Analysis of the cell-dependent replication potentials of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vif mutants.
Eleven in-frame vif gene mutants of HIV type 1 produced in non-permissive cells were examined for their replication potentials in various CD4-positive and -negative cell lines. Virus replication for each mutant was monitored by using several single- and multiple-cycle infectivity assays. Except for a mutant with wild-type phenotype, most mutants were severely defective for replication in all the cell lines as expected from the producer cell-dependent functioning of Vif so far reported. In contrast, two mutants, which have mutations in the hydrophilic or effector regions of Vif were found to have target cell-dependent replication potentials. These results demonstrate the presence of a novel category of the vif mutants important for elucidation of the Vif function.


A Survey of Optimization Methods From a Machine Learning Perspective.
Machine learning develops rapidly, which has made many theoretical breakthroughs and is widely applied in various fields. Optimization, as an important part of machine learning, has attracted much attention of researchers. With the exponential growth of data amount and the increase of model complexity, optimization methods in machine learning face more and more challenges. A lot of work on solving optimization problems or improving optimization methods in machine learning has been proposed successively. The systematic retrospect and summary of the optimization methods from the perspective of machine learning are of great significance, which can offer guidance for both developments of optimization and machine learning research. In this article, we first describe the optimization problems in machine learning. Then, we introduce the principles and progresses of commonly used optimization methods. Finally, we explore and give some challenges and open problems for the optimization in machine learning.


Brain neuropeptides in gastric mucosal protection.
The centrally induced gastroprotective effect of neuropeptides has been intensively studied. Besides many similarities, however, differences can also be observed in their gastroprotective actions. The gastroprotective dose-response curve proved to be either sigmoid, or bell-shaped. Additional gastrointestinal effects of neuropeptides can contribute to their mucosal protective effect. Part of the neuropeptides induces gastroprotection by peripheral administration as well. Besides vagal nerve the sympathetic nervous system may also be involved in conveying the central effect to the periphery. Better understanding of the complex mechanism of the maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity may result in the development of new strategy to enhance gastric mucosal resistance against injury.


Improved working memory performance following administration of a single dose of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) to healthy middle-age adults.
A ginsenoside-rich extract of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.), Cereboost(TM), was previously shown to improve working memory and mood in healthy young individuals. The present study represented a partial replication investigating whether these effects extended to healthy middle-aged individuals. Fifty-two healthy volunteers (40-60 years old, mean age 51.63) received 200 mg of P. quinquefolius or a matching placebo according to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced, crossover design. The Cognitive Drug Research battery and the Computerised Mental Performance Assessment System were used to evaluate cognitive performance at baseline then 1, 3 and 6 h following treatment. Blood glucose and mood were co-monitored. Compared with placebo, P. quinquefolius improved cognitive performance on 'Working Memory' factor at 3 h. Similar effects were observed in one of the two tasks making up this factor, spatial working memory. There were no significant effects on mood or blood glucose levels. These data confirm that P. quinquefolius can acutely benefit working memory and extend the age range of this effect to middle-aged individuals. These changes are unlikely to be underpinned by modulation of blood glucose in this population.


[Hemoperitoneum caused spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma. Role of hepatic artery embolization in the therapeutic procedure].
A 73-year-old man with intraperitoneal haemorrhage due to spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma was successfully treated by emergency transcatheter hepatic artery embolization. A safe hepatic resection was performed 30 days after the procedure. The patient was still alive four months after surgery. We concluded that emergency arterial embolization is an effective alternative to surgery to control hemorrhage resulting from spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma and permits, when possible, a safe subsequent surgical treatment of the disease.


Low genetic diversity of bovine Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis isolates detected by MIRU-VNTR genotyping.
Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit and variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) has been developed as a simple, rapid and cost efficient molecular typing method to differentiate Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates. The aim of this study was to determine the genomic diversity of MAP across the Republic of Ireland by utilising the MIRU-VNTR typing method on a large collection of MAP isolates. A total of 114 MAP isolates originated from 53 herds across 19 counties in the Republic of Ireland were genotyped based on eight established MIRU-VNTR loci. Four INMV groups were observed during this study. INMV 1 was found in 67 MAP isolates (58.8%) and INMV 2 was observed in 45 isolates (39.4%). INMV 3 and INMV 116 recorded only one isolate each (0.9%). The unique INMV 116 group has never been reported among herds thus far and the molecular pattern of the MAP isolate classified in INMV 116 showed a difference at the MIRU-VNTR X3 locus compared to the other three INMV groups observed. INMV 1, INMV 2 and INMV 3 are observed frequently in Europe and comprised 99.1% of the total MAP isolates characterised in this study, indicating that MAP exhibited low level of genetic diversity across the Republic of Ireland using the MIRU-VNTR method. By the implementation of SNP analysis or MLSSR as an additional typing method, MAP genetic diversity would increase. INMV 3 is unique to Ireland and whereas INMV 116 has never been previously reported among herds by MIRU-VNTR typing.


Effects of four commonly used UV filters on the growth, cell viability and oxidative stress responses of the Tetrahymena thermophila.
UV filters are increasingly used in sunscreens and other personal care products. Although their residues have been widely identified in aquatic environment, little is known about the influences of UV filters to protozoan. The growth inhibition effects, cell viability and oxidative stress responses of four commonly used UV filters, 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC) and octocrylene (OC), to protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila were investigated in this study. The 24-h EC50 values with 95% confidence intervals for BP-3 and 4-MBC were 7.544 (6.561-8.675) mg L(-1) and 5.125 (4.874-5.388) mg L(-1), respectively. EHMC and OC did not inhibit the growth of T. thermophila after 24h exposure at the tested concentrations. The results of cell viability assays with propidium iodide (PI) staining were consistent with that of the growth inhibition tests. As for BP-3 and 4-MBC, the relatively higher concentrations, i.e. of 10.0 and 15.0 mg L(-1), could lead to the cell membranes impairment after 4h exposure. With the increase of the exposure time to 6h, their adverse effects on cell viability of T. thermophila were observed at the relatively lower concentration groups (1.0 mg L(-1) and 5.0 mg L(-1)). In addition, it is noticeable that at environmentally relevant concentration (1.0 μg L(-1)), BP-3 and 4-MBC could lead to the significant increase of catalase (CAT) activities of the T. thermophila cells. Especially for the BP-3, the oxidative injuries were further confirmed by the reduction of glutathione (GSH) content. It is imperative to further investigate the additive action of UV filters and seek other sensitive endpoint, especially at environmentally relevant concentration.


Cell behavior and cell-matrix interactions of human palmar aponeurotic cells in vitro.
The present investigation has been performed to better characterize, in vitro, normal aponeurotic cells in comparison with dermal fibroblasts and with cells derived from Dupuytren's affected aponeuroses. Cells were cultured in monolayer and/or into three-dimensional collagen gels. Cell structure, adhesion, and spreading capability on different substrates, as well as integrin expression were investigated by light and electron microscopy and by flow cytometry. Cell-matrix interactions were also analyzed by gel retraction experiments in the presence, or absence, of RGD peptides and anti-integrin antibodies. Normal aponeurotic cells, compared with dermal fibroblasts, exhibited in vitro peculiar structural features, which were substantially maintained in Dupuytren's aponeurotic cells, irrespective of the substrate they were grown on. By contrast, the aponeurotic cell behavior was different in normal and diseased cells, these latter approaching that of dermal fibroblasts. Normal aponeurotic cells, in fact, were characterized by low efficiency in retracting the collagen gel, low alpha 2, alpha 1, and alpha 5 integrin subunit expression and low adhesion properties onto collagen and fibronectin, whereas cells isolated from the aponeuroses of Dupuytren's patients exhibited higher capability of retracting the collagen gel, increased adhesion properties toward collagen and fibronectin, and higher levels of integrin expression. No differences were observed between dermal fibroblasts from Dupuytren's patients or from normal subjects. These in vitro results are consistent with those previously obtained in situ, suggesting that palmar aponeurotic cells have a peculiar phenotype and that changes in cell-matrix interactions occur in Dupuytren's contracture. Moreover, by comparing data obtained from the retracted fibrotic cords and the still clinically unaffected aponeuroses of the same patients, it may be noted that Dupuytren's disease is not only confined to the clinically involved branches, but includes the whole aponeurosis of the affected hand.


[Genoprotective effect of drugs based on ecdysteroids in poisoning of rats with tetrachloromethane and chlorophos].
Molecular mechanisms of chromatin damage have been investigated during tetrachloromethane and chlorophos intoxication of experimental animals. Introduction of tetrachloromethane to experimental animals induced chromatin degradation causing a partial loss of histone H1-DNA fragmentation and formation of intermolecular bonds: DNA-protein. Intoxication with chlorophos results in repression of a part of genes due to augmented chromatin compactness. Preventive introduction of the steroid preparation from Serratula coronata L. to experimental animals exerts a genoprotective effect, probably, as a result of derepression of genes responsible for reparation of chromatin structure.


Association of increased dermatologist density with lower melanoma mortality.
To determine whether there is an association between dermatologist density and melanoma mortality. A regression model was developed to test the association between melanoma mortality and dermatologist density, controlling for county demographics, health care infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors. Data were collected from the Area Resource File, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and National Program for Cancer Registries. US counties. Melanoma mortality and incidence data were reported as age-adjusted mean rates per 100 000 people from January 2002, through December 2006. The primary outcome measure was melanoma mortality rate per 100 000 people at the county level. Geographic variation exists in the distribution of dermatologists across the United States. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of 0.001 to 1 dermatologist per 100 000 people was associated with a 35.0% reduction in the melanoma mortality rate (95% CI, 13.4%-56.6%) when compared with counties with no dermatologist. The presence of 1.001 to 2 dermatologists per 100 000 people was associated with a 53.0% reduction in the melanoma mortality rate (95% CI, 30.6%-75.4%). Having more than 2 dermatologists per 100 000 people did not further lower melanoma mortality rates. Within a given county, a greater dermatologist density is associated with lower melanoma mortality rates compared with counties that lacked a dermatologist.


Dynamic lipidomic insights into the adaptive responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the repeated vacuum fermentation.
Vacuum fermentation is utilized in a wide range of life science industries and biomedical R&D. Little is known, however, on the effects of the vacuum on the yeast, and in particular, on the yeast lipidome that plays a central role in maintaining cell membrane and other vital (yeast) cell functions. The present study evaluated the adaptive responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to repeated vacuum fermentation by lipidomic analysis. We employed gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS(n)) to quantify a total of 13 intermediate sterols and 139 phospholipid species of yeast cells. Principal components analysis found that the PI (phosphatidylinositol) 26:0, PI 28:0, PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) 32:1, and PE 34:1 were potential biomarkers to distinguish the vacuum fermentation process. Quantitative analysis showed that vacuum fermentation increased the synthesis of PI and the PC (phosphatidylcholine) species with short saturated acyl chains. The synthesis of PC via CDP-choline and turnover of PC were enhanced, instead of formation via methylation of PE. Additionally, increased PI at the expense of PE and PG (phosphatidylglycerol) was associated with enhancement of ethanol productivity. Vacuum fermentation caused eburicol accumulation, suggesting that vacuum can activate the branch of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. Eburicol decrease and PI increase contributed to recovery of cellular activities with oxygenating treatment. Ethanol productivity was increased by sixfold in vacuum-treated cells. These observations may allow the development of future mechanistic approaches to optimization of yeast fermentation under vacuum for bioindustry and life science applications. In particular, our findings on changes in lipid molecular species and the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway elucidate the defense responses of yeast cell membranes during the repeated vacuum fermentation, which by extension, provided an important lead insight on how best to protect the cell membranes from the extreme long-term stress conditions.


Sirolimus therapy in infants with severe hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.
Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is the most common cause of severe, persistent neonatal hypoglycemia. The treatment of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia that is unresponsive to diazoxide is subtotal pancreatectomy. We examined the effectiveness of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor sirolimus in four infants with severe hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia that had been unresponsive to maximal doses of diazoxide (20 mg per kilogram of body weight per day) and octreotide (35 μg per kilogram per day). All the patients had a clear glycemic response to sirolimus, although one patient required a small dose of octreotide to maintain normoglycemia. There were no major adverse events during 1 year of follow-up.


Determinants of transplant-related coronary calcium detected by ultrafast computed tomography scanning.
Coronary calcium detected by ultrafast computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be a marker of coronary artery disease in heart transplant recipients. The objective of this study was to examine the possible determinants of coronary calcium after heart transplantation. Over a 15-month period, 102 consecutive cardiac transplant recipients (mean age 53 years, 88 men) underwent ultrafast CT scanning of the heart, in addition to coronary angiography, to determine coronary calcium score on their annual follow-up (a median of 4.6 years [range 63 days to 9.1 years] after transplant). The following data were also recorded: the recipient's sex and date of birth, date of transplantation, date of ultrafast computed tomography and coronary angiography; recipient pretransplant diagnosis, history of diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension, fasting lipid profile, immunosuppression, number of rejection episodes, and donor organ ischemic time. Forty six patients (45.1%) had total calcium scores >0 and 41 (40.2%) had at least 1 major coronary with angiographic narrowing >24%. On univariate analysis, coronary calcium was significantly associated with dyslipoproteinemia, total cholesterol was >6.0 mmol/L (240 mg/dl), triglycerides were >3.0 mmol/L (265 mg/dl), and lipoprotein(a) >30 mg/ dl; > or =25% angiographic disease was significantly associated with coronary calcium and dyslipoproteinemia. Logistic regression revealed that dyslipoproteinemia, systemic hypertension, and donor ischemic time were significant predictors of coronary calcium in transplanted hearts. We conclude that the prevalence of coronary calcium in heart transplant recipients is high and is related to recipient dyslipoproteinemia, systemic hypertension, and donor organ ischemic time.


Integrated biomarker assessment of the effects of tailing discharges from an iron ore mine using blue mussels (Mytilus spp.).
The blue mussel (Mytilus spp.) has been used to assess the potential biological effects of the discharge effluent from the Sydvaranger mine, which releases its tailings into Bøk fjord at Kirkenes in the north of Norway. Metal bioaccumulation and a suite of biomarkers were measured in mussels positioned for 6 weeks at varying distances from the discharge outlet. The biomarkers used included: stress on stress (SS); condition index (CI); cellular energy allocation (CEA); micronuclei formation (MN); lysosomal membrane stability (LMS), basophilic cell volume (VvBAS); and neutral lipid (NL) accumulation. The individual biomarkers were integrated using the integrated biological response (IBR/n) index. The accumulation of Fe was significantly higher in mussels located closer to the discharge outlet, indicating that these mussels had been exposed to the suspended mine effluent. The IBR/n results were in good agreement with the location of the mussels in relation to the distance from the discharge outlet and expected exposure to the mine effluent. Several biomarkers showed responses resulting in higher IBR/n values of analysed mussels within a 3 km distance from the tailing discharge.


Motor cortex projections to the thalamus. An autoradiographic study in the cat.
Adult cats received tritiated proline-leucine injections into the pericruciate cortex (areas 4 gamma and 3a) unilaterally and the projections to the thalamus were analyzed. Ipsilateral projections were found in the following nuclei, from rostral to caudal: ventral anterior, reticular, ventral lateral, central medial, paracentral, central lateral, ventral medial, mediodorsal, ventral posterolateral, ventral posteroinferior, centre median, parafascicular and posterior complex. In the contralateral hemithalamus sparse projections were found within the paracentral, central lateral and ventral medial nuclei.


Anatomical analysis of frontal cortex sites at which carbachol induces motor seizures in the rat.
High amplitude spiking representative of seizures, accompanied by an unusual motor behavior pattern of rearing and forelimbic clonus resembling "boxing," was elicited by microinjection of the cholinergic agonist, carbachol, 4 micrograms, into the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat. A rating scale devised to score the behavior revealed a motor pattern elicited by carbachol from the medial anterior cortex which was similar to that described by Racine for electrical stimulation of the amygdala. Topographical analysis of the areas surrounding the medial anterior cortex region revealed that the motor manifestations of seizures were elicited over a wide region of the anterior cortex, with scores significantly lower at carbachol microinjection sites greater than 1 mm rostral, 2 and 3 mm caudal, and 2 mm lateral to the standard medial prefrontal cortex site. Unilateral microinjection of carbachol yielded motor seizures primarily from the contralateral forepaw, suggesting involvement of a crossed pathway. Retrograde tracing with fast blue dye, combined with immunostaining for choline acetyltransferase and NADPH-diaphorase, found that the cholinergic neurons innervating the standard microinjection site were the dorsolateral tegmental cells, as previously reported, which have been shown to also contain substance P and corticotropin releasing factor. In addition, cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert region were found to innervate the standard microinjection site. These findings implicate cholinergic innervation of the rostral cortex in classical limbic seizures.


The value of operative cholangiography.
A retrospective review was made of the records of 152 patients undergoing cholangiography at the time of cholecystectomy. Of the 152 cholangiograms, 65 revealed major technical deficiencies. In spite of this, the use of cholangiography allowed 31 patients with classical indications to be spared common duct exploration. Furthermore, the procedure detected unsuspected common duct stones in nine patients. As a result of these findings, we recommend the use of cystic duct cholangiography routinely in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.


Validation of 96-well equilibrium dialysis with non-radiolabeled drug for definitive measurement of protein binding and application to clinical development of highly-bound drugs.
Definitive plasma protein binding (PB) studies in drug development are routinely conducted with radiolabeled material, where the radiochemical purity limits quantitative PB measurement. Recent and emerging regulatory guidances increasingly expect quantitative determination of the fraction unbound (Fu) for key decision making. In the present study, PB of 11 structurally- and therapeutically-diverse drugs spanning the full range of plasma binding was determined by equilibrium dialysis of non-radiolabeled compound and was validated against the respective definitive values obtained by accepted radiolabeled protocols. The extent of plasma binding was in agreement with the radiolabeled studies; however, the methodology reported herein enables reliable quantification of Fu values for highly-bound drugs and is not limited by the radiochemical purity. In order to meet the rigor of a development study, equilibrium dialysis of unlabeled drug must be supported by an appropriately validated bioanalytical method along with studies to determine compound solubility and stability in matrix and dialysis buffer, nonspecific binding to the dialysis device, and ability to achieve equilibrium in the absence of protein. The presented methodology establishes an experimental protocol for definitive PB measurement, which enables quantitative determination of low Fu values, necessary for navigation of new regulatory guidances in clinical drug development.


Diffusion of acetylene inside Na-Y zeolite: molecular dynamics simulation studies.
Dynamics of acetylene molecules adsorbed in Na-Y zeolite cages is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The translational motion of the acetylene molecules is shown to involve three different time scales. "Free particle" type diffusion is observed in short time and small length scale. At long time and large length scale, center of mass motion of acetylene is determined by the zeolitic pore topology. Rotational motion of the acetylene is found to be very fast. Detailed analysis of the intermediate scattering function corresponding to the rotational motion showed large-angle jumps that could be described by an m-diffusion model.


Impact of resistance training on sarcopenia in nursing care facilities: A pilot study.
The impact of progressive resistance training on sarcopenia among very old institutionalized adults was investigated. Residents of Nursing Care Facilities were included in a controlled trial of twice weekly resistance and balance exercise program for six months (Age: 85.9 ± 7.5 years, Time in care: 707.1 ± 707.5 days, N = 21 per group). Sarcopenia was measured based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Of the recruited 42 participants, 35.7% had sarcopenia at baseline, with prevalence increasing in the control group post-intervention (42.9%-52.4%). Following training, the exercise group experienced a significant increase in grip strength when compared to controls (p = .02), and a within-group decrease in body mass index and increase in grip strength (p ≤ .007). Resistance and balance exercise has positive benefits for older adults residing in a nursing care facilities which may transfer to reduce disability and sarcopenia transition, but more work is needed to ensure improved program uptake among residents.


[Unusual muscle variant in the differential diagnosis of a soft tissue tumor].
A rare variant of the plantar muscle is the formation of a good-sized muscle-belly in the lower third of the lower leg. This venter distalis m. plantaris may be wrongly diagnosed, both clinically and by computed tomography, as a soft tissue tumour if it occurs unilaterally.


Emended description of Mazamastrongylus peruvianus (Nematoda:Trichostrongylidae), with comments on the relationships of the genera Mazamastrongylus and Spiculopteragia.
Resurrection of Mazamastrongylus as proposed by Jansen (1986) was validated and placement of Mazamastrongylus peruvianus in this genus was confirmed, based on characters of the synlophe, copulatory bursa, and spicules. The cervical synlophe consists of a strongly tapering pattern and prominent "hood ridges" at the level of the excretory pore; there are 40 ridges at the midbody of males. The bursa is of the 2-2-1 type, with rays 2 and 3 parallel and rays 4 and 5 of near equal length and only slightly divergent at the tips. The spoon-shaped dorsal process of the spicules, typical of M. peruvianus and other species of Mazamastrongylus is postulated as a synapomorphy for the genus. The genera Mazamastrongylus, Spiculopteragia, and Sarwaria are considered to be independent based on characters of the synlophe, spicules, and copulatory bursa. Host and geographic distributions for species of Mazamastrongylus appear to be consistent with a history of coevolution and colonization and relationships for M. peruvianus may parallel the pattern postulated for species of Nematodirus in cervids and camelids in the Neotropics.


Prevention of Eimeria alabamensis coccidiosis by a long-acting baquiloprim/sulphadimidine bolus.
Twelve calves aged 6-10 months, and 12 calves aged 10-16 months were turned out onto a permanent pasture known to have been contaminated with oocysts of Eimeria alabamensis during the previous year. Two days after turnout, six of the older calves and six of the younger were each treated with one bolus per 200 kg bodyweight containing 1.6 g baquiloprim and 14.4 g sulphadimidine. The other 12 calves were left untreated. The excretion of Eimeria oocysts, the faecal dry matter and the weight gain of treated and untreated calves within each age group were compared during the first 3 weeks on pasture to assess the efficacy of the bolus in preventing E. alabamensis coccidiosis. All the older of the untreated calves and four of the younger developed gruel-like to watery diarrhoea 4-7 days after turnout. The faecal consistency of the treated calves remained firm and they lost significantly less weight than the control calves during the first 13 days on pasture. The treated calves also excreted significantly fewer oocysts during the first 20 days of grazing; their oocyst excretion remained low during days 8-10 when all but one of the diarrhoeic control calves excreted more than 850,000 oocysts per gram faeces (OPG). Starting on days 12 to 14 the oocyst excretion of 8 of the treated calves increased to 20,000-65,000 OPG and of 2 calves to 210,000-240,000 OPG. There was no difference in oocyst output between treated and untreated calves from the fourth week of grazing and no difference in weight gain among the younger calves. In the older calves there was a tendency for the untreated calves to gain more weight than treated calves.


First-pass evaluation of myocardial output during dipyridamole stress using turbo-FLASH magnetic resonance imaging.
This study evaluated the value of dynamically enhanced fast low-angle shot (FLASH) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in measuring cardiac output with and without dipyridamole pharmacological stress. Ten subjects underwent rest and stress MR imaging. Rest images were acquired using electrocardiogram gated MR (turbo-FLASH: repetition time = 6 mseconds; echo time = 12 mseconds; flip angle = 12 degrees, inversion time = 100) 10 to 45 seconds after intravenous bolus of 0.04 mmol/kg gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA using a Siemens 1.0-tesla Magnetom SP. Stress was induced within the MR imaging scanner with 0.56 mg/kg dipyridamole over 4 minutes with stress MR images obtained after a second bolus of Gd-DTPA in exactly the same position and time intervals. Cardiac output was calculated with a least squares error analysis before and after dipyridamole stress for the left and right ventricles in all 10 patients, and comparison was made with cardiac output by Fick dilution technique during cardiac catheterization in seven patients. This MR analysis methodology shows reasonable correlation (r = 0.953) between left ventricular and right ventricular cardiac output with no effect on cardiac output during immediate dipyridamole stress. Fick dilution studies demonstrated a correlation of 0.96. Turbo-FLASH MR can demonstrate time-activity curves and cardiac output calculations consistent with theoretical predictions.


Vitamin D3 promotes cerebral angiogenesis after cerebral infarction in rats by activating Shh signaling pathway.
This study aims at investigating the neuroprotective role of Vitamin D3 (VitD3) in rats with cerebral infarction and its molecular mechanisms. Male Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats were selected and randomly divided into sham operation group, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model group, and VitD3 treatment group. The therapeutic effect of VitD3 was evaluated via neurobehavioral scoring and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. For the evaluation of VitD3 influence on cerebral blood perfusion, Micro-PET imaging technique was applied. The mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) gene were detected via Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Immunofluorescence staining assay was employed to determine the changes in micro-vessel density. Bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) assay was used to count the number of new vascular endothelial cells. Protein expressions of key genes in the Shh signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting. Our results showed that VitD3 improved the score of neurological function and decreased the size of cerebral infarction in MCAO rats. VitD3 improved cerebral perfusion in the ischemic area after MCAO. VitD3 up-regulated levels of vascular growth-related factors. VitD3 elevated micro-vessel density after cerebral infarction and promoted the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in the ischemic cortex. The sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway in the ischemic cortex of MCAO rats was activated after VitD3 treatment. We showed that VitD3 improves cerebral perfusion and reduces neurological impairment in MCAO rats via activating the Shh signaling pathway.


Slip, immiscibility, and boundary conditions at the liquid-liquid interface.
The conventional boundary conditions at the interface between two flowing liquids include continuity of the tangential velocity. We have tested this assumption with molecular dynamics simulations of Couette and Poiseuille flows of two-layered liquid systems, with various molecular structures and interactions. When the total liquid density near the interface drops significantly compared to the bulk values, the tangential velocity varies very rapidly there, and would appear discontinuous at continuum resolution. The value of this apparent slip is given by a Navier boundary condition.


Expression and activity of a recombinant chimeric protein composed of pokeweed antiviral protein and of human interleukin-2.
The pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) has already been used to chemically construct immunotoxins. Here we tested the recombinant approach for the production of PAP-containing cytotoxic fusion-proteins. A cDNA encoding a mutated PAP (PAP9), which is expressed at high levels in bacteria, was fused to human interleukin-2 (IL-2) cDNA. The resulting PAP9-IL-2 protein was as active as the free PAP9 in inhibiting an eukaryotic cell-free translation system. Only the chimeric protein desaminated the 28S rRNA and inhibited translation of the CTLL-2 cell line which expresses the IL-2 receptor. These results show that PAP is a suitable toxin for the production of recombinant immunotoxins.


[Do chromosomal abnormalities reappear in subsequent pregnancies and how often?].
Genetic factors are the most common causes of spontaneous abortions. 50% to 80% of first-trimester abortions reveal-chromosome abnormalities. Evidence for the recurrence of the same or another chromosome abnormality in the next pregnancy is scarce. The aim of our study was to estimate recurrence risk of abortus aneuploidy and to find out whether karyotyping of the abortus allows the prognose subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Paraffin-embedded chorions have undergone cytogenetic examination using FISH with chromosome-specific probes. 57 chorions from 26 women have been assessed, including chorions from two consecutive abortions from 18 women and chorions from three consecutive abortions from 5 women. 38.6% of 57 specimens had chromosome aberrations. The most prevalent anomalies were 16, 21 and 18 trisomies. 23 patients had a subsequent abortion karyotyped; 15 had a normal initial karyotype and 8 had an aberrant initial karyotype. 3 out of the 8 patients had a repeated chromosome anomaly 5 out of the 15 patients who initially miscarried an aneuploid embryo, had a subsequent miscarriage of an aneuploid embryo. Only 3 (13.04%) out of the 23 patients displayed aneuploidy in each abortus. (1) Chromosome aberrations can reappear in subsequent pregnancies in the same patient and may be the cause of recurrent miscarriages. (2) The value of embryo/fetal karyotyping is not decisive in prognosis of subsequent pregnancy outcome. (3) Abnormal fetal karyotype can occur regardless of other causes of pregnancy loss.


Evaluation of the effect of retroviral gene transduction on vascular endothelial cell adhesion.
Genetically modified endothelial cells (ECs) seeded on synthetic vascular grafts offer the potential to improve small diameter vascular graft patency. Despite encouraging results with naive ECs, cells transduced with retroviral vectors appear impaired in their ability to adhere to and stably colonize vascular grafts in vivo. This study addresses changes in retrovirally transduced EC adhesion as the cause of cell loss. Endothelial cells were retrovirally transduced with the bacterial neoR gene or "mock" transduced with empty viral particles. Cells were allowed to adhere to collagen IV (CIV) or fibronectin (FN) prior to exposure to 20 or 90 dyn/cm(2) using a parallel plate apparatus. Cell detachment was evaluated using time lapse videomicroscopy. Fibronectin was a significantly better adhesive protein for naive EC than CIV at both shear stresses. NeoR-transduced EC had significantly greater detachment from FN than either naive or "mock"-transduced EC. Transduced EC attachment to FN was no greater than to CIV. Flow cytometric analysis of the fibronectin receptor (FNR) showed that transduced cells have reduced receptor expression compared to naive and "mock"-transduced EC. These results indicate retrovirally transduced EC have altered FNR and adhesion to FN and that these changes may account for transduced EC loss in vivo.


Anticardiolipin-antibodies in stroke and in other neurological disorders.
Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL-A) are acquired antiphospholipid antibodies characteristically found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or related autoimmune diseases. Several reports have shown that there may be an association between ACL-A and various neurological disorders, in particular cerebral ischemia. Using a micropin enzyme linked immunosorbent assay we measured the levels of ACL-A in the sera of 225 unselected patients with various neurological disorders. The prevalence of ACL-A in the whole group was 4.0% (9/225). However, the prevalence in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disorders was 9.1% (5/55). With one exception (thrombocytopenia was found more often in ACL-A-positive cases) there was no difference with respect to the prevalence of risk factors for stroke and associated diseases between ACL-A-positive and ACL-A-negative patients with TIA/stroke. High titers of ACL-A were also found in a few patients with epilepsy (n = 2), migraine (n = 1), and intracranial meningioma (n = 1). In patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disorders search for ACL-A may help to identify patients with a possibly higher risk of thrombosis.


Alternative sample preparation method for photochemical studies based on solid phase microextraction: synthetic pyrethroid photochemistry.
An alternative sample preparation method for photochemical studies, which overcomes all the disadvantages associated with classical approaches, is proposed. The method is based on Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and can be considered as being within the scope of "green photochemistry", especially when it is combined with sunlight irradiation. To demonstrate the potential of the procedure, photochemical studies of synthetic pyrethroids were carried out. Photodegradation pathways for five dihalogenovinyl-substituted pyrethroid pesticides: permethrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, are proposed, and kinetic curves and parameters provided. This information, obtained by rapidly carried out, green experiments, allows us to corroborate photoproducts reported by other authors and to identify the photoproducts proposed for the first time in the present study.


Evaluation of an intensive methylprednisolone sodium succinate dosing regimen in experimental spinal cord injury.
Beginning 30 minutes after compression trauma of the upper lumbar (L-2) spinal cord, cats were treated with either a high-dose regimen of methylprednisolone (MP) administered as the sodium salt of the 21-succinate ester (Solu-Medrol sterile powder) or the MP vehicle. Animals were randomly assigned to either treatment group (10 cats per group), and all personnel were blind as to which animals received vehicle or drug. The intensive 48-hour dosing regimen was designed to maintain therapeutic tissue levels of MP and consisted of an initial 30 mg/kg intravenous bolus of MP; 2 and 6 hours later additional 15 mg/kg MP doses were administered by intravenous bolus. Immediately following the bolus given at 6 hours, a continuous MP infusion of 2.5 mg/kg/hr was started. The infusion was stopped abruptly at 48 hours with no dose tapering. Animals in the vehicle group received an equivalent volume of MP vehicle. The total MP dose administered over 48 hours was 165 mg/kg. Animals were evaluated weekly for neurological recovery based upon a 12-point functional scale which assessed general mobility, running, and stair-climbing. Mean recovery scores at 1 month after injury (+/- standard error of the mean) were: vehicle group (seven cats) 3.7 +/- 0.9, and MP group (10 cats) 8.7 +/- 0.2; (p less than 0.001). Histological evaluation of the spinal cords revealed a strong negative correlation between neurological recovery and size of the spinal cord cavity at 1 month (r = -0.88). Three of 10 animals in the vehicle group became ill and had to be dropped from the study, whereas all of the 10 MP-treated animals survived in excellent health. The results demonstrate the therapeutic effectiveness and low incidence of side effects associated with an intensive MP dose regimen for treatment of experimental spinal cord injury.


Adenovirus-specific T-cell Subsets in Human Peripheral Blood and After IFN-γ Immunomagnetic Selection.
Adoptive antiviral cellular immunotherapy by infusion of virus-specific T cells (VSTs) is becoming an alternative treatment for viral infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The T memory stem cell (TSCM) subset was recently described as exhibiting self-renewal and multipotency properties which are required for sustained efficacy in vivo. We wondered if such a crucial subset for immunotherapy was present in VSTs. We identified, by flow cytometry, TSCM in adenovirus (ADV)-specific interferon (IFN)-γ+ T cells before and after IFN-γ-based immunomagnetic selection, and analyzed the distribution of the main T-cell subsets in VSTs: naive T cells (TN), TSCM, T central memory cells (TCM), T effector memory cell (TEM), and effector T cells (TEFF). In this study all of the different T-cell subsets were observed in the blood sample from healthy donor ADV-VSTs, both before and after IFN-γ-based immunomagnetic selection. As the IFN-γ-based immunomagnetic selection system sorts mainly the most differentiated T-cell subsets, we observed that TEM was always the major T-cell subset of ADV-specific T cells after immunomagnetic isolation and especially after expansion in vitro. Comparing T-cell subpopulation profiles before and after in vitro expansion, we observed that in vitro cell culture with interleukin-2 resulted in a significant expansion of TN-like, TCM, TEM, and TEFF subsets in CD4IFN-γ T cells and of TCM and TEM subsets only in CD8IFN-γ T cells. We demonstrated the presence of all T-cell subsets in IFN-γ VSTs including the TSCM subpopulation, although this was weakly selected by the IFN-γ-based immunomagnetic selection system.


[Involvement of eating disorders in metabolic syndrome].
This article gives an outline about involvement of eating disorders in metabolic syndrome. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa become common diseases in woman in Japan. Binge-eating disorder and night eating syndrome are observed in men as well as women. Binge eating is characteristic of bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder and night eating syndrome. It should be noted that high energy availability observed in these diseases results in obesity and exacerbate metabolic syndrome. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) can make patients to control symptoms and improve their QOL. Osteoporosis is one of chief complications and sequelae of anorexia nervosa. Low-birth weight babies born from emaciated patients with eating disorders are subject to metabolic syndrome in the future.


Temperature and precipitation affect seasonal patterns of dispersing tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) caught on sticky traps.
Effects of temperature and precipitation on the temporal patterns of dispersing tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, caught on yellow sticky traps were estimated in central and eastern North Carolina and eastern Virginia from 1997 through 2001. The impact that these environmental factors had on numbers of F. fusca and T. tabaci caught on sticky traps during April and May was determined using stepwise regression analysis of 43 and 38 site-years of aerial trapping data from 21 and 18 different field locations, respectively. The independent variables used in the regression models included degree-days, total precipitation, and the number of days in which precipitation occurred during January through May. Each variable was significant in explaining variation for both thrips species and, in all models, degree-days was the single best explanatory variable. Precipitation had a comparatively greater effect on T. tabaci than F. fusca. The numbers of F. fusca and T. tabaci captured in flight were positively related to degree-days and the number of days with precipitation but negatively related to total precipitation. Combined in a single model, degree-days, total precipitation, and the number of days with precipitation explained 70 and 55% of the total variation in the number of F. fusca captured from 1 April through 10 May and from 1 April through 31 May, respectively. Regarding T. tabaci flights, degree-days, total precipitation, and the number of days with precipitation collectively explained 57 and 63% of the total variation in the number captured from 1 April through 10 May and from 1 April through 31 May, respectively.


The immunohistochemical detection of prostatic acid phosphatase: its possibilities and limitations in tumour histochemistry.
The immunological specificity of the Amsterdam rabbit antiserum against human prostatic acid phosphatase was studied on paraffin sections of 200 prostatic carcinomas and 330 control tissues using an indirect peroxidase technique. Peripheral blood leucocyte smears were also investigated with a fluorescent technique. In a limited number of cases, the mixed aggregation immunocytochemical method was also applied as post-primary incubation procedure. The diaminobenzidine (DAB) final reaction product of the peroxidase technique, carried out under standard conditions, was quantified in some cases using the Leyden Television Analysis System (LEYTAS) with a built-in standard. A positive reaction was obtained in 96.5% of the prostatic carcinomas. Only 2.1% of the non-prostatic tumour cases (23 types) showed a positive reaction, namely six out of 10 insulomas and one out of 10 carcinoid tumours. The beta-cells of the normal islet of Langerhans and the leucocytes in the smears showed a positive reaction. The sensitivity of the peroxidase method, judged subjectively, is not only dependent on the circumstances of fixation, embedding and incubation but also on the degree of tumour differentiation. None of the three prostatic carcinomas studied reached the level of DAB staining intensity shown by the hyperplastic prostatic epithelium.


[Research progress of polyamidoamine dendrimer in targeting drug delivery system].
Targeting drug delivery system (TDDS) is one of the most concerned research fields in cancer treatment because it can bind selectively and react with the target diseased sites at the cellular or sub-cellular level, making distribution and release of drugs in a controlled manner, thus enhance therapeutic effects and reduce toxic and side-effects on normal cells. Polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAMD) is a kind of newly developed polymer in nanometer degree. Hyper-branched, monodispersity, three-dimensional structure and host-guest entrapment ability make it used as drug carrier, gene delivery system and imaging agent. Various targeting ligands, which have high affinity to specific organs, tissues or cells in human body, can be linked to surface functional groups of PAMAMD. And drugs and theoretical gene are carried by encapsulation or chemical conjugation. Finally, PAMAMD targeting drug delivery system can carry drugs and theoretical gene to diseased sites and then release them for targeted therapy. The PAMAMD-based conjugates have small size, ligh permeability and retention effect (EPR), low toxicity and so on. The research progress of PAMAMD modified by different ligands in targeting drug delivery system is reviewed, and research direction of the PAMAMD targeting delivery system in the future is also suggested.


Experimental studies on the transmission of hepatitis B by mosquitoes.
Culex tarsalis and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were fed on chimpanzees carrying hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) of known infectivity and pools were tested by radioimmunoassay daily for the presence of HBS Ag. HBS Ag continued to be detected at low levels in mosquito tissue after digestion of the blood meal. Inoculation of susceptible chimpanzees with macerated pools of A. aegypti mosquitoes at two intervals after digestion of the blood meal did not produce hepatitis or serologic evidence of hepatitis B virus infection. Mechanical transmission studies by interrupting feeding of A aegypti from HBS Ag-carrier chimpanzees and transferring them to susceptible chimpanzees did not produce hepatitis. These findings do not support the hypothesis that mosquitoes are involved in either biological or mechanical transmission of hepatitis B.


Competitive binding experiments can reduce the false positive results of affinity-based ultrafiltration-HPLC: A case study for identification of potent xanthine oxidase inhibitors from Perilla frutescens extract.
The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of using competitive binding experiments with ultrafiltration-HPLC analysis to identify potent xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors from the Perilla frutescens extract as an attempt to reduce the number of false positive results. To isolate the enzyme-ligand complex from unbound compounds, the P. frutescens extract was either incubated in the absence of XO, in the presence of XO, or with the active site blocked XO before the ultrafiltration was performed. Allopurinaol was used as the XO active site blocker. The unbound compounds were subjected to HPLC analysis. The degree of total binding (TBD) and degree of specific binding (SBD) of each compound were calculated using the peak areas. TBD represents the binding affinities of compounds from the P. frutescens extract for the XO binding site. SBD represents the XO competitive binding between allopurinol and ligands from the extract samples. Two criteria were applied to select putative targets that could help avoid false positives. These include TBD>30% and SBD>10%. Using that approach, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, rosmarinic acid, methyl-rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and 4',5,7-trimethoxyflavone were identified, from total 11 compounds, as potent XO inhibitors. Finally, apigenin, 4',5,7-trimethoxyflavone, and luteolin were XO inhibitors verified through an XO inhibition assay and structural simulation of the complex. These results showed that the newly developed strategy has the advantage that the number of targets identified via ultrafiltration-HPLC can be narrowed from many false positives. However, not all false positives can be eliminated with this approach. Some potent inhibitors might also be excluded with the use of this method. The limitations of this method are also discussed herein.


Pleomorphic adenoma of the cheek.
The mucosa of the cheek is a relatively rare site of occurrence for intraoral pleomorphic adenoma. A case of a large pleomorphic adenoma of the cheek is reported and a review of this lesion in the cheek is presented.


The opioid epidemic in acute care surgery-Characteristics of overprescribing following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Postoperative prescribing following acute care surgery must be optimized to limit excess opioids in circulation as misuse and diversion are frequently preceded by a prescription for acute pain. This study aimed to identify patient characteristics associated with higher opioid prescribing following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Among patients aged 18 years or older who underwent LC at a single institution in 2014 to 2016, opioids prescribed at discharge were converted to oral morphine equivalents (OME) and compared with developing state guidelines (maximum, 200 OME). Preoperative opioid use was defined as any opioid prescription 1 month to 3 months before LC or a prescription unrelated to gallbladder disease less than 1 month before LC. Univariate and multivariable methods determined characteristics associated with top quartile opioid prescriptions among opioid-naive patients. Of 1,606 LC patients, 34% had emergent procedures, and 14% were preoperative opioid users. Nonemergent LC patients were more likely to use opioids preoperatively (16% vs. 11%, p = 0.006), but median OME did not differ by preoperative opioid use (225 vs. 219, p = 0.40). Among 1,376 opioid-naive patients, 96% received opioids at discharge. Median OME was 225 (interquartile range, 150-300), and 52% were prescribed greater than 200 OME. Top quartile prescriptions (≥300 OME) were associated with gallstone pancreatitis diagnosis, younger age, higher pain scores, and longer length of stay (all p < 0.05). While median OME did not differ by emergent status (median, 225; interquartile range, 150-300 for both, p = 0.15), emergent had more top quartile prescriptions (32% vs. 25%, p = 0.005). After adjusting for diagnosis, age, and sex, emergent status showed evidence of being associated with top quartile prescription (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.8). Thirty-day refill rate was 5%. Over half of opioid-naive patients undergoing LC were prescribed opioids exceeding draft state guidelines. Variation in prescribing patterns was not fully explained by patient factors. Acute care surgeons have an opportunity to optimize prescribing practices with the ultimate goal of reducing opioid misuse. Therapeutic study, level IV; Epidemiologic study, level III.


Sources of variation analysis and derivation of reference intervals for ALP, LDH, and amylase isozymes using sera from the Asian multicenter study on reference values.
Sources of variation (SV) of ALP, LDH, and amylase isozymes were explored. We analyzed 3511 sera from well-defined healthy individuals recruited during the 2009 Asian project for derivation of common reference intervals (RIs). Up-to-date electrophoresis auto-analyzer and reagents were employed for high resolution and reproducibility. SVs including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), ABO blood groups, and levels of drinking, smoking, and exercise were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. RIs were determined by parametric methods after refining healthy individuals by use of latent reference values exclusion method. Age-related changes in ALP2-3 were different in females: ALP2, linear increase from 20-64y; ALP3, lowering until 45 y and rising steeply thereafter. ALP2 increased with BMI especially in females. ALP5 was barely detectable except in blood-types O and B. Age-related increases in LDH1-LDH3 were noted in females, whereas BMI-related increases were found only for LDH2-LDH5 in both sexes. Pancreatic amylase showed age-related increase in females and was slightly higher in blood-type O. RIs for absolute and relative activities of each isozyme were derived in consideration of sex and age. Investigation of these isozymes revealed various age-, BMI-, and blood-type-related changes that are all relevant in clinical interpretation of enzyme test results.


Alanine scanning of all cysteines and construction of a functional cysteine-less Cdr1p, a multidrug ABC transporter of Candida albicans.
Herein, we discuss the role of the native cysteines present in a major multidrug ABC transporter of Candida albicans, Cdr1p, and describe the construction of this transporter's functional cysteine-less (cysless) protein version for cross-linking studies. In the experiments in which all 23 cysteines were replaced individually, we observed that most of the cysteine replacements were tolerated by the protein, but the replacement of C1056, C1091, C1106, C1294 or C1336 resulted in an enhanced drug susceptibility together with an abrogated drug efflux. Notably, the ATPase activity was uncoupled, which largely remained unaffected in these variants. The substitution of the critical cysteines with serines restored the normal expression and functionality of Cdr1p because serine can effectively mimic the hydrogen bonding properties of cysteine. Finally, we constructed a functional cysless His-tagged Cdr1p in which all the cysteines of the native protein were replaced with alanines and the critical cysteines were replaced with serines. Notably, cysless GFP-tagged variant of Cdr1p was non-functional. The cysless His-tagged variant of Cdr1p is the first example of a cysless ABC transporter in yeast, and it will lead to a greater understanding of the architecture of this important protein and provide insight into the nature of drug binding and interdomain communication.


Effects of fibrin glue and growth factors released from platelets on abdominal hernia repair with a resorbable PGA mesh: experimental study.
The purpose of this study was to investigate if the strength and quality of an abdominal wall repair with a resorbable PGA (polyglycolic acid) mesh can be improved by fibrin glue or releasates from platelets. An abdominal wall defect in the rat was repaired using a PGA mesh in a sublay technique (CG) alone and either with additional fibrin glue (FG) or with platelet releasates (REL). Endpoints were clinical herniation pressure and hydroxyproline concentration (HP) as well as number of fibroblasts and collagen fibers at 7, 14, and 90 days after implantation. In both experimental groups (REL and FG) higher herniation pressures, hydroxyproline contents, and number of fibroblasts/collagen fibers were found at all times of measurement compared to the CG. The PGA mesh alone showed a significant lack of stability after 14 days which can be compensated for by the investigated components. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed regarding the herniation pressure (REL vs CG at 7 and 14 days; FG vs CG at 14 days) and the number of collagen fibers (REL vs CG at 14 days). These results suggest that the quality of a PGA mesh repair can be improved by application of fibrin glue or platelet releasates in the described experimental setting.


Revisiting the role of the mast cell in asthma.
In humans, mast cells are ubiquitously present in tissues adjacent to external environment and consequently have an important sentential role in host defence, homeostasis and repair. Their key role in allergen-mediated conditions has been recognized for many decades already. So far, therapies targeting mast cells offered clinical efficacy in allergic conditions except for asthma. More recently, sophisticated sampling and detection techniques revealed pleiotrophic immunological and functional properties of mast cells in and beyond asthma with potential clinical and management implications. These findings bring back the mast cell as a key player in the field of asthma and warrant a review of the recent literature. The heterogeneity of human mast cells has been recognized: MCTC expressing both tryptase and chymase and MCT expressing tryptase only. Apart from this subphenotyping, mast cells may comprise and produce several other mediators and cytokines. Their immunological and functional properties depend on their (co)localization within the human body and can alter under changing conditions (e.g. pathogens, allergens, etc). Recent data revealed a novel mast cell phenotype within the alveolar tissue of patients with asthma. Increasing evidence shows a key role for alveolar mast cells in the pathophysiology of viral respiratory infections and in the development of allergen sensitization and asthma. Increasing evidence points toward a key role of mast cells in the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of asthma and this warrants further investigation and the development of effective targeted therapies.


Possibility to improve preservation of whole blood by leukocyte-depletion before storage.
In order to evaluate the influence of leukocytes in whole blood on the standard blood bank conditions for storage, we compared several parameters of red cells, leukocytes and platelets in leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor whole blood over a storage period of 5 weeks. The leukocyte-depleted units were prepared by filtration with a leukocyte trapping filter (Sepacell R500A). Our data indicate improved storage conditions, made evident by significantly lower cell damage: smaller increases of elastase, beta-thromboglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase in leukocyte-depleted blood. This improvement was achieved in a simple two-bag system using only filtration, without addition of rejuvenating solutions. In addition, this procedure allows greater flexibility in the use of filtrated blood for transfusions.


[Subclinical adrenal diseases: silent pheochromocytoma and subclinical Addison's disease].
The silent pheochromocytoma, a hidden form of pheochromocytoma, exposes the patient to an increased risk of mortality if the diagnosis is not established on time. Biological diagnosis of pheochromocytoma can be difficult. Catecholamine secretion is dependent on tumor size and a large number of physiological, pharmacological, lifestyle modifications and sampling conditions influence the measurement of urinary and plasma metanephrines. The prevalence of pheochromocytoma is 2% among adrenal incidentaloma smaller than 3 cm (2/3 of tumors). Recent studies suggest the almost zero risk of pheochromocytoma among these tumors if they are hypodense (<10 housefield units) on adrenal tomography. Addison's disease is a pathology affecting about 1 in 8000. Immunopathology is still unknown, but some elements advocated the hypothesis of a predominant cell-mediated immunity in particular Interferon-gamma production by CD4 T lymphocytes in the presence of an epitope from the 21-hydroxylase, as well as IgG1 subtype produced by activated B lymphocytes, autoantibodies do appear to be a simple marker of the disease. Subclinical Addison's disease is defined by the presence of anti-21-hydroxylase autoantibodies, without clinical symptoms. It evolves faster to the clinical phase in young subjects, male, having high levels of autoantibodies and with an initially impaired adrenal function. Dosage of ACTH, plasma renin active, and basal cortisol and after Synacthen allow to discriminate the subjects with low or high risk of evolution and establish an appropriate monitoring.


High levels of susceptibility to new and older antibiotics in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Saskatchewan (2003-15): time to consider point-of-care or molecular testing for precision treatment?
The antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Saskatchewan was determined retrospectively (2003-15) to ascertain temporal trends to both current and older antimicrobials used for treatment. The agar dilution method was used to test the antimicrobial susceptibilities of 685 isolates to seven antibiotics. Over the period, only three (0.4%) gonococcal isolates had reduced susceptibility to cefixime and/or ceftriaxone. All isolates were susceptible to spectinomycin. Over 95% of the isolates tested were susceptible to azithromycin except in 2010 and 2013 (27.6% and 7.2% resistant, respectively). One isolate was resistant to both azithromycin and cefixime. Ciprofloxacin resistance was seen in < 5% of isolates prior to 2010, but in > 5% thereafter. From 2006 to 2012, and in 2015, penicillin resistance was detected in < 5% (0%-4.0%) of isolates, but in > 5% for the rest of the study period. Tetracycline resistance remained >5% (11.8%-89.1%) throughout the study. Plasmid-mediated resistance to tetracycline fluctuated between 0% and 17.5% of isolates tested. Four isolates were MDR and two isolates were XDR. N. gonorrhoeae isolates were largely susceptible (∼85%) to antibiotics no longer recommended for treatment, such as penicillin and ciprofloxacin. Gonorrhoea in Saskatchewan is primarily (>95%) diagnosed by nucleic acid amplification testing, which does not permit antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The development of molecular testing, or point-of-care tests, to evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility, would enhance knowledge of true levels of resistance and allow discretion as to whether older but still effective antibiotics could be used in individual patient care.


[JWA regulates N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced malignant transformation in human bronchial epithelial cells].
To investigate the role and possible mechanism of JWA in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) inducing human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells' neoplastic transformation. JWA overexpression vector and its stable transfection HBE cells were established. The characteristics of transformed HBE cells were determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and the soft agar colony formation assay. The expressions of JWA and P53 were detected by Western blot. The growth rates of the HBE cells which were treated with MNNG were significantly accelerated than the JWA overexpression HBE cells and controlled HBE cells (P < 0.05). The soft agar colony formation of JWA overexpression HBE cells with and without MNNG treatment (8.06% and 10.14%) was significantly lower than that of the normal HBE cells with MNNG treatment (26.80%) (P < 0.01). After exposure of MNNG, the P53 expressions were gradually increased in HBE cells with the increased passages. However, the expression of P53 in JWA over expressed HBE cells showed a different manner. P53 reached an over expression peak at early stage (the first passage), and then with a gradually down-regulated expression spectrum with increased passages of the cells. JWA might be a key molecule and play an important role in MNNG inducing neoplastic transformation in HBE cells through regulation of the expression of P53.


Approach for the use of MSW settlement predictions in the assessment of landfill capacity based on reliability analysis.
In the analysis and design of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, there are many uncertainties associated with the properties of MSW during and after MSW placement. Several studies are performed involving different laboratory and field tests to understand the complex behavior and properties of MSW, and based on these studies, different models are proposed for the analysis of time dependent settlement response of MSW. For the analysis of MSW settlement, it is very important to account for the variability of model parameters that reflect different processes such as primary compression under loading, mechanical creep and biodegradation. In this paper, regression equations based on response surface method (RSM) are used to represent the complex behavior of MSW using a newly developed constitutive model. An approach to assess landfill capacities and develop landfill closure plans based on prediction of landfill settlements is proposed. The variability associated with model parameters relating to primary compression, mechanical creep and biodegradation are used to examine their influence on MSW settlement using reliability analysis framework and influence of various parameters on the settlement of MSW are estimated through sensitivity analysis.


Lipid peroxidation-cytochrome P450 interactions. Use of linoleic acid hydroperoxide in the characterization of the spin-state of membrane-bound P450.
1. A procedure (linolenic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) deletion method) is described in which LAHP is added to the reference cuvette of a pair of spectrally balanced cuvettes containing hepatic microsomes to produce a composite high spin (HS)-low spin (LS)-spectrum of P450. 2. The LAHP deletion method was used to determine the spin state of P450 in rat hepatic microsomes with and without the addition of type I compounds. 3. Advantage was taken of the temperature dependency of the spin state of P450 to determine the overall enthalpic and entropic changes for the spin equilibrium to generate computer-derived spectra of HS and LS forms of P450, and to construct a nomogram that allows direct estimation of the percentage of HS and LS spin forms of P450 in intact microsomes at temperatures compatible with biochemical functions. 4. The h.p.l.c. deletion method was used to demonstrate that HS-P450 comprised 57% of the P450 in hepatic microsomes; addition of type I substrates to these microsomes raised the level of HS-P450 to 97%. 5. The percentage of HS-P450 generated by the addition of type I compounds to microsomes declined with increasing deletions of P450 until at the extrapolated 100% level of deletion there was no HS-P450 above that of the original 57% observed in the absence of added compounds. This can be explained if LAHP destroys part of the LS-P450 while altering the remaining LS-P450 such that it retains its LS spectral characteristics but loses its capacity to form HS P450 when type I substrates are added. 6. These studies support the concept that about 50% of hepatic microsomal P450 is functionally in the HS state due to binding with high affinity endogenous substrates or other membrane components; the remaining P450 is LS-P450 that can bind to exogenous substrates to form HS-P450. 7. Applications of the LAHP deletion method for assessment of catalytic properties of membrane-bound P450 at ambient temperatures are discussed.


Solvent-modulated slow magnetic relaxation in a two-dimensional compound composed of cobalt(II) single-chain magnets.
A single-chain magnet consisting of Co(II) chains with (EO-N(3))(2) and (μ-COO)(2)(μ-EO-N(3)) bridges reversibly transforms into an antiferromagnetic phase with metamagnetic character and modified slow magnetic relaxation upon dehydration.


Global proteomic approach unmasks involvement of keratins 8 and 18 in the delivery of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)/deltaF508-CFTR to the plasma membrane.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF gene (cftr). Physiologically, CF is characterized by an abnormal chloride secretion in epithelia due to a dysfunction of a mutated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a cAMP-dependent chloride channel whose most frequent mutation, deltaF508, leads to an aberrantly folded protein which causes a dysfunction of the channel. However, a growing number of reports suggest that modifier genes and environmental factors are involved in the physiology of CF. To identify proteins whose expression depends on wild-type WT-CFTR or deltaF508-CFTR, we chose a global proteomic approach based on the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. The experiments were carried out with HeLa cells stably transfected with WT-CFTR (pTCFWT) or deltaF508-CFTR (pTCFdeltaF508). These experiments unmasked keratin 8 (K8) and 18 (K18) which were differentially expressed in pTCFWT vs. pTCFdeltaF508. An immunoblot of K18 confirmed the 2-DE results. Intracellular localization experiments of WT-CFTR, deltaF508-CFTR, K8, and K18 suggest that the expression of these proteins are linked, and that the concentrations of K8 and K18 and/or their distribution may be involved in the traffic of WT-CFTR/deltaF508-CFTR. A functional assay for CFTR revealed that specifically lowering K18 expression or changing its distribution leads to the delivery of functional deltaF508-CFTR to the plasma membrane. This work suggests a novel function of K18 in CF.


The use of inert carriers in regulatory biodegradation tests of low density poorly water-soluble substances.
Many poorly water-soluble compounds fail regulatory ready biodegradation tests as the method of test material preparation limits the bioavailability of the chemical. The recognised method for delivery of poorly soluble materials into biodegradability tests consists of coating test material inside the test vessel or onto inert substrates (i.e., glass cover slide, boiling beads, filter paper, or Teflon stir bar) that are placed inside the vessels. Volatile solvents are often used to augment this process. Although these substrates work fairly well for delivering many poorly soluble materials into biodegradability tests, they have not been effective in keeping low density, poorly water-soluble substances in the test medium. Soon after medium is added to the test vessels, these chemicals break loose from the substrates and float on the surface where they have limited contact with micro-organisms in the test medium. Hence, there is a reduced potential for measuring substantial biodegradability in the test. This paper describes the work undertaken to establish a standard method of adding low density, poorly water-soluble substances into test vessels of biodegradability studies to ensure these materials remain in contact with micro-organisms in the test medium. The substances are prepared for testing by adsorption onto silica gel followed by dispersion into the culture medium. This method of delivery may provide greater intra- and inter-laboratory consistency in biodegradability test results for low density, poorly water-soluble substances and it may more closely mimic the probable transport and fate of these substances in the environment.


Synthesis of papain in Escherichia coli.
We have transferred the cloned papain genetic information into an expression vector (pT7-7) regulated by the T7-promoter and have obtained in vitro expression as well as expression in Escherichia coli. In Western blots the proteins produced are immunologically recognizable as papain. Multiple forms of specific but differing sizes are detected, suggesting either that initiation can occur at more than one of the upstream methionines, or that the enzyme is processed after synthesis.


Examination of the new MMPI-2 Response Bias Scale (Gervais): relationship with MMPI-2 validity scales.
Validity scales were recently developed to improve assessment of symptom validity beyond original MMPI-2 validity scales. In an initial study, the Response Bias Scale (RBS; Gervais, 2005) was developed based upon non-head-injury claimant performances on a cognitive effort measure, the Word Memory Test (WMT). The present study examined relationships of the RBS with numerous MMPI-2 validity scales in a sample of 211 participants with secondary gain (SG) or no secondary gain (NSG). Of the validity scales observed, RBS yielded the largest effect size difference between groups (d = .65), followed closely by FBS (d = .60) and the L-scale (d = .51). Overall, RBS correlated most significantly (r = .74, p < .001) with FBS, but also showed significant correlations with most other validity scales for both groups. RBS further demonstrated significant correlations (p < .001) with all clinical scales except for Mf. Findings suggest that RBS and FBS may represent a similar construct of symptom validity, and may outperform other MMPI-2 validity scales in discriminating SG and NSG groups. Findings provide preliminary support for use of RBS within the forensic context.


[The effect of chorionic gonadotropin administration on testosterone levels in the blood of boars with sexual function disorders].
Thirty-three boars with sexual dysfunctions and twenty-six boars clinically sound as to their reproductive capacity were evaluated for the testosterone levels in the blood plasma before i.v. administration of 500 i.u. of chorionic gonadotropin and two hours after the administration. A group of animals with reproduction disorders comprised boars with an impaired quality of ejaculate and low fertility ability (18 boars) and with sexual dysfunctions (15 boars). No statistically significant difference in the basal concentration of testosterone in the blood was found in the boars with the studied sexual dysfunctions, as compared with the boars with no sexual dysfunctions. Administration of chorionic gonadotropin increased significantly the plasma testosterone levels in both groups. If the effect of chorionic gonadotropin on the studied level of this hormone was compared in boars with sexual dysfunctions and in boars without any disorders, no significant differences were proved. It has been inferred from the above findings that there are no significant disorders of androgen supply and incretion reserve of the gonads in the boars with sexual dysfunctions.


A case of a FilmArray® ME false negative in meningococcal meningitis.
The FilmArray® meningitis/encephalitis panel detects the 14 most frequent pathogens causing meningitis and/or encephalitis. The cases of FilmArray´s false negative in bacterial meningitis are rarely described in the literature. We are reporting a case of a false negative FilmArray® result for N. meningitidis and how we managed to overcome this situation.


Percutaneous computed tomography-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy ablation of breast cancer liver metastases: initial experience with 80 lesions.
To analyze initial experience with computed tomography-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy (CT-HDRBT) ablation of breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM). Between January 2008 and December 2010, 37 consecutive women with 80 liver metastases were treated with CT-HDRBT in 56 sessions. Mean age was 58.6 years (range, 34-83 y). Treatment was performed by CT-guided applicator placement and high-dose-rate brachytherapy with an iridium-192 source. The mean radiation dose was 18.57 Gy (standard deviation 2.27). Tumor response was evaluated by gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed before treatment, 6 weeks after treatment, and every 3 months thereafter. Two patients were lost to follow-up; the remaining 35 patients were available for MR imaging evaluation for a mean follow-up time of 11.6 months (range 3-32 mo). Mean tumor diameter was 25.5 mm (range 8-74 mm). Two (2.6%) local recurrences were observed after local tumor control for 10 months and 12 months. Both local progressions were successfully retreated. Distant tumor progression (new metastases or enlargement of nontreated metastases) occurred during the follow-up period in 11 (31.4%) patients. Seven (20%) patients died during the follow-up period. Overall survival ranged from 3-39 months (median 18 months). CT-HDRBT is a safe and effective ablative therapy, providing a high rate of local tumor control in patients with BCLM.


Molecular analysis of nosocomial epidemics.
Newer developments in molecular biology offer the hospital epidemiologist and clinical microbiologist powerful tools for analysis of nosocomial epidemics. Plasmid fingerprinting and genomic REA are rapid and often more definitive alternatives to serotyping and biotyping. Isolation of specific plasmids for special study involves more complicated manipulations. Polypeptide patterns, though at times diffuse in appearance, can be easily produced with SDS-PAGE of whole cells or outer membranes. Specific monoclonal antibodies as probes for individual proteins can generate more definitive answers about the exact type of protein(s) present. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLE) has become an ingenious tool for characterizing closely related nosocomial bacterial strains. The newest molecular methods using ribotyping, DNA probes, and the PCR will open many doors into the microbial genomes that were previously closed to the hospital microbial detective. These advances will compel hospitals to plan for their funding and implementation. Yet, like other scientific progress, the new biology in the nosocomial setting will raise as many questions as it will answer.


Heterogeneity of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in B-cell lymphomas.
We have examined 69 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) for rearrangements of the immunoglobulin (Ig) or T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) genes. The lymphomas were assigned to the categories of the Kiel classification and their B-cell nature was confirmed by immunostaining. Only 2 cases (with CLL) displayed clonal T beta-chain TCR gene rearrangements together with rearranged heavy- and light-chain Ig genes. The remaining 67 lymphomas had a germline beta-chain TCR-gene configuration. Three different patterns of Ig gene rearrangements were identified; (A) presence of both heavy- and light-chain rearrangements (H+L+); (B) rearrangement of heavy-chain gene only (H+L-); (C) heavy- and light-chain genes in germline configuration (H-L-). All the 45 low-grade NHLs and the 4 immunoblastic lymphomas exhibited pattern A and all had their kappa gene rearranged or deleted. Of 24 low-grade lymphomas tested, 13 (54%) had an addition rearrangement of the lambda light-chain gene. In contrast, the 19 high-grade centroblastic (cb) B-NHLs had distinct patterns of Ig-gene rearrangement: 12 with pattern A, 4 with B and 2 with C. In this group only 2 of 17 (12%) cases analyzed had evidence of lambda light-chain rearrangement whereas 12 of 18 (67%) had a kappa gene rearrangement or deletion. In one case expressing sIgM/lambda and with heavy chain Ig-rearrangement, no DNA was available for Ig light-chain analysis.


Rats fed soy protein isolate (SPI) have impaired hepatic CYP1A1 induction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a result of interference with aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling.
Consumption of soy diets has been found to reduce cancer incidence in animals and is associated with reduced cancer risk in humans. Previously, we have demonstrated that female Sprague-Dawley rats fed purified AIN-93G diets with soy protein isolate (SPI) as the sole protein source had reduced CYP1A1 induction and basal aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) levels relative to those fed the same diet containing casein (CAS). In the present study, the molecular mechanisms underlying reduced AhR expression have been studied. The SPI-effect on AhR was not observed after feeding diets containing the purified soy isoflavones genistein or daidzein. Rat hepatoma FGC-4 cells were treated with the serum obtained from rats fed CAS- or SPI-containing diets. Reduced AhR levels (P<0.05) were observed after 24 h exposure to SPI-serum without any changes in the overall expression of chaperone proteins--HSP90 and XAP2. SPI-serum-stimulated AhR degradation was inhibited by treating the cells with the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, and was observed to be preceded by ubiquitination of the receptor. A reduced association of XAP2 with the immunoprecipitated AhR complex was observed. SPI-serum-mediated AhR degradation was preceded by nuclear translocation of the receptor. However, the translocated receptor was found to be unable to heterodimerize with ARNT or to bind to XRE elements on the CYP1A1 enhancer. These data suggest that feeding SPI-containing diets antagonizes AhR signaling by a novel mechanism which differs from those established for known AhR antagonists.


[One man's meat is another man's poison].
A case of rumen acidosis in non-lactating cattle is reported. This was due to the fact that stale bread was fed ad lib, rather than concentrates. Of seventy animals, fourteen died or were slaughtered. The meat was declared unfit for human consumption in every case.


General properties of GFP-display, an electrophoretic analysis for single amino acid changes in target polypeptides.
The migrating position of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused polypeptide varied on an SDS/urea gel by a single amino acid change in the fused polypeptide segment. An easy detection method for a single amino acid change based on this observation was called "GFP-display." Using various target polypeptides, staphylococcal protein A (SpA), Ras, p53, and human beta3 adrenergic receptor (AR), and their mobility-shift patterns resulting from the single amino acid changes, several important properties of GFP-display were revealed as follows: (i). since the binding of dodecyl sulfate ions to acidic or hydrophilic amino acids is weaker than that to basic or hydrophobic amino acids, the ions bound weakly to the fused polypeptide segment are forced to come off by high concentrations of urea prior to the ions bound strongly, resulting in the mobility shift, (ii). the mobility shift is estimated to a certain extent using a new parameter called the "GD value" calculated from the isoelectric point, hydrophilicity, and number of fused amino acids, and (iii). the fluorescence intensity of GFP-fused polypeptide tends to increase with the average hydrophilicity of the fused polypeptide segment. GFP-display will be a helpful technique for many kinds of gene or protein studies related to amino acid substitutions such as the random mutagenesis in a gene of interest.


Diagnosis of dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a study of 102 cases.
Patients with dermatomyositis (DM) or polymyositis (PM) were studied retrospectively. The patients were divided into four groups: definite PM 24, probable PM 19, definite DM 34 and mild-early DM 25 cases. PM patients complained more often proximal muscle weakness [p <0.01]. DM patients complained more arthralgia [p <0.05], dysphagia [p <0.03] and weight loss [p <0.04]. Five patients had a malignant neoplasm and 9 had other connective-tissue disease. DM presented higher ESR than PM [p <0.002]. PM presented more significant increase in creatine kinase (CK) [p <0.02] and in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) [p <0.001] levels. Electromyography showed myopathic pattern in 76%. Muscle biopsy was the definitive test. Perifascicular atrophy was more frequent in definite DM than in mild-early DM group [p <0.03]. A small association with connective-tissue diseases and neoplasms was found. DM and PM are clinically different. DM presents systemic involvement affecting the skin, developing more severe arthralgia, dysphagia and weight loss and presenting higher values of ESR. PM presents a restricted and more significant involvement of muscles generating more weakness complaints and higher levels of serum muscle enzymes.


Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) codon bias analysis reveals a progressive adaptation to the new niche after the host jump.
Based on virus dependence from host cell machinery, their codon usage is expected to show a strong relation with the host one. Even if this association has been stated, especially for bacteria viruses, the linkage is considered to be less consistent for more complex organisms and a codon bias adaptation after host jump has never been proven. Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) was selected as a model because it represents a well characterized case of host jump, originating from Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). The current study demonstrates that the adaptation to specific tissue and host codon bias affected CPV-2 evolution. Remarkably, FPV and CPV-2 showed a higher closeness toward the codon bias of the tissues they display the higher tropism for. Moreover, after the host jump, a clear and significant trend was evidenced toward a reduction in the distance between CPV-2 and the dog codon bias over time. This evidence was not confirmed for FPV, suggesting that an equilibrium has been reached during the prolonged virus-host co-evolution. Additionally, the presence of an intermediate pattern displayed by some strains infecting wild species suggests that these could have facilitated the host switch also by acting on codon bias.


Space-time coordination dynamics in basketball: Part 1. Intra- and inter-couplings among player dyads.
We examined space-time patterns of basketball players during competition by analysing movement data obtained from six game sequences. Strong in-phase relations in the longitudinal (basket-to-basket) direction were observed for all playing dyads, especially player-opponent dyads matched for playing position, indicating that these movements were very constrained by the game demands. Similar findings for in-phase relations were observed for the most part in the lateral direction, the main exception being dyads comprising the two wing players from the same team. These dyads instead demonstrated strong attractions to anti-phase, a consequence perhaps of seeking to increase and decrease team width in tandem. Single instances from select dyads and game sequences demonstrated further evidence of phase stabilities and phase transitions on some occasions. Together, these findings demonstrate that space-time movement patterns of playing dyads in basketball, while unique, nonetheless conform to a uniform description in keeping with universal principles of dynamical self-organizing systems as hypothesized.


Characterizations and psychoneuroimmunologic implications of secretory immunoglobulin A and cortisol in preterm and term breast milk.
This article combines data from two separate investigations. One study examined relationships between psychosocial factors and preterm milk immune variables. The other examined relationships between psychosocial and breastfeeding satisfaction factors and perceived milk sufficiency in term mothers. Milk samples were collected on the fifth postpartum day and frozen. Both studies collected data on anxiety, but other psychosocial variables differed. Mood states and social support were studied in preterm mothers, while breastfeeding satisfaction, milk maturation, and infant suckling characteristics were studied in term mothers. Milk samples were assayed for secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and cortisol. sIgA and cortisol levels were higher in the milk from preterm mothers and were inversely related to each other in both preterm and term milk. In preterm mothers, anger and vigor were positively correlated with higher milk sIgA. The findings suggest that cortisol is present in milk and may potentially influence the secretion of milk sIgA. The relationships that were found when comparing psychosocial, dyadic, and stress factors with milk sIgA and cortisol are provocative and suggest new paradigms for studying lactation.


[Treatment of persistent intraocular hypertension after attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma].
Persistent intraocular hypertension followed attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma in 87 eyes of 71 patients. After 1-12 days, averaging 2.1 days, they were treated with sublamellar sclerotomy for initial drainage of aqueous, and then sclerectomy and trabeculectomy were performed for longterm hypotensive effect. No intra- or post-operative serious complications occurred and the anterior chamber reformed within 48 hours, while in all 20 controls the filling of anterior chamber was delayed. This modality of treatment had the advantage of combining immediate relief of critical IOP with permanent aqueous filtration.


Specialty hospitals: can general hospitals compete?
The rapid increase in specialty cardiac, surgical, and orthopedic hospitals has captured the attention of general hospitals and policymakers. Although the number of specialty hospitals remains small in absolute terms, their entry into certain health care markets has fueled arguments about the rules of "fair" competition among health care providers. To allow the smoke to clear, Congress effectively stalled the growth in new specialty hospitals by temporarily prohibiting physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to specialty hospitals in which they had an ownership interest. During this 18-month moratorium, which expired June 8, 2005, two mandated studies of specialty hospitals provided information to help assess their potential effect on health care delivery. This issue brief discusses the research on specialty hospitals, including their payments under Medicare's hospital inpatient payment system, the quality and cost of care they deliver, their effect on general hospitals and on overall health care delivery, and the regulatory and legal environment in which they have proliferated. It concludes with open issues concerning physician self-referral and the role of general hospitals in providing a range of health care services.


Ketamine inhibits transsarcolemmal calcium entry in guinea pig myocardium: direct evidence by single cell voltage clamp.
To clarify the direct effect of ketamine on calcium entry into myocardium, we directly measured transsarcolemmal calcium entry into single enzymatically dissociated guinea pig myocardial cells by means of the whole cell voltage clamp. Cells were studied in the presence of 0, 10(-5) M, or 10(-4) M ketamine. Peak baseline calcium current was similar in all three groups (911 +/- 92 pA, 954 +/- 66 pA, and 962 +/- 54 pA, respectively). During exposure to ketamine, peak calcium current was unchanged in the no-ketamine control group (886 +/- 74 pA) but decreased in both the 10(-5) M group (723 +/- 38 pA) and the 10(-4) M group (798 +/- 62 pA) (P less than 0.002 vs no-ketamine cells for both groups). We conclude that ketamine has a direct inhibitory effect on transsarcolemmal calcium influx in guinea pig myocardial cells.


Immunosuppression reduction for BK virus nephropathy: a case for caution.
BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) is increasingly recognized as a major cause of renal allograft failure. Recent reports demonstrate that prompt reduction of immunosuppression upon detection of persistent viremia can be associated with resolution of viremia, with minimal risk of acute rejection (AR). However, these experiences in general have occurred in centers with low baseline risks of AR. It is possible that a finer balance between overimmunosuppression and the risk of AR may exist in centers that routinely transplant patients with higher risk of AR. Thus the risk/benefit of this strategy may be altered in these centers. We report a case of antibody-mediated rejection that followed reduction of immunosuppression for BKVN diagnosed more than 3 months after the onset of viremia. This rejection episode resulted in a greater decrease in graft function than the initial BKVN episode. Issues relevant to the management of these patients are discussed, including the need for improved immune monitoring assays to determine more accurately the balance between infection and rejection.


Investigation Of Chromium-Cobalt Coated Scaffolds On Cell Cultures In Vitro.
The use of diverse materials for medical purposes is continuously expanding. The modification of materials which are routinely applied in medical practice as well as the development and introduction of new materials require studies on their biological activity. The first steps in this process are the preliminary short-term screening tests for cytotoxicity and biocompatibility performed on cell cultures. Coating of stainless steel (316 L) scaffolds with chromium-cobalt was performed by electroplating using the non-standard electrolyte Chromispel. The process was carried through at different cathode current densities and deposition times. The modified surface of the metal scaffolds was studied for cytoxicity and cell vitality on the serum-free McCoy-Plovdiv and the immortalized PDL cell cultures. Our results indicate no cytotoxic effect of the coated metal scaffolds. Even more, three of the samples stimulated the proliferation and growth of McCoy-Plovdiv cells. We have strong reasons to believe that chromium-cobalt coatings are promising for future studies and reliable for medical purposes.


Determination of sulfur in crude oil using high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry of the SnS molecule in a graphite furnace.
An analytical method for the determination of sulfur, as the tin mono-sulfide (SnS) molecule, in crude oil using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF MAS) has been developed. The molecular absorbance of the SnS has been measured using the wavelength at 271.624 nm and the crude oil samples were prepared as micro-emulsions due to their high viscosity. Several chemical modifiers (Ir, Pd, Ru, Zr) were tested and palladium was chosen, because it exhibited the best performance. The heating program was optimized by comparing the pyrolysis and vaporization curves obtained for an aqueous sulfur standard and a micro-emulsion of a crude oil certified reference material (CRM). The optimum pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures were found to be 600 and 2000°C, respectively. The limit of detection and the characteristic mass using micro-emulsion analysis of crude oil samples were 5.8 and 13.3 ng S. Accuracy and precision of the method has been evaluated using two crude oil CRM (NIST 2721 and NIST 2722), showing good agreement with the informed or certified values.


Papillary ovarian cystadenocarcinoma in a dog.
An 11-year-old female German Shepherd dog was presented for investigation of progressive enlargement of the abdomen, periodic bloody discharge from the vulva and rapid exhaustion. Transabdominal ultrasonography and lateral abdominal radiography demonstrated an echogenic formation with anechogenic cavities located cranial to the urinary bladder and a homogeneous shadow with an elliptical shape was located caudal to the rib arc. Both showed indistinct borders. Exploratory laparotomy identified bilateral ovarian masses and ovariohysterectomy was performed. Histopathology confirmed ovarian cystadenocarcinoma. The dog remained clinically normal without evidence of metastatic disease 4 months after surgery. Papillary cystadenocarcinoma in the bitch could affect both ovaries and manifests with a rapid growth rate and clinical signs such as rapid exhaustion, abdominal enlargement and vulval discharge. Ovariohysterectomy is the treatment option.


Valorization of antioxidants extracted from olive mill wastewater.
Antioxidants are highly important gradients used to preserve cosmetic products and reduce the effect of oxidative stress on the skin. The present work explores the possibility of using phenolic compounds of olive mill wastewater (OMW) as effective alternatives to the commercial antioxidants used in cosmetic formulations deemed by their allergic and carcinogenic effects. Esterification of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol extracted from OMW with various fatty acids was conducted using Novozyme 435 lipase as a biocatalyst. Upon synthesis, butyrate, caprate, laurate, and palmitate tyrosyl and hydroxytyrosyl esters were isolated and evaluated for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Results showed that laurate derivatives are the most efficient in preventing lipid oxidation and inhibiting growth of pathogenic strains. In the prospective of industrial use, laurate tyrosyl and hydroxytyrosyl derivatives were incorporated in a formulation of moisturizer to substitute the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxyltoluene. Oleuropein, extracted from olive leaves powder, was also tested as an antiaging ingredient in cosmetic formulations. The evaluation of physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial properties of the new cosmetic products indicated that oleuropein and lipophilic derivatives do not affect the properties of the standard formulation. Oleuropein and lipophilic derivatives can be added as active ingredients to stabilize cosmetic preparations.