DNA after bisulfite treatment likewise had ALU-C4 CT values of less than the group mean + 1 SD. Samples with low-quality RNA and DNA were partly nonoverlapping. RNA and DNA extracted from the same FFPE block need separate exclusion criteria for qPCR assays of transcript abundance and methylated DNA.


[Evaluation of intrauterine insemination after two different methods of sperm preparation in cases of oligospermia in stimulated cycles].
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a widely accepted method of infertility treatment in case of oligospermia. Sperm requires special preparation to avoid applying of active ingredients and abnormal cells to uterine cavity. In this paper authors compared the efficiency of IUI after swim-up sperm preparation on Menezo B2 medium, with IxaPrep technic sperm preparation. In our material there were no significant differences in received results in relation to sperm preparation method.


[Use of native microscopic examination of the vaginal flora in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis].
Microscopic diagnosis of vaginal discharge established so far by means of microbial vaginal pictures (MVP) has proved to be insufficient. Phase contrast microscopy has an irreplaceable value in diagnosing vaginal infections transmitted by sexual intercourse. It yields quick and exact diagnosis of the disease, thus providing the possibility to administer treatment addressly and immediately. In equivocal findings and relapses vaginal cultivation is indispensable. In a series of 600 examined women vaginal trichomoniasis was diagnosed in 28.5% of cases. Simultaneous occurrence of other sexually transmitted diseases was recorded in 42% of 171 women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. In these cases, the course of the disease was markedly altered by the associated infection. The result of MVP was incomplete or false in 26% of the examined women, trichomoniasis failed to be diagnosed in 80 cases.


Small miracles: point-of-care testing.
Point-of-care testing (POCT), also called "near patient," "bedside," or "extra-laboratory testing," means any laboratory test performed in patient-care areas or patients' homes, usually by clinical staff who are not trained in clinical laboratory sciences, or by patients themselves. POCT devices may be as different as a hand-held, single-use device or a bench-top analyzer. The growth of POCT has had considerable impact on health care, but cannot replace clinical judgment. The Food and Drug Administration reviews and approves most POCT devices, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services makes coverage determinations on their usage. POCT is best used when a clinician is prepared to act on test results immediately.


Anthropometric measures, body composition, body fat distribution, and knee osteoarthritis in women.
Increased BMI is a well-recognized risk factor for radiographic knee osteoarthritis (rKOA); however, the contributions of the components of body composition, body fat distribution, and height to this association are not clear. We examined 779 women > or = 45 years of age from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Body composition was assessed using DXA, and rKOA was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence grade > or = 2. Logistic regression models examined the association between rKOA and the fourth compared with the first quartiles of anthropometric, body composition, and fat distribution measures adjusting for age, ethnicity, and prior knee injury. The adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of BMI and weight were 5.27 (3.05, 9.13) and 5.28 (3.05, 9.16), respectively. In separate models, higher odds of rKOA were also found for fat mass [4.54 (2.68, 7.69)], percent fat mass [3.84 (2.26, 6.54)], lean mass [3.94 (2.22, 6.97)], and waist circumference [4.15 (2.45, 7.02)]. Waist-to-hip ratio was not associated with rKOA [1.45 (0.86, 2.43)], and percent lean mass was associated with lower odds [0.20 (0.11, 0.35)]. Taller women had higher odds of rKOA after adjustment for BMI [1.77 (1.05, 3.00)]. This study confirms that BMI and weight are strongly associated with rKOA in women and suggests that precise measurements of body composition and measures of fat distribution may offer no advantage over the more simple measures of BMI or weight in assessment of risk of rKOA.


Intravenous gamma globulin administration to common variable immunodeficient women during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature.
Women with common variable immunodeficiency have decreased serum concentrations of all immunoglobulin isotypes. Their offspring are at a high risk for the development of neonatal infection caused by the minimal quantity of maternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) transplacentally transported during pregnancy. These patients are usually given frequent doses of exogenous IgG during the third trimester to increase the amount of IgG transported to the fetus. In this article, we describe the results of initiating a therapeutic regimen of high doses (400 mg/kg) of intravenous gamma globulin every 3 weeks starting in the first trimester of pregnancy for a woman with common variable immunodeficiency. In contrast to most reports, this regimen enables the patient to attain high serum IgG levels early in pregnancy, thereby decreasing the possibility of perinatal sepsis. In addition, the need for frequent administration of intravenous gamma globulin during the third trimester is bypassed with the attainment of protective IgG concentrations in the newborn infant.


Ligand- and structure-based pharmacophore modeling, docking study reveals 2-[[4-[6-(isopropylamino) pyrimidin-4-yl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b] pyridin-6-yl] amino] ethanol as a potential anticancer agent of CDK9/cyclin T1 kinase.
CDK9/Cyclin T1 kinase is a protein kinase, indirectly involved in the cell cycle progression in the form of transcription elongation, CDK9 specific inhibitors may be a potential alternative treatment not only for cancer but also other life-threatening diseases. Ligand-based and structure-based pharmacophore model was developed for discovering of the new anticancer agents. These models used as three-dimensional query for virtual screening against the chemical structure databases such as Maybridge HitFinder, MDPI, and ZINC. Subsequently, the potential hit compound was filtered by the ADMET and docking score. After applying all filtration, 11 hits were found as potential hits based on good docking scores as well as good ADMET properties. Compound 2-[4-[6-(isopropylamino) pyrimidin-4-yl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b] pyridin-6-yl] amino] ethanol was found to be most potent among all the potential hits. These hits could be used as an anticancer agent in near future. So many advances in the treatment of death leading diseases have been made over the past few decades, However, looking for the development in this research ligand-based and structure-based pharmacophore modeling was done, hit1 2-[4-[6-(isopropylamino) pyrimidin-4-yl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3 b] pyridin-6 yl] amino] ethanol was found to be more potent and selective. It is understandable that these hits could be as selective and potent anticancer agents of cyclin-dependent kinase complex.


Fibromatosis of the breast in a 52-year-old man (2010: 10b).
Fibromatosis is a proliferation of fibroblastic and miofibroblastic cells that primarily originate from the fascia or aponeuroses of the abdominal wall. This entity has no potential metastatic risk, but can reappear locally. In rare cases it may develop in the breast, and it is extremely uncommon in the male breast. Fibromatosis of the breast presents clinical, mammographic and ultrasound signs of malignancy, and it can only be confirmed through histological analysis. We present the case of a 52-year-old man with a palpable and painless nodule in the right breast of 2 months' evolution with radiological signs of malignancy. The histological analysis determined that this was due to fibromatosis.


Effects of dopamine on ion transport across the rat distal colon.
Dopamine (5.10(-6)-5.10(-4) M) induced a concentration-dependent decrease in short-circuit current (I(sc)) across the rat distal colon. This response was preceded by a transient and inconsistent increase in I(sc). The alpha-adrenoceptor blocker phentolamine and the inhibitors of dopamine-2-like (D(2)-like) receptors L-741,626 and L-745,870 inhibited the dopamine response, suggesting a contribution of adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors. The decrease in I(sc) evoked by dopamine was inhibited by bumetanide, an inhibitor of the basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2 Cl(-) cotransporter responsible for the uptake of K(+), and by quinine, a blocker of apical K(+) channels, indicating that stimulation of K(+) secretion contributes to the measured change in I(sc). In patch-clamp experiments dopamine hyperpolarized the membrane and increased cellular K(+) current. This response was not concomitant with a change in the intracellular [Ca(2+)] as demonstrated in parallel fura-2 experiments. These results demonstrate that dopamine, like other catecholamines, stimulates colonic K(+) secretion.


An asthma sports camp series to identify children with possible asthma and cardiovascular risk factors.
The prevalence of asthma and obesity in children has increased over the past several years, with obesity being associated with higher rates of asthma. In response to known disparities in asthma prevalence and morbidity, along with barriers to diagnosis, assessment and education, a comprehensive asthma sports camp series was developed and implemented. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing a sports camp model to identify children with undiagnosed and uncontrolled asthma, and to provide recommendations for follow-up care. The secondary objectives were to identify the presence of and associations between related co-morbidities and risk factors for asthma morbidity such as obesity, hypertension and exposure to tobacco smoke; and to assess asthma medication use. Six daylong camps at an inner-city university were offered to children 5-17 years of age over a period of two years. Asthma, body mass index, blood pressure (BP) and carbon monoxide screenings were conducted at each camp. In this sample, 43.7% of children had previously diagnosed asthma, and 12.6% were classified as having potential, undiagnosed asthma. Of the children with previously diagnosed asthma, 76% were considered uncontrolled. Thirty-eight percent were determined to be overweight or obese and 17% had elevated BP. An interdisciplinary sports camp model can be used to identify children with undiagnosed and uncontrolled asthma and cardiovascular risk factors; and to provide recommendations for follow-up care.


[Effects of therapeutic work with the families of psychotic patients treated in a day clinic].
A clinical analysis of results of systematic and individualized therapeutic work with families of 217 psychotic patients comprehensively treated in a day clinic is presented. Cooperation with family was possible in the case of 150 (69%) of the patients. Seventy percent of them positively reacted to the invitation of cooperation. Members of 105 families were participating in psychoeducational meetings. In the case of 20 families other forms of therapy were also proposed (individual, marital, dyadic "parent-patient"). In the case of 77 families the cooperation attained degree of regularity which allowed to assess the occurring changes. Finally, in 54 of the families some benefits were noticed concerning both the families' and patients' functioning. In 4 families benefits concerned the families', but not the patients' functioning. In 16 families only less significant changes was observed, and in 4--none at all.


Otoacoustic emissions in patients with hypotension.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between hypotension and slowly developing hearing impairment, using otoacoustic emissions. A group of 42 patients was examined, with diastolic blood pressure < or = 60 mmHg and systolic blood pressure < or = 105 mmHg. The subjects underwent biochemical, cardiological, ENT and audiological examinations. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were recorded in the format of DP-gram. The results were compared to the data of 30 normal persons of similar age and sex, examined at the same laboratory. Audiometric results showed that 18 patients had mild or moderate symmetrical hearing loss in one or more frequencies, mainly in the lower frequency range. DPOAE of the patients had reduced amplitude as compared to controls or were even absent, in one or more frequencies. It may be concluded that a hypotensive condition could be a possible factor in the origin of cochlear damage and DPOAE may be useful in monitoring hypotensive patients.


Self-assembled composite matrix in a hierarchical 3-D scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
It is of high clinical relevance in bone tissue engineering that scaffolds promote a high seeding efficiency of cells capable of osteogenic differentiation, such as human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We evaluated the effects of a novel polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold on hMSC seeding efficiency, proliferation, distribution and differentiation. Porous PCL meshes prepared by fused deposition modeling (FDM) were embedded in matrix of hyaluronic acid, methylated collagen and terpolymer via polyelectrolyte complex coacervation. Scaffolds were cultured statically and dynamically in osteogenic stimulation medium for up to 28 days. Compared to naked PCL scaffolds, embedded scaffolds provided a higher cell seeding efficiency (t-test, P<0.05), a more homogeneous cell distribution and more osteogenically differentiated cells, verified by a more pronounced gene expression of the bone markers alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein I and bone sialoprotein II. Dynamic culture resulted in higher amounts of DNA (day 14 and day 21) and calcium (day 21 and day 28), compared to static culture. Dynamic culture and the embedding synergistically enhanced the calcium deposition of hMSC on day 21 and day 28. This in vitro study provides evidence that hybrid scaffolds made from natural and synthetic polymers improve cellular seeding efficiency, proliferation, distribution and osteogenic differentiation.


Discrimination of dynamically and post-dynamically recrystallized grains based on EBSD data: application to Inconel 718.
The importance of angular resolution in EBSD analyses is discussed based on an Inconel 718 sample containing several populations of recrystallized grains, with subtle differences in dislocation contents. Classical EBSD analyses (with angular resolution in the range of 0.5-1°) do not allow for distinguishing recrystallized grains grown dynamically or post-dynamically. The angular resolution of EBSD orientation and misorientation data can be significantly improved (down to about 0.1-0.2°) either using more sophisticated Kikuchi pattern indexing methods and/or using the recently proposed LLASS denoising filter (Local Linear Automatic Smoothing Splines). Then the coexistence of both dynamically and post-dynamically recrystallized grains in the sample can be confirmed and quantified. ECCI images unambiguously confirm the conclusions drawn from the analysis of improved angular resolution EBSD data, and furthermore reveal the presence of thermal stress induced dislocations with typical patterns in water quenched Inconel 718 recrystallized grains. LAY DESCRIPTION: EBSD is widely used to study recrystallization phenomena. Conventional EBSD is nevertheless not able to distinguish dynamic recrystallized grains from post-dynamic recrystallized grains which differ by subtitle differences in dislocation contents. In this paper, we show that improving the orientation precision of EBSD data by means of different methods allows distinguishing these two recrystallized grains populations. Analyses and discussion are based on an Inconel 718, a famous Nickel-based superalloy in aeronautic.


[Human body structure in Su Wen].
The ancient medical book Su Wen states that the human is a dual composition of physical and spiritual bodies. Thus, if only physical perspectives were applied to interpret its medical terms, confusion would result because of the misunderstanding of spiritual terms. The descriptions in Su Wen didn't show a complete anatomy system or at least at organ levels. The fragments of its context revealed proofs of gross anatomical studies with measurement in ancient China. Su Wen was not a special work for the circulatory route of the channels, so the anatomy terms used was simple. The anatomy position of the body couldn't be judged. The elementary superficial anatomy system formed, which can be traced from the superficial anatomy locations expounded in the book.


Advances in X-linked mental retardation.
Mutations in genes on the X chromosome rival chromosome aberrations as a cause of mental retardation. Progress in the clinical and molecular delineation of X-linked mental retardation has outpaced progress in understanding autosomal mental retardation. This is a result in large part of the identification of large families in which mental retardation has segregated in an X-linked pattern and the greater ease with which molecular technologies can be applied to hemizygosity in males. About one-third of the estimated 165 genes associated with syndromal mutations of genes on the X chromosome and one-fourth of the estimated 100 genes associated with nonsyndromal mutations of genes on the X chromosome have been identified. In a number of instances, the same gene is responsible for syndromal and nonsyndromal mutations of genes on the X chromosome. The molecular delineation of mutations of genes on the X chromosome has allowed certain conditions to be lumped together on the basis of allelism and has caused others that appear clinical similar to remain separate. The clinical and molecular advances have allowed X-linked mental retardation to be more clearly delineated, have provided the means of confirmatory laboratory testing, and have ushered in an era of carrier testing, prenatal diagnosis, and prevention strategies.


Ipsilateral testicular necrosis and atrophy after 1,080-degree torsion of the spermatic cord in rats.
To assess the incidence of testicular necrosis/atrophy immediately after 1 to 4 hours of 1,080-degree torsion of the spermatic cord, and 60 days after detorsion of the spermatic cord. 42 rats were divided in 7 groups. Except for the control group, surgical torsion of the right spermatic cord was performed in all groups (T0). After 1, 2, or 4 hours of torsion, each group underwent either ipsilateral orchiectomy (groups OT1, OT2, and OT4), or detorsion of the spermatic cord and observation for 60 days (groups DT1, DT2, and DT4), before they were evaluated for the presence of testicular necrosis/atrophy. Only one rat (5.5%) in groups OT1, OT2, and OT4 had testicular necrosis, in comparison with six rats (33.3%) in groups DT1, DT2, and DT4 (p=0.04). The incidence of testicular necrosis/atrophy was not different between subgroups T1, T2, and T4, and the control group (p>0.05). There was, however, a tendency toward greater incidence of necrosis/atrophy in the rats in group DT4. The incidence of testicular necrosis/atrophy immediately after 1 to 4 hours of 1,080-degree torsion of the spermatic cord is 5.5%, in comparison with 33.3% sixty days after detorsion of the spermatic cord.


Micro-spectroscopy of HKUST-1 metal-organic framework crystals loaded with tetracyanoquinodimethane: effects of water on host-guest chemistry and electrical conductivity.
Composite materials, consisting of a metal-organic framework (MOF) and a guest molecule, further denoted as guest@MOF composites, have gained strong interest due to the guest-induced tunability of the host properties, for example in sensing or electroconductivity applications. However, decoding the complexity of these guest@MOF composites and extracting structure-performance relationships are far from trivial and require the use of a gamut of characterization tools. In this work, we use various micro-spectroscopic tools both under static (ex situ) and dynamic (in situ) conditions to map the properties and diffusion behavior of TCNQ (7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) as a guest molecule in single HKUST-1 crystals as the host. Raman micro-spectroscopy allowed us to map the spatial distribution of TCNQ within HKUST-1 single crystals, thereby revealing a heterogeneous distribution of TCNQ after initial TCNQ-infiltration, concentrated at the crystal edges, and a homogeneous redistribution upon water vapor treatment. These insights are correlated to I-V scans at different temperatures and to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which allowed us to verify the different contributions to conductivity. These data showed changes in electrical conductivity after exposing the sample to moisture and air. In situ FT-IR micro-spectroscopy during treatment with moisturized nitrogen gas suggests lower transient diffusion rates for water inside TCNQ@HKUST-1 relative to pristine HKUST-1, likely due to steric hindrance of the pore-filling TCNQ molecules in the HKUST-1 framework. The application of micro-spectroscopic techniques is crucial to uncovering MOF intracrystal heterogeneities and yielding rationally-derived instructions for the improved design of guest@MOF systems.


Incidence and clinical relevance of recurrent hepatitis C infection after orthotopic liver transplantation.
From September 1988 to November 1992 318 liver transplants were performed at our hospital. Of these patients 68 had end-stage cirrhosis due to non-A, non-B, hepatitis, 44 of whom (64.7%) had hepatitis C virus RNA in the serum. Of this subgroup 35 patients (79.5%) were also anti-HCV positive. Postoperatively most recipients remained anti-HCV positive and after 1 year more than 90% had HCV RNA in the serum. About 40% developed a mild, chronic hepatitis and 50% were carriers of HCV without histopathological signs. Two patients suffered from a temporary severe acute hepatitis and one patient had a fulminant liver failure due to reinfection. In general, in liver recipients transplanted for end-stage HCV hepatitis there was a high incidence of reinfection with HCV. The clinical course, however, was less severe than in hepatitis B recurrence.


Factors affecting the occurrence of bacteremia associated with tooth extraction.
This study examined the factors that affect the occurrence of bacteremia associated with tooth extraction and the kinds of bacteria causing this bacteremia. Bacteremia was found in 132 (72.1%) of 183 patients who had one or more teeth extracted for various reasons. Bacteremia occurred more frequently when teeth were extracted because of inflammatory dental diseases. The occurrence of bacteremia also increased with the number of teeth extracted and the age of the patients. When the volume of blood lost during surgery was > 50 ml and the time required for the operation exceeded 100 min, the occurrence of bacteremia was also higher. Anaerobes were isolated from 104 (78.8%) of the 132 cases of bacteremia. Of the 187 isolates obtained, three (1.6%) were aerobes, 51 (27.3%) were facultative anaerobes (including microaerophils), and 133 (71.1%) were anaerobes. Among facultative anaerobes and microaerophils, the most frequently isolated bacterial genera were Lactobacillus (n = 15), Streptococcus (n = 13), and Staphylococcus (n = 12); and among anaerobes, Eubacterium (n = 40), Peptostreptococcus (n = 40), and Propionibacterium (n = 20).


Strategies to address financial abuse.
Financial abuse is a growing problem for older adults. This article outlines four major strategies for addressing elder financial abuse: (a) education and outreach, (b) general detection and universal screening, (c) legal interventions, and (d) multidisciplinary teams. Future efforts should be devoted to understanding the efficiency and effectiveness of these various strategies in order to keep older adults from becoming victims of financial abuse and to intervene as soon as possible once financial abuse has been identified.


[Epidemiologic aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis with positive bacilloscopy in the decade of 1995-2004].
The purpose of this study is to make an epidemiological description of pulmonary tuberculosis with sputum smear positive in Mali. This is a retrospective study conducted from January 1st, 1995 to December 31st, 2004 by the National Program for fighting against tuberculosis (located at the National Department of health), and where data were centralized. From this ten years period, 33,000 cases of tuberculosis (all forms of TB) have been notified in Mali, which represented an annual rate of 2750. Of those, 22,275 cases (67.5%) were sputum smear positive (with Ziehl Nielsen), this represented 1856 as annual rate. The prevalence of pulmonary TB with sputum smear positive is 185/100,000. During the study period a total of 13,638 (61.22%) cases of 22,275 cases of pulmonary TB with sputum smear positive have been given ant tuberculosis drugs; From these patients under therapy 2371 cases (17.38% ) disappear before the end of treatment.; 5851 cases (42.90%) have been considered as cured; 161 (1.18%) cases of treatment failure and 523 (3.93%) cases of death. The sex-ratio was 3.57 with young adults representing the majority of cases. Pulmonary TB with sputum smear positive treatment remains a challenge for National Programs for fighting against TB as well as its prevention.


Preoperative morphometric differences in the distal femur are based on skeletal size in Japanese patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.
The objectives of this study were to measure the morphometric parameters of preoperative distal femurs to determine the differences by diagnosis and gender after accounting for skeletal size. One-hundred and seventy-nine Japanese patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (25 males and 154 females) were assessed. The anteroposterior length (AP), mediolateral width (ML), aspect ratio (AR), surgical epicondylar axis (SEA) to posterior condylar axis (PCA) angle, and Whiteside to SEA angle were measured on preoperative computed tomography scans. The AP/ML, AR/ML, SEA/PCA, and Whiteside/PCA relationships were evaluated and compared by patient diagnosis and gender. The results were also compared with the sizes of 10 currently available TKA implants in Japan. The mean AP, ML, AR, SEA/PCA angle, and Whiteside/PCA angle were 58.8 mm, 64.7 mm, 0.91, external rotation (ER) 3.5°, and ER 1.6°, respectively. AP and AR each were significantly correlated with ML (p < 0.001). AP, ML, and AR were not significantly different between patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. AP/ML and AR/ML were significantly correlated within each diagnosis (p < 0.001), but the analysis of covariance showed no significant differences between the diagnoses. AP and ML were significantly longer (p < 0.001) in males (63.6, 72.7 mm) than in females (58.1, 63.4 mm), while AR was smaller in males (0.88 vs. 0.92), with significant correlations for AP/ML (male: p < 0.010, female: p < 0.001) and AR/ML (male: p = 0.002, female: p < 0.001) in each gender. However, the analysis of covariance showed no significant differences between gender in the AP/ML and AR/MR correlations. The AP/ML ratio of our data was similar to the size variations of the 10 TKA implants, but the AR/ML ratio was quite different from almost all the implants. No differences in preoperative femur morphometry were found between patients with different diagnoses, but the gender difference in AR was related to the difference in skeletal size between males and females. Case series with no comparison groups, Level IV.


Reversing bacteria-induced vitamin D receptor dysfunction is key to autoimmune disease.
Vitamin D research is discussed in light of the hypothesis that the lower average levels of vitamin D frequently observed in autoimmune disease are not a sign of deficiency. Instead, it is proposed that the lower levels result from chronic infection with intracellular bacteria that dysregulate vitamin D metabolism by causing vitamin D receptor (VDR) dysfunction within phagocytes. The VDR dysfunction causes a decline in innate immune function that causes susceptibility to additional infections that contribute to disease progression. Evidence has been accumulating that indicates that a number of autoimmune diseases can be reversed by gradually restoring VDR function with the VDR agonist olmesartan and subinhibitory dosages of certain bacteriostatic antibiotics. Diseases showing favorable responses to treatment so far include systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, Sjogren's syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, type I and II diabetes mellitus, and uveitis. Disease reversal using this approach requires limitation of vitamin D in order to avoid contributing to dysfunction of nuclear receptors and subsequent negative consequences for immune and endocrine function. Immunopathological reactions accompanying bacterial cell death require a gradual elimination of pathogens over several years. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed, along with the compatibility of this model with current research.


Secondary structural wobble: the limits of protein prediction accuracy.
At present, accuracies of secondary structural prediction scarcely go beyond 70-75%. Secondary structural comparison is carried out among sequence-identified proteins. The results show natural wobble between different secondary structural types is possible in homologous families, and the best prediction accuracy will rarely be 100%. Besides shortcoming of the prediction approaches, secondary structural wobble is found to be responsible for nearly all secondary structural prediction limits. Only average 73.2% of amino acid residue is conserved in secondary structural types. The wobble allows alpha-class/coil and beta-class/coil transitions but not direct alpha-class/beta-class transition. Propensity values representing the statistical occurrence of 20 amino acid residues in secondary structural wobbles are given.


The effect of estrogen compared to estrogen plus progesterone on the exercise electrocardiogram.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of estrogen compared to estrogen plus progesterone on the stress electrocardiogram (ECG) in relationship to stress-gated myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in postmenopausal women. It is generally recognized that estrogen may cause false positive ST depressions on the stress ECG. The effects of estrogen plus progesterone are not known. This study was performed to define the effects of these agents on the stress ECG correlated with results from MPI. We evaluated 140 postmenopausal women-31 not taking any hormone replacement therapy (HRT); 75 taking estrogen alone; and 34 taking estrogen plus progesterone. Women with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiomyopathy, or an abnormal resting ECG were excluded. All women underwent a symptom-limited treadmill test and MPI. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the stress ECG compared to MPI in women not taking HRT was 54% and 78%, respectively. In women taking estrogen or estrogen plus progesterone, the sensitivity was unchanged. The power to detect clinically meaningful sensitivity difference (10%) was poor (p = 0.09). The specificity was reduced to 46% (p < 0.01) in women on estrogen therapy. In women taking estrogen plus progesterone, specificity was 80%. Our results suggest that estrogen increases the false positive rate of the stress ECG. This decreased specificity is countered by co-administration of progesterone. Nonetheless, because the sensitivity of the stress ECG is only 50% to 57% in postmenopausal women, women at risk should have imaging in conjunction with stress for the optimal detection of CAD.


Carbon in airway macrophages from children with asthma.
Airway macrophage (AM) phagocytosis is impaired in severe asthma. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 and D2 are increased in severe asthma and suppress AM phagocytic function in vitro. In this study, we sought evidence for PG-mediated impairment of phagocytosis of inhalable carbonaceous particulate matter (PM) by AM in children with severe asthma compared with mild asthmatics and healthy controls. AM were obtained from children with asthma and healthy controls using induced sputum. AM carbon area (μm(2)) was assessed by image analysis. In a subgroup of asthmatics, urinary PGE2 and PGD2 metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and PM exposure at the home address was modelled. Phagocytosis of PM by human monocyte-derived macrophages and rat AM was assessed in vitro by image analysis. AM carbon was 51% lower in children with moderate-to-severe asthma (n=36) compared with mild asthmatics (n=12, p<0.01) and healthy controls (n=47, p<0.01). There was no association between modelled PM exposure and AM carbon in 33 asthmatics who had a urine sample, but there was an inverse association between AM carbon and urinary metabolites of PGE2 and D2 (n=33, rs=-0.40, p<0.05, and rs=-0.44, p<0.01). PGE2 10(-6) M, but not PGD2 10(-6) M, suppressed phagocytosis of PM10 by human macrophages in vitro (p<0.05 vs control). PGE2 10(-6) M also suppressed phagocytosis of PM10 by rat AM in vitro (p<0.01 vs control). Phagocytosis of inhaled carbonaceous PM by AMs is impaired in severe asthma. PGE2 may contribute to impaired AM phagocytic function in severe asthma.


Nano-microscale models of periosteocytic flow show differences in stresses imparted to cell body and processes.
In order to understand how local changes in mechanical environment are translated into cellular activity underlying tissue level bone adaptation, there is a need to explore fluid flow regimes at small scales such as the osteocyte. Recent developments in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provide impetus to elucidate periosteocytic flow through development of a nanomicroscale model to study local effects of fluid flow on the osteocyte cell body, which contains the cellular organelles, and on the osteocyte processes, which connect the cell to the entire cellular network distributed throughout bone tissue. For each model, fluid flow was induced via a pressure gradient and the velocity profile and wall shear stress at the cell-fluid interface were calculated using a CFD software package designed for nano/micro-electromechanical-systems device development. Periosteocytic flow was modeled, taking into consideration the nanoscale dimensions of the annular channels and the flow pathways of the periosteocytic flow volume, to analyze the local effects of fluid flow on the osteocyte cell body (within the lacuna) and its processes (within the canaliculi). Based on the idealized model presented in this article, the osteocyte cell body is exposed primarily to effects of hydrodynamic pressure and the cell processes (CP) are exposed primarily to fluid shear stress, with highest stress gradients at sites where the process meets the cell body and where two CP link at the gap junction. Hence, this model simulates subcellular effects of fluid flow and suggests, for the first time to our knowledge, major differences in modes of loading between the domain of the cell body and that of the cell process.


[Waist-hip ratio correlates with the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones in abdominally obese males].
To study the impact of abdominal obesity on the production of male reproductive endocrine hormones. This study included 342 male patients at the andrology clinic, aged 19 -47 years and higher than 160 cm. We measured their waistlines, hiplines and waist-hip ratio, detected the levels of serum estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and free testosterone (FT) by chemiluminescence and radioimmunoassay, and analyzed the correlation of the waist-hip ratio with the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones. Abdominal obesity was defined as the waist-hip ratio > 0.9. In the 342 male patients, there were 62 cases of abdominal obesity and 280 cases of the normal somatotype (waist-hip ratio < or = 0.9). The waist-hip ratio was negatively correlated with the T level (r = -0.163, P = 0.003) and the T/LH ratio (r = -0.13, P = 0.02). Both the T level and T/LH ratio were significantly reduced in the abdominal obesity patients ([14.51 +/- 4.53] nmol/L and 2.26 +/- 0.36) as compared with the normal somatotype controls ([17.21 +/- 4.23] nmol/L and 4.61 +/- 0.19) (P < 0.05). The waist-hip ratio has a significant negative correlation with the T level and T/LH ratio, and the serum T level is significantly lower in men with abdominal obesity than in those of the normal somatotype.


Alterations in plasma-membrane functions after poliovirus infection.
After exposure of HeLa cells to poliovirus there is a rapid decline (within minutes) in fluorescence polarization of DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene). Within one hour after infection the (Na+/K+)ATPase activity of an isolated plasma-membrane-rich fraction is enhanced, the cell volume decreases, and the intracellular concentration of a potent low-molecular-weight inhibitor of host protein synthesis increases.


[Treatment of unexpected gallbladder carcinoma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy].
To summarize the clinical features and diagnostic and therapeutic experiences of unexpected gallbladder carcinoma (UGC) during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to boost radical resection rate and long-term efficacy. The clinical data of 64 UGC patients undergoing LC were retrospectively analyzed. The procedures included LC (n = 28) and LC plus radical resection (n = 36). The follow-up period was 2-132 months. The inter-group differences were statistically significant in post-operative survival rate (35 vs 46 months, P < 0.05). According to the TNM staging system, the post-operative survival rate between two groups for pTis+pT1a grade was not statistically significant (84 vs 132 months, P > 0.05).However the differences for pT1b, pT2 and pT3 grades were statistically significant (43 vs 86 months; 31 vs 52 months; 18 vs 36 months, P < 0.05). Identification of high-risk factors and intraoperative rapid pathologic examination improve radical resection rate.Radical cure via LC may be achieved for pTis and pT1a stages of UGC.For pT1b stage of UGC, optimal surgical procedures need further explorations.For stages pT2 and pT3 of UGC, radical surgery should be added for improved long-term efficacies.


[Superior vena cava thrombosis manifesting as vasomotor facial flushes].
The first sign in the reported case of superior vena cava thrombosis secondary to a pacemaker lead, was exceptional: facial flush. A 52-year-old woman had a pacemaker for 10 years for rhythm disorders. She developed facial flush triggered by exercise and anteflexion. The clinical examination revealed collateral thoracic circulation, suggesting thrombosis of the superior vena cava which was confirmed by the angiocavogram. Vasomotor flush is an uncommon and misleading initial sign of superior vena cava thrombosis. Induction by exercise and anteflexion is characteristic. Due to the increasing number of implanted patients, clinicians should be aware that pacemaker leads are an uncommon cause of superior vena cava thrombosis.


Flat electroencephalogram caused by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.
Hypercapnia during laparoscopy with CO2 is predicted in the following situations: compromised pulmonary function, retroperitoneal insufflation, and subcutaneous emphysema. We present a case of sudden electroencephalogram (EEG) depression in response to severe hypercapnia during laparoscopic ureteronephrectomy in a 77-yr-old patient with chronic pulmonary emphysema. During intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal insufflation, subcutaneous emphysema and difficult ventilation occurred. Severe hypercapnia ensued, with pH = 6.94, and Paco2 = 137 mm Hg. Subsequent EEG activity was markedly depressed with a minimum Bispectral Index of 4, accompanied by an increase in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Termination of the laparoscopic procedure improved ventilation, EEG, and hemodynamics. These EEG changes may result from the narcotic properties of CO2 or hypercapnia-induced neurological abnormalities.


Maximal planar networks with large clustering coefficient and power-law degree distribution.
In this article, we propose a simple rule that generates scale-free networks with very large clustering coefficient and very small average distance. These networks are called random Apollonian networks (RANs) as they can be considered as a variation of Apollonian networks. We obtain the analytic results of power-law exponent gamma=3 and clustering coefficient C= (46/3)-36 ln 3/2 approximately 0.74, which agree with the simulation results very well. We prove that the increasing tendency of average distance of RANs is a little slower than the logarithm of the number of nodes in RANs. Since most real-life networks are both scale-free and small-world networks, RANs may perform well in mimicking the reality. The RANs possess hierarchical structure as C(k) approximately k(-1) that are in accord with the observations of many real-life networks. In addition, we prove that RANs are maximal planar networks, which are of particular practicability for layout of printed circuits and so on. The percolation and epidemic spreading process are also studied and the comparisons between RANs and Barabási-Albert (BA) as well as Newman-Watts (NW) networks are shown. We find that, when the network order N (the total number of nodes) is relatively small (as N approximately 10(4)), the performance of RANs under intentional attack is not sensitive to N , while that of BA networks is much affected by N. And the diseases spread slower in RANs than BA networks in the early stage of the susceptible-infected process, indicating that the large clustering coefficient may slow the spreading velocity, especially in the outbreaks.


[Torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia caused by terodiline (Mictrol)?].
We report a 84 year old man taking terodiline who had torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia with prolongation of the QT-interval. The QT-interval became normal after withdrawal of terodiline. Worldwide, the manufacturers have received a total of 37 reports of ventricular tachyarrhythmia during the past months, 28 of which were torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia and have decided to recall the product temporarily.


Vertical cross contamination of trichloroethylene in a borehole in fractured sandstone.
Boreholes drilled through contaminated zones in fractured rock create the potential for vertical movement of contaminated ground water between fractures. The usual assumption is that purging eliminates cross contamination; however, the results of a field study conducted in a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume in fractured sandstone with a mean matrix porosity of 13% demonstrates that matrix-diffusion effects can be strong and persistent. A deep borehole was drilled to 110 m below ground surface (mbgs) near a shallow bedrock well containing high TCE concentrations. The borehole was cored continuously to collect closely spaced samples of rock for analysis of TCE concentrations. Geophysical logging and flowmetering were conducted in the open borehole, and a removable multilevel monitoring system was installed to provide hydraulic-head and ground water samples from discrete fracture zones. The borehole was later reamed to complete a well screened from 89 to 100 mbgs; persistent TCE concentrations at this depth ranged from 2100 to 33,000 microg/L. Rock-core analyses, combined with the other types of borehole information, show that nearly all of this deep contamination was due to the lingering effects of the downward flow of dissolved TCE from shallower depths during the few days of open-hole conditions that existed prior to installation of the multilevel system. This study demonstrates that transfer of contaminant mass to the matrix by diffusion can cause severe cross contamination effects in sedimentary rocks, but these effects generally are not identified from information normally obtained in fractured-rock investigations, resulting in potential misinterpretation of site conditions.


A prospective case-control study analyzes 12 thrombophilic gene mutations in Turkish couples with recurrent pregnancy loss.
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a heterogeneous disorder. The contribution of specific thrombophilic genes to the pathophysiology of RPL has remained controversial. We evaluated the prevalences of 12 thrombophilic gene mutations among homogenous Caucasian couples with RPL and fertiles. of study This was a prospective case-control study evaluating 272 women with RPL and 152 of their male partners, and a control group of 56 fertile couples. We investigated mutations including FV Leiden, factor V H1299R, factor II prothrombin G20210A, F XIII V34L, beta-fibrinogen -455G>A, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, GPIIIa L33P (HPA-1 a/b L33P), MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, ACE I/D, Apo B R3500Q, and Apo E. Overall, heterozygous mutations of FV Leiden, FXIII V34L, GPIIIa L33P, Apo E4, and prothrombin G20210A and homozygous mutations of PAI-1and MTHFR C677T were associated with RPL. There was no meaningful association between RPL and other studied genes. In contrast to the other mutations and polymorphisms, FV Leiden, FXIII V34L, GPIIIa L33P, Apo E, prothrombin G20210A, PAI-1 and MTHFR C677T gene mutations may help to identify the couples at risk for recurrent pregnancy loss.


Solid or liquid? Solidification of a nanoconfined liquid under nonequilibrium conditions.
There has been a long-standing debate about the physical state and possible phase transformations of confined liquids. In this report, we show that a model-confined liquid can behave both as a Newtonian liquid with very little change in its dynamics and as a pseudosolid, depending solely on the rate of approach of the confining surfaces. Thus, the confined liquid does not exhibit any confinement-induced solidification in thermodynamic equilibrium. Instead, solidification is induced kinetically when the two confining surfaces are approached with a minimum critical rate. This critical rate is surprisingly slow (on the order of 6 A/s), explaining the frequent observation of confinement-induced solidification.


Function and regulation of let-7 family microRNAs.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNAs capable of regulating specific gene expression. Let-7 miRNA was first discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans and it is highly conserved in human tissues. The human let- 7 family of miRNA contains 12 members of miRNA. Today, these members have become the most studied miRNAs and they have attracted attention of researchers in various fields, such as development, stem cell biology, aging, and metabolism. Furthermore, there is a large body of evidence linking the loss of let-7 expression and the development of poorly differentiated, aggressive cancers. In addition to the canonical biogenesis pathway, let-7 has been found to be regulated by protein factors, such as RNA binding proteins previously identified as regulators of protein-coding mRNAs. Moreover, the direct interaction between miRNAs has recently been identified as a novel pathway to control let-7 expression. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted roles of let-7 and provide an overview of its regulation at multiple levels.


Measuring patient compliance in antihypertensive therapy--some methodological aspects.
The usefulness of prescription refilling patterns in assessing compliance was studied retrospectively in 331 subjects receiving antihypertensive drugs during 1 and 2 year follow-up periods in 1976 and 1977. The compliance distribution was J-shaped for both periods. The number of compliant patients decreased slightly when the follow-up period increased from 1 to 2 years. An arbitrary cutoff point (0.7) yielded 34% noncompliers during the 2 year period. By interviewing patients, an additional 5% of noncompliers so-called early drop-outs, were identified among those who had filled no antihypertensive prescriptions during the 2 year period. The second follow-up year yielded little additional information. Reliability of the results obtained with prescription monitoring was also assessed by interviewing patients concerning eventual hospital stays and physicians' verbal orders that were not recorded on the prescriptions. These factors did not affect the overall compliance distribution, even though some patients might have been classified incorrectly because of them. In research settings and in daily practice prescription monitoring is a useful tool for assessing patient compliance.


Sex-stratified polygenic risk score identifies individuals at increased risk of basal cell carcinoma.
The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is higher among men than women. Susceptibility loci for BCC have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and two previous studies have found polygenic risk scores (PRS) to be significantly associated with risk of BCC. However, to our knowledge, sex-stratified PRS analyses examining the genetic contribution to BCC risk among men and women have not been previously reported. To quantify the contribution of genetic variability on BCC risk by sex, we derived a polygenic risk score and estimated the genetic relative risk distribution for men and women. Using 29 published SNPs, we found that the estimated relative risk of BCC increases with higher percentiles of the polygenic risk score. For men, the estimated risk of BCC is twice the average population risk at the 88th percentile, while for women, this occurs at the 99th percentile. Our findings indicate that there is a significant impact of genetic variation on the risk of developing BCC, and that this impact may be greater for men than for women. Polygenic risk scores may be clinically useful tools for risk stratification, particularly in combination with other known risk factors for BCC development.


Genomic structure of the rat major AP endonuclease gene (Apex) with an adjacent putative O-sialoglycoprotease gene (Prsmg1/Gcpl1) and a processed Apex pseudogene (Apexp1).
Genomic sequencing and chromosomal assignment of the gene encoding rat APEX nuclease, a multifunctional DNA repair enzyme, were performed. An active Apex gene and a processed pseudogene were isolated from a rat genomic library. The active Apex gene consists of 5 exons and 4 introns spanning 2.1 kb. The putative promoter region of the Apex gene lacks the typical TATA box, but contains CAAT boxes and a CpG island having putative binding sites for several transcription factors, such as Sp1, AP-2, GATA-1 and ATF. A putative O-sialoglycoprotease (a homologue of Pasteurella haemolytica glycoprotease, gcp; abbreviated as Prsmg1/Gcpl1) gene consisting of 11 exons and 10 introns spanning 7.3 kb lies immediately adjacent to the Apex gene in a 5'-to-5' orientation. The Apex gene locus was mapped to rat chromosome 15p12 using in situ hybridization. The processed pseudogene (designated as rat Apexp1) has a nucleotide sequence 87.1% identical to that of the rat Apex cDNA, although several stop codons interrupting the coding sequences and multiple nucleotide deletions were observed. The Apexp1 is located in an inactive LINE sequence. Calculation of nucleotide substitution rates suggests that the immediate, active progenitor of Apexp1 arose 23 million years ago and that the non-functionalization occurred 15 million years ago.


Scaphocephaly: aesthetic and psychosocial considerations.
A series of 48 children with scaphocephaly has been reviewed. 44 had synostosis of the sagittal suture alone, and four had additional involvement of other sutures. Although six children showed significant developmental delay, with eventual mental retardation in five cases, it does not appear that this is caused by mechanical constriction of the brain. In the majority of cases, scaphocephaly appears to be a benign variant in cranial development. Operation by linear craniectomy was performed for cosmetic reasons in 14 cases, and in general the results were good. Operation was not performed in the other 34 cases, including 15 seen in infancy, and review of these has shown a high incidence of anxiety among parents and children. Therefore there is an acceptable case for cosmetic correction of severe scaphocephaly in infancy.


Impact of body mass index on the relationship between muscle quality and physical function in older women.
To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) (normal weight, overweight, obese) on the relationship between muscle quality (MQ) and physical function in community-dwelling older women. Cross-sectional study. University research laboratory. Community-dwelling older women (n = 94, 73.6 ± 5.4 y) stratified by BMI (normal weight: 20.0-24.9 kg/m2; overweight: 25.0-29.9 kg/m2; obese: ≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Body mass index using height and weight, leg extension power via the Nottingham power rig, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and physical function (6-minute walk, 8-foot up-and-go, 30-second chair stand). Muscle quality was defined as leg power (watts) normalized for lower-body mineral-free lean mass (kg). Following adjustments for covariates, muscle quality was significantly higher in women of normal BMI compared to overweight (10.0 ± 0.4 vs. 8.7 ± 0.4 watts/kg, p = 0.03). Muscle quality was a significant predictor of performance on the 6-minute walk and 8-foot up-and-go in normal and overweight women (all p < 0.05) and performance on the 30-second chair stand in normal and obese women (both p < 0.05). Body mass index did not significantly impact the association between MQ and physical function (all p > 0.05). Muscle quality varies by BMI, yet the relationship to physical function is not significantly different across BMI groups. The results imply that interventions that increase MQ in older women may improve physical function, regardless of BMI.


Maternal separation induced alterations of neurogenesis in the rat rostral migratory stream.
1. The aim of our study was to investigate the possibility that maternal separation, an experimental model for studies of early environmental influences, has an effect on postnatal neurogenesis in neurogenic pathway--the rostral migratory stream (RMS). 2. Rat pups were subjected to maternal separation daily for 3 h, starting from the first postnatal day (P1) till P14 or P21. In the first two groups, brains were analyzed at the age of P14 and P21, respectively. In the third group, after 3 weeks of maternal separation, 1 week of normal rearing was allowed, and the brains were analyzed at P28. The controls matched the age of maternally separated animals. Dividing cells were labeled by bromodeoxyuridine; dying cells were visualized by Fluoro-Jade C and nitric oxide (NO) producing cells by NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. 3. Quantitative analysis of proliferating cells in the RMS showed that maternal separation decreased the number of dividing cells in all experimental groups. This decrease was most prominent in the caudal part of the RMS. The amount of dying cells was increased at the end of 3 weeks of maternal separation as well as 1 week later. The number of differentiated nitrergic cells in the RMS was increased at the end of 2 or 3 weeks of maternal separation, respectively. Besides quantitative changes, maternally separated animals showed an accelerated maturation of nitrergic cells. 4. Our results indicate that an exposure of rats to adverse environmental factors in early postnatal periods may induce acute site-specific changes in the RMS neurogenesis.


Compared leaf anatomy of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) species from Brazilian flood plain.
Nymphaea has seven species already catalogued in the flood prone areas of the Brazilian Pantanal. However, some species remain difficult to identify and descriptions of the anatomy of vegetative organs are an important tool for infrageneric separation to aid in group taxonomy. The species collected in the Pantanal and prepared according to the usual techniques for anatomical studies showed similar structural characteristics, and data on the arrangement of vascular bundles in the midrib and petiole, as well as the form and distribution of sclereids, were consistent. Nymphaea oxypetala stands out from the other evaluated species for having a greater number of differential characters, including angular collenchyma and the absence of bicollateral bundles in the petiole. Nymphaea lingulata stands out as the only species to feature bicollateral bundles in the leaf blade. The results, summarised in the dichotomous key, facilitate the identification of species that use the flower as the main differentiation, but are in a vegetative stage.


Retro-transduction by virus pseudotyped with glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus.
A virus pseudotyped with glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) can enter various cell types at a relatively high titer. We observed that the amount of viral antigen from VSV-G pseudotyped human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) producing cells was much higher than that from their non-pseudotyped counterparts. This enhanced viral antigen production was not observed when we used HIV-1 pol mutant, viral enzyme inhibitors, HIV Env protein, or VSV-G fusion defective mutants. The transfection experiment using GFP-expressing virus showed time-dependent expansion of GFP-positive cells and viral DNA integration. These results suggested that the increase in viral antigen yield was caused by the release of a progeny virus following retro-transduction by the pseudotyped virus of the cells within the transfected cell culture. The infectivity as well as the amount of VSV-G on virus particles per unit of viral antigen was significantly different before and after the onset of the yield enhancement. This suggests that results of infection assays of the virus pseudotyped with VSV-G may be affected by the occurrence of such enhancement. This means that, while pseudotyping with VSV-G is a simple and effective method, this procedure should be carefully considered when the virus is produced for infectivity assays.